We had the boys in a kennel over night on Sat and picked them up on Sun afternoon. The girl asked if Buddy had a limp and we said yes. He's a 13 y/o weimaraner and has some arthritis.When we got him home, it was apparent something was very wrong. When he walks he brings his rt rear leg toward his ear and sometimes falls.Took him to the vet and she thinks he has some nerve issues going on in his back! It probably came from him sleeping on a concrete floor. He's not used to it as he has an orthopedic mattress at home.Has anyone had experience with this? He's on metacam and will take him back in a week if no better. It's been a few days and he seems a bit better but still has lessen control over that leg. When he was seen on Monday, he had 0 patellar reflexes. It's scary. He's such a love and still wants to run and play like a puppy at times.

Sorry about your dog. However, I would no sooner allow any dog, (let alone an elderly dog) to sleep overnight on a concrete floor. Poor thing.

I agree, however, if we put a bed in with him, he demolishes it out of anxiety. His ortho bed cost $140. I guess a pet sitter will be in his future from now on. Thankfully, we rarely leave them kenneled.

You have reached a point when you may have to make a pain full decision. IF you dog is in pain. what do you do? Do you make him suffer just because you want him around? Or if there isn't any thing the doc can do to stop it. Do you love him enough to stop his pain? I don't say this lightly, or in any form of ridicule. We have just went thru this. Our Bassett, had arthritis, and his hip kept coming out of the socket. He also had many other things goin on. He didn't cry, or whine. But was in severe pain. We have been thru it before, and waited too long the last time. In effect torturing our dog, because we didn't want to lose them. Question is. How much do we love our dogs. If the pain is irreversible, and will never stop. Do we love them enough to stop their pain. I for one will NEVER again allow any dog of mine to suffer. It's just plain mean, and I have already done that. Hard to forgive myself for it. hope the doc can help your dog

Terryallan wrote:You have reached a point when you may have to make a pain full decision. IF you dog is in pain. what do you do? Do you make him suffer just because you want him around? Or if there isn't any thing the doc can do to stop it. Do you love him enough to stop his pain? I don't say this lightly, or in any form of ridicule. We have just went thru this. Our Bassett, had arthritis, and his hip kept coming out of the socket. He also had many other things goin on. He didn't cry, or whine. But was in severe pain. We have been thru it before, and waited too long the last time. In effect torturing our dog, because we didn't want to lose them. Question is. How much do we love our dogs. If the pain is irreversible, and will never stop. Do we love them enough to stop their pain. I for one will NEVER again allow any dog of mine to suffer. It's just plain mean, and I have already done that. Hard to forgive myself for it. hope the doc can help your dogNot really appropriate right now...need to evaluate and if there is a remedy than there is no need to go there.Probably with meds and time and his ortho bed he will improve.Glad though that a sitter will be in his future.Keep us posted and I hope he feels better soon.Sher

Our Joy (approximately 8 Yrs.) was just diagnosed with a similar problem. She was limping some on her right paw, so we took her to the vet last week. Vet thought she was having some issue with the joint. She prescribed Rimadyl and glucosamine. Her condition worsened over the next 5 days to the point that her leg would fold back at the joint when she tried to walk which caused some balance problems. Took her back to the vet yesterday, she watched her try and walk and feels that she has a nerve issue in the spine near the neck-possibly intervertebral disc disease. She prescribed a steroid and pain medication. We were told to keep her immobile as much as possible over the next 3 weeks. So that is where we are. Needless to say, we are very concerned. PM me and let me know how your fur baby is doing.

Not just a limp | Good Sam Community

16 Replies

doxiemom11
Explorer II
May 04, 2014
We had a dachshund with back problems and 1 time his rear end was totally down and he couldn't walk, he was dragging his rear legs. Vet gave him IV steroids to reduce inflammation and pain meds and we had to keep him down as much as possible. We also could not allow him to go up and down steps or try to jump up or down from anything. It took a few weeks, but he recovered and just walked a little different, but no pain as in the beginning, and no further problem in next 2 1/2 years. Also, do not encourage him to stand up on his hind legs. If in the neck area of the spine, change from a collar to a halter so he doesn't pull on his neck.
campn4walleye
Explorer
May 04, 2014
Update:

Buddy is doing much better. It will a week on meds tomorrow (Mon). Will confer with the vet and stop the Metacam. It's very hard on his liver.

He still has a limp more than usual, but he's no longer falling. I think bed rest is still required for a while.

He still tries to gallop around the house when he wants us to chase him. His favorite game is to steal a slipper and run and growl until we chase him.

I do worry about him getting in and out of the TC. Thankfully, we have a nice ramp.
sue_t
Explorer
May 03, 2014
We've had success for a couple of our dogs with visits to a canine chiropractor. Might be worth a visit to see if there is improvement.
dogdiva
Explorer
May 03, 2014
there are so many alternative treatments, accupunture, massage. water therapy....just touching(look up T Touch)
voiding stressful exercise
Prayers are with you
Code2High
Explorer
May 03, 2014
I would be looking for a skilled doggy chiro. Acupuncture might also help, but if something is out of place, it is out of place. I have been astonished more than once by how quickly a chiro can find things just by feeling. And fix them....
kmbernstein
Explorer
May 02, 2014
Wow. Almost sounds neurologic...pinched nerve possibly? In the many years I have worked for vets, this is not all that unusual. We often put the pets on steroids and maybe tramadol, similar to what RamTX's vet did. If your vet does this, there will have to be a "wash out" time of 4-6 days, to get the nsaid out of his system. He might find some relief from acupuncture, cold laser therapy or chiropractic adjustments. Continue to work with your veterinarian, but keep him quiet as he recovers...Usually, 2-4 weeks, depending on the situation. If he is dragging the top of his foot, a boot over that foot may help. Good luck. Most dogs seem to recover in time. And yes, a home sitter is probably in his best interest in the future.
RamTX
Explorer
May 02, 2014
campn4walleye wrote:
We are a LONG way off from talking about euthanizing.

He is doing a bit better, but not completely. The vet doesn't thing he's in a pain at all. As a matter of fact, the problem is that he doesn't have feeling, so is losing control of foot placement.

He's our baby and we will do wants best for his quality of life, that's what is most important. It will be discussed at some point, it's inevitable, but too early.

Me too!
campn4walleye
Explorer
May 02, 2014
We are a LONG way off from talking about euthanizing.

He is doing a bit better, but not completely. The vet doesn't thing he's in a pain at all. As a matter of fact, the problem is that he doesn't have feeling, so is losing control of foot placement.

He's our baby and we will do wants best for his quality of life, that's what is most important. It will be discussed at some point, it's inevitable, but too early.
Hondavalk
Explorer II
May 02, 2014
Terryallan wrote:
You have reached a point when you may have to make a pain full decision. IF you dog is in pain. what do you do? Do you make him suffer just because you want him around? Or if there isn't any thing the doc can do to stop it. Do you love him enough to stop his pain?

I don't say this lightly, or in any form of ridicule. We have just went thru this. Our Bassett, had arthritis, and his hip kept coming out of the socket. He also had many other things goin on. He didn't cry, or whine. But was in severe pain. We have been thru it before, and waited too long the last time. In effect torturing our dog, because we didn't want to lose them.

Question is. How much do we love our dogs. If the pain is irreversible, and will never stop. Do we love them enough to stop their pain. I for one will NEVER again allow any dog of mine to suffer. It's just plain mean, and I have already done that. Hard to forgive myself for it.

hope the doc can help your dog

As painful as it is you have made a valid point. Just lost our horse of 24 years but we did what was right for him not us.
pa_traveler
Explorer
May 02, 2014
Hope he gets better,maybee after getting home .