ramonaghan Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 (edited) Sweep has been very stiff and limping slightly after lying down for extended periods of time for a couple of months now. She had her annual checkup early last month and the vet noticed some sensitivity/pain in the lower spine near the hips which she thought were indicative of early LS (that thread here). Since Sweep had gained 6 pounds over a year and wasn't showing classic signs of hind end weakness (no trouble with stairs or jumping in/out of the car; no sinking), we opted to work on the weight loss and add Fresh Factors/Joint Health supplements for the stiffness upon rising. She also gets fish oil. Unfortunately we've seen no improvement and in fact it seems a bit worse, although it still resolves within a minute and she doesn't limp at any other time. (And "limp" is not totally accurate for what's going on; she isn't holding her leg up but almost dragging it slightly like it's asleep.) She is still very much herself in every other respect--loves her walks and car rides, does zoomies in the yard, eats well, grins and roaches. Anyway, we'll be taking her in for an xray tomorrow. We leave for a short vacation Thursday and will be out of the country, so the timing sucks but I need to know what's going on. Sweep will be 6 in October; is arthritis likely at this age? Of course I'm trying not to think the worst and would appreciate everyone's good thoughts. Edited August 31, 2015 by ramonaghan Quote Rachel with littermates Doolin and Willa, boss cat Tootie, and feline squatters Crumpet and Fezziwig. Missing gentlemen kitties Mud, Henry, and Richard and our beautiful, feisty, silly Sweep. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KF_in_Georgia Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 Arthritis in a 6-year-old wouldn't be surprising. If your vet hasn't seen Sweep's I-just-woke-up movements, try to video her before her vet visit so the vet can see exactly how she's moving. Quote Kathy and Q (CRT Qadeer from Fuzzy's Cannon and CRT Bonnie) and Jane (WW's Aunt Jane from Trent Lee and Aunt M); photos to come. Missing Silver (5.19.2005-10.27.2016), Tigger (4.5.2007-3.18.2016), darling Sam (5.10.2000-8.8.2013), Jacey-Kasey (5.19.2003-8.22.2011), and Oreo (1997-3.30.2006) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Remolacha Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 hoping for something simple. certainly could be the beginnings of arthritis. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LBass Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 Sending warm good thoughts for Sweep. The suggestion of catching her "getting up hobble" on phone video for the vet would be an excellent diagnostic tool. Quote Lucy with Greyhound Nate and OSH Tinker. With loving memories of MoMo (FTH Chyna Moon), Spirit, Miles the slinky kitty (OSH), Piper "The Perfect" (Oneco Chaplin), Winston, Yoda, Hector, and Claire. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schultzlc Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 Sending lots of good thoughts to Sweep and to you! Quote Laura, mom to Luna (Boc's Duchess) and Nova (Atascocita Venus).Forever in my heart, Phantom (Tequila Nights) and Zippy (Iruska Monte). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bradymom Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 Sending good thoughts for you and Sweep. Quote The handsome boy Brady, mid-morning nap. The sun, the sun feels so, so, so good. I can't keep my eyes open ... ... Retirement agrees ... ... and the Diva Ms India, 2001 - 10/16/2009 .... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramonaghan Posted August 30, 2015 Author Share Posted August 30, 2015 Thank you for the good thoughts and the idea of recording it. Here's my best effort so far (sorry about the yowling cats; it was their dinnertime). You can see that she's putting weight on all four legs but there's a definite hitch in her gait. Within a few steps (once she enters the kitchen after my motion-sickness-inducing spin), she's already walking almost normally again. Quote Rachel with littermates Doolin and Willa, boss cat Tootie, and feline squatters Crumpet and Fezziwig. Missing gentlemen kitties Mud, Henry, and Richard and our beautiful, feisty, silly Sweep. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
