Labrador suddenly limping and struggling to walk

[JeromeKJerome]

Have. 6 year old lab who is generally well and in good health. This evening he has suddenly started to limp. Seems to be back left leg. Leg seems really stiff and he is reluctant to walk and put any weight on it. I am beside myself and will obviously phone the vet in the morning but has this happened to anyone else? Have checked his pads and legs etc and cannot see any cuts or obvious signs of injury. He is normally a very active boy so this lethargic state is very worrying. He didn’t even try and steal my food 😥

Could be his cruciate ligament? Our lab tore hers when she was 7... couldn't put her one back leg onto the floor. I'd never heard of it before, but her other went about 18 months later. We went for the conservative approach of crate rest and lead walks with both legs, she managed really well until just after her 13th birthday.

Def one for the vet.

Cruciate ligament injury? Very common in dogs. Ours recovered after much resting and taking an over the counter supplement.

My girl aged 5 ish struggled standing and walked like john Wayne. Her back legs, rear of her spine were my huge concerns that some serious damage had occurred
. Took her to emergency vets and they absolutely exploded her anal glands! (I'm horrified by the experience to this day and I'll never forget the smell or the colourof what was expelled!) But she was fine within about 12 hours.

It was glucosamine suppliments my dog had, as recommended by the vet.

www.greenpasturesvets.co.uk/cruciate-disease-in-dogs

It presented as back end limping as well as jolty / awkward walking. Shes a retriever cross.

Yep we've have had cruciate ligament surgery on our lab (TPLO surgery) worth checking out at the vets and hopefully something that can be treated with some anti-inflammatories (which made ddog sick) and rest.

Thank you all - I’m hoping it is something that rest will fix. So upsetting seeing him struggle to stand and avoiding it. Have had such a horrible year so if anything happened to the dog I don’t think I could cope. Even though I spend most of my time moaning about what a pain he is!

@Downsize2021

My girl aged 5 ish struggled standing and walked like john Wayne. Her back legs, rear of her spine were my huge concerns that some serious damage had occurred . Took her to emergency vets and they absolutely exploded her anal glands! (I'm horrified by the experience to this day and I'll never forget the smell or the colourof what was expelled!) But she was fine within about 12 hours.

This made me smile - he has had problems with his anal glands in the past. But definitely seems to be a real stiffness in his back legs.

Sounds like his cruciate ligament may have gone, or it could be luxating patella.

Whether he needs crate rest or surgery will depend on the severity.

Devils claw (herbal shop). If that doesn't help the glucose whatsit as pp said. As approved by my 14yr young labrador.

Vet asap. If it’s cruciate ligament it’s hurting and needs proper examination and pain relief.

Have got a vet appt for 9.30 in the morning.