Last week I had Molly's front legs x-rayed (8 x-rays in all) and pleased to say that all seems fine with her joints. They were sent away to a specialist as my vet said he couldn't see anything wrong, and today I heard back that the specialist has also given her the all clear. I had them done as she had been limping intermittently since about February. I had a couple of visits to the vet, but each time she didn't limp and a very thorough physical examination of her whole body, not just front legs, didn't produce any reaction from her and the vet said he couldn't feel anything wrong. I nearly cancelled the x-rays as about 4 days before the appointment she stopped limping entirely, but decided to go ahead. Pleased to say that she hasn't limped since - so guessing it may have been a pulled muscle. I've had her on a diet for a month and she's lost 2kg so far, with another 3kg to go. I think the limp finally made me take her overweight seriously. She had to have a general anaesthetic, but because she is so nervous at the vet, they let me stay with her while she was sedated. She recovered very quickly - x-rays at 11 a.m., home by 2.30, asking for food by 4.30pm and bringing me her rope for a tuggy game by 7pm!
Good news, pleased for you. How old is Molly? I am starting to monitor Cassie now that she has turned 1 year, weight wise, I find it hard with all the training rewards.
Molly will be 4 at the end of August. I've taken to weighing out all food, including treats, at the beginning of each day, so she can have frequent snacks -but when it's gone, that's it. So far both my OH and I are sticking to it. (I'm blaming him as when he retired, a year ago, he started giving her lots of titbits -not that I ever did that, oh no... )
Snowie limped intermittently during his first year - front legs only. One consideration was it was caused from his neck - had to wear a head halter (hated it!) at dog school, and possibly it caused neck injury which in turn caused the limp. One incident in particular when we were doing long lead training and he somersaulted when he tore off, and I stupidly listened to the trainer who said, Stand on the leash, and when Snowie got to the end of the long lead, he was abruptly stopped and somersaulted.. Stopped using the head halter and limping stopped. X-rays at 4 years showed normal elbows (X-rays were for slipped lumbar disk).
Fantastic that the X-rays were clear. Hopefully it's put your mind at rest. I have found massage has really help eliminate Harley's intermittent limping.