macoduck Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 Three stretches, hmm. She's trying to align her back herself? Thinking of you tomorrow Sweep. Quote Freshy (Droopys Fresh), NoAh the podenco orito, Rita the podenco maneta, Howie the portuguese podengo maneto Angels: Lila, the podenco, Mr X aka Denali, Lulu the podenco andaluz, Hada the podenco maneta, Georgie Girl (UMR Cordella), Charlie the iggy, Mazy (CBR Crazy Girl), Potato, my mystery ibizan girl, Allen (M's Pretty Boy), Percy (Fast But True), Mikey (Doray's Patuti), Pudge le mutt, Tessa the iggy, Possum (Apostle), Gracie (Dusty Lady), Harold (Slatex Harold), "Cousin" Simon our step-iggy, Little Dude the iggy ,Bandit (Bb Blue Jay), Niña the galgo, Wally (Allen Hogg), Thane (Pog Mo Thoine), Oliver (JJ Special Agent), Comet, & Rosie our original mutt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbhounds Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 The downward dog stretch pretty much rules out a shoulder muscle problem. Have you checked for corns? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramonaghan Posted August 30, 2015 Author Share Posted August 30, 2015 (edited) The downward dog stretch pretty much rules out a shoulder muscle problem. Have you checked for corns? Hm, that didn't occur to me because she is fine on walks, but I just wet all her pads and looked closely. There's a suspicious-looking light spot on her right front paw. Here's without and with flash: Edited June 2, 2016 by ramonaghan Quote Rachel with littermates Doolin and Willa, boss cat Tootie, and feline squatters Crumpet and Fezziwig. Missing gentlemen kitties Mud, Henry, and Richard and our beautiful, feisty, silly Sweep. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
macoduck Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 That spot does look like a corn coming in. Is her walk different on grass vs wooden floors and concrete? Quote Freshy (Droopys Fresh), NoAh the podenco orito, Rita the podenco maneta, Howie the portuguese podengo maneto Angels: Lila, the podenco, Mr X aka Denali, Lulu the podenco andaluz, Hada the podenco maneta, Georgie Girl (UMR Cordella), Charlie the iggy, Mazy (CBR Crazy Girl), Potato, my mystery ibizan girl, Allen (M's Pretty Boy), Percy (Fast But True), Mikey (Doray's Patuti), Pudge le mutt, Tessa the iggy, Possum (Apostle), Gracie (Dusty Lady), Harold (Slatex Harold), "Cousin" Simon our step-iggy, Little Dude the iggy ,Bandit (Bb Blue Jay), Niña the galgo, Wally (Allen Hogg), Thane (Pog Mo Thoine), Oliver (JJ Special Agent), Comet, & Rosie our original mutt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbhounds Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 Or foreign body Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramonaghan Posted August 30, 2015 Author Share Posted August 30, 2015 That spot does look like a corn coming in. Is her walk different on grass vs wooden floors and concrete? Not especially, but DH and I agree that she does stray from the sidewalk to the grass quite a bit on our walks. If it's a corn developing, I guess it's a good thing we go to Grassmere! Or foreign body Thank you; I'll definitely ask them to check that paw closely. She didn't seem to mind us messing with it, for what it's worth. So is it not odd that it only happens after she's been lying down for a while? Quote Rachel with littermates Doolin and Willa, boss cat Tootie, and feline squatters Crumpet and Fezziwig. Missing gentlemen kitties Mud, Henry, and Richard and our beautiful, feisty, silly Sweep. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbhounds Posted August 31, 2015 Share Posted August 31, 2015 I don't think it's odd at all if she's only lame when first walking--assuming its a foreign body--think about when you have an injured toe and have had it elevated--when you first lower your leg and take an intial few steps I bet you would limp too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramonaghan Posted August 31, 2015 Author Share Posted August 31, 2015 Xrays showed no sign of cancer or arthritis. We asked them to get one of the lower spine as well, and he also saw no evidence of the LS the other vet suspected! He thought her pads looked normal, even when we showed him the photos above. So for now we are treating this as a soft-tissue injury with Meloxicam and restricted exercise. If she doesn't improve within a couple of weeks, we'll go back for more xrays. She still needs to lose weight too, which is baffling since she's been getting half a cup less a day since her early July appointment. But all in all, very good news. Thanks again for your ideas and good thoughts. Quote Rachel with littermates Doolin and Willa, boss cat Tootie, and feline squatters Crumpet and Fezziwig. Missing gentlemen kitties Mud, Henry, and Richard and our beautiful, feisty, silly Sweep. