We're booked into the vets tomorrow for a checkup, but I just wondered if any one has come across a similar problem, we have an 8 month old Springer Spaniel who has started limping on her front leg, she doesn't do it all the time and there doesn't seem to be any pattern to it after watching her for a few days, i.e after exercise. We've checked her paw, pads and nails for any thorns or cuts, she allows us to handle her leg and shoulder with out indicating any pain, and there doesn't seem to be any swelling any where on her leg. Some times the limp is quite pronounced, and other times its barely noticable, and other times theres no limp at all. She still runs round like a lunatic whether she's limping or not, which to us would suggest theres no pain, but still a limp? Tonight she has had episodes of limping very badly but when a friend came round with his Border Collie the limp disappeared completely as she played tag around the living room, he suggested she may be seeking attention with the limp, which she certainly does get when she starts limping. Other then that we're at a complete loss.

Robert

Could be a few things Robert like panosteitis or OCD or even a strain.
Dogs can be quite stoical when they are carrying an injury or in pain and often can lose the symptoms when distracted enough. It may need an X ray to have a good look at the leg if it doesn't improve with resting for a few days.
Hope it's nothing serious :)
Lara

Hi Lara,
Heidi and I have been to the vets today, the vet thinks that its possibly a strain, bit he's also worried that it could be a growth disorder as she's only 8 months old, he had a good feel around the shoulder and mentioned Panosteitis as well as some other stuff which flew right over my head, Heidis been prescribed Rimadyl for a week and then a half dose for another week, 50mg then 25mg. If theres no improvement, then we'll arrange some xrays.
I feel a lot better now I was worried about knee displasia after reading that is becoming more common in Springers,

Robert

I don't say this to alarm you but simply to keep you astute:

My mum's dog was on rymadil for a couple of weeks and developed quite a severe gastro problem. It may have been unrelated but the vet said it's not uncommon with this drug, so just keep your eye on things poo-wise whilst on this drug.

Like I said earlier, I'm not saying this alarm you, just help.

I have been prescribed rimadyl over the years for various dogs and had no side effects, however due to the info now available I book marked this site and as one of my sibes has just had a 2 week course of it, I kept a close eye on her for side effects :-)

I would just like to emphasise the need to watch for any side effects while your dog is on Rimadyl. Originally this drug was intended to help older dogs with arthritis but unfortunately a lot of vets are now handing them out like smarties. Did your vet warn you of the possibility of side effects ? Sadly, many don't.

You can look up info on Rimadyl at http://www.srdogs.com

Hope your dog improves soon - sometimes rest works a lot better than drugs !!
Joyce

No the vet didn't mention any side effects, and I noticed unlike human drugs, no warning of possible side effects came with the pills either.
The other thing was I did a search just now and saw that the drug costs roughly £25.00 for 60, I've just been charged £18.00 for 18, some one making a great dealof money somewhere.

Don't forget the vet has to pay for his premises, business rates, nurses' salaries, equipment, insurance etc etc. It's the mark-up on prescriptions and sales that pays for these. That's where much of the profit goes. But don't forget, they're not a charity. Think of the vet as being a private doctor, not on the NHS. The client has to pay for everything.

There are possible side effects with Rimadyl. The problem is that only some dogs suffer these side effects so keep a close watch just in case. The other thing I will say is that if it does a good job then it takes the pain away. The problem then can be that the dog, not feeling the pain, reacts as if there is nothing wrong and by so doing can aggrivate the problem. Rimadyl is not a cure, only a pain killer. It is the rest which provides the cure.

Best wishes, John

Well said, John. Couldn't agree more ! :)

Joyce

Hi Robert

I had to use Rimadyl long term and never had any of the mentioned side effects, but I wouldn't consider using it in your circumstances for exactly the reasons that John has mentioned.
I would restrict exercise and see how she goes if she was mine. My vet would not prescribe it unless he absolutely had to. I remember his reluctance when I asked him for some after one of my dogs had a major surgery.
Fingers crossed it is only a strain.
Lara x

ust a bit of an update.
Although after reading all the advice about Rimadyl, I thought I ought to keep Heidi on it as the vet had prescribed it, and as it was for only a week, I kept a close eye on her , and didn't notice any of the possible symptoms.
I kept her in all week with no off lead runs and only very short walks
Unfortunately after coming off the Rimadyl on Friday the limp seems even worse then before, she doesn't seem too bothered about it and lets us handle her shoulder, so I thought I would leave her today, and Monday book her in to the vets.
She still bounces around on her front legs if she gets the chance, its been a nightmare trying to stop her from crashing around, and she did manage to slip out the front door the other day, she headed for the field across the road and there was no way she was coming back till she'd done a couple of laps of it, strangely after that exercise she didn't have any more of a limp then before.

