Hi, 4month old pup has gone lame at the front when trotting. checked pads and felt leg thoroughly, no swelling or tenderness, any ideas?? to my knowledge he hasn't done anything that could have caused this, just normal puppy madness on occasions.

What breed is it; if one of the larger breeds it may well be panosteitis. But we can't say and the dog needs to see a vet if you are worried about it. But be warned to diagnose pano it takes good quality x-rays although I think they can tell with a blood test, not sure about that though. No big problem if it is as the problem is self limiting if painful while it lasts.

He isn't a large breed, he is a nova scotia duck tolling retriever.

If it is growing fast that is large enough. Have a word with your vet, because unless you have an  idea why your puppy is lame I think it should be looked into, others will disagree and say leave it. Think it is ok to leave over the weekend but if it continues to be lame or the lameness returns I would want a vet to look at it. True it may go without treatment but dogs do not limp for effect so IMO it should not be ignored for more than a few days.

Hi,

Is it possible he could of banged himself  or slipped on some wet grass ,pulled a muscle or tendon or done something similar and  his soreness causing the lamness??
One of mine rushed through the door at ringcraft caught his right shoulder was lame for about 5 days there was no bruising or swelling I just gave him complete rest I think he was about 6 months old at the time,just a thought.
Hope the problems sorts itself out.

Briony:-)

Hi ,

Just to back up what Jackie said if your worried get the vet to check lameness out,few days would probably be ok to leave to see if it settled but if not definately see the vet;-)

thanks, i will keep an eye on it. it seems to be intermittent, and he is often trippng on that leg too. I hope it is not a sign of things to come, he certainly seems a bit young for this already.

In all the Tollers I know of I've never heard of big problems in the breed with OCD.

Best wishes, John

are these symptoms of ocd ??

Not really but intermitent is the symptoms of Pano, but that does not mean that is what it is. Usualy starts between 5 and 18 months and is self limiting, it is painfull but does not cause a lasting problem.

Thing is it could be anything, so if worried get it checked.

OCD in my experience tends to affect puppies a little older than yours. It is mainly hereditory although it can be dietary linked to oversupplementation of calcium. Often a puppy will start limping after exercise but the limp will go away after rest only to come back after further exercise.

Panosteitis usually affects larger dogs such as GSD's although I've known it in Labradors and many other breeds. Literally, it is "Growing Pains" with the limp often moving from one leg to the other. It usually starts at between 5 and 18 months old.

Knowing how good Tollers usually are I'm more inclined to think it is a simple sprain or knock. Keep an eye on it and if it starts to look as if it is developing a history such as reoccuring limps then have a word with your vet.

The only really new development in the breed that I know of is a dog developing PRA. There is only one at the moment but it is something which the breed should be now testing for. Lets face it, while there is so few there is every chance of erradicating it from the breed!

Best wishes, John

Used to think that it only affects large dogs too but 2 out of my last 5 Elkhounds have had it, so now I think, well know, that it can happen in smaller dogs. True it could be almost anything but I would not let it go on for longer than a week if the dog were mine but it is not, so it is not up to me.

It doesn't seem sore for me to touch in any areas of that leg and shoulder or the pads. I'll give it a week, as briony suggested he could well have slipped or knocked himself, with the speeds he laps the garden in !! I hope it is a sprain and nothing more.
thanks for your thoughts and opinions.