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schultzlc Posted August 31, 2015 Share Posted August 31, 2015 I'm so happy to read that her x-rays were clean! Keep up the good health, pretty Sweep! Quote Laura, mom to Luna (Boc's Duchess) and Nova (Atascocita Venus).Forever in my heart, Phantom (Tequila Nights) and Zippy (Iruska Monte). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest MurphysMom Posted August 31, 2015 Share Posted August 31, 2015 Oh good news!! I'm so glad. I hope that she's feeling 100% soon! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houndtime Posted September 1, 2015 Share Posted September 1, 2015 Thanks for sharing your good news! Quote Irene Ullmann w/Flying Odin and Mama Mia in Lower Delaware Angels Brandy, John E, American Idol, Paul, Fuzzy and Shine Handcrafted Greyhound and Custom Clocks http://www.houndtime.com Zoom Doggies-Racing Coats for Racing Greyhounds Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
galgrey Posted September 1, 2015 Share Posted September 1, 2015 Hope she makes a full recovery soon. Quote Cynthia, & Cristiano, galgoAlways in my heart: Frostman Newdawn Frost, Keno Jet Action & Chloe (NGA racing name unknown), Irys (galgo), Hannah (weim), Cruz (galgo), & Carly CW Your Charming Princess http://www.greyhound-data.com/d?i=1018857 "It came to me that every time I lose a dog they take a piece of my heart with them. And every new dog who comes into my life, gifts me with a piece of their heart. If I live long enough, all the components of my heart will be dog, and I will become as generous and loving as they are." -- Unknown Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bradymom Posted September 1, 2015 Share Posted September 1, 2015 So glad Sweep had good x-rays. Quote The handsome boy Brady, mid-morning nap. The sun, the sun feels so, so, so good. I can't keep my eyes open ... ... Retirement agrees ... ... and the Diva Ms India, 2001 - 10/16/2009 .... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LBass Posted September 1, 2015 Share Posted September 1, 2015 for good news! Quote Lucy with Greyhound Nate and OSH Tinker. With loving memories of MoMo (FTH Chyna Moon), Spirit, Miles the slinky kitty (OSH), Piper "The Perfect" (Oneco Chaplin), Winston, Yoda, Hector, and Claire. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XTRAWLD Posted September 1, 2015 Share Posted September 1, 2015 Ryder walks like that after he's over-exerted himself (a run at a park or a long hike). He can be a weekend warrior, but it tends to go away in a few days. I do take him in to the chiro if I notice it not dissipating. Glad the x-rays came in good for Sweeperoooo! Quote Proudly owned by:10 year old "Ryder" CR Redman Gotcha May 201012.5 year old Angel "Kasey" Goodbye Kasey Gotcha July 2005-Aug 1, 2015 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramonaghan Posted September 1, 2015 Author Share Posted September 1, 2015 Ryder walks like that after he's over-exerted himself (a run at a park or a long hike). He can be a weekend warrior, but it tends to go away in a few days. I do take him in to the chiro if I notice it not dissipating. Glad the x-rays came in good for Sweeperoooo! Thanks! I do plan to ask the vet about chiro/acupuncture if this doesn't resolve (and even if it does, just for future reference). I'm also going to continue with the Fresh Factors and Joint Health you recommended on my LS thread. Even though the supplements didn't address this specific issue (which they wouldn't if it's a soft tissue injury) I figure they can't hurt--and her fur is softer than ever! Quote Rachel with littermates Doolin and Willa, boss cat Tootie, and feline squatters Crumpet and Fezziwig. Missing gentlemen kitties Mud, Henry, and Richard and our beautiful, feisty, silly Sweep. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newgreymom Posted September 1, 2015 Share Posted September 1, 2015 Great news!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carronstar Posted September 1, 2015 Share Posted September 1, 2015 Great news! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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