Hi.I have a nearly 7 year old bullmastiff who about 8 months ago jumped up to look out the window and on landing helped in pain.This happened 3 times over a few months.He never showed any other symptoms straight afterwards.Then a couple of months ago he went out for his morning wee into our enclosed yard and came in limping .He could have ran at a cat or something we do not know .We didn't hear or see anything.I put him on inflamex and have introduced omega 3 and glucosamine tablets into his diet in the hope he will improve .The problem is we cannot take him conscious to the vets as he isn't friendly due to an episode with the postman when he was young .He is scared of anyone other than his human family .He is eating ok .When you rub and feel his front foot and wrist and elbow and shoulder there is no recognition of any pain whatsoever ever .But he doesn't want to put his foot down unless he has to .He can stretch his toes easily (when he goes front end down with bum in the air ) we love him but don't know what to do for the best.yesterday he brought me his treat ball to fill with treats for him but I didn't want him to knock it about for fear of hurting himself more .Its cold and damp today and he seems worse.I have videoed him limping about and may take this for the vet to see.Any help will be gratefully received

Your boy really does need to have veterinary investigation and treatment. I would be suspecting a cruciate ligament injury as this has happened to one of our collies, aged six. She went into the paddock on four legs, had no apparent incident but came out limping. She seemed to get better and never flinched when I examined he leg but as the limping continued intermittently, I took her to the vet and the diagnosis was made. Dogs don't always exhibit pain in ways we would expect. Whether this is due to inherent stoicism or some physiological reason, I really wish I knew. So please, go to your vet. This will not go away.

It’s forelimb so it’s not cruciate.

I think you should probably phone your vet for a chat to decide how best to proceed. You could send them a video of the lameness. You are most likely looking at arthritis in an older bull mastiff, be nice if it was just soft tissue injury, but you should rule out other more serious things, and if you’re only going to get one go because he’s hard to manage then it might be worth going straight for X-ray since he is going to need to be at least sedated for examination which isn’t ideal for investigating lameness. Speak to your vet to see what they advise

Vets and their staff know how to handle frightened animals, for starters, so I don't think you should use how he reacts to strangers as any excuse for not getting him examined, diagnosed and hopefully treated.   I'd suggest the problem could lie in the shoulders which haven't been right for some time so arthritis has now set it - clue 'cold and damp weather'.

If he's lame, he's in pain and it's not necessary to leave him like that, if there is treatment available.

Teach me to read posts more carefully ! But my point was really that the dog needs a vet. Speculative questions and answers on a forum are no substitute for expert opinion. That requires a vet.

Our vet will see animals in a the carpark so away from others and the normal waiting room consult room environment which often helps . I would explain the problem to the vet  and see what they ca  arrange.
Even a home visit may be possible. More costly but may help
Tectona has some good ideas.

> Our vet will see animals in a the carpark so away from others and the normal waiting room consult room environment

With a nervous dog, I'd always keep them in the car, at least until the vet is ready to see him.  When one of mine was upchucking, after the first time, an embarrassed me left the waiting area for the car, where my vet saw him (he did some more out there) and then said bring him in!

The vet who deals with bones is seeing him tonight .He will be just walking around the car park .

He is having a full X-ray  next Monday .Been given ant inflammatories untill then.

How did you get on today?

What news?

Just to update this thread for my wife.

Unfortunately we had to put him to sleep.

X-Rays showed cancer.

so very sad

So sorry

Sorry to hear this. Thoughts are with you.

Oh no, I’m so sorry.

So sad - I'm assuming it was found that the cancer had spread?

The cancer was very aggressive and was distroying the bone .It was starting to spread but only just .He was lovely and is greatly missed by the whole family.He was the naughtiest dog I have ever had but was a pleasure to own .The house is so empty without him .We miss him so much .

So very sorry, to read this.

So sorry to see your news.

I have had two friends one in my breed and one in another where the only symptom was lameness, and result same as yours.

On the Father of one of mine was found to have a total fracture of his femur.

Dogs can be very stoic, especially the bull breeds and some of the more primitive breeds such as mine.