Hi everyone - what a great site. I came across it recently when my pup had diarrhea and found the info really helpful. Now I've managed to master the login! wondered if anyone has any experience of the following. I have a six month old black labrador who has developed what looked like swellings on his back legs, just below the hocks. I took him to the vet who didn't seem to know but said it could be thickening of the skin where he sits. He said he was more worried about his knees which seemed rather large. He said not to worry about it as I wasn't showing him he should be ok, but when I said that I was concerned about exercise etc making it worse and I was thinking of doing field trial training he said well probably best not to overdo it. So I'm really none the wiser! Any suggestions or ideas would be much appreciated
regards Jenny

I would ask for a specialist referal to and orthpaedic specialsit.

Thanks for your reply Brainless. When I asked whether it should be investigated further his reply was there was no point. It's not causing any discomfort he's not been lame, it's probably just the way he's made and all they would do is take xrays and there's not alot they'd be able to do if it was arthritis anyway! maybe I need go back and insist!
regards Jenny

hi, if you are not happy with what your vet has said then go to another vet for a second opinion.
violet-anne

mmmm would not be happy with this answer from my vet. If he is not sure what is the cause then I would insist on a referraland if it turned out to be nothing then I would be happy, (Good idea to look online at who he suggests referring you too if you go that route, to see what they have done etc. I have just been over 300 miles to see referral vet and it was worth every mile), if he doesn't know the reason then it follows he doesn't know if any damage that could be a problem in the future is being made worse.
Hope you get sorted out ok.

hi there jenp i too wish id found this site years ago, regarding your lab if you are in any doubt with your vets 'diagnosis' i would certainly thick about getting a nother vets opinion, i found myself in a similar situation a few years ago where i asked time and time again about referffing my cocker to a specialist but my vets kept putting me off with various excuses ie lets just try a couple of other things first routine, call me cynical but i got the distinct impression that thay were trying to put me off so i would spend my well earned money there rather than at the specialists. Eventually i went to a homepathic vet who agreed with me that she should of been seen by a specialist, but unfortunatly the damage had been done. Ithink we tend to treat vets the xsame way we do about doctors we daren't question their diagnosis and just 'go with the flow'.so if in any doubt get another opinion especially as your lab is so young

Thanks for all your replies. Having only just changed to a new vet I thought I might be overly fussy so it's reassurring to know others would not leave it as it is. I have an appointment tomorrow to see the senior vet in the practise and will put my assertive hat on!

Hi Jenny,
I have 2 working labs and was advised by my wonderful vet to give them both Cortavet, which is a supplement to help their tendons,ligaments and general joints. It contains Glucosamine Sulphate and Chondroitin and I have found that it really helps to keep their joints unstressed. My bitch broke a front shoulder when she was a year old, she's now 5 1/2 and because of supplementing her diet, I hope that any arthritis is kept to the minimum. My pup, at nearly 6 months is also on it, not for any problems that he has now, but for the future. I would definitely ask your vet for a second opinion, and if they still say that its nothing, then change vets. Please let us know what happens
Cheers
Ali :)

hi mental cat could you e mail me and let me know witch vet you use as we are not 100% confident in ours and i know we are roughly in the same area
Many thanks

Following a return visit to see the main vet (very helpful and thorough) Jazz went back to have xrays today. Thankfully his joints look fine and are all growing as they should. It would appear that he's just going to be a very big lab! Thanks for the tip about Cortavet. I've heard about it being used for arthritis but not as a preventative. Do you get it from the vet or is it available elsewhere?
thanks Jenny

Jenny, I get my cortavet online from Vetmedic.co.uk. I have used them for the last couple of years and the service is usually brilliant. If you spend over £20, p&p is free, cortavet is about £23 a bottle-it seems a lot of money, but its concentrated, so it goes a long way. Let me know how it goes
Cheers Ali :)