I have a 5 1/2 mth old Golden retriever pup. A few days ago she was playing quite physically (as pups do) with my young collie (19 mths but about the same size as the pup.) She suddenly gave a little yelp and started limping quite badly. She was favouring her right front paw and it appeared very limp - she couldn't put any weight on it. However within 5 mins it had gone back to normal and we thought no more of it. THe following day she did it again whilst playing with another dog out on her walk, same leg but quickly got better. In between she has been fine - no limp at all. On the third day - yesterday - i was at work all morning but my mum tells me that her leg kept giving way particularly when she jumped - something she will insist on doing dispite me saying no!! (Puppies!, who'd have 'em?!) In between episodes she seemed fine, although mum said she had licked her right paw quite a bit more than the other. She didn't have a walk yesterday becuase of this and we tried to avoid stressing the leg - i.e. not allowing her to run downstairs and jump on and off the furniture - both things she isn't really allowed to do but will try our patience with. Today to my knowledge she has been ok. Do you think this is anything to worry about? The lack of pain seems to rule out any breaks or dislocations. I wondered whether it may have been a bit of muscle damage or a trapped nerve. I do worry alot about OCD (elbow displasia) and as a result limit her exercise and jumping to the best of my ability - but she is a large dog to carry downstairs now so it isn't so easy.
Do you think a trip to the vets is in order or is it fairly normal for pups to hurt themselves in this way?

I would not take a puppy to the vets the first time but if it happens again, particulaly if there is no real obvious reason for the limp then I would. Puppies rough and tumble play is more than enough to cause a slight twist but that should clear up fast. A limp from OCD will come back over and over again.

Regards, John

As your Golden has done this three times now I would take her to the vet. Once, I would not bother .. but for her to indicate something was wrong with her foot three times seems a pretty good indication that she injured it somehow. Did you check her paw for grass seeds, glass, cuts and so on?

Puppies get so excited that they do forget pain. Or perhaps our pup only feels pain enough to make her think about it when she puts a certain amount of stress on the leg. Certainly if you see her limping or holding the paw up I would take her to the vet straight away. Sometimes pups get what is called a green stick fracture, meaning a bone bends but does not actually break. Generally not serious, but really resting the leg may be in order.

Does not sound like OCD. OCD will show up even without jumping around or hard play.

Stacey

Hi thanks for your replies. I took her to the vet for a check up and she couldn't find anything wrong and so thinks it was probably just a sprain. Phew!