Robert

MB my six month Lab has the same problem at the moment. She has been put on Metacam for the short term. I have had her on strict rest for the week which has been difficult with Moose our 18 month old, as they do like to tear a round. Hasn't helped as Moose came back with a slight limp last week after a mamouth hike so all are not been walked at the moment :( . Moose is also now in season so she is grumpy and there are lots os spats going on so it is all good fun here at the moment! :D

MB has shown a slight improvement but that I think is down to the rest rather than the medication. She is still however showing signs that there is still a problem there so next week if still no more improvement we will get her Xrayed.

I know it is difficult to get them to rest but I feel it is the best solution!

Hope you see some improvement soon !

Lucy

Hi Robert
It seems like, as John said, Rimadyl was only easing the pain, rather than curing whatever it is that's causing the limp. Perhaps it's time for some x-rays.

You say that you continued with the Rimadyl because the vet prescribed it. Unfortunately vets don't get it right all the time - the fact that you weren't told about the possible side effects (as recommended by the makers of the drug) bears this out. I used to be very trusting but I now ask lots of questions and do a lot of research for my own peace of mind.

Hope Heidi's problem is soon sorted out.

Joyce

Hi Joyce
we managed to get Heidi in for Xrays today, the Xrays didn't show any problems with the bones at all, which we think is good news. I talked to the vet about Rimadyl, and he said he understood my concerns, and in this instance he's happy to continue with out the Rimadyl and just rest Heidi, he's suggested 4 lead walks a day of no more then 5 minutes duration for two weeks, then we go back to see if theres an improvement. His feeling is that its a growth problem which she will grow out of.
I must say I felt much more confident talking to him today, having some idea of questions to ask, and he wascertainly more forth coming with information, its the age old problem, of knowing the right buttons to press to get the right response.

Thank you all for your suggestions, and support.

Robert

Glad to hear that nothing serious showed up on the x-rays, Robert. Also glad that you were able to talk to your vet about the potential problems of Rimadyl - not all vets take kindly to questions regarding the treatment and advice they give :) But I think the tide is slowly turning in this respect due to people having wider access to info/research via the net.

Hope Heidi gets on OK.

Joyce

Just an update on Heidi,

We saw the vet today after 2 weeks of rest, (well as much rest as you can make a 9 month old Springer have). The limp has dissappeared, so the vet says its most likely a sprain or a strain that caused it, as nothing showed up on the x-rays. He suggests gradually increasing her exercise keeping a close eye on her to make sure the limp doesn't return.
Its a huge relief it wasn't any thing more serious.
Thank you all for your advice, it was very much appreciated.

A relieved and grateful Robert

ps. thank you admin for the name change I hated the old one

Hi Robert, know this was a while ago but just wondered if you'd had any recurrence? My 7 month lab limped for a week, was put on Rimadyl and rest for a week (with no ill effects except to our mental health!!) and now seems 100%, a week after finishing the tablets. The vet said she though it might be a tendon strain. Having scared myself stiff by reading all the posts on here about OCD, pano, dysplasia etc. it would be nice to hear from someone whose dog didn't have anything structurally wrong...

Hi Chris.
I'm very happy to say there's been no re-occurence, which is what the vet predicted.
It is a worry when you read posts, but you have to try and keep it in context, by its very nature, a board such as this is where you are going to read about possible problems, there are many dog owners who never have a serious problem ever thankfully.

Lucy, before you go to the expense of x-raying your lab, scrub the pads of the foot she is limping on (with a nailbrush) and if you can see a round mark with a black dot in the middle, it's a corn :-)

We have already checked her paws thoroughly for anything and there was nothing ! The problem is definately in her shoulder as you can see by the way she moves and after the vet has examined her. The expense is not an issue for us luckily so long as we can find out what the problem is and get it sorted for her so she is not in any discomfort.

Thanks for your help anyway !

Lucy

Hi Thanks to Robert K,
our dog same problem, so will go with rest and see how she goes. Vets not my favourite port of call, and with all that you've said wont bother getting the tablets as it sounds that they didn't do much anyway. Will say that she has been to the chiropractor and will be taking her again whilst the limping continues just to make sure she's not putting too much pressure on any other bits (as you said there's not much that''ll stop them racing like lunatics). Recommend chiropractic to all dog owners, its amazing what they can do and pricewise alot cheaper than vets bills!

Anyway thanks again very helpful xx

I HAVE SEVERAL ESS AND HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN WITH 2 OF MINE AT THIS AGE
REST IS BEST AND YOU WILL FIND IT WILL COME OK I THINK ITS WHEN THEY HAVE A GROTH SPURT THAT THIS CAN HAPPEN