Sudden Lameness/limping

[Guest msteele]

I am usually a lurker here, but have learned more from this site than anywhere else -- now I need help.

 

Cooper woke up yesterday morning limping and /or lame. He doesn't seem to be in pain, but is having a great deal of trouble using his left rear leg. He is 9 1/2, and has had some episodes of neck pain and swelling in the 5 years that he has lived with us, but none recently. He hasn't taken any spills, and it's been too hot for him to be very active lately. He was fine on Friday night.

 

We took him to the vet (who has a grey of his own, and in whom I have a great deal of faith), who thinks it is "neurological." He gave us a short course of steroids, and suggested very limited activity. He wants to see Cooper immediately if he gets any worse, and if he's not showing any improvement in a few days he'll do x-rays. After 1 dose of meds he is the same.

 

What is breaking my heart is how sad he seems, and how in spite of his difficulty to move around he is still trying so hard to please us (sitting when we prepare his meals, which is very difficult for him). But that's not the point -- has anyone seen anything like this in their greys? Does this seem like lumbrosacral stenosis? How is this diagnosed? I'd be deeply appreciateive of any ideas, suggestions, or feedback. C. is my first grey, and he's changed my life. This is scaring me.

 

Thanks for any responses.

 

Mariah and Cooper

[Guest greytexplorer]

So sorry you're having to deal with this.

Does sound like neurological/LS, given his age.

If it were me, I'd take Cooper to the vet tomorrow and get those xrays.

xoxoxo to you both, and please keep posted. I'll be looking for updates tomorrow!

[Guest crazy4greys]

It has happened to two of my greys. Here is some info by Dr. Suzanne Stack about LS. chiropractic & acupunture is also very beneficial in helping with LS. I would definately get x-rays taken. Good luck

 

Lumbosacral Stenosis

[Guest luluaz]

It has happened to two of my greys. Here is some info by Dr. Suzanne Stack about LS. chiropractic & acupunture is also very beneficial in helping with LS. I would definately get x-rays taken. Good luck

 

Lumbosacral Stenosis

 

Ditto-

Xrays ASAP

Sending prayers for your pup!

[iluvgreys]

Sorry to hear that your boy is not responding to the medication. I would be very concerned about unexplained limping/pain. Would get x-rays done and have them read by a specialist is there's any areas of doubt. Sending lots of prayers to Cooper.

Edited August 5, 2007 by iluvgreys

[MarcR]

I'll second what's already been said... Take him for x-rays.

[greyhoundgang]

Limping can be many things, particularly at that age.

1. Arthritis - joint supplements (glucosamine, MSM, chondroitin, vitamin C, CMO), acupuncture, massage, moderate exercise, raw diet, and other natural methods can prevent and help.

2. Tick diseases - blood work will tell you this

3. Cancer - blood work and xrays if bone cancer

4. Valley Fever - again blood work, and you would see swelling.

5. You mentioned neck pains - i've had great success with chiropractic work too - readjusts, and using natural anti-inflammatories like MSM, Yucca, Bromelain (Wobenzym is a good digestive enzyme with some natural anti-inflammatories)

 

Greyhound Gang has information about arthritis, with high quality, low cost products, with proceeds helping hounds. we also have booklets of info - When I am Older, and Greyt Health (a compliation of all of dr. stack's articles) Greyhound Gang Booklets.

 

Good luck with the diagnosis.

 

claudia

Greyhound Gang

[Houndmommy03]

Don't wait, get the x-rays. When Lucky started limping for no apparent reason our vet thought it was a disk in her neck and gave us steroids and told us to limit her activity (hard to do with a 5 year old grey). This didn't help and x-rays showed something different (use a specialist or a vet with lots of grey experience - our vet had grey experience and did okay to a point with her diagnosis but ultimately didn't have enough experience and we went in circles for ahwile).

 

Good luck!

Kim, Silver and Holly

[NeylasMom]

No additional advice from me, just that I hope Cooper is okay. Keep us posted.

[Guest ss556]

Sending prayers and looking for an update.

[Guest msteele]

Thanks SO much to everyone who has responded and is keeping us in their thoughts.

 

After 2 doses of steroids Cooper is better, but still favoring the leg, though he still does not appear to be in pain, and wants to run (yikes). He is in better spirits, which is heartening, in spite of a very upsetting (for him) incident of peeing what seemed like about 2 gallons on his bed at 3 am. He's never pottied in the house, and was so distressed over this, and we realized how much he has spoiled us by being such an easy dog.

