Rocky problems

[Mac]

Hi All,

My 7 years old GSD is limping and we took him to the vet.

I've been quite ill for a few months and havent had him out that much although my girls do, they dont take him and the long walks/runs off the lead he's used to.

Anyway cut a long story short, hes been licking his hind leg till it really is sore, he's started limping and he's clearly in pain.

Also when he walk on the pavement you can hear his nails scratch on the ground, plus indoors on tiled floors he slips when getting up. I was convinced he needed his nails clipped and anti-biotics plus a dressing for his leg, or one of these buckets for his head to keep him away from it.

When we took him, the vet said the reason he's doesnt need his nails clipped although I can see how long they are. He says he is coming up lame because he's damaged his cruicate ligament!! - and he needs an operation!!!

Now as an ex footballer I know how difficult it is to damage these, I also know some dogs are prone to it but it would have happpened when I was out with him, if he turned badly when running he would have yelped and let me know. The limping would have been instant??

This limping has only started over the last week or two since his leg has become worse.

I'm upset, I dont want my dog hurt and I've seen what these operations entail for the dog. I'm not sure this vet is thinking £3000 more for the practice than his well-being. I'm going to get a second opinion as I know the long-term prognosis for him if he has this is not good.

Am I being OTT - can anyone offer advice?

Regards, Jim.

[Beki]

my parents dog has just had one of his done on one of his a few months back he was in over night after the op and now with lots of rehab he is slowly getting back to normal. They had to x-ray to confirm it was cruciate. he had been limping a looooong time before they decided to go to the vets and insist there was something wrong.

[Caryll]

I would be a little suspicious of cruciate ligament damage if he hasn't been doing anything to damage it!

You could always try a second opinion with another vet near you.

[Mac]

Beki they did say theyd xray first but if it looked likely we should do the op there and then to 'supposedly' stop him having to lots of anaesthesia!

It just doesnt feel right but it breaks my heart looking into those sad eyes. He knows hes in pain but he just wont leave it, your dog relies on you for the best and I wouldnt want to put him though anything like this.

Thanks Caryll its just that he hasnt done anything I know about and its definitely only since this has become really sore for him the limping started. Also he has got a little muscle wasted as hes not been out a lot or running around - I'm going to contact the PDSA and make a donation to them for a second opinion I believe that they at least will not be driven by making profits.

His nails are really long too.

[Zak]

Let us know what happens with the second opinion.

Hope your bubba gets better soon

[Caryll]

The limp could also be caused by over long nails - compensating for the discomfort, although I doubt it. Still, having long nails can't be comfortable.

[Tedsmum]

For what its worth I agree with you. I would not suspect a cruciate problem first and foremost.
As an older dog he could be suffereing from a little arthritis which has caused him to lick at the foot that is giving him some pain. Once a lick granuloma is started, the dog can get into a lick habit which causes the wound not to heal up. The nails dragging on the floor is also a sign of arthritis as the foot is not lifted off of the floor enough to prevent the nails grounding.
Anyway, I could be completely wrong but I certainly think it is worth a second opinion, and I was also under the impression that cruciate ligaments won't show on an xray.
Let us know how you get on. x

[Stuart]

Certainly a second opinion is the way to go, because it doesnt sound right to me,.. as you said who ever was walking the dog at the time would certainly of heard a yelp and saw instant limping from that kind of injury.

It is a sad affair that some vets do see £ signs, I am not saying this vet is,.. but this vet could be, he seems almost too sure even without the x-ray,.. maybe he is a very good vet I dont know

.... but I would like to know how you get on with your second opinion

[Billy Sitch]

Physical observation, palpation and manipulation of the stifle joint(s) are the ways a vet will usually diagnose cruciate ligament injuries.

The vet assesses the stability (or instability) of the knee on the affected hind leg by watching the dog walk, sit, lie down and by moving the leg in a number of ways. X-rays are usually taken of both stifles for comparison purposes and so that the vet can look at the angles of the bones that come together at the knee joint.

In some cases, radiographs of the entire affected leg (including hips) may be
taken to rule out any other potential problems, or concurrent disease, that may be there as well as the Cl injury. A good vet doesn't want any
'unforseen' issues to pop up in an op that takes long enough without any more problems occuring.

It is normal to proceed with the op after x-rays as it just makes sense to unless the owner has a reason not to. I'm sure more people would complain about vets fees even more if the vets did the x-rays, woke the dog up and then sent it home only to ask for it to be brought back in a couple of days time for another GA.

As always, if in doubt, get a 2nd opinion

[Billy Sitch]

PS Mac - it isn't that difficult to rupture a cruciate ligament. My Sis in laws dog jumped off the sofa and it happened. The dog didn't yelp she just limped and it was thought to be a sprain but after a few days with no improvement she was taken to the vets.

The dog obviously showed some discomfort but not enough for her to be taken to the vets straight away.

Some dogs will also lick an area that is painful. Could it have happened when someone else was walking the dog?