Re: Intermittent limping Snowie limped intermittently between 4 months and 15 months. Alternated from one front leg to the other -- three episodes in total. I was extremely worried. Complete rest was prescribed each time. No-one knows what caused it -- could've been anything. Our vet didn't prescribe x-rays, said it was too difficult at such a young age to read the x-rays correctly. I suspect it was the head harness he wore, it was a requirement at the dog school we were going to. He was so boisterous that he would yank on the head harness, and one time the trainer made me stand on his leash as he raced off on a long lead, and he somersaulted when he got to the end of the lead -- my heart almost stopped at that moment. What I noticed was that his limp came after the training session and someone mentioned that neck injuries can cause a front leg limp. I stopped with the head halter and used a harness although he did limp once more after that. My vet thought it was from the buckle on the harness pressing into his shoulder and said I should turn the harness around so that one time the buckle pressed on one shoulder, another time the buckle on the other shoulder. I have no idea if there was any causative effect but he stopped limping at 18 months and has never limped again -- he is very strong. His brother had bilateral elbow dysplasia at one year, so I was worried about a lot of things. Growing pains, too -- I read those can cause intermittent limping at a young age. Snowie is three now and no limps whatsoever. I am thinking of you and Dyson and am looking forward to hearing all the details of your specialist visit and hopefully you will get a good treatment program. Best wishes!! Dyson is so lucky to have you. [Edit... Oh I see I wrote this all ages ago (just looked through your post)!! Sorry for the repeat. Us dog-fanatics just love writing about our dogs, don't we?!]
Re: Intermittent limping Just home from the specialist. DYSON has very mild ED in his right leg, left leg is ok. Surgery isn't needed just now so that is some relief. To keep an eye on his weight and gradually increase his exercise again. Has anyone else had the non surgical route with ED ?? Don't think it has sunk in yet... :-\
Re: Intermittent limping No experience with surgery, but mild ED doesn't require one. I have a dog with mild ED, which is manageable with rest and a course of NSAIDS. You can also add glucosamine and chondroitine supplements to his diet, they may help enormously. My dog was diagnosed 3 years ago, and hasn't shown any discomfort since. Physical exercise is also important, keeps the muscle tone which is needed with dogs with joint issues.
Re: Intermittent limping It's not the best news I'm sorry xxxx but.....it's not the worst news either.you have a diagnosis and a clearer idea of what is ahead and I know there will be advice flooding in to help. [quote author=Dyson link=topic=8845.msg145299#msg145299 date=1424698457] Has anyone else had the non surgical route with ED ? [/quote] I could be wrong but I don't think Lilly was operated on ..I know she does hydrotherapy ...someone will correct me if I'm wrong. Relax now you are home, you've had an emotional,upsetting day.catch your breath and then you are both going to manage this just fine x Hug and best wishes Angela x
Re: Intermittent limping I'm so sorry to hear your news. But equally so relieved to read the next post by Berna and her success without surgery. We feel such huge responsibility for these beings that we choose to have in our world. Thinking of you.
Re: Intermittent limping A friend's dog has this problem and has regular hydrotherapy to build up the muscles to help support the joints.
Re: Intermittent limping Of course he can live a happy and healthy active life! But you should rest him first, start supplements, I'd recommend a diet change (my dog is raw-fed) and introduce him to physical exercise gradually. This is my almost 9-year-old, a few weeks ago. He has two ACL tears in his history, and mild ED of the right elbow.
Re: Intermittent limping That's not so bad - I know you won't feel ok about it now, but we do hear about lots of dogs with quite severe ED and HD that live full, active and happy lives. If it's mild, surgery might not even be needed. Now you know, you can set about treating it. I'm a big fan of hydrotherapy (which my dog does to maintain muscle after an ACL injury). It keeps him slim, and very fit. That's only got to help.
Re: Intermittent limping Sorry to hear that news. Buster has ED, he was diagnosed at 8 months, he is now a year old and he is now allowed 2 x 20 mins walks a day (yipee, i can now walk round the block and feel that he has had a good walk)from next week we can reduce his antiinflamitry (previcox) to half a tablet a day which i am pleased about, providing he doesn't start limping. Our vet doesn't want to operate (unless it's needed), we are now slowly over the coming months building up his excercise and reducing pain medication to see where his limit is in terms of how long he can walk for, i know i still need to be patient but i can't wait until i can take Buster for a decent walk. It is hard to get your your head round it but it does get easier, i can't beleive i'm saying that as i didn't think it would despite words of encouragment from the lovely people on this site. Good luck with everything
Re: Intermittent limping Really sorry about Dyson, but you are getting a lot of support and advice from people who have been through the same sort of thing with their dogs. I'm glad he won't need surgery.
Re: Intermittent limping Cant add to whats been said except to say I`m sorry to read about your boy , but it does sound like a manageable condition , good luck x
Re: Intermittent limping On the plus side, Lilly has severe bilateral HD and manages very well without surgery. She was diagnosed at under a year and is approaching 5 in May. Not sure the story is quite the same with ED if I remember David and Lady's story. We do hydrotherapy but that is only 20mins in the pool every 2 weeks or so. She is also on regular anti-inflammatories. Certainly doesn't curb her enthusiasm for deer chasing (and rabbits, hares, pheasant.....well anything that moves excitingly)
Re: Intermittent limping Thank you all for the kind words...and the photos that Berna posted made me smile. we will adapt and use common sense. Thankfully we live right on the coast and Dyson loves to swim so it looks like I will need to invest in a wet suit ;D Again thank you so much for all the kind words and support Nick & Dyson xx
Re: Intermittent limping It's encouraging that it's the manageable kind and is in one elbow only. I hope you will start to feel a bit more ok about it now you know what you're dealing with and can come up with a plan
Re: Intermittent limping Hi, I'm sorry to hear about your news with Dyson, it's a horrible shock to hear about something that is going to affect both of you for months and years to come. We are expecting a similar diagnosis, Monty is going in for 2nd set of xrays on elbows and hips on Wednesday, having spent many hours with a specialist physio vet in recent weeks about his HD, we now know for certain that he is having more severe problems with both elbows, but probably a different type of ED on each leg. He's already had 6 treatments of laser therapy on his elbows, plus some exercises to do (so difficult to do I can barely explain - imagine an excitable 1yr lab staying still and holding a stretch for up to 10 seconds!?) and we hope that whatever the outcomes, surgery isn't immediate right now. I'll keep you posted after Wednesday of our inevitable ED treatment programme... and we can compare notes! We are planning our next two holidays around taking Monty to the seaside to swim in the sea!!
Re: Intermittent limping Natalie Please let me know how you get on. Be thinking of you both Nick & Dyson
Re: Intermittent limping Sorry to hear about the diagnosis The good thing is that now you know you can manage his condition Sending Dyson lots of tummy rubs x
