What a worry for you, I do hope Charlie is back to 100% very quickly. I have known of another Lab who was lame for months, had x-rays etc and nothing found and eventually it just went away, am hoping the same for Charlie. You have both been through so much, you need happiness now.
Ah, yes, @Stacia - we were looking forward to our training, and going back to class...and everything. Ah, well. We are happy though. Charlie is still happy, he is always happy. Just got to make the best of it, really. It is annoying about the training, we never seem to get a clear run at it! Oh well....
Right. Off to the vet again to talk Cartrophen. Charlie isn't limping this morning - at all. I swear my vet is going to accuse me of photoshopping the videos....I'm sure he thinks I've got a doggie owner of munchausen by proxy or something.....
Haha, if you do there are plenty of people who'd love to write you up as a case study. Not limping is good.
Just whizzed through to catch up on all your news....I knew from your Training post he was below par.....I'm glad there isn't an operation looming and you come away satisfied from the appointment today x
I am feeling much, much better about it. First, not limping, is as Rachel says, a really, really good thing! Charlie also had almost no sensitivity in his elbows on examination. My vet watched him walk, trot etc and says that Charlie is a bit stiff, and a little uneven (a little uneven on his front legs is normal for Charlie) but isn't limping. I have videos from today, over the past week, and also video from before the 'limp event' (top tip: video your dog so you know what his 'normal' looks like - it is really coming in handy). We decided to trial the Cartrophen, and video Charlie throughout, and then do a comparison of before limp event, with after Cartrophen - we might get a vet who doesn't know which video is which to decide whether there is any improvement. Also, today, Charlie in himself is absolutely full of beans, he was a bit quiet on Sunday/Monday - I hate that. Unless Charlie is getting into some kind of mischief on a regular basis throughout the day, and trotting along on his walks with his head up and interested in everything, I always worry dreadfully that he is ill.
Not limping is good news and no tenderness even better. Will be interesting to see if the cartrophen makes a difference, and if so how much.
That's a relief, it's all such a worry for you. Glad Charlie is back to himself which is always great to hear. x
I hope so....I'm torn between being realistic based on experience, or hope based on being optimistic! So far, every time my dog has developed a limp it's been a huge big deal. But then, other people have dogs that limp for a couple of days and it goes away....just maybe it's my turn for that to be the outcome! For once....
I so know what you mean. I try to remain optimistic while mentally preparing for the worst case outcome . You know the rules - take each day as it comes and each day without a limp is a bonus - it's the only thing that has kept me sane (although some people would dispute my sanity ).
Today is mid way between the first and second cartrophen injections (he has the next on Wed or Thursday - depending when I can get away from work). Videoed him today again. He is still a bit stiff first thing, and a tiny hint of a head nod, but not on every step. It seems a little more noticeable at a trot now, but not at a walk - don't know what that's about. Perhaps the stiffness was always noticeable at a trot but the limp at a walk overshadowed that. I'll have to look back at the vids to find out. He had a very quiet 30 mins off lead yesterday and today, very early in the morning before other dogs were around. Apart from that, just 2 or 3 lead walks of about 30 mins each round the local streets and park - a bit boring, but gets him out of the house. He is a bit unimpressed by this, missing his training and longer walks off lead, so he's had a few extra activities inside to make up (he says it doesn't really 'make up' but ok....). He had a few things planned next week, we were due to go training with friends in London on Monday, and up to Warwickshire to clickergun on Wednesday, and a play date/training on Friday - but I'm going to start cancelling these, in preference for resting him more and hoping the stiffness goes away, although I'll see how he is tomorrow before cancelling from Wednesday onwards. Plus his pack walk with his girlfriends on Tuesday has already been cancelled. He is not going to be happy, but can still go away to Cornwall for next weekend, so hopefully that will cheer him up, and I might see whether he can have an extra hydro swim midweek....
It could be that because the focus was on the limp at the walk together with the stiffness that stiffness at a trot wasn't noticed. Now that is improving and you're really analysing Charlie's walk and trot you see other reactions. Try not to worry too much as you're creating a library of videos of Charlie's movement so you will see what is getting or has stopped - you will note that we are only thinking on the positives here! It's difficult to know what to do for the best sometimes when exercise is restricted but for me, personally, I think I would err on the side of caution and plan a super weekend away in Cornwall having had an extra hydro swim, but a quieter week apart from that. These pups are such a worry
I'm not super worried about this - the fact it is improving day by day with rest I think suggests it's something that will get better, or at least return to how it was. Hopefully.
I think you have done right to cancel the training sessions Julie , much better to err to caution and then he can enjoy his hols
