Sudden onset limping, but only after rest?

[ladybee28]

It's a long story but I'm really fed up with my vet, so I'm on the hunt for a new one.

In the meantime, can anyone help me with ideas on this?

DDog, out of the blue, started limping fairly significantly on his left foreleg 3 days ago.

When we go on walks he seems to be moving totally fine. But when he's been lying down for a while or overnight, when he gets up again the limping begins. His joints move normally, and there's no swelling or heat anywhere in the leg. No sign of a fracture. I did pull a big grass spine out that had stabbed into the webbing between two of his toes, but that was 2 days ago and it's still happening.

The vet cut some excess hair from between his toes and said that would fix it.... but that makes no sense to me, given that it only happens after rest. Surely if you have a stone in your shoe it hurts all the time?

She sent me home with him and when I sent her a video of him continuing to limp that evening, she said "If it continues, come in tomorrow and we'll give him medication." When I asked her what medication it would be, given that we don't know what's wrong, she said "It's probably just arthritis." But I'd have thought that arthritis would come on slowly, rather than suddenly appearing one day, so I'm feeling like she's fobbing me off.

What could we be dealing with here? Any ideas, while I look for a better vet?

[RiaRoth]

My experience of arthritis is that is does come on after rest. The dog is stiff and then the limp starts. However to say it is just arthritis is not how I would approach it.

It could be in your dogs shoulder, toes, ankle etc so I would want to confirmation of this rather than guess work. It could be something else entirely. Grass spines can travel a huge distance so if the limping started after that again I would want that investigated further.

I guess the only way to know is from scans and xrays and I would be pushing for that or at least asking if that is a good idea.

If this vet is not approachable for discussion can you speak to another one?

[RiaRoth]

If it is arthitis then this is a good place to start. They also have an active facebook page. BUT like you I would want to have this confirmed by evidence.

[Sennetti]

How old is your dog?

I’m currently going through this with our 10 month old pup

He was given meds but no change. Had xrays and revealed nothing. £700 down with no answers yet

[LunaLoveFood]

We have very similar with our lab. We started him on joint supplements 5 weeks ago and he is like a different dog . He no longer gets stuff after rest and us much happier in himself.

[ladybee28]

Thanks so much, everyone.

@RiaRoth – if it were arthritis, would it have just suddenly started one day? No sign of it before 3 days ago...

I am looking for another vet at the moment; unfortunately this is the third one I've been to in less than 2 months and I'm really getting irritated by being regularly let down.

@Sennetti he's 10. So arthritis is definitely a possibility, I'm just suspicious as it seemed to just appear overnight.

@LunaLoveFood - did your lab's condition develop slowly or was it a quick appearance?

[RiaRoth]

It can appear overnight but that does not mean the dog has not been in pain before. Dogs can be pretty reslient.

Did the limping appear before the grass seed incident?

[LunaLoveFood]

It seemed almost overnight, he went on a longish walk and then the next day was stiff and sore and limping on his back legs. Vets have checked him over and said it's probably the start of arthritis but to shorten his walks and start supplements. He's on yumove .

[ladybee28]

@RiaRoth - no, it was the same day. He started limping, so I checked him all over and found the whatever-it-was that I pulled out. It was pretty chunky - don't think it was a grass seed specifically. Have attached a picture.

[ladybee28]

Gosh - just looked at the Identifying Signs page on the website linked to above, and he fits a good number of them.

Joint licking, difficulty balancing when he toilets, difficulty getting comfortable, pacing a bit at night...

He has a comfortable bed but chooses to spend a lot of time lying on hard surfaces. I wonder if that's related?

Poor fella....

[vanillandhoney]

It does ring a lot of the bells for Arthritis. It often comes on after rest as the joints have stiffened and cooled down. As he has a few other symptoms it's definitely something to consider.

Is he on any supplements? Things like YuMove can be really good for arthritis and joint conditions - they're all natural but they're really good and not too expensive.

[RiaRoth]

Grass seeds can travel a huge distance into the body. So I would want to make sure that all of that is removed. Grass seeds can cause limping so may need more investigation.

[devildeepbluesea]

My experience of arthritis is similar to above: it seems to come on suddenly but in fact they've been feeling it for some time. We only notice it when it tips over to being painful enough to need to limp. Joint supplements and a course of Metacam transformed DDog.

[RiaRoth]

Riaflex Canine Joint Plus and green lipped mussel is the strongest supplement containing Glucosamine, MSM, Chondroitin, Hyaluronic Acid (HA) on the market. I would strongly recommend it over Yumove.

riaflex

[GroupSects]

Sounds like my dog. He’s fine when exercising and is very active but he has stiffness in his elbow which only comes on after he’s been resting. Vet has previously given him anti inflammatories and said he could have steroid injections if it gets worse but I put him on YuMove and it’s made a massive difference.

[GrumpyMiddleAgedWoman]

If you're lucky, he might have sprained something. I've had a young dog with just the symptoms you describe. The vet confirmed that it wasn't a joint issue and the whole palaver took about three months (metacam, rest, short walks, boredom, fed-up antsy dog) before she was back to full fitness.

OTOH we have an old dog who is permanently lame in a front leg. He is on pain meds for arthritis, which help, but the lameness fades with exercise rather than going completely. It's obvious from the way he moves that he's an old dog.

[ladybee28]

Got an appointment with my boyfriend's dog's vet tomorrow – he's a bit brusque but he's been really good for his Lab.

Poor boy's been lying in one place all day except for our toilet trips... I'm really worried he's hurting.

Does anyone know if the joint supplements would have any negative effect if I started him on them regardless of whether or not it's arthritis? I'm wondering if I should just get him on them right away as a just-in-case measure...

[GroupSects]

I can’t see they’d do anything but help his mobility all round to be honest especially at the age he is.

[RiaRoth]

If he has no stomach issues/allergies it should be fine to start on supplements.

Many people use them as a preventative.

[ladybee28]

Thanks so much for your help, everyone.

Went to a new vet yesterday who I trusted far more, right off the bat.

Looks like DDog has arthrosis (which I had somehow never even heard of before) in his spine, and likely also in his wrist joint.

He's started on some NSAID anti-inflammatories for the moment and @RiaRoth I've also taken a look at the Riaflex supplements you mentioned (is the 'Ria' in your name related?!)