[Florabora22]

Being a new mom I'm relatively aware that I can be very paranoid about things, so this might be one of them . Anyhow, Flora has been showing some discomfort with her left hind leg the last couple weeks. One day about 2 weeks ago she jumped up on our 1.5' tall rock wall thing in the back yard and slipped and fell. She yelped and was walking around with her back left leg curled up looking very sorry for herself. About 30 seconds later she was fine.

Since then, on occasion, when she is doing her zoomies and running around in circles, she will let out a quiet yelp and start holding up her hind leg again. She's better in about 10 seconds, but after that I don't let her run anymore.

I've also noticed when she sits, oftentimes she will have her left hind leg thrust out to the side in a funny manner, as well as when she urinates.

I'm hoping this is all just related to the incident with the rock wall, but any input would be great! She will be seeing the vet in about a week for a check-up with her ear, so I figure I'd mention it then, but I wanted to see what you guys thought.

 

[BeauShel]

I would keep her quiet as much as you can for a couple of days to see if that makes a difference. No jumping, running walking on a leash at potty times to see if that helps. If not then xrays are in order when she goes to the vet next time.

 

[Bock]

If it's been happening for the last 2 weeks with her yelping and pulling up on it, I would have the vet see it. Just try to rest it.

 

[MyCodyBoy]

I would try to make sure she doesn't climb anything any more until you feel she is ok.
Cody has had a few major falls with some serious pain resulting from those falls. These all happened when he was quite young.
He did get over the limping and he hasn;t had any hip problems as the resolt of the falls.
If you hear her hips cracking I would get her into the vet, otherwise I would just watch her.

 

[Jo Ellen]

I'm concerned she might have torn her ACL. It doesn't sound like she ruptured it entirely, she would not have been able to use her leg again so quickly otherwise.

I'd see the vet about this. It's important to catch these things early to minimize the arthritis that often develops afterwards.

 

[Maxs Mom]

I hope it is nothing more serious than a sprain or strain. Rest would help figure that out but if it were me, I would have the vet check to be sure. Better to be safe than sorry.

 

[Florabora22]

Thanks for the ideas. I really cannot afford x-rays so the best I'd be able to do is have the vet manipulate her leg and make sure there isn't something palpably wrong with her. I've tried pressing around her hip and elbow region and extending her leg, and she doesn't seem at all bothered, so hopefully that is a good sign. I don't hear any cracking or weird noises either.

Last night Flora was playing in the living room and must have twisted wrong, because she let out a tiny little cry and got very excited (she gets excited when she hurts herself, I don't know why).

Other than these brief moments of crying out in pain she seems totally fine. She wants to run and jump and play, but I am trying to keep that to a minimum. I'm just hoping she sprained something. I'm so worried now that it is something worse.

I will mention it to the vet next time I see her.

 

[tippykayak]

Sounds like a luxating patella, particularly if it seems to come and go suddenly. That's where the "kneecap" (it doesn't look like a kneecap on a dog) dislocates and floats around. When it pops back into place, the dog is fine. It's not all that common in Goldens, but it does happen. A vet should be able to diagnose it by manipulating the kneecap.

The permanent answer is a surgical deepening of the groove the patella rides in, but I think some dogs grow out of it on their own.

 

[Florabora22]

Sounds like a luxating patella, particularly if it seems to come and go suddenly. That's where the "kneecap" (it doesn't look like a kneecap on a dog) dislocates and floats around. When it pops back into place, the dog is fine. It's not all that common in Goldens, but it does happen. A vet should be able to diagnose it by manipulating the kneecap.

The permanent answer is a surgical deepening of the groove the patella rides in, but I think some dogs grow out of it on their own.

That would be really, really weird, considering Flora's littermate was diagnosed with luxating patella when she was much younger. Is it a hereditary issue?

This has only started happening within the time of her "accident" with the stone wall. Can something like luxating patella be spurred on by a physical accident?

 

[tippykayak]

That would be really, really weird, considering Flora's littermate was diagnosed with luxating patella when she was much younger. Is it a hereditary issue?

This has only started happening within the time of her "accident" with the stone wall. Can something like luxating patella be spurred on by a physical accident?

It's absolutely a hereditary issue, so I wouldn't be surprised to hear it showed up in several dogs in the line. Your breeder will want to know, because if a litter produced multiple dogs with LPs, it's a bad matchup and a possible reason to discontinue breeding those two dogs entirely.

The fact that a littermate had it is good reason to suspect that it's what's causing Flora's problem.

The actual problem is with the formation of the bones, not the injury itself, but it would make sense that an initial forceful jump might have caused the first time (or the first time you noticed), and ever since then, you're attuned to it, and it's happening regularly.

