10 mo Whimpering and lame

atr911 · 03-02-2013, 11:49 AM

We picked up Juno from a kennel where we had to put her up while we attended a funeral across the country and she was limping. The owner told us that she had been that way for about 3 days but after examining the leg she didn't think it constituted an emergency and thus didn't bring her in. I trust the kennel owner's judgment but am slightly disappointed that she didn't better limit Juno's activities after the 'injury'. Either way, can't do anything about that now!

I checked her out quite thoroughly on several occasions. No physical damage at all (front right paw/leg). No tenderness or reaction to touch or full range of motion. No perceived swelling at joints. I also looked at the movement in the shoulder and chest and felt around. Joint are tight and there is no reaction to hyper extension.

Should I save the $300 and wait a few more days? I have some metacam left over from her spay I could use to ease the pain. I just HATE spending money at the vet for things that I personally wouldn't go see a doctor for.

She's clearly in pain though. She's depressed and whimpering and whining a lot. When she's given attention she quiets and calms down. She's always been very 'vocal' though.

Thoughts? Pano? Sprain?

Poor Girl...

IMG_3383 - YouTube

Sunflowers · 03-02-2013, 11:54 AM

You will not know what it is until you take her to the vet.
I would not give her medication for the pain, because then she will not feel it and walk/run on it and probably make the injury worse.
Could be a sprain, could be a ligament injury, could be a number of things.
I have no idea what Juno might have, but I can tell you what it was when Hans was limping. It was a shoulder muscle strain. What I did was keep him in his crate for a few days and not let him do much at all.

llombardo · 03-02-2013, 11:57 AM

I'm not one to take my dogs to the vet unless I feel its needed either. In your case I think that a vet visit is in order and sooner rather then later. You know your dog, you know if something isn't right, its up to you to take care of her.

atr911 · 03-02-2013, 12:11 PM

Thanks for some quick responses. Feel free to keep 'em coming. I suppose the good news is that my regular vet is also an emergency clinic and as a client there we don't pay emergency fees.

Doesn't metacam knock 'em out a little? She's pretty lethargic right now so it's keeping her still.

onyx'girl · 03-02-2013, 12:25 PM

Could be a bout of Panosteitis.

Sunflowers · 03-02-2013, 12:25 PM

You already gave her the pain meds?

huntergreen · 03-02-2013, 03:12 PM

giving pain meds and masking pain when you are not sure of the cause is imho, a bad idea. i would have seen the vet as you were not present when injury occurred. any thing could have happened.

atr911 · 03-04-2013, 08:36 AM

I took a closer look when I got home saturday and found she was a little tender in the shoulder area. Since its pretty tough to check that area out without an xray we figured it was best to hit the vet.

Turned out to be soft tissue issue and nothing skeletal so I'm happy about that. $250 for peace of mind and knowing she'll heal up was well worth it. Guess I should have listened to the wife in the first place (not the first time I've said that, ha ha).

They put her on some metacam and said that if it doesn't get better in the next 7-10 days to come back.

Glad my fur baby is okay... She's still whining though.. until:

03-02-2013, 11:49 AM	#1 (permalink)
atr911 New Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Ottawa, Canada Posts: 6	10 mo Whimpering and lame We picked up Juno from a kennel where we had to put her up while we attended a funeral across the country and she was limping. The owner told us that she had been that way for about 3 days but after examining the leg she didn't think it constituted an emergency and thus didn't bring her in. I trust the kennel owner's judgment but am slightly disappointed that she didn't better limit Juno's activities after the 'injury'. Either way, can't do anything about that now! I checked her out quite thoroughly on several occasions. No physical damage at all (front right paw/leg). No tenderness or reaction to touch or full range of motion. No perceived swelling at joints. I also looked at the movement in the shoulder and chest and felt around. Joint are tight and there is no reaction to hyper extension. Should I save the $300 and wait a few more days? I have some metacam left over from her spay I could use to ease the pain. I just HATE spending money at the vet for things that I personally wouldn't go see a doctor for. She's clearly in pain though. She's depressed and whimpering and whining a lot. When she's given attention she quiets and calms down. She's always been very 'vocal' though. Thoughts? Pano? Sprain? Poor Girl... IMG_3383 - YouTube

03-02-2013, 11:54 AM	#2 (permalink)
Sunflowers Crowned Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Central Florida Posts: 4,826	You will not know what it is until you take her to the vet. I would not give her medication for the pain, because then she will not feel it and walk/run on it and probably make the injury worse. Could be a sprain, could be a ligament injury, could be a number of things. I have no idea what Juno might have, but I can tell you what it was when Hans was limping. It was a shoulder muscle strain. What I did was keep him in his crate for a few days and not let him do much at all. __________________ Norden von Narnia--Hans, dob 1-15-2012 http://pdgf.pitapata.com/uC6lm4.png

03-02-2013, 11:57 AM	#3 (permalink)
llombardo Crowned Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Illinois Posts: 5,142	I'm not one to take my dogs to the vet unless I feel its needed either. In your case I think that a vet visit is in order and sooner rather then later. You know your dog, you know if something isn't right, its up to you to take care of her. __________________ Misty- Samoyed Mix Tannor- Golden Retriever CGC Robyn- German Shepherd CGC Midnite-German Shepherd "A dog is the only thing on this earth that loves you more than he loves himself."

03-02-2013, 12:25 PM	#5 (permalink)
onyx'girl Crowned Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: SW, MI Posts: 21,352	Could be a bout of Panosteitis. __________________ Jane~ Kept by Onyx, Kacie and Gideon v Wildhaus aka Karlo

03-02-2013, 12:25 PM	#6 (permalink)
Sunflowers Crowned Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Central Florida Posts: 4,826	You already gave her the pain meds? __________________ Norden von Narnia--Hans, dob 1-15-2012 http://pdgf.pitapata.com/uC6lm4.png

03-02-2013, 12:11 PM	#4 (permalink)
atr911 New Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Ottawa, Canada Posts: 6	Thanks for some quick responses. Feel free to keep 'em coming. I suppose the good news is that my regular vet is also an emergency clinic and as a client there we don't pay emergency fees. Doesn't metacam knock 'em out a little? She's pretty lethargic right now so it's keeping her still.

03-02-2013, 03:12 PM	#7 (permalink)
huntergreen Elite Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 1,209	giving pain meds and masking pain when you are not sure of the cause is imho, a bad idea. i would have seen the vet as you were not present when injury occurred. any thing could have happened.

03-04-2013, 08:36 AM	#8 (permalink)
atr911 New Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Ottawa, Canada Posts: 6	I took a closer look when I got home saturday and found she was a little tender in the shoulder area. Since its pretty tough to check that area out without an xray we figured it was best to hit the vet. Turned out to be soft tissue issue and nothing skeletal so I'm happy about that. $250 for peace of mind and knowing she'll heal up was well worth it. Guess I should have listened to the wife in the first place (not the first time I've said that, ha ha). They put her on some metacam and said that if it doesn't get better in the next 7-10 days to come back. Glad my fur baby is okay... She's still whining though.. until: Attached Thumbnails Last edited by atr911; 03-04-2013 at 08:40 AM.

Remove Advertisements Sponsored Links
German Shepherd Advertisement