I'm worried about my dog!

[SpringChicken]

We have got a puppy chocolate labrador who is just over 3 months old.

He hasn't had all of his injections yet so is unable to go out for walks but we let him out in the garden for long stretches which he absolutely loves.

He is a very active dog - unsually runs around like a headless chicken - running from end of the house to the other and skids along the floor. As soon as someone walks in through the front door he goes mental and just wants everyone to play with his all the time.

however yesterday, he sat all day long either behind the sofa or in his bed - when DP and I finally managed to coax him out we realised he was struggling on his back legs to stand up - once he is up he seems OK but actually getting up looks like a problem.
I laid on the floor for about an hour trying to encourage him to play but he just wasn't interested - kept walking off to go and lie down.

I've called the vets but can't get an appopintment until 7.10 tomorrow night - I am really worried about him - He is just not himself.

On Saturday he learnt how to get up the stairs - i was bathing DD and suddenly he appeared at my feet - we obviously don't want him doing this so have now invested in a stair gate.
I thought maybe it had tired his legs out as he managed to do it a couple of times but that was Saturday and now it's Tuesday.

Don't really know what i expect anyone to say - just thought i would post incase anyone had any idea's. I can't believe i cant get in the vets until tomorrow night.

Have you got a digital camera?

Yep - so what do i need to do then?

Oh, how exciting - i can posts piccies of DD too

try here

I haven't done it yet but could try here or there is one called photobox

I tried msn but it didn't work

Re insurance, as the hip problem hasn't been diagnosed yet, you won't have to declare it as a pre-existing condition. So if you take out insurance now and he is later diagnosed with displaysia, you should be covered.

Hope he perks up soon.

Hi spring chicken
We lost our black lab last year in november and he had just turned 2. He was diagnosed with hip dysplasia at 6 months after xrays and the vet said it was worse case he had seen - ball and socket completely missed each other . We noticed it about 4/5 months when he seemed to be lymping . Over exercising a young dog can cause it but is mostly hereditary. Our dog had tablets etc but he got really bad - and at the time we had laminate floors and the poor love couldn't stand up without sliding all over the place. He used to lie with back legs spayed out like a frog. Anyway he got bad last winter and even a 20 minute walk left him lying down in agony all day so we did what we thought was the kindest thing and had him put done after taking advice from the vet. Our other lab was very very depressed and really missed him. He was called Frodo and was a drakeshead and very lovely.
Please don't overstrain your pup and really really hope your pup will be ok.

sorry to give bad news but you wouldnt be covered for this problem now,even if not diagnosed. On the claim form your vet will have to say whether he has seen the dog before and for what. Insurance companies are evil snakes (sorry if any assessors here) they will use any excuse to wriggle out of paying for things-even completely legitimate things. This will get even worse after jan when new insurance rules mean that we will not be allowed to contact insurance companies on behalf of our clients, to argue the toss with them
Do get insurance-its a good idea anyway. Just dont do it thinking it will pay for hindlimb problems.
Make sure you get a policy that "life time" cheaper ones arent and they stop paying for chronic conditions after a year.
Dont worry too much about the hips etc, both hip dysplasia and ocd (osteochondrosis dessicans) would be really unusual in such a young dog. Ocd rarely seen till 6 mths, hips would have to be really bad to show at this age and thats unlikely these days. More likely just feels grotty because of ear etc
Good luck

Thanks Everyone - He has really perked up this afternoon.
Not back to his usual self but is being a bit more lively - i have given him his first lot of medication so maybe it is taking effect.

He is also eating his dinner now too

Gosh Feezy, that is terrible - i really do hope that isn't the case here.
We had to my family dog down when i was a teenager and it was awful - don't think i could do that again