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GSD puppy limping, low energy, and generally wobbly

8K views 39 replies 22 participants last post by  GSDElsa 
#1 ·
Hi everybody,
I feel like I might be over analyzing this, or maybe going crazy, but I wanted to get some opinions. My 9 month old puppy has a consistent limp in his right front leg. In addition to this, he is one of the lowest energy GSD's I've ever met, he doesn't eat very much, and he has balance issues.

The balance issue has been present since almost the first day I got him. At first I thought he was just sort of clumsy and would "grow into" his feet. While he has improved somewhat, he still has a habit of swaying, stumbling and is incredibly easy to tip over (courtesy of his adopted sister). The limping presented itself after a few months. It comes and goes, but has recently come back with a vengence.

I've taken him to the vet a few times (and I'm taking him back again tomorrow for full x-rays). The vet agreed that something doesn't look right. She initially gave me medication in case he had some sort of tick-bourne illness (the medicine didn't seem to help) and some pain pills for the limping. She also suggested that Pano was a possibility, and was particularly concerned about his hips. I was advised to wait it out for a little while in case the issues cleared up on their own.

Unfortunately, the issues are not going away and I'm concerned there may be something more serious going on here.

Does anybody have any advice, suggestions, anything? I'm a first time GSD owner and I just don't know what's going on.

Thanks!
 
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#3 ·
The breeder thinks it's Pano. I was able to show him to her about 2 months ago, and she didn't seem overly concerned--although she did note that his gate was very "swishy" and a little unusual. I haven't contacted her since the last time we went to the vet, because I wanted to have something to report--I know she loves this puppy too and I don't want to worry her without cause

Unfortunately, all of his littermates died when they were under a week or two old, so I have nothing to compare to. The breeder worked like a trojan to keep this little guy alive.
 
#5 ·
Could be Pano.?..but it also could be a Neurological issue....(why did the litter die?)
My concern would be the "reason" the others died in his litter....and how much "work" it took to keep your youngster alive.
Oxygen, core temperature & blood flow can be deprived from newborns, which is detrimental and can possibly cause issues later in life.
*Opinion....start small...check possibility of Pano. Then do blood panel.....if no real answer presents itself..?!....check with Neurologist.*
Don't freak out....there are several things that all share similar symptoms.
Vets can rule out many things with blood panels, and thorough exams.
jmo
Robin
 
#7 ·
Thanks everybody for the advice and good wishes! My understanding is that the smallest sibling died within the first 24 hours. His other 2 siblings died when the mother got an infection and passed pus in her milk. Apparently, he did not drink enough to become ill--the breeder then bottle fed him, and let him nurse from another female who had given birth to puppies a month or two earlier. This was the dam's first litter.

The breeder took him to the vet multiple times to check for issues--and he was cleared. So I'm just not sure what to think.

Other info that might be useful: I think he must have a fairly high pain tolerance. I accidently snipped his quick a month or so back when I trimmed his nails and he had absolutely NO reaction--he didn't even try to pull his foot away. I didn't even realize that I had hit the quick until I saw a little blood coming from the nail. He does wimper from time to time--but I can't tell if it's pain related, or if he is just vocalizing for some other reason.

He does have periods where he wants to run and sort of frolick, but they never last very long, and he almost always trips over himself, stumbles, or falls