My dog has a temporary limp - Is it serious?

[birdofprey]

She is a ten year old Lab/collie.
When she has spent some time in her basket she has such a bad limp that she can barely walk.
But this soon disappears when we go out - in fact she was bouncing around in the snow like a puppy first thing this morning.
I have been taking her out for at least one long walk in the hills a day and she runs non stop.
But when we get home she settles in her basket and then we have this problem when she moves after a while.
I don't want to distress her by taking her to the vet unless I have to and am of the opinion that it is a muscle problem.
Any opinions will be welcome.

[willowman]

I am not a vet, but I run a boarding cattery and we have come across this occasionally in cats.
One cat was so bad that we actually took it to the vets, and of course when we got there the cat walked perfectly normally.
Our own cat had an operation on its leg a couple of years ago and usually runs around the garden with no problem, but sometimes we can detect a slight limp when he walks.
It could be that your dog's leg goes to sleep, as in humans.
Or at her age it could be a touch of arthritis, which becomes worse after exercise, again just like us.
I understand that you don't want to stress her out,but a short vet visit will put your mind at rest and, if it is just something like arthritis you could get some pills or other medication to ease her problem.
You can also purchase supplements, like glucosamine, to give your dog, which may ease the joints.
Pop her down to the vets, the trauma won't last long, she'll soon forget it and forgive you and you could ease her problem for her.

[wolf63]

My last dog had arthris in his shoulders. In the morning he could hardly get out of bed - but after he warmed up he was back to normal.

If your dog is 'older' perhaps it is arthritis - there are supplements, as willowman says, that are effective.

Good luck.

[barb1314]

Hi birdofprey,my lab had this problem a few weeks ago (even though she is only 8 months) It was very sporadic and I really couldn't work it out. Anyway after a short visit to the vet where he manipulated her leg and put her on daily glucosamine she hasn't limped since. I'm not sure whether she knew she was booked in for xrays under anaesthetic or whether the vet was a good physio!! Her parents have almost perfect hip scores but I was still worried it was her hips.My collie,who lived to 17,also became a little stiff in her legs after resting and the vet put it down to her age.I hope your dog is ok.Maybe some glucosamine would help her..apparently vets started using it for joints way before doctors! Take care.

[birdofprey]

Thanks for your kind responses.

She is due at the vets in six weeks for her injections and I am tempted to wait until then.

I like the idea of Glucosamine and what does anybody think about giving her half an aspirin every day?

We have just sold our business and she is getting much longer walks than previously. This problem has coincided with that. I know collies will run all day but she is half lab: could I be over exercising her?

[birdofprey]

Thanks, once again, for your answers.
It certainly looks as though Glucosamine is the way to go.
We shall try it and report back to this thread in case it is of interest to other pet owners.

[ruthann58]

hi our gsd x collie was on a human dose of glucosamin chrodition and msn for the last 4 years of her life as recommened by our vet it helped her no end also she had a bioflow collar i used to buy my tablets from age stop online ,our dog used to be very stiff when she first got up like yours

[barb1314]

The gluco that Lottie is on is called Glyco Flex....90 tablets cost me about �30. The dose was one a day for 6 wks and 1/2 after that.I think that they're pretty good value...now a tub will last me 6 months.I hadn't thought about giving her the ones I take for my very creaky knees!! Might consider that.I'm not sure about 1/2 an aspirin..maybe someone else could advise you on that.My vet still doesn't know if that is why she no longer limps but said the gluco would do no harm.Also I'm not sure if you can over exercise a dog which has collie genes! My lab never seems to get tired but I am careful as she is still young. Good luck with her.

[Postdog]

My old dog had a recurring leg problem, and I gave hime glucosamine (proper animal ones mind) and they helped him a lot.

[gelda]

Apparently there's no difference between the glucosamine you give to animals and the human ones as long as you get the right dose, a vet told me this (a vet friend of mine) he told me that the vet ones are a lot more expensive, so find the right dose and get them from a health store.

[carmalee]

www.school-for-champions.com/animalhealth/aspirin.htm - 17k -- this should answer the question about aspirin

[lankeela]

Sounds like old age is catching up with her this is just stiffness from over exercising. Shorten the walks and if possible take her on two shorter ones rather than one long one.

Get her a Bioflow collar, which will help her stop being stiff when she gets up, and get her some Glucosamine and Chondtroitin supplement, a firm called Dorwest Herbs do a doggy one that is combined.

For the owner of the 8 month old lab, this sounds just like 'growing pains' which a lot of large breed young dogs get, when the bones and joints don't grow at exactly the same rate, so they hurt a bit until they have caught up with each other. Doubt very much if it is hips, you would not notice stiffness as such, more of a rolling swaying gait as she walks or runs.

[noob]

have you tried stroking it and saying 'awwww poor doggy'?

[lankeela]

http://www.dorwest.com/searchprods.asp

[lankeela]

Put glucosamine in the search box and you will get details.

[noob]

or if that doesnt work put both hands by the side of the face and caress him saying 'ooos a gud boy, oos a gud boy'

hope this helps

[birdofprey]

We have been giving her half a tablet of Glucosamine a day since Monday and there is a marked improvement.

I take her out at six in the morning every day and there is no limp at all then.

It is reappearing in the afternoons but is much better.

Thanks to every one for the advice, especially about the Glucosamine.

[adrian28]

My dog (9 yrs old border collie mix) has the same problem. the vet prescribed Rimadyl for him. It has helped out a lot. You may also want to shorten the walks, if she isnt use to it, it could cause some pain.

[birdofprey]

Our ten year old is behaving like a puppy again.

We have been giving her glucosamine and still going on long walks but after a while we have put her back on the lead .

If I wasn't superstitious I would say there is no sign of the limp at any time of day..