 

I'll be in touch with the vet today, and we are keeping our fingers crossed.

[Houndmommy03]

Thanks SO much to everyone who has responded and is keeping us in their thoughts.

 

After 2 doses of steroids Cooper is better, but still favoring the leg, though he still does not appear to be in pain, and wants to run (yikes). He is in better spirits, which is heartening, in spite of a very upsetting (for him) incident of peeing what seemed like about 2 gallons on his bed at 3 am. He's never pottied in the house, and was so distressed over this, and we realized how much he has spoiled us by being such an easy dog.

 

I'll be in touch with the vet today, and we are keeping our fingers crossed.

 

The steriods will cause him to drink a lot and of course pee a lot if my memory is correct (these days it is wrong a lot ). Glad he is feeling better!

 

Kim, Silver and Holly

[MarcR]

Glad to hear the steroids seemed to have eased his pain. I sure hope it's just a strain or sprain

[Guest Greytdog00]

The steriods will cause him to drink and pee more. I had 2 on pred for a while. Cooper may also pant more while on steroids as well as he may be hungrier. I have to agree with the others that have said to go for x-rays. White Light for your boy.

[RobinM]

No advice, just good thoughts and prayers your way.

[Guest msteele]

Cooper is going in for x-rays tomorrow morning. I'm so very nervous. Thanks for all the good thoughts, and I'll update once I know more.

 

 

[Guest Spiff]

Thinking of you and Cooper!!

[Guest TaraCoachCougar]

At the beginning of the thread, I was going to suggest examining his paw pad to rule out corns, but it sounds like the steroids are helping so it's likely something else. Cougar limps pitifully when his corns return. His are both on front feet and I'm not sure if they are common on the back.

 

Hoping Cooper is feeling much better soon!

[Guest msteele]

The x-rays didn't show anything, which is good news/bad news, I guess. For now we are continuing with the steroids and a re-check in 10 days. If he gets worse in the meantime, or isn't improved after the full course of meds, we'll see a specialist. The vet is concerned about LS, but there are some symptoms that C isn't showing, so for now we wait. He is walking better (and even went leaping into the van at the vet's office before I could stop him. Guess he wanted OUT of there).

 

Thanks again for the advice and positive thoughts--we're keeping our fingers crossed.

[tbhounds]

Did you check for corns??

[Guest Scouts_mom]

I had something simmilar with my 11 yr old Tia. The x-rays showed nothing so my vet sent me to a neurologist. He wanted to do an MRI and then back surgery. But before I put her thru that I tried accupunture. It was MUCH cheaper and it really worked. After 3 sessions she was walking painfree and so much happier. So I would encourage you to look into accupunture.

[Guest msteele]

Cooper is doing well, though we are having some eating issues (this actually started before the leg trouble--I think someone has been spoiled by too many treats and has decided that treats taste better than food). We are tapering the steroids, and while he occasionally favors the leg, he no longer has a noticeable limp. DH put him in the yard last night while I was gone, and C was sprinting in circles. I nearly strangled DH when he told me, but I guess this means C is feeling better--clearly I'm going to have to keep an eye on him and DH.

 

Thanks again to everyone for the good thoughts and suggestions. We'll see what happens next (I'm going to look for a doggie acupuncturist in the meantime).

 

Mariah and Cooper (I'm feeling better, so why can't I run???)

[Guest JohnnyBell]

Please if he still is limping or even somewhat limps have him checked by an Othopedic vet.I went through this in March with my Sophie she started limping all of a sudden,no warning at all and the vet didn't see anything on the x rays.Sophie was put on meds and she seemed to be getting better,she never seemed to be in pain at all.We had her on meds for 5 weeks.She continued to favor her rear leg so I insisted to go to a Otho vet were they found a bone tumor which ended up being osteo.I don't want to scare you in any way but with my girl I didn't I thought for sure it was a knee injury,I was so shocked to find my girl has cancer.I didn't think I would ever have to deal with this deadly monster.I feels bad because she was on meds for 5 weeks for something that would never get better with meds.I wish I'd of gone to the Ortho vet sooner so it would have been caught sooner.Better to be safe then sorry,it's worth every penny.Lots of prayers and thoughts comming your way.Good Luck.