Puppy back leg problem?

[deano76]

Hi everyone,

Thought I'd post this on here as it's now 9pm here in the UK and I'm not sure what to do (my local emergency vet is awful and once diagnosed my other dog with parvo when he actually had swallowed a head off of an ornament and it was stuck in his gut).

So I've been taking my 16 week old pup out for 3 x 10 min walks per day and he's been doing great. Today we went to the park and I guess time got the better of me and we ended up walking for 30 mins flat.

Since we got home he's been struggling to put any weight on his back legs and is making the most horrendous crying noises everytime he tries to. I guess I'm looking for reassurance that it might be a strain from over-exercising him today and that he should be OK in the morning after a good nights sleep? I feel truly awful that this could be my fault and feel very helpless. I've been massaging his legs and he doesn't cry when I touch them or move them around - just when he puts weight on them.

Thanks a lot

[OffgridAlex]

Have you checked his pads for cuts, rips, thorns?

[deano76]

Hi - hadn't thought of that but just checked and they're all fine and he's not flinching when I touch them. Thanks though.

[wolfstraum]

first off - crate the puppy and let him rest

even though that is more exercise than is adviseable....I would be worried about his joint conformation and possible problems...

Rest him tonight and tomorrow - then get him into a vet for some x-rays to look at his hips....yes, he is young but if they are seriously poor, it will still be obvious...

Hope he just overdid it and is a wimp!

Lee

[doggiedad]

3 x 10 minute walks ( 3 walks, 10 minutes each) is more than
advisable? that doesn't seem like a lot to me. a 1/2 hour walk
doesn't seem like a lot to me.

OP: take your pup to the Vet asap. keep your pup calm.
crate rest.

Originally Posted by deano76

Hi everyone,

Thought I'd post this on here as it's now 9pm here in the UK and I'm not sure what to do (my local emergency vet is awful and once diagnosed my other dog with parvo when he actually had swallowed a head off of an ornament and it was stuck in his gut).

>>>> So I've been taking my 16 week old pup out for 3 x 10 min walks per day and he's been doing great. Today we went to the park and I guess time got the better of me and we ended up walking for 30 mins flat.<<<<

Since we got home he's been struggling to put any weight on his back legs and is making the most horrendous crying noises everytime he tries to. I guess I'm looking for reassurance that it might be a strain from over-exercising him today and that he should be OK in the morning after a good nights sleep? I feel truly awful that this could be my fault and feel very helpless. I've been massaging his legs and he doesn't cry when I touch them or move them around - just when he puts weight on them.

Thanks a lot

Originally Posted by wolfstraum

first off - crate the puppy and let him rest

>>>>even though that is more exercise than is adviseable<<<<

....I would be worried about his joint conformation and possible problems...

Rest him tonight and tomorrow - then get him into a vet for some x-rays to look at his hips....yes, he is young but if they are seriously poor, it will still be obvious...

Hope he just overdid it and is a wimp!

Lee

[Thorny]

I agree that it doesn't seem like you over did your pup. I take my 4 month old out for 1-2 hour play sessions at the park and he runs on his own quite a bit during that time.

Today's pain could be growing pains, it could be a cramp, it could be something more serious. Unless he's crying when he's just laying there I probably would not panic, but I'd likely check it out.

A couple times my pup has cried like he had a broken bone, once after mis-stepping down the stairs and once after getting knocked down by a bigger dog. Both times he would not put weight on the sore leg, but then seemed fine 10 minutes later. Hopefully your pup has experienced something similar.

[LauraJav]

My 11 week old puppy still has leg pains- he runs around the house and then limps. I think they just overdo it- as they are still growing.

[CurvyOne]

My pup definitely gets more exercise than that. So I dont think you over did it.

I agree, hopefully just growing pains. Also...at least with my pup, it seems he's a bit of a drama queen. If he gets the most minor hurt or stumble he wails like someone is killing him. Then he's fine after awhile. So maybe your pup got a tumble or stepped on something or is just tired and being a drama queen.

None the less, I would definitely take him to the vet. GSDs can have hip problems, and although 16 weeks is young, its not impossible.

Best of luck!

[DollBaby]

Hopefully just growing pains! Good luck!

[Thorny]

Any updates?