Lab puppy with a limp?

[GTO Scott]

Our Labrador puppy has been limping on and off for the last week or so - usually just after exercise, though sometimes just as he's walking along. Keeping exercise to a minimum for the last few days seems to have helped, though last night he limped for the last 30 yards to our door when out for his nightly walk. I'm guessing he's pulled a muscle, he's happy to let us inspect his legs and prod and poke around - he doesn't seem to be in any constant pain from it. Pads and claws all look healthy, dew (sp?) claws have been trimmed.

Any ideas or should I book him in at the vet?

[scirocco265]

Sounds like a sprain or stressed muscle. Can never be too careful, particularly with a puppy who's damaged joints/tendons now may cause big coplications down the line.

Probably best to pay the Vet a visit.

[tenex]

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... got a limp - any advice?

HTH

[bexVN]

He needs to go to the vet.

It's possible he's been over exercised, have to be cautious with young med/large breed dogs as can over use growing joints etc.

As I said really needs to see the vet a week is more than long enough to see if will get better on its own. Continue rest until you get chance.

[pikeyboy]

GTO Scott said:

Our Labrador puppy has been limping on and off for the last week or so - usually just after exercise, though sometimes just as he's walking along. Keeping exercise to a minimum for the last few days seems to have helped, though last night he limped for the last 30 yards to our door when out for his nightly walk. I'm guessing he's pulled a muscle, he's happy to let us inspect his legs and prod and poke around - he doesn't seem to be in any constant pain from it. Pads and claws all look healthy, dew (sp?) claws have been trimmed.

Any ideas or should I book him in at the vet?

Yeah you have to be careful with puppies too much exercise is a bad thing especially in a breed like labs who are susceptable to hip displacia. As a rule of thumb 5 mins per month of age works well. Also try not to let them use stairs jump around etc. A little bit of pain now will pay dividends when they are older. Too much exercise in youg puppies seems at odds with the a decent breeders regime of hip scoring and picking good pairings.

PS take him to the vet more than week is long enough for for him to recover from a sprain or strain.

[Jasandjules]

How old is he and how far are you walking him?

As above however, take him to the vet. Damaging ligaments etc when young could have long term consequences for your dog, you really don't want that.

[GTO Scott]

Nearly 6 months old, we have restricted his exercise since we got him at the start of November (he now gets around half hour a day on the beach) and he's only been on lead walks since he started limping. Hasn't limped either yesterday or today but he's off to the vet Tuesday hopefully.

Thanks

[bexVN]

Definitely a wise idea, he's the right age for a few potential conditions but could be as simple as growing pains. Fingers crossed (don't be suprised if xrays are mentioned, will be too young to assess hips but can check for conditions such as ocd in the shoulder)

[GTO Scott]

bexVN said:

Definitely a wise idea, he's the right age for a few potential conditions but could be as simple as growing pains. Fingers crossed (don't be suprised if xrays are mentioned, will be too young to assess hips but can check for conditions such as ocd in the shoulder)

I have to admit ignorance on the hip scores - I know what the numbers mean, but how old does he have to be before he can be scored? His parents both had very low hip scores, with good eyesight and shoulders/elbows.

[bexVN]

GTO Scott said:

bexVN said:

Definitely a wise idea, he's the right age for a few potential conditions but could be as simple as growing pains. Fingers crossed (don't be suprised if xrays are mentioned, will be too young to assess hips but can check for conditions such as ocd in the shoulder)

I have to admit ignorance on the hip scores - I know what the numbers mean, but how old does he have to be before he can be scored? His parents both had very low hip scores, with good eyesight and shoulders/elbows.

I think the guide is 18 months as before then joints aren't fully developed, that and the fact males and females shouldn't be used for breeding until at least 18 months old.

Is it a front leg lameness? Low hips scores in both parents (depending what you class as low) is really good, though unfortunately hip dysplasia does skip generations! Also good that shoulders and elbows were xrayed as this is still not done in many breeding labs.

[GTO Scott]

bexVN said:

I think the guide is 18 months as before then joints aren't fully developed, that and the fact males and females shouldn't be used for breeding until at least 18 months old.

Is it a front leg lameness? Low hips scores in both parents (depending what you class as low) is really good, though unfortunately hip dysplasia does skip generations! Also good that shoulders and elbows were xrayed as this is still not done in many breeding labs.

Yes, it's front leg. Harry is actually a puppy that shouldn't have happened - his father (yellow Lab) got with his mother (black Lab) by breaking through his pen (Harry is showing all the signs of being as muscular as his Dad - he managed to snap his retractable lead today during his walk) . Luckily both Labs were intended to be breeding Labs, just not with each other!

[DavesFlaps]

Hope everything works out and the underlying cause isn't too serious.

My Airedale started limping when he was around 8 months old and it turned out to be elbow dysplasia, caused by the ulna and radius growing at different rates. He had to have a fairly major op to remove a length of bone from one of these (can't remember which one). Thankfully, the vet we were referred to is recognised as one of the best in the country. However, the recovery process was long and it was difficult to keep his excercise to an absolute minimum and eventually build it up very slowly when, as a puppy, all he wanted to do was play.

[SWH]

Our dopey lab had the same thing, he was limited to messing about in the back garden pretty much.

Started off with a bramble thorn in one foot, easily sorted, then limped on the other leg after over compensating (we think)... ended up on anti-inflammatory drugs for a fair while, after various joint x-rays, etc.

The eventual advice was to make sure he's not too fat and restrict the exercise quite significantly, the limping was put down to his bones growing rapidly and anything too energetic was making them ache.

Now 1yr old he gets a decent 30min walk most days, and a mad 10min of ball throwing in the back garden quite regularly - he's absolutely fine, massive, still growing, amazingly stupid and has a bit of a thing for eating st, but other than that, fine

[GTO Scott]

Lady S took Harry to the vet this morning - apparently it's almost certainly growing pains, probably brought on by being a little too energetic when playing fetch when we walk him on the beach, but we are to keep an eye on it just in case.

Rather relieved to be honest

Thanks for the advice folks.

Edited by GTO Scott on Thursday 20th January 12:26

[Si 330]

We were told don't take our puppy on the beach or any similar soft surface until he is 1 year old along with the 5 min x month walk. To protect there hips.

[bexVN]

GTO Scott said:

Lady S took Harry to the vet this morning - apparently it's almost certainly growing pains, probably brought on by being a little too energetic when playing fetch when we walk him on the beach, but we are to keep an eye on it just in case.

Rather relieved to be honest

Thanks for the advice folks.

Edited by GTO Scott on Thursday 20th January 12:26

Lets keep fingers crossed, that's what I was hoping it'd be, much simpler recovery! I'd be relieved as well