Advice please - limping dog

[Nagling]

Evening, I'm feeling a bit paranoid about my springer/lab cross so could do with some advice please. Last year she ruptured one of her cruciates and wasn't actually that bothered about it and was just limping a bit so I didn't take her to the vets until it wasn't improving after a few days rest (they couldn't believe she was still walking). Anyway she is limping a bit again, started yesterday and again she just isn't bothered - I'm worried about cruciate damage but it seems ridiculous to take her to the vet every time she limps slightly. I think she could possibly have pulled her quad muscle as she and another dog were really going for it in the muddy fields yesterday. She pulled her front leg playing last month and was fine in a couple of days I just worry more when its a hind. What I'd really like to know is there anyway you can tell if there is damage to the knee before getting to the vet. Obviously I will take her if it doesn't improve - but its just for my piece of mind really. She has literally just now started to 'click' walking. She is nearly 3 years old and very fit/muscled.
Thanks for reading

 

[SusieT]

Is it her hind limb? With a history of cruciate disease I'd take her down. No way to tell really unless you can see if there is any swelling, but it wont tell you much. The vets cn do manipulations to try and diagnose.

 

[Nagling]

Thanks for your reply SusieT I've got her an appointment for this afternoon. We were planning on starting dog agility on Monday - so typical