 

[Cam's Mom]

Brian already answered the heredity part...sorry your baby might have luxating patella. The vet can easily tell if it's that or ACL, so I would get it checked. They can click the luxating patella in and out...ACL can feel movement that shouldn't occur. My old guy Bailey has luxating patellas and very severe arthritis as a result. He's had surgery on both knees, one knee twice. He's 13 plus...and they're slipping in and out, but I won't put him through surgery again. Vets can show you how to click the knee back correctly too.

Either way glucosamine supplements will help limit the arthritis, and help healing with or without surgery. It can take 6 weeks to kick in. I have all my guys on Glycoflexx III...it has the highest level of glucosamine. Usually recommend doubling the dose for the first month. Cheapest place to get it is often Entirely pets.

Bailey has hip dysplasia too....might want to get x-rays just in case. It makes recovering from the knee surgery a bit more stressful. (They can x-ray hips when he's under for knee.)

And paranoia is normal. I'm older with years of dog stuff...and still paranoid. It means you care about your pup.

 

[Bock]

Brian already answered the heredity part...sorry your baby might have luxating patella. The vet can easily tell if it's that or ACL, so I would get it checked. They can click the luxating patella in and out...ACL can feel movement that shouldn't occur. My old guy Bailey has luxating patellas and very severe arthritis as a result. He's had surgery on both knees, one knee twice. He's 13 plus...and they're slipping in and out, but I won't put him through surgery again. Vets can show you how to click the knee back correctly too.

Either way glucosamine supplements will help limit the arthritis, and help healing with or without surgery. It can take 6 weeks to kick in. I have all my guys on Glycoflexx III...it has the highest level of glucosamine. Usually recommend doubling the dose for the first month. Cheapest place to get it is often Entirely pets.

Bailey has hip dysplasia too....might want to get x-rays just in case. It makes recovering from the knee surgery a bit more stressful. (They can x-ray hips when he's under for knee.)

And paranoia is normal. I'm older with years of dog stuff...and still paranoid. It means you care about your pup.

My westie was just diagnosed with luxating patella. She'll run around, stick her leg out all of a sudden, shake it off, and then she's running around again. She shows no signs of pain, just pops her kneecap back into place. Vet also recommended glucosamine as a preventative, said surgery is optional.

The bad thing about it is it increases risks of arthritis.

 

[Florabora22]

How depressing. I am really short on money right now so surgery is totally out of the question, but I am not going to get too worked up until she sees the vet, which is scheduled for next Monday.

Thank you everyone for the information, even though it makes me sad. I'll let you know how the vet trip goes next week.

 

[Trids]

Next time she cuddles up with you, I'd try a heating pad or "bed buddy" type item. (Something that you can microwave for moist heat, even a damp/warmed dish towel, but make sure it's not too hot.) Put it between you and Flora or if she'll allow it, lay it on directly on her leg. I've done this for my Pom-Poo after a similar incident and it seemed to help her. The limping and whining stopped after a couple applications.

Good luck!
Trids

Thanks for the ideas.
Last night Flora was playing in the living room and must have twisted wrong, because she let out a tiny little cry and got very excited (she gets excited when she hurts herself, I don't know why).

Other than these brief moments of crying out in pain she seems totally fine. She wants to run and jump and play, but I am trying to keep that to a minimum. I'm just hoping she sprained something. I'm so worried now that it is something worse.

I will mention it to the vet next time I see her.

 

[Florabora22]

Well, she had a pretty bad incident today with crying and limping, so I rescheduled her appt for today. This couldn't come at a more inopportune time. I have absolutely NO money and am in debt up to my ears. I'm sure the vet will want x-rays and I feel at this point I can't say no. Ugh. I'll update after I get back from the vet.

 

[Karen519]

kd

KD

ASK about the care credit no interest card for vets.
Also, she could have torn her ACL and might need suture surgery or TPLO surgery.

I am paying Smooch's $3600 with no interest on care credit for one year, I could have opted for longer

 

[Duke's Momma]

oooooooh! I'm so sorry. Poor baby and poor you! Be sure to let us know. Hopefully it's just a strain and will get all better with some anti inflams and rest.

 

[honeysmum]

Poor Flora, I hope that the vet doesn't find anything seriously wrong and just rest will put things right, with perhaps some anti inflammatory meds.

 

[Florabora22]

Well, Tippykayak was right, it is luxating patella. The vet suggested she have surgery as soon as possible since her patella is slipping out of the groove so frequently. Anyhow, my family is being very supportive and thank you Karen519 for suggesting the Carecredit option... my vet does offer that so I will definitely be using that when she has the surgery.

 

[tippykayak]

Oh, sometimes I hate being right. I'm sorry you have to take this on financially right now, but the good news is that most LP surgeries result in an almost complete correction of the problem. Don't forget to ask your vet about joint supplements for the short term and to limit arthritis or complications later in life.

Did the vet check the other leg? LPs can come in pairs.