Tilly Posted May 21, 2009 Share Posted May 21, 2009 Our almost 7 year old GSD was bouncing around like a bunny on Wednesday morning when I took his breakfast out to him. He suddenly gave a yelp and started limping holding up his back left leg. I checked him over and couldn't find any sore spots and through maybe his leg might have slipped out on the wet concrete. After he ate his breakfast he was still limping slightly ... but as it was raining I knew he would sleep for most of the day so I headed off to work. That night he was walking much better but there was still a very slight limp. Thursday morning he was back to normal so I didn't think much more of it. My brother came to pick him up for work tonight and he refused to jump into the back of the car - so now I am worried ... he can jump an 8ft fence from a sitting position and now he is refusing to jump in or out of the back of the car - we usually have to stop him from jumping into the car. My brother told me he is also limping and has weakness in his right leg. Is it possible he has injured his back and not his leg? We can find no sore spots on his back and we can move his joints/hip with no problems or sign of pain. He was hip scored 5 years ago and had almost perfect scores (0:1). I am taking him to the vet in the morning ... but I am already thinking the worse and driving myself crazy with worry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted May 21, 2009 Share Posted May 21, 2009 he has maybe damaged his knee.... Hopefully you will get good advice from the vet this morning Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poodlefan Posted May 21, 2009 Share Posted May 21, 2009 A cruciate ligament injury is another possibility. Good luck at the vets.. hope it's nothing serious.. could just be muscle soreness. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gsdog2 Posted May 21, 2009 Share Posted May 21, 2009 (edited) A cruciate ligament injury is another possibility. Good luck at the vets.. hope it's nothing serious.. could just be muscle soreness. That was my first thought too. However my 8yr GSD had the same symptoms about six weeks ago and after having x-rays it turns out he has severe arthritis (he has arthritis in his elbows, but he had not shown any signs of knee problems previously). I urge you to go to the vet ASAP as there were a couple of nasties the vet was also looking for with my boy. Edited May 21, 2009 by gsdog2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puggy_puggy Posted May 22, 2009 Share Posted May 22, 2009 Knee cap could have popped out then popped back in again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tilly Posted May 22, 2009 Author Share Posted May 22, 2009 Back from the vet with a dopey dog (he was sedated) ... it looks like he might have a partial tear of the cruciate ligament in the knee. He is now confined to the puppy pen for 6 weeks ... not sure what I am going to do with the puppy which is due to arrive on Monday. Might have to build another puppy pen. He should hopefully be feeling better in the morning with the pain drugs and anti-inflammatory drugs. I think I need to get a lot stronger or get a smaller dog ... I needed help to lift him in and out or the car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Golden Rules Posted May 22, 2009 Share Posted May 22, 2009 Back from the vet with a dopey dog (he was sedated) ... it looks like he might have a partial tear of the cruciate ligament in the knee.He is now confined to the puppy pen for 6 weeks ... not sure what I am going to do with the puppy which is due to arrive on Monday. Might have to build another puppy pen. He should hopefully be feeling better in the morning with the pain drugs and anti-inflammatory drugs. I think I need to get a lot stronger or get a smaller dog ... I needed help to lift him in and out or the car. Oh Tilly, not such good news, at least it's only a partial tear so it has a chance of healing on it's own with rest. I know what you mean about getting a big dog in and out of a car after sedation or anaesthetic! It's definitely a 2 person job! Are you taking time off when the puppy arrives? It's weird the way things work out, it might actually be a good thing for both dogs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tilly Posted May 22, 2009 Author Share Posted May 22, 2009 I have taken 2 weeks off ... which started this afternoon. I suppose this makes it a little easier to introduce the puppy to our boy ... but it is going to be difficult to keep him quiet for 6 weeks. He is going to go nuts not going to work and running around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
all that glitters Posted May 22, 2009 Share Posted May 22, 2009 6 weeks confined?! Oh wow these leg injuries scare me. How does one keep a large dog like this, do they get used to it because they are sore, do they go stir crazy? *goes to google* Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Golden Rules Posted May 22, 2009 Share Posted May 22, 2009 I have taken 2 weeks off ... which started this afternoon.I suppose this makes it a little easier to introduce the puppy to our boy ... but it is going to be difficult to keep him quiet for 6 weeks. He is going to go nuts not going to work and running around. "Keeping him quiet" will vary from person to person, and dog of course. When Dougal had his cruciates operated on, he was to be kept quiet for 6 to 8 weeks. For me, that was confined to the house and only outside to pee etc. I made sure I had all sorts of chew toys on hand but I found a small bone most days and the trusty old Kong worked wonders. You can't keep them entertained all day and often they will just sleep anyway, but I am amazed at dog's ability to adapt so quickly when they have to. You might be surprised Tilly! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tilly Posted May 22, 2009 Author Share Posted May 22, 2009 (edited) I have taken him out for toiletting a couple of times .... and he is almost bouncing. I have to keep calming him down ... and this is day one. Obviously the sedation has worn off ... apparently they don't have one that lasts 6 weeks. I put him back in the pen and had to walk away from the whinging and crying - poor baby is not happy. I did give him soon toys but he got cranky with then and threw them out of the pen ... lets hope he doesn't get as cranky as he did in Nov when he was in hospital. Edited May 22, 2009 by Tilly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
all that glitters Posted May 22, 2009 Share Posted May 22, 2009 Aww poor boy, if only dogs could watch and be entertained by daytime TV... he'd be quite happy then! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toolz Posted May 23, 2009 Share Posted May 23, 2009 good luck with him and his recovery.. i am lucky in that my big boy doesnt do much apart from sleep so if he ever had to be confined and rested it wouldnt be hard.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puggy_puggy Posted May 23, 2009 Share Posted May 23, 2009 You might find a crate a better option in the long run as he wont be able to push it around like a puppy pen. When Poppy, the 5kg pug, has decided she has had enough of being in her puppy pen (she gets put in it outside to go to the toilet) she will literally move it from one side of the courtyard to the other. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Golden Rules Posted May 23, 2009 Share Posted May 23, 2009 I did give him soon toys but he got cranky with then and threw them out of the pen ... That sounds like the behaviour of a spoilt child! I agree, a large crate may be better than a pen if you have one, and remember to talk to him, and tell him simply, why he is confined and not allowed to run free. Who knows what they understand but I talk to my lot all the time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tilly Posted May 23, 2009 Author Share Posted May 23, 2009 You might find a crate a better option in the long run as he wont be able to push it around like a puppy pen.When Poppy, the 5kg pug, has decided she has had enough of being in her puppy pen (she gets put in it outside to go to the toilet) she will literally move it from one side of the courtyard to the other. I suppose I should explain what I mean by "puppy pen" ... It is actually a chainlink wire square pen (timber frame) that was built for the new puppy. It is 1.2m high and about 1.8m square. It is located in the corner of the back veranda and is bolted to two of the brick walls and the overhead rafters ... I didn't want it moving The poor boy is now really sulking ... he is laying on his bed facing towards the wall with his back to me. He is refusing to look at me or even acknowledge I am talking to him. He must think he is in trouble because he normally gets full run of the yard. Maybe he is a little spoilt .... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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