Dog sudden lame on back leg

[PokeAndyInTheEye]

Dog was absolutely fine on Friday - yet come 3pm he couldn’t walk. Back left leg, not bearing any weight on it at all, wobbling around all over the place, couldn’t get on the sofa or walk more than a few steps. Got in touch with vet who said to bed rest him until Monday as no pain when touched, moved or squeezed.
When he sits down he’s clearly uncomfortable shifting weight around before cautiously lying down. It’s a constant limp, even when he stands up the change position he’s limping around and wobbling. He can’t even walk to the other side of the living room - limps half way then turns around and limps back to his bed. In 3 days he’s eaten 1 handful of kibble and a tin of sardines.

called emergency vet today and they said to take him in tomorrow and to continue resting - well he can’t do anything other than rest! He can’t walk!

im taking him in 1st thing in morning but any ideas before then?

Could be a cruciate ligament .

I thought that but there is no pain when I stretch his leg out, bend it or press it?

My dog had this; showed no pain with any kind of touching or manipulation but it was the cruciate ligament and needed an operation (he recovered fine and never had any problems after the operation).

But he obviously is in pain / discomfort if he’s fidgety and off his food .

Have you checked between his pads and made sure nothing is stuck or sore?

Could you check with the vet and perhaps give him some paracetamol to see if that helps at all.

When he lies down what position doe he lie in? Flat on his side?

Our lab had a luxating patella and at the vets we could see no pain at all when they popped his knee out and back in, only the experienced orthopaedic vet could tell from very subtle movements that he could feel it and told us it would be really painful for him, he just hid it well.

We had to wait 8 long weeks for surgery at the vet hospital and during that time we knew every time he limped his knee had popped out again and we had to pop it back in for him, could feel it pop when we did it. He never flinched once.

Hope it all goes ok at the vets tomorrow.

I have two friends recently whose dogs both got something sharp that went deep into the paw and required surgery and antibiotics (thorn in one case, spiky plant seed in another). Check his paw just in case for signs of a wound or entry point.

What was the outcome OP? My ddog has same and has just been diagnosed with CCL . Surgery needed. 😢

I thought that but there is no pain when I stretch his leg out, bend it or press it?

I think it can be tricky to get the 'right' angle for a pain reaction. Mostly vets are checking for resistance (or lack of it). At least, that's how my vet described it to me when my dog when he checked mine for a partial CL ligament tear - mine having been exactly as you describe.

It is slightly torn but, so far, manageable with some caution on exercise and movement and weight.

Was your dog bearing any weight? Had x ray today and awaiting result.

@greengreyblue mine ruptured her CCL just before Christmas. Had surgery about 4 weeks later (bad timing over Christmas etc). The first 6 weeks were difficult-if you can practise putting yours in a crate and keeping him quiet, you will reap the benefit after surgery. They bolt a plate on the leg and re-site the knee, so until it’s all fused, it was wees in the garden on a lead, and that was her walks done for the day!

We got her off the lead again at the beginning of April but she seems good as new. The biggest thing was me: no walks means no getting out every day, no seeing the sky!

Do ask questions, if I can help I will!

Thank you. A very sleepy day after sedation for x ray. She hops out for a wee etc but that’s it, doesn’t want to walk. It’s only been a. few days. I had to get out for a walk this evening when DH came home, really missing it. I’m hoping it’s not surgery although o know it will be. Our insurance doesn’t sound like it will pay enough. Vet mentioned £4K!!!

So it’s a total rupture.😥I’m off work this week but I work in school so can’t take time off . God knows how we’re going to manage this.

Honestly it’s hard but whilst days go slowly, the 2 months of restriction go fast.

Why won’t insurance cover it? The total bill for my dog was around £3,800.

Our insurance max won’t cover it, is what I meant .We had no idea costs could be that high and had naively assumed that as our premiums had doubled, our cover has increased with costs. Anyway, we have sought a second opinion and a different vet has said our dog is a candidate for a simpler procedure which is within £2k so all good. Just not looking forward to the cone. As it has to be removed to drink. Seems cruel as we’ll be at work! I’m at school so DH luckily isn’t far away so can pop home but what do others do? Can’t take 6 weeks off work!

@greengreyblue i had this with my spaniel 2 years ago & am going through similar again now on the other leg! Only this time it’s not as severe so surgical intervention is not needed at the minute. But he will have to have strict rest for weeks.

Honestly, last time we dreaded the post op period. But it was fine, much better than we anticipated. He pretty much slept for the first few days then could start 15 min lead walks at 5 days if I remember correctly. I did wfh for the first week & DH slept downstairs with him at night.

I took the cone off for all lead walks as there no risk of them licking the wound if they’re walking. Wound had healed by day 7 or 8 so cone off. Regular pain relief & back to normal. Strict lead walks for 4 months & I paid for hydrotherapy to aid his recovery & tire him out.

Edited to add. If you have all hard floors downstairs like me, put a run of carpet down so she’s not slipping & skidding about. That was the best advice I was given. I got a metre wide off cut made a walkway from the back door to the lounge.

my dog had a cone but did manage to get to her water bowl @greengreyblue

Thanks so much, that sounds promising. Not sure what the after care as far as walks is with lateral suture.

She’s home. All went well. Hate this part. She’s whimpering lots and is a bit dazed after the anaesthetic. Two weeks of 5 min on lead garden walks x3 then week 3-6 10 minute walks elsewhere. She has a cone but as she’s with us tonight it’s not on- will put in when we go to bed.

Mine dog had a cone for weeks after his neutering because he had a bad reaction to the stitches that seems to go on for ever. He could drink and sleep OK with his cone on so we just took it off for walks where he was on lead so couldn't get to his wound. We tried the 'kinder' looking things like a body suit (could get round it) and a blow up collar which he just punctured. Honestly he got used to the cone and could do most stuff with it on.

He also separately had to bed rest for a sprain and that was not as bad as I had feared as he limited himself quite a lot initially due to the pain.

Wishing your ddog a good recovery

We also got 3 big rugs for downstairs after the sprain and I agree with PP it's the best thing I've done.

Thanks. Have put a rug down in utility room. DH came home at lunch to her without a cone so needs to be tighter. Dressing still on and seemed ok so maybe had just happened. Have ordered an inflatable one to try. She is back to eating normally today but not putting leg down yet.

Hope she mends quickly x