Hi, tess has had a limp on and off now for a few months, shes fine out walking and when we take her up the woods she runs like a whipet, its only really after resting that it occurs, anyway we took her to the vets today, he examined her leg manipulated back and forth, round and round she didnt once object, he was unsure what it was, he said it could be arthritus (shes only 2) or just a sprain thats not healing, anyway he gave her a anti-inflamatary injection and a course of Rhimidal and to take her back next week, she is total rest,(not easy) no walks or runs, then if no better next week he x-ray and blood tests, anyone else had this problem? im worried sick about her, she is just great in herself eating, drinking etc,,,, she will be confused in the morning when she wont be going for her walk, bless

Aaaw, poor girl.  Not had this problem though did have a GSD a couple of years ago that quite frequently pulled muscles trying to keep up with the Belgians!
Best of luck and hope Tess is better soon.

Arthritus at 2 years old is very young even for the biggest of breeds.  More likely to be a bad pull that she keeps re-pulling on walks.  Someone on another thread mentioned something similar and they took the dog to a doggy chiropractor as the vet couldn't find anything and that dog it now fine.  So there is always something you try, i would be wary of vets that offer very expensive test without a clue whats wrong, they like to test for everything even if it is unlikely.  You never know it may be nothing and after a bit of rest she could be fine.  Not time to start worrying yet.

Lets us know how you get on

Emma

just a up date, tess has been resting all week, well no walks or runs, she has just been running from time to time around the house, jumping on and off the bed, she has not been limping which is great news, but i feel if we did take her for a run the limping would return, anyway we are back at the vets tomorrow, she has nearly finished her rymadal. i do not object the vet doing a blood test to rule out arthritus and a x-ray but im sure its a rest rest and more rest treatment, i will let you know how we get on,

>Arthritus at 2 years old is very young even for the biggest of breeds.

But not unknown.  My crossbreed was diagnosed with arthritis in his right knee aged 2 and a half following periods of intermittent limping.  The arthritis was brought on by damage to the cruciate ligament which had apparently stretched over a period of time.  As the limp was very on-and-off it took some time before the extent of the problem became evident.  10 months later, the left knee was diagnosed with the same thing only with that one there was no limping at all until the cruciate tore but by that time severe arthritis had already set in.

Hopefully the OPs dog has just a recurring strain or something but it would certainly be wise to have it checked out thoroughly just in case.  In our case, the diagnosis was by x-ray which, as I recall, wasn't terribly expensive.

im sure the vet will x-ray her tomorrow, what damage will this show, and is arthritus diagnose by blood test only? thank you

My boy's x-rays showed the arthritis very clearly...even I could see as soon as the vet showed me the x-ray that the joint wasn't right.  Little jagged 'spurs' had formed on the bone.  My vet was able to tell by manipulation of the joint that there was a problem with the cruciate but he is an orthopaedic specialist with vast experience. 

Good luck tomorrow.  Fingers crossed that it's nothing serious but, for what its worth, my boy is doing fabulously well and appears to be a normal 4 year old active large breed dog...anyone who doesn't know him would never guess that he is severely arthritic in both back legs :-)  So, even if the news isn't so good, there is definitely hope :-)

the vet did manipulate it and said he thinks it could be her elbow? but put her on rest and tablets for a week, may i ask where you live?

Northern Ireland.

My other dog is having an issue with one of her elbows.  X-rays have come back clear so vet thinks it's just some soft tissue damage that she keeps aggravating because she's so active but nothing to worry about.  Hopefully yours will be something similar :-)

oh i hope so. fingers crossed

Tess Loves Her Aunty :)

just a update... after a weeks rest and rimadil, tesses limp had completly dissapered,anyway i took tess backto the vets on thursday, and as i thought he wanted a x-ray, so i took her back friday morning, i had to leave her as she had to have a GA, anyway GOOD NEWS the vets said the x-rays where all clear and showed no signs of arthritus, or boney damage,, he wants her on another weeks rest and rymadil, and see her again next week and if still the same he will discharge her. but if it returns (FINGERS CROSSED) it wont he will then have to look into x-raying her neck/shoulders ect... but it may be a while befor she goes out running like a rabbitt, but i cant wait till we can take her for a walk around the streets, it may be a long withdrawn process but will be worth it in the long run!!!!!

That's great news :-)

Great news, glad she is up about again.  See told you not to worry.

Emma

Please please please make sure if you are prescribed Rimadyl or Metacam make sure it is given with food and never on an empty stomach. Sorry to be bossy but using rimadyl was thought to be a contributary factor ias to why we lost our flattie.lt can cause serious gastric problems in susceptable dogs.

oh im worried now. is rymadil that bad?

I know dogs who've been given many more months, sometimes a year or two, of pain-free life because of Rimadyl. The important thing is to make sure that you follow the instructions, just as with any other medication, whether for your dog or yourself.

going to vets tonight, hopefully he will sign tess off, i will let you know,

just to let you know we went to the vets last night, he has discharged her he was pleased that the rest and tablets has done the job,, and said that she can now go on lead walks and build up her excersice rountine up,, im so happy :) we will take her up the woods for a run on sunday but will obmitt the ball play (which she runs at great speed) and just see how it goes, thankyou for sharing this problem with me,