Help please :) Bramble has been a bit stiff getting up this week :( He is running fine - he is very fit and muscled with no spare fat :) He lives for his ball on the rope and it is difficult NOT throwing it for him. I'm not sure if this is a start of a long-term problem or a one off. We had a problem with him last Monday. He loves chasing our neighbours very large lurcher (Irish Wolfhound X) and tries to keep up with him. Bramble is probably less than half his size and gives him a good run for his money :D On Monday Bramble apparently (my daughter had taken the dogs out ) fell while chasing him. He completely winded himself and my daughter had to carry him home (she was very distressed as she didn't know what the problem was). Bramble recovered pretty quickly and we didn't think any more off it. Could the stiffness be linked. Also this afternoon, he and Tara had a wood at each other - he moved quickly sideways and yelped loudly. We don't know how old he is - at least 7. He's a GSD Xed with goodness knows what :D

Any suggestions as to what the problem might be and anything we can do apart from trying to stop him charging aroung (I won't take him to agility tomorrow).

Daisy

Apologies for typing errors :D :D Too late to correct :D

Daisy

I would say that the best thing to do is give him complete rest.  NO ball throwing and just gentle on lead walks.  And if you are worried, take him to the vet!  That's what they are there for.

I think (IMO) it could be more than possible that he is stiff from the fall.  So think what you would be told to do?  Rest rest and more rest.  No bashful playing.  Everything calm and rested.

If he is bruised you could try using arnica either orally or in cream form if you know where he is bruised.

Mand
P.s it might be worth going to see a good osteopath. They often have a good knowledge of treating sports related injuries in dogs.

He is due to go to the vets very soon anyway for his annual MOT :) I'll get him checked out then. The vast majority of the time he is fine - but, obviously, he has a problem, hopefully not a longterm one :)

Daisy

It could be linked or possibly the onset of hip dysplasia.  Definatly complete rest for a week, no ball throwing, walks, chasing etc.  If still stiff go to the vets and get him checked out.

>It could be linked or possibly the onset of hip dysplasia<

Not @ 7 years of age, more likely to be a strain/pulled muscle or arthritis. HD doesn't develop it is there from birth & if he has been ok upto now even if he has HD it is very unlikely to start affecting him now(I had a severely dysplasic dog who was as sound as a bell until the day he died despite knocks & falls etc)

Hope he is feeling better

>Not @ 7 years of age, more likely to be a strain/pulled muscle or arthritis. HD doesn't develop it is there from >birth & if he has been ok upto now even if he has HD it is very unlikely to start affecting him now(I had a >severely dysplasic dog who was as sound as a bell until the day he died despite knocks & falls etc)

Moonmaiden, my severely dysplastic dog started EXACTLY like this and he didn't have any symptoms whatsoever until after 6. So my guess would be that HD is quite likely. :(

Just wanted to say sorry about Bramble Daisy, I hope he starts feeling better soon :) Let us know how he get's on won't you?

Best wishes

Nat xxx

since hip dysplasia is a progressive disease its possible a dog would not show clinical symptoms until they get older..clinical and radiographic dysplasia are two different things

>since hip dysplasia is a progressive disease<

"Canine Hip Dysplasia literaly means improper growth of the canine hip. This improper growth makes the hip loose and wobbly, leading to increased movement of the hip. This will result over time in arthritis and lameness of the animal if left untreated"

"Many animals afflicted with hip dysplasia will likely have problems walking up stairs, slowness in rising, lameness after exercise and they may exhibit personality changes due to their ever present pain. Animals with hip dysplasia are at greater risk of injury through normal and especially through strenious activity. It is entirely possible for a dog to have CHD but show no symptoms (yet) or a dog to have severe crippling symptoms. The only way to tell for sure that your pet has CHD is via a radiographic (X-ray) exam done"

Whilst the joint may deteriorate due to arthritis due to the malformation of the joint & the surfaces of the joint interacting together the actual malformation occurs during the growth period of the dog therefore the actual malformation does not progress as such.

CHD onset occurs much earlier in life that 7 years of age(as above during the growth period), but an injury even a slight knock can aggrievate the condition causing a flare up of pain & arthritis development & progression(info not in quotes from my X ray vet who has a very good indepth knowlegde of HD & related problems)

Very interesting, MM :) Thanks. Obviously, as Bramble is a mongrel and a rescue, we have no history for him so have no idea what to expect, other than he has been very fit until now :)

Daisy

Have you considered the idea of a chiropractor or a canine sports massage ? Of course either of these can only be done on a vets refferal.
Just a thought as i know both of these have helped one of our dogs out tremendesly.
Hope bramble feels better soon :-)

Sorry to hear Bramble is not firing on all cylinders at the mo.

I would rest him but also get him checked over to see what your vet thinks.

When Dudley over does it we make sure she rests well and just gentle execercise and sometimes a dose of metacam helps :)

Hope you get to the bottom of it and give him a big hug from the girls and me :)

Lucy
xx

I'm booking him into the vet's next week. He seems not too bad today - although he sits a little carefully and gets up the same. I'll keep you all posted :)

Thanks for your support :)

Daisy

I had a lab with hip dyspalasia and it was clearly apparent by 7 months of age.  but the reason I said it could be hip dysplasia in this older dog is that I have 2 friends with labs that showed carbon copy  symptoms, one age 7 and one age 8.  So yes it can  manifest itself and come to light later in life as well.

Bev

Back to square one with Bramble's legs, I think :( We've rested him for weeks and he seemed to be getting better until he saw the vet last night :rolleyes: Took Bramble for his booster (only lepto and pi ) asked the vet to check out his legs. Bramble is very nervous of strangers and stood shaking and tense :( This evening Bramble is very stiff and had difficulty getting up and walking a few yards - I suspect that he was so nervous last night that the vet's examination hasn't helped :( So, back to gentle exercise and a return to agility doesn't look likely for the near future.

(The vet couldn't find anything wrong and said that it was probably muscular. He was reluctant to put him on any medication, but said to bring him back for xrays etc if he gets worse)

Daisy

I missed this somehow, first time round Daisy - poor Bramble!

Personally, I think I would be inclined to treat this as if it were a hip problem - as you say, you have no knowledge of Bramble's history prior to coming to you, and maybe, early environmental factors have left him with a weakness.

I don't think it would do any harm to put him on glucosamine and chondroitin (from good ole Holland & Barretts) - and maybe see if there are any hydrotherapy pools close by, where he could go, say once a month??

I always believe in pro-active medication ;)

Margot

Good idea, Margot :) I'll get down to H&B's tomorrow, hopefully. I had been giving him Arnica, but had stopped last weekend as he seemed to be getting better. I was relieved that the vet didn't want to start him on medication (saved me saying no :) ) - I hate longterm medicines unless really necessary. There is a hydrotherapy pool not too far away, but I don't know whether he'd co-operate :) Poor little boy - he is worse now than he was at the beginning :( Hopefully he'll get better quickly.

Daisy