Legs Limping/crying

[BauersMom]

Thanks. I just called a different vet that does digital xrays to ask about pricing since my regular vet does not have digital. They did not feel xrays are needed because he is not constantly limping. But I guess they will do it if I insist?

 

 

 

If the limp is unexplained, or doesn't resolve with rest and NSAIDs, it's worth an x-ray. How often it happens is not as important a measure, based on my own experiences.

[Trihounds]

He look so uncomfortable in those videos. If your vet can't find anything wrong, I think I'd try to find either a vet who is very experienced with racing greyhounds, or a chiropractor. IME, chiropractors can often find things that are missed by vets, and some things don't show on xrays. If something's been going on with his back for some time, and he's been compensating for that, it's possible it's had a knock-on effect on his neck/shoulder.

 

I agree here - not suggesting your vet isn't savvy, however a second look at those videos could be helpful - a second opinion.

 

I remember Bumper, who is very sensitive to heat as well, looking like that when temps were in the 70's (but sunny), though there was no grabbing at his back like Legs. Good luck...hope you can figure it out.

 

 

[msjpk]

Something is diffidently going on besides heat. It almost looks like he pulled something.

Insist on x-rays, go back to the vet and hopefully she will not charge you another office visit. I would tell her know your dog, this is all new and more investigation please. Also, get the name of a chiropractor. Good luck.

[NeylasMom]

Thanks. I just called a different vet that does digital xrays to ask about pricing since my regular vet does not have digital. They did not feel xrays are needed because he is not constantly limping. But I guess they will do it if I insist?

 

I see this again and again on here and it makes me so frustrated. Osteo can be present with constant limping, intermittent limping or no limping at all. If you want to set your mind at ease, they should just do the x-rays. So yes, insist. Unless you don't feel it's worthwhile or cost effective at this time. I would not waste your money on non-digital x-rays.

 

It sounds like your only other diagnostic option after that may be an MRI so I would at least want the x-rays first to rule out a problem that could be diagnosed that way. Do you have a specialist you are working with?

[lothianjavert]

Thanks. I just called a different vet that does digital xrays to ask about pricing since my regular vet does not have digital. They did not feel xrays are needed because he is not constantly limping. But I guess they will do it if I insist?

 

I see this again and again on here and it makes me so frustrated. Osteo can be present with constant limping, intermittent limping or no limping at all. If you want to set your mind at ease, they should just do the x-rays. So yes, insist. Unless you don't feel it's worthwhile or cost effective at this time. I would not waste your money on non-digital x-rays.

 

It sounds like your only other diagnostic option after that may be an MRI so I would at least want the x-rays first to rule out a problem that could be diagnosed that way. Do you have a specialist you are working with?

 

I had to push to get X rays for Diesel. I was told that there was no visible (i.e. obvious w/o xrays) tumor and his limp was not bad, he most likely pulled something and they did not want to x ray. They seemed to think I was crazy for pushing for the xray. I was there because it -wasn't- like his usual "pulled something running around like a goof" stuff that he would periodically do. After a good bit of insisting, they did the xray, and it was osteo. I don't really care for that office, but they are the closest ones that have a digital xray, so I will use them again if I need a digital xray and just be pushy about it. My regular vet doesn't have the nice digital xray.

[MP_the4pack]

He absolutely is in pain. And look how his back legs splay outwards when he tries to sit. I'd be demanding either xrays or ultrasound.

(I'm not vet, so I can't tell if it's soft tissue or neurological pain)

[4My2Greys]

I can't help but wonder if the effect the heat has on him is tied to the issue which is causing his limp. Not that heat sensitivity is a symptom, but that it is exacerbated by what is bothering him. He clearly looks distressed in both videos and I hope you can get some answers to what is going on.

Edited April 18, 2012 by 4My2Greys

[4My2Greys]

He absolutely is in pain. And look how his back legs splay outwards when he tries to sit. I'd be demanding either xrays or ultrasound.

(I'm not vet, so I can't tell if it's soft tissue or neurological pain)

 

The splaying out of the legs is something I picked up on right away. It almost reminds me of a dog with rickets.

[Xan]

After reading everyone's comments leading up to the video, I felt I'd learned some things, but didn't have anything useful to add besides hugs and encouragement. Then, watching the video, I had the same reaction as this:

{...} However the thing that concerns me-now that I see the video-is well I , because of what happenned to my beloved soulmate Slim, I would be concerned about possible bloat/stomach issues. I say this because the FIRST sign that Slim exhibited was hind end weakness. {...} But you know horses when they colic sometimes do just like Legs- they turn around and look at their belly, maybe nip at it-I notice thats what he was doing turning around and looking at his belly.....after seeing the video I now believe it is more like to be a stomach/abdomen problem. {...}

The swinging his head around as if to see what's wrong back there, the splayed legs, but when he runs it looks like everything works, just he'd like to get away from that bad feeling back there ...

 

He absolutely is in pain. And look how his back legs splay outwards when he tries to sit. I'd be demanding either xrays or ultrasound.

(I'm not vet, so I can't tell if it's soft tissue or neurological pain)

Lucy, I'm sending out those hugs and encouragement anyway! I'll be thinking rafts of good thoughts your way.

:bighug

The splaying out of the legs is something I picked up on right away. It almost reminds me of a dog with rickets.

 

 

 

[RileysLegacy]

Thanks everyone, I appreciate all the comments. It is frustrating & puzzling. He's been seen by a few specialists and one day a tech even took him out for a run to see exactly what was going on. Unfortunately there are no greyhound savvy vets here. Like I said, his quality of life is great, so I'm not all that concerned with figuring out what is wrong with has back end. I don't want to put him through an MRI at this point. These "episodes" happen for a few minutes every few months, and the rest of the time he is very happy and displays NO pain. I really don't think it is bloat as it doesn't occur near feedings (I don't exercise him before or after he eats), and he seems to be biting at his back more than his abdomen when it happens.

 

The shoulder is still painful when I touch it. I'm going to schedule him for the digital xrays. I am pretty sure nothing is going to show up, but $200 so I can stop freaking out is worth it.

 

Thanks again, I'll let you guys know.

[greysandmollie]

many good thoughts on the xrays not showing anything....hugs for you both...

 

I showed up at the ER vet once with my little Pixie because she was very lethargic and will eat anything so I was convinced she had consumed something and was blocked. The vet thought I was nuts...took the xray...there was nothing wrong and I went home and slept peacefully. She was fine the next day. Sometimes you just have to know!

[tbhounds]

Ok- going to throw a long shot at ya! As any of the vets that examined your hound done a rectal?? I wonder of he's dealing with a Iliopsoas tendinitis. It is a condition that is seen with greyhounds- I'm sure many of the racing folks here are familar with it.

Your vet needs to perform a rectal palpating at 5 and 7 o'clock- if it's I.T. he'll let ya know.

[MP_the4pack]

Ok- going to throw a long shot at ya! As any of the vets that examined your hound done a rectal?? I wonder of he's dealing with a Iliopsoas tendinitis. It is a condition that is seen with greyhounds- I'm sure many of the racing folks here are familar with it.

Your vet needs to perform a rectal palpating at 5 and 7 o'clock- if it's I.T. he'll let ya know.

 

 

Ya know I was kind of wondering if there was something with his butt, but so many vets had seen him already I was sure they would have checked there first.

[greyhead]

How about worms? Hookworms have teeth so are very uncomfortable for them. If hooks aren't native to Hawaii, the vets & techs may not recognize their eggs in a fecal. (That's what happened to Spencer when he first came to WA state.) I notice that Legs has been biting at himself for a while now, which is a behavior Spencer did too where the legs meet the trunk, along with snapping his head back toward his sides. Just a thought if nothing else turns up. Wishing good things for you and Legs!

[BatterseaBrindl]

Oh My! Poor Legs.

He is obviously very uncomfortable.

 

His movement reminds me of how a horse moves when he is 'tying up' (Azoturia).....Very tight muscles, that go into spasms.

 

Horses that are worked and not properly cooled out can tie up.

It can also be diet related...lack of Vitamin E / Selenium/ electrolytes.

Edited April 18, 2012 by BatterseaBrindl

[RileysLegacy]

I'm taking him for xrays this afternoon.

[krissn333]

I hope the xrays tell you something, Lucy.

 

Watching the videos, I noted that he walks an awful lot like Carrie does now (after having had a stroke or stroke-like episode), and it looks as though he has some sort of a deficit in his right rear, and maybe he's trying to trot around to loosen a muscle or work out some sort of a muscle catch. I think while you're there for the shoulder xray I'd have that right rear knee xrayed too, along with his hips. Can you show the videos to the people with the digital xray equipment? Maybe they'll have some ideas for you.

 

He's definitely uncomfortable in some way - but watching him makes me think that it's both a tummy pain thing as well as some sort of orthopedic/muscle pain. When he's in the middle of these episodes, will he allow you to palpate his abdomen? That would probably give you a lot of answers as to if he's having a stomach/intestinal issue.

 

Do you have any chiropractors over there? If so I'd take him for that too.

 

I'd also make sure he has a rectal exam and a fecal done, just to cover the bases.

[Xan]

So many possibilities!! I hope you can get it sorted out, Lucy! How did the x-rays go?

[RileysLegacy]

There were 2 things that concerned the vet, something that looked like a bone chip & also a weird space at the shoulder joint. They are emailing me the X-rays & I will send to OSU.

 

No obvious signs of cancer but I'm not feeling much better.

Edited April 19, 2012 by RileysLegacy

[tbhounds]

Weird because in the video link it looks like his troubles appeared to be from the back end.

[RileysLegacy]

The back end is a separate issue I think.

[krissn333]

Well, at least there are some answers!

 

Maybe send links to your videos to OSU too?

[MP_the4pack]

Poor baby. I hope you can find all that's wrong and fix it for him.

 

Last night one of my girls had a "hanger on".....you know when they eat grass then poop and it doesn't all come out. It hangs there. She sat down to "relieve" herself.

 

While I know Legs is having pain, his sits seem to be the same as what my girl did. So I am wondering more if there's an anal problem.

 

You have prayers coming your way.

[Meandmy]

If you're sending OSU the xrays, could you send them the videos, too? I can't remember if you've already consulted with them about his hind-end issues, but maybe it's worth a shot.

 

I'll be thinking of you and Legs. Please keep us posted!

[BatterseaBrindl]

If you're sending OSU the xrays, could you send them the videos, too? I can't remember if you've already consulted with them about his hind-end issues, but maybe it's worth a shot.

 

I'll be thinking of you and Legs. Please keep us posted!

 

Agreed...send them the videos!!