Post by katie k on Feb 28, 2024 13:16:44 GMT -5
Maisie, our 11 month old lab x e.s. pup cropped up with a limp in her rear L leg about a month ago after a house guest wrestled/played very rambunctiously with her. She never cried out, but next day did not weight it at all. It progressively improved over the course of 3 weeks until I foolishly let her play with a neighbor's dog, and it has been plateaued since. (insert self-kicking noises here). I called my vet , who cannot see her for 6 weeks, but feels quite sure it is the rear cruciate ligament, presented surgery as the only option, and advises no running, jumping, or any time off leash. We ruled out tick borne illness.
Her symptoms present thusly. After a lot of play/running/chasing sticks, etc. she will stiffen up when laying down and hobble or lift that leg for a few steps, then weight the leg and resume a mostly normal gait. I see her weighting the other leg more while standing, and there is a slightly visible catch or click when she walks. It seems weaker and she will sometime slip a bit on that leg. Her running gait is normal and she is not double legging with both backs, like a sore dog often will. With the exception of the hobble steps after she 's been resting a while, my DH and sons cannot even see what I am talking about. She has zero trouble with stairs, jumping on beds, etc. (which we are not letting her do after talking to vet). She has no point tenderness when I palpate, and seems to have very little pain. After the play with the neighbor dog, she was definitely hurting, ears back, could not settle, hiding.
If someone could assure me that what we see is what we get, that it is unlikely to deteriorate, then she is fine; happy, sweet, playful, a little gimpy but unfazed. I hate to think of her deteriorating, suffering pain or reduced quality of life. Has anyone dealt with this and what has been your approach? I am staying off google b/c it freaks me out too much. She is a wonderful pup, really coming into her own and I am so sad about this. An expensive surgery would be a push financially and ethically, but she potentially has a lot of years ahead of her.
Her symptoms present thusly. After a lot of play/running/chasing sticks, etc. she will stiffen up when laying down and hobble or lift that leg for a few steps, then weight the leg and resume a mostly normal gait. I see her weighting the other leg more while standing, and there is a slightly visible catch or click when she walks. It seems weaker and she will sometime slip a bit on that leg. Her running gait is normal and she is not double legging with both backs, like a sore dog often will. With the exception of the hobble steps after she 's been resting a while, my DH and sons cannot even see what I am talking about. She has zero trouble with stairs, jumping on beds, etc. (which we are not letting her do after talking to vet). She has no point tenderness when I palpate, and seems to have very little pain. After the play with the neighbor dog, she was definitely hurting, ears back, could not settle, hiding.
If someone could assure me that what we see is what we get, that it is unlikely to deteriorate, then she is fine; happy, sweet, playful, a little gimpy but unfazed. I hate to think of her deteriorating, suffering pain or reduced quality of life. Has anyone dealt with this and what has been your approach? I am staying off google b/c it freaks me out too much. She is a wonderful pup, really coming into her own and I am so sad about this. An expensive surgery would be a push financially and ethically, but she potentially has a lot of years ahead of her.