Hi everyone

I was hoping somebody would give me some advice regarding my 4 month old ladbrador retriever.  He was jumping up at my son last week and when he got down he landed a bit strange and limped a little but after 5 minutes he was fine.

The otherday, he was playing with another puppy and was loving it but this puppy was a border terrior and faster than him which meant he was running about a little too much.  they were also rolling about with each other and I had to stop play as he was getting too giddy and I did not want him to over do it.  The next day we went on a short 20 min slow walk in the field near us and he was just sniffing about and not doing too much but he started to limp a little bit.  I made him rest for the next day or two and just let him go in and out of the garden and only have a 10 min walk.  The limp did  not come back.  I have restricted him to playing in the garden and have reduced his walking down.  When we did go out, he spent most of the time just sniffing off lead and never runs about so I dont really do 20 mins continuous walking.  More like a slow ramble.

When he gets up after sleeping he looks like he is stiff when walking but It might be that he is just tired as its not a limp.  He is Ok when he comes round (just like me when I get up, its takes 3 cups of coffee for me to come round ha.)

He is 40lb at four months, and when we got him from the breeder he was 16lb at 8 weeks so I do worry that he is getting too big.  He does not look fat and has the correct recommended food with no extra bits/treats.  We give him his own food as reward.

Am I over doing it?  should I not let him play with other dogs? I feel really bad and really hope I have not hurt him allowing this play the oher day.

Any advice would be appreciated

Amanda (andmerlin)

I would just say the amount recommended on food bags is in nearly all cases too much.  Has he a waist at all, can you easily feel his ribs and spine with just a thin covering of flesh, or do you have to dig, he does sound very heavy for just four months old, as that is what one of mien would weigh as an adult, at 20 inches at the shoulder. 

Hopefully your breeder or an experienced lab breeder will be able to advise what is a usual weight range for this age.

As for the signs it could b e either or, and all you can do is what you are doing and keep an eye on any signs as he matures as of course the bones are still growing all the time.

I would rest him completely for a few days and see how he goes. He will be fine just to go out to the toilet in the garden. If after that he is still limping then pop him to the vets but remember alot of vets will if a labrador is limping on the front legs immediately say it is OCD. Do not go straight for x rays etc cos most often it isn't.
As for exercise you say 20 minutes is that once or twice a day?
My labs do not get walked properly (so other than socialising at shopping centres or along roads etc) until they are over 6 months old and would then only get 10 minutes twice a day until they are 9 months old. After that I do 30 minutes twice aday but this would not be playing with strange dogs unless you have a friend with a nice calm dog who is not going to be jumping all over him. It might sound restrictive BUT the more you protect them in the first few months the better your chances of no problems later on. Of course your pup can still have play in the garden and in the house with you.
others on here will do completely differently but this has always worked for me.
I really can't comment on weight as I only work in kilos but I know my own labs reach about 30 kgs by 6 - 8 months of age and at full maturity are 36kgs. It depends on type and lines.
Obviously we do not know where you brought the pup from but are the parents hip/elbow and eye tested?

>I really can't comment on weight as I only work in kilos but I know my own labs reach about 30 kgs by 6 - 8 months of age and at full maturity are 36kgs.

I think 40lbs is around 18kg.

Amanda what food are you feeding?As the calcium and phosphorus amounts are crucial at this age.Also feeding a meat based or grain based diet could impact things as well.
I'm not saying your feeding regime has anything to do with anything,I'm just a real foodie and am always curious to know what people are feeding,and how much?

Hiya Ktee

Thanks for your reply

I was told to give him pedigree complete puppy.  He does not have anything apart from frozen bits of fruit and veg in his kong for teething. 

Amanda

Hi freespirit10

We bought him from an kc accredited breeder.  Both parents were both hip/eye tested and elbow tested and they were clear.  I have been over walking him and letting him play too much from what you have said, so I am going to reduce this.  He has really enjoyed wandering in and out of the garden today and he does not seem to be limping.  He does make me panic though when he chases the cats.  We have two and others keep popping in the garden to annoy him.  ahhh.

I will give him a few days with no walking and then start to slowly introduce a little walk again but for just 10 mins max.

Thanks for your advice.

Amanda

Oh forgot to say, he is 18kg (worked it out on a converter - hope this is right) and from working stock.  His mum and dad were very thick set.

Hi Amanda... wont add much more to the good advice you have been given... and definately agree with reducing his excersise.. please dont allow him to run around with other dogs at the moment...

His weight seems fine.. he is much lighter than my pups are at this age.. my 5month old boy is sitting at 32kg at the moment.. yes.. he is a  big boy, but his litter sister who I also kept is just over 20kg...

I dont restrict her excersise as much as McKenzie's... but niether are allowed to run around with my other dogs... in fact each pup is 'given' and oldie dog, and they just toddle alongside them... all onlead excersise is app 20mins

Hopefully you will manage to train him out of chasing cats... (I have 2 cats also.. it takes a little time... just persevere ;-)

Hi

well I took Merlin to the vets today although his limp has stopped because he has an ear infection.  whilst at the vets i did kill 2 birds with one stone and asked about his limping.  He thinks that he is growing really quickly and has suggested a change of diet to slow it down a little.  he also got me to buy glucosamine and chondrontoin to use for a few months until he slows down.  We told to allow him up to 15 mins walking a couple of times a day but no boistrous play.

Amanda

The usual rule for walking young dogs is to walk them for 5 minutes for every month of their age - so a 4 month old puppy would be walked for 20 minutes. Another thing to avoid is letting him jump around a lot - as in don't play games where he jumps off the ground to grab at a tuggy etc, don't let him jump in or out of the back of your car and also avoid climbing up and down stairs with him as this all puts a lot of strain on young joints.

Lots of information on looking after a puppy  mentions that you must be prepared to exercise your dog and this can cause people to think they should be out and about giving their new puppies lots of exercise when, in fact, exercise should be limited for puppies in order to take the best care possible of their young joints. It can be quite confusing :)