Albie is now 7 months old and seems happy and healthy! He's always causing trouble and been a typical puppy! I've noticed the last few weeks the occasional clicking from his rear legs when he sits down etc. He doesn't show any signs of pain or stiffness associated with HD but still has me worried. Has anybody else noticed this in their young dogs?
If the clicking was accompanied by lameness or stiffness then that'd be something to worry about, but on its own it doesn't necessarily mean anything. So don't panic! Anything that's worrying you or that's new or different is probably best checked out by the vet, so you could always do that. But clicking definitely does not automatically mean that your dog has a problem. My ankles click on and off and have done for decades and there is absolutely nothing wrong with them. So it can happen in people too
Oban clicked from a very young age and as he grew it seemed the clicks came from more and more places. He did limp through ages 10, 11 and 12 months but not in a spot he clicked. Somewhere after one year old I noticed he didn't click anymore, anywhere.
My boys all clicked while they were adolescents worried the hell out of me. None have had any problems and both were checked out with vet and an animal physio at different points in their development. They seemed to have got less clicky as they got older. Doug had many health problems thoughout his life but none were related to joint issues. Rory is not three yet, his clicking has got less as he has got more muscled. I have been careful with his exercise and he has developed slowly. I worry about it but found after checking at various points in their lives it was not an indication of a problem. I would check it keep an eye on it it could indicate a problem but in my case it did not. I click a lot too.
Thanks everyone it's great to hear other people's experiences. He mainly seems to do it when he is told to sit but it worries the hell out of me lol
June 1st I had to say good-bye to my best friend (at 9 years old) as Arthritis was causing Dozer so much pain and the medication was no longer working. This has had made me worry more about the health and well being of little Stryker. So the only advice I can give you is, if at any point you have to question a possible medical issue then it's time for a vet check. Others might disagree but that's just me.
I agree but I go to a physiotherapist too. All my pups get checked and vacinated by my vet and then accessed by my physio. We discuss their faults Rory has a long back and is slightly cow hocked and we came up with a exercise programme for him to improve and protect him in his grow stages.
It's definitely coming from his right knee and only does it when he sits. Will try and book a appointment with one of the senior vets next week. The strange thing is he's not limping or showing any signes of discomfort. Anyone ever had knee issues with there Labradors? God these animals worry you sick don't they!
Yep they really do,but I'd be doing Just them same. You will know for sure if You get it checked. Hope everything is ok
Lilly, who has severe HD, clicks like mad. No limping for ages and ages, been off her anti-inflammatory for 6 months now I am sure. So.....my doggy head says get him checked. My human head says there are loads of reasons for joint click noises. More often than not, its the tendon or ligament slipping over a bony promontory and means rather than having a broken bone, or an abnormal joint, that its just a ligament slipping over bone! So put them together, don't panic, but ask the question of the vet, and if it is not clear clinically, x-rays may help, your vet will advise you. Whichever way, don't sit and worry about it. xx
Yea I will get him checked for sure! My biggest worry is trusting the vets. I've already changed vets once due to misdiagnoses. I ended up diagnosing his eye issues and booking him in With a referral hospital and they were great but he needed a £1300 operation. I'm trying to get a appointment with the senior bet who specialises in gundogs but getting a appointment doesn't seem that easy! Is it a possibility that Albie has strained his knee or it's just because he's still growing?
The Vet I use is through an Animal Hospital but the best part is, is at any point if I have a health concern I can call and ask for a recommendation of what I should do. Maybe you can call and ask and explain that the dog is in no visual pain or discomfort but you do hear the clicking sounds when he sits. Maybe give a brief description of the daily in's and out's of your dog and they may ask you to come in or just watch him closely.
Snowie went through periods of clicking (on and off) in the last year -- we never knew what joints were clicking. Of course we were extremely worried because he has a slipped lumbar disc so we were worried it was yet another ailment to add to his stable of ailments! The vet treating him for the slipped disc (combination of laser treatment and arnica for anti-inflammatory plus no running on sand and no jolting exercise) told me that if he started to limp that we could consider treatment with cartrophen injections (in laymen's terms, it "oils" the joints! I am sure a quick Google search will provide the correct medical things that it does). He did say that Mobiflex (a powder of glucosamine, chondroitin, and green mussel extract) was a good dietary supplement and to see how it worked before we start with injections (a level teaspoon with breakfast). Well, I'm pleased to say that I've not noticed any clicking for the past 2 or 3 months. We have used Mobiflex on and off since Snowie was a small puppy cos he limped on his front legs (one at a time for a few days at a time, over the period of a year). We also give him salmon oil capsules (omega 3s), which are proven anti-inflammatory and which the vet said were excellent supplements. I do hope you find nothing untoward and that the clicking is nothing. BTW Snowie's elbow and hip joints are fine -- he had x-rays when his spine was x-rayed and MRIed, and the report was that they were within the normal range for his age.
Thanks everone I've booked in with the vets for Thursday. The vet said its more likely to be the hips than the knee though Although I've just checked and I'm convinced it's his knee clicking. I'm trying my best to keep him from bombing around till after he has been checked out.
I had animals for a long time and only try to worry when it's happened. I know it's not much help but hopefully it will be nothing.you will get loads of support and good advice here. Ive had very ill dogs in the passed and they have had good lives regardless. Sorry your so worried .
So just a quick update! Albie spent the day at the vets yesterday having full x Ray's on hips, shoulders, knees and elbows and thankfully nothing bad showed up. The vet thinks it may just be growing pains causing the clicking but anyway it was good to get him checked out and whilst he was sedated they also tested for his allergy that keeps making him itch so waiting to here back about that.
@boogs83 Great news about his joints! Why did he need to be sedated to check for an allergy? I'm curious to know what test it is.
Well done for taking him to the vet's, good for your peace of mind and maybe find the cause of the itching as well
