Permanently lame dogs

[Dopeydapple]

As Tala has suspected ED I joined a Facebook group about this to hear people's experiences etc. I'm utterly gobsmacked by the number of people on there who's dogs are still lame after surgery ( or have become lame again further down the line) who seem to think it's fine / normal because the dog is "less lame than it was before". There's a post from someone who said after surgery the lamecleared up totally but now the dog has gone back to having a few very lame steps when they get up from lying down but then it wears off, they asked if they should be concerned about this and 100% of replies were that it was fine and not to worry as the dog improves when moving. Am I in the minority that thinks you shouldn't ignore lameness just because it's been worse previously??

 

[Identityincrisis]

Nope, I totally agree. My dog, who i'm having PTS next week, is not noticeably lame but he has slowed significantly despite being on a cocktail of pain relief.

When I've discussed my red lines in the past with his physio, she reasoned that lameness in dogs isn't as clear cut as with horses (she's canine and equine) and dogs can continue to have QOL despite lameness. My dog is going to the physio tonight for his final treatment (it's more a gentle massage nowadays anyway) and I know she will say he can continue but there is no way I want to see my beloved dog struggle more than he is, despite me wishing I had more time with him

 

[KikiDee]

My old dog would take a few lame steps when first getting up from sleeping, but would quickly walk it off and still enjoyed his walks, playing with toys etc. I have an arthritic ankle from an old injury and I know when I first get up it's sore, but after walking around on it for a while the pain completely goes away and I can still enjoy my normal activities. A dog that was always lame on every step it took day in day out would be different. QOL with dogs is hard to judge, especially elderly dogs, for me it was can they usually still enjoy a steady walk/sniff without pain or struggling along, do they still engage in play and do they still enjoy their food. If I can't tick all 3 boxes then I start asking myself questions.

 

[Dopeydapple]

My old dog would take a few lame steps when first getting up from sleeping, but would quickly walk it off and still enjoyed his walks, playing with toys etc. I have an arthritic ankle from an old injury and I know when I first get up it's sore, but after walking around on it for a while the pain completely goes away and I can still enjoy my normal activities. A dog that was always lame on every step it took day in day out would be different. QOL with dogs is hard to judge, especially elderly dogs, for me it was can they usually still enjoy a steady walk/sniff without pain or struggling along, do they still engage in play and do they still enjoy their food. If I can't tick all 3 boxes then I start asking myself questions.

I get that and have the same issue with my back and ankle, but if a dog had a compromised joint that had needed surgery and then started going lame again I would want a check up, maybe the joint was failing again and needs more support ( physio, prp, arthramid etc), I don't think I would dismiss it and wait till it maybe gets worse.

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

I have had this conversation with many friends, and my mum when our cats got elderly, who say 'oh they're just a bit stiff'... yes lame/stiff equals pain, that's what causes the lameness/stiffness and they don't know any different, so it should be treated as such. It's so frustrating.

 

[KikiDee]

I get that and have the same issue with my back and ankle, but if a dog had a compromised joint that had needed surgery and then started going lame again I would want a check up, maybe the joint was failing again and needs more support ( physio, prp, arthramid etc), I don't think I would dismiss it and wait till it maybe gets worse.

Agree different depending on circumstances I think, I was thinking more specifically elderly dogs it can be a difficult grey area I think. I was assuming these people have done all of the above and under veterinary guidance, if not then yes further intervention needed.

 

[Dopeydapple]

Agree different depending on circumstances I think, I was thinking more specifically elderly dogs it can be a difficult grey area I think. I was assuming these people have done all of the above and under veterinary guidance, if not then yes further intervention needed.

The post definitely read like they were asking in the group instead of asking the vet

 

[Highmileagecob]

The problem with asking a group thread is that the majority opinion becomes the normal. You know your dog, and you are concerned about lameness. Yes, I do see quite a few elderly dogs being taken for walks, who are clearly lame, hobbling or just struggling. I'm really not sure why this is accepted either.

 

[pistolpete]

When I worked at the vets the number of people who were happy to see their dogs really struggling to move astounded me. It seems as long as the vets were happy to dish out masses of pain meds that was justification enough. I know some cope better than others and are all unique in their pain thresholds just like people but it did worry me.

 

[ihatework]

I think it’s a scale of lameness with other factors to consider.

I’ve seen some people (including friends) keep consistently and fairly severely lame dogs going for months/years. Some of these on no or very minimal pain medication. I’ve found it really quite shocking.

But dogs, like us, have issues and I don’t think occasional lameness is necessarily a major issue. For example getting up after an extended period lying down, or having overdone it on a walk. But it has to be put into context with overall quality of life and with the understanding that most animals tolerate a lot before it really starts to show.

Not sure if I’ve explained myself well.

 

[I'm Dun]

I have had this conversation with many friends, and my mum when our cats got elderly, who say 'oh they're just a bit stiff'... yes lame/stiff equals pain, that's what causes the lameness/stiffness and they don't know any different, so it should be treated as such. It's so frustrating.

I'm not sure its that clear cut. I'm crippled in various ways. What people would describe as stiffness for me is pain free. Its just a mechanical limitation, but doesnt come with pain. Of course with dogs you are only guessing if it hurts or not so much harder to call.

I know my older boy can be stiff when getting up. Hes got a compromised disc in his neck and hes a whippet so he sleeps for 20 hours at a time, and sometimes when he gets up hes clearly got a numb leg. I am as sure as I can be it doesnt hurt as hes very dramatic and any pain gets an extreme response, and it walks off in a few steps. But he has pain killers and physio once a month, and sees an osteo every few months, I've just got a cold laser to use as he responds well to that at physio, and I watch him like a hawk. While hes happy and playing and being his usual sweet natured self I just monitor and worry myself about it. But I am as sure as I can be that hes not in pain. Ironically the younger boy looked sound, we had to video him and slow it down to even see an issue, but he was hurting. I'm lucky that I know my boys well enough to tell when something is off, because to look at he was glowing with health, still running about like a lunatic, but he defintely wasnt right and has taken about 6 months to fully recover!

 

[Asha]

My lab was diagnosed with ED. Symptoms where mild, in that he would take a few lame steps after rest. Literally one or two. Took him in, and after xrays /scans etc the vet confirm the ED. His was fairly severe too, so he had both done within a few weeks of each other. That was a couple years ago now (October 23 i think ) . So far so good. ( touching wood as i say this )

So, in my limited experience, they may not appear very lame, but as we all know dogs do mask pain. Stirling certainly did.