Hi  I have a golden age 7 who has developed an intermittant limp involving one of her back legs. She has trouble getting up and orgininally was limping all the time. After a course of anti-inflammatories, all symptoms disapeared but have now come back. I will be taking her back to the vet but wondered if anyone has experienced this with their retriever and what it was.

I'd suspect an arthritic condition based on HD.  I've gone there because difficult on rising would be typical as would improvement, however temporary, after treatment with anti-inflams.    It may be that she has to be on that now, when needed, for the rest of her life.  Unless you opt for surgery, which I'd not do.  That's up to you.

Arthritis, cruciate, soft tissue injury, could be many things. Your vet will be able to guide you towards an explanation keep complimentary therapies in mind like hydrotherapy and physiotherapy too, which can be hugely beneficial for rehabilitation/surgical rehab for all kinds of things that can cause intermittent limping. We are seeing SO many cruciate patients at the moment, more than ever.

> hydrotherapy and physiotherapy too, which can be hugely beneficial

Not a retriever, but my papillon is having hydrotherapy twice a week (underwater treadmill) after bilateral patella luxation surgery, and it’s been amazing how much difference it’s made to his strength and flexibility. He honestly walks like a different dog. We’re doing physio exercises four times a day too - hard work but every second has been worth it.

I can highly recommend underwater treadmill work with a good hydrotherapist.

Before you do anything, surely you have to find a vet who is able to diagnose exactly what is going on with your dog?

I always start a regime of lots of different supplements at the first sign of anything like this and especially at the age your dog is, which is when things often begin. For me, that means golden paste, Riaflex Joint Plus, Devils Claw (Riaflex), green mussel powder and wild salmon oil (Grizzly). I researched these based on what there is evidence for, in terms of human arthritis.

That is usually enough to fix things for many more years and only in the final year or so, have I needed to use NSAIDs or prescription stuff.

Any decent complimentary therapist be it physio which isn't really complimentary or hydro chiropractic etc will require permission to touch your dog before giving any treatment.

Hopeful the vet will suggest further investigation to find out exactly what the problem is if it hasn't responded to simple treatment

Yes, River needed a referral from the vet before the hydrotherapist could even schedule our first appointment.

Thanks for your replies. Mollie had an x-ray on Wednesday and she has osteoarthritis at the knee. I was given various treatment and management options but as she is still relatively young, have decided on an operation now rather than later.

Lovely to have an update.  Don't forget the new drug that is available for oesto there is another thread about it . Its in short supply just now bit hopefully that will be a short term problem.  Everyone has said how wonderful its is

What operation are they doing?