Dog is STILL limpy (4 weeks later) various Q's

S

shadowboy

Well-Known Member
Joined
30 May 2006
Messages
4,754
Visit site
4 weeks ago tomorrow Tassy went limpy- no idea what from she was in the house at the time. She was limpy in walk and trot (no idea the official gait name). On the Sat we took her to the vet who sait it was a sprain and not to walk her for two weeks but that after that start with short walks and build up.

But she's still limpy in trot- its only obvious to someone looking for it but its still there- plus when you fold her paw up to dry her feet a bit too sharp she yelps. Now she is getting depressed- and a bit too clingy as she cant go out. We tried walking her 3 days ago thinking she was healed but was limpy the day after.

We are supposed to be going away on holiday in the camper on friday for 4 days but I can't see it getting better- so will probably have to put her into kennels.

Q1- is it normal for a sprain to take so long?
Q2-shall I take her to the vet tomorrow (seeing as it will be exactly a month since injury) or am I just wasting cash- i.e will they just tell me to rest it again?
Q3.How can I keep this dog happy- she's just had a pants month.
Q4.- would you take her on holiday and leave her in the camper when walking or take her to kennels and aske them not to walk her?
 
Poor thing - my girl is quite lucky and the only sprain she gave herself lasted about 10 days and she was back to her old self in two weeks.

I don't think it would hurt to pop into the vet - or even give them a call to see what they think - as you've done what they've asked but it's obviously still troubling her a bit. Hope you get it sorted :)
 
Well there are less things to go wrong on the front leg than a hind. If she/he's still no better on another weeks rest then I'd recommend returning to vets. With regard to entertaining at home, try to eek out the feed, use kongs, or activity feed balls and hide them around the house so the dog has to find them and work to get anything out of them! That will take up a bit of time!!
 
in any lameness with ours that goes on longer than 2-3 weeks id be asking for a referral to an orthopedic specialist. id also recommend cage rest and short walks out on a lead only- entertain in cage with stuffed kongs, filled bones etc

one of mine had a really bad soft tissue injury that took almost a year to come right.
 
NeverSayNever said:
in any lameness with ours that goes on longer than 2-3 weeks id be asking for a referral to an orthopedic specialist. id also recommend cage rest and short walks out on a lead only- entertain in cage with stuffed kongs, filled bones etc

one of mine had a really bad soft tissue injury that took almost a year to come right.
Click to expand...
really?? a whole year- I'm going to burst and so is the dog with frustration! I guess I phone the ven- i'm going to have to check with the insurance as to what is/isnt covered on our policy. If it gets to cage rest I think she'll start to switch off completely plus im going to need a big one- as she's a large dog- I hope so much this is not the case- she's just come from 8 months in keenels waiting for a new home- it would be horrid for her to spend a year in a crate.

In terms of entertainment we do give her chews etc but what with not being walked we are worried about weight problems which ould make the injury worse.

Hmm I am super worried now... off to check insurance booklet...
 
shadowboy said:
really?? a whole year- I'm going to burst and so is the dog with frustration! I guess I phone the ven- i'm going to have to check with the insurance as to what is/isnt covered on our policy. If it gets to cage rest I think she'll start to switch off completely plus im going to need a big one- as she's a large dog- I hope so much this is not the case- she's just come from 8 months in keenels waiting for a new home- it would be horrid for her to spend a year in a crate.

In terms of entertainment we do give her chews etc but what with not being walked we are worried about weight problems which ould make the injury worse.

Hmm I am super worried now... off to check insurance booklet...
Click to expand...


it wasnt a year if being in a crate;) perhaps the first month.. then he was on a physio programme for the rest of the year building back up to competing in 12 months.

rest however does mean rest, and if so far your dog has still be free to run about the house/garden with toys etc would i really advise getting a crate and really properly resting him or her for a week to start with - ie only out of the crate on a lead and supervised. I would still be meantime asking vet for a referral tho
 
I`d be asking for x-rays, we had the same kind of problem with our oldest siberian boy lame in anything other than walk for 3 or so weeks on 3rd vet trip we asked for xrays turns out he had a fracture in one of his toes
 
Spoken with vet- who says its ligament damage and says we walked her too early- i.e dont walk her till she is sound for a full week. She says give her another fortnight of 100% rest then if no improvement go with the x-rays. She said there was no need for x rays now because its not a fracture as the injurt isnt within the foot itslef- more the 'wrist' joint- and its only when hyperflexed- over bent that Tassy reacts with a pain response. She said with a fracture there would have been a pain response in any manipulation of the joint. So I guess i'm back to the start.

I am worried about her being in Kennels though- I have a feeling she will be jumping up at the kennel door when people walk past which I dont think will do her much good. :( gutted for poor Tassy- it will have been 6 weeks without a walk further than the bottom of our drive.
 
...by jumping at the kennel door she wont be getting any rest tho:o honestly - get a crate... xrays also show up things other than fractures, eg arthritic changes, ocd etc... but firstly i would strictly follow your vets rest advice then if no better, get a specialist involved. hope your dog heals quickly.
 
NeverSayNever said:
...by jumping at the kennel door she wont be getting any rest tho:o honestly - get a crate... xrays also show up things other than fractures, eg arthritic changes, ocd etc... but firstly i would strictly follow your vets rest advice then if no better, get a specialist involved. hope your dog heals quickly.
Click to expand...
I dont think I can afford to get a crate just for 4 days of kennels- my budget just wont stretch sadly (due to horsey injuries too and the holiday and various other issues that means money is tight but thankfully Tassy is insured - phew!) the kennel time is costing us and im not sure the staff would bother using it? The only other option is to find a pet sitter for the 4 days we would have put her in kennels whilst on holiday? At home she doesnt jump up- although she does get excitited when we get home from the shops and gets a bit hyper- it must be boring alone at home in the kitchen all day. :(

How do I find a specialist? Do I phone round or go through the vet practice?
 
shadowboy said:
I dont think I can afford to get a crate just for 4 days of kennels- my budget just wont stretch sadly (due to horsey injuries too and the holiday and various other issues that means money is tight but thankfully Tassy is insured - phew!) the kennel time is costing us and im not sure the staff would bother using it? The only other option is to find a pet sitter for the 4 days we would have put her in kennels whilst on holiday? At home she doesnt jump up- although she does get excitited when we get home from the shops and gets a bit hyper- it must be boring alone at home in the kitchen all day. :(

How do I find a specialist? Do I phone round or go through the vet practice?
Click to expand...

if you're in scotland i could tell you.... but your vet should be able to tell you who the nearest orthopedic specialist is , youl have to be referred by them anyway i would imagine.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top