Hi there,
My St Bernard puppy is goin thru the wars at the mo, you may remember i posted a while ago about her squatting a lot - well she had struvite crystals and is on the mend with the Urinary food.... :)
BUT the last week or so she has been limping on her rear right leg. It happened when she was out playing with my other Bernard -  and now her movement is not sound at all. It didnt seem like she was hurt at the time, she got up and started trotting around like she usually does.
It has been getting better over the last week or so with complete rest, only out in the garden to relieve herself. At first she was not putting any weight on it at all, now she is but still putting most weight on her left rear. When she stands it looks as if she is leaning on her leg that she favours?
I took her to vets last night and she had a good feel and could feel no breaks but wants me to bring her in for Xrays on legs and spine to see. However, I am starting to feel that this vets does everything to my dogs or say they do when its not neccessary? I have 2 St Bernards and cos they are both insured they seem to be after the money?
I am taking Izzy to Richard Bleckman on Saturday for a second opinion. I dont want her put under unless she really has to. He treated my CollieX with a spinal problem. Vets told me at the time he had a slipped disc and it wld cost £3000 to have all the surgery? When I got to Richard Bleckman, surgery was not required at all, I paid a total of £120 for the treatment and supplements? Now he is a lot better and even bk to exercising regularly?
Now, I have been reading previous posts and was wondering if anyone here has has the same problem, the limp only seems to be in one leg and does get better with rest. Breeder and breed friends have suggested growing pains, but its only in the one leg??? Is this possible? I have also been pondering if there is a hip problem or OCD?
She is not on her puppy food anymore as she is on Urinary food to dissolve crystals? Would this have any affect to her growth?
Any help/advice would be most grateful.

To be honest, i'd go and get the second opinion so your mind is at rest but i'd still get her xray especially if it hasn't improved within a couple of days because i'd be so worried if it was OCD or hip displaysia and you really dont wont to leave her if she's in pain.  It could well be growing pains but it's better to be safe then sorry in my opinion.  Good luck

Warm regards Susan

Try not to worry too much, but definitely get your second opinion from a vet you trust. Sounds like you've already found your man - good luck for Saturday. My giant breed puppy did something similar down to the leaning (he even held the leg up sporadically) and I rested him for a week. It wasn't long enough and he began to limp again within a day or two, so after worrying myself sick but taking the breeder's advice, I rested him for 2 more weeks and he was fine after that. That was a few months ago and he actually stands on that leg since he's learned to lift one to pee!

Growing pains (panosteitis), they can move from leg to leg, but are much more common in males than females apparently. That will correct itself without any x-rays or operations needed. I think OCD is more common in the shoulders - I'm not sure if you can get OCD in the hips? Try not to think the worst until you see the vet.

As for the food, a lot of people in giant breeds would say that it's better that she's NOT on a puppy food as it can cause all sorts of problems due to the puppy growing too rapidly.

Phoebe,

thanks sooo much for your reply. I am praying its nothing serious and she is not in too much pain. She is such a happy lively thing. :)
We will know soon and until then I am goin to try and stop worrying too much.

How did you get on at the vets with her?

Hi I was just thinking about you on my way home from vets.
I took her for a second opinion this morning, had her hungry just in case she needed Xrays...
But Richard had a good feel of her leg foot and hips, and diagnosed a sprained hock?
Which sooo MUCH better than wot I could of expected. :)
Rest and anti inflammatries.
I only need to take her back IF she doesnt repond to medication.

had a similar problem with  my 6 mnth old spaniel in the end phone ainsworths homeophathics sent me some tabs limp was gone he had had this limp for 3 weeks i was resting him as much as i could. Whether this was just coincidental i don,t know but tabs were about £6 so worth a try

That's great news! I'm sure it will do the trick.