Kelpie Is Limping

[Isabel964]

My 10 year old Kelpie is limping. Started on the weekend. Took her straight of to the vet. Vet said she has what seems to be soft tissue damage in her left shoulder. This was determined by trying to feel and move the front legs this way and that.

Vet provided anti inflammatory tablets and said to rest the dog - no walks for a week.

But today she is still limping badly...and I just wondered if there was anything I could do to optimise her recovery. I have no ides what caused this.

She jumps up onto the bed for a snuggle before going to her bed each night - its a small hope up for a girl like her, and a not a big jump down either - it should not be causing any issues. She jumps into the back of the hatchback when we go for car rides - every day.

None of these have been issues for her and right now there are no car trips for her.

I am not experienced with older dogs and would love any advice.

[Isabel964]

Bump

[sheree_e4]

Do you have a dog crate ? If not get one and keep her locked in it for a week, only out to go to the toilet ON LEAD .

NO on the bed/lounge at all and no jumping into the car. She MUST rest and that means being confined for a whole week.

[Jumabaar]

I would set up a ramp or step where she normally jumps- the jumps might not do any damage, but eliminating them wont hurt either.

I would do a search for a canine chiro in you area who might be able to localise the injury a little more. This will give you a better chance of treating the injury. It is difficult to advise more without a better diagnosis. Soft tissue injuries are generally treated by rest, massage and gentle exercise after recovery.

The lack of improvement on anti-inflammatories may mean that further investigation is warranted.

[Lab_Rat]

Hey Sky, Ive been thinking about this for a bit - which is why Im only just posting!!

Does your Kelpie do any sort of exercise that involves sudden changes of direction or speed?? Is she a working dog, agility or jumping dog?? Those sorts of things, as well as exuberant play can cause soft tissue injuries!

Other than that I dont know what else would cause this, unless it is something deeper, like a joint or tendon/ligament injury or disease!!

I hope the poor thing gets better on the anti-inflams....I wouldnt be letting her jump up or off anything, at all!!

Ive recently had our kelpie on very restricted activity due to a toe injury. All up I think she was kept quiet for almost six weeks, so it may take a while for your girl...Our girl is 8, so age doesnt help!!

Do you know anyone that does Bowen Therapy?? Or chiropractic work?? I know when I had tennis elbow, my chiro helped alot

[Muttaburra]

Follow the vets instructions, and give it time. You may need more anti-inflammatory medication if no improvement towards the end of one week. Resting really means resting and sometimes people crate their dogs in this situation.

Soft tissue is cartilage, tendons and ligaments, all have a role to play in stabalising bone joints. The are diet supplements that can support cartilage.

As for cause, sometimes like old human athletes, wear, tear and knocks to the joint will show up as arthritis when a dog gets old.

Other things are weakening of the ligaments, again an issue with age and lower hormone levels. A weak ligament on one side of a joint will cause it to not stay fully located in the socket or groove and start to cause pain that way.

If after the week there is no improvement at all, the vet might recommend x-rays to rule out other causes of the pain.

Here are some useful pictures of dog shoulder. If it feels anything like my old knee joints, your dog is in quite a bit of pain, and should not be stepping up or down for as long as the vet says to rest it.

Dog Shoulder Image Link

The ramp sound like a good idea.

Hope it gets better soon

Edited July 12, 2011 by Muttaburra

[Monah]

I'd give a little longer too.

NO jumping at all.....

Also if there are any questions I'd be straight back to the vet for another examination to see if anything else is going on. Vets can only diagnose 'step by step' just like GPs. If the problem is onging the vet needs to know. Good luck and I hope your lovely kelpie is better very soonxxxx

One of my dogs sees a physio weekly and also has accupuncture. I've had to keep her on lead and be very careful for 9 months now...

Edited July 13, 2011 by Monah

[kelpiechick]

This topic could be the story of my life at the moment, as both my kelpies have had episodes of limping since early in the year and agility trialling has been practically non-existant for them.

My younger kelpie's limp was also from his shoulder, vet said to give it app. 4 to 6 weeks but honestly it was more like 8 to 10 weeks so definitely give it more time. Plus he has only just turned 5 so I would expect recovery to possibly be a bit faster than with a 10 year old dog in most cases. There could also be a slight strain to the tendon involved plus the beginnings of arthritis in the joint. I understand how hard it is just waiting to see improvement, I got to the point where I thought he was never going to get better at one stage. Hang in there.

Even though it is very difficult to keep a kelpie from running and jumping I would definitely be lifting your girl onto the bed and into the car - it might be a small jump but not small for an injured shoulder if you know what I mean.

If you have access to a good muscle therapist you could visit in conjunction with your vet, some laser therapy might help.

Edited July 13, 2011 by kelpiechick

[ness]

Join the club kelpiechick only replace kelpie with border collie and try not yet 3 when it happened . We did eventually get xrays and ultrasound to rule out a hope heap of stuff as it just wasn't improving. Certainly recommend seeking out a good chiro/muscle person/physio. My youngster will be starting a course of weekly acupuncture for a month next week to see if we can finally get the bottom of it.

[Isabel964]

Thanks so much everyone. I have stopped all car trips, and not letting her up on the bed.

No, she has not been doing agility - just a 1.5 hour walk a day which she seems to love and finds easy to do.

Crating her is a last resort - she would hate that but yes I would get one for her if it became necessary.

She is just laying on her bed in the lounge room for most of he day. Aside from coming to me and asking me why there are no walks, why she isn't being taken for car rides, and why she can't pop up onto the bed for cuddles before sleep

Thank you for explaining so much for me. I am happy to find a canine chiro and to get extra help. We'll see how she goes, and you have all helped me with info so very much.

[ness]

Is it possible to lift her in and out of the car so she can still have car rides. My youngster was on 3 weeks strict rest after the specialist visit and the only way we both managed to keep sane was car rides. But she is only 13kg so I could easily lift her in and out .

[rubiton]

It wont heal at all while you allow jumping - ANY jumping no matter how small. Our dog tends to go lame on various legs (hips, shoulder, elbow - most recent was shoulder) and you cannot allow them to run, jump, nothing. Lift into the car and back out again, lift ontothe bed and back off again - our dog is not allowed at all now to jump in and out of the car (it is a kluger so higher than some) and she hates it. According to her she is fine to jump and will try to do the run up and jump if you dont block & correct her before she gets moving (in reality she gets sore and is likely to just miss and scratch her way up the last bit).

Anti inflammatories will work but takes a while and you cant let the dog go back to jumping and running even if they look better for as long as the vet said to contain. And then its building slowly back up with controlled walking on the lead not rushing around. Been there done that and now have a whole regimine but ours has been checked by the vet and if she goes sore its some rest then walk on lead slowly building up and using Rapigel then brushing it out when it dries not to mention the magnetic rug etc. Just remember the antiinflammatories may take the pain away and the dog will want to dash around but in reality its maskign the problem while helping it so you must not allow running and jumping for a lot longer than what seems to have the dog better.

[persephone]

She can still go for car rides just build her a ramp, or lift her !

[bedazzledx2]

Just thought I'd come in here and mention that the worst part about jumping is the landing particularly on shoulder joints, so whilst you shouldn't allow any jumping at all for the time being..be very particular about not allowing jumping down off furniture or out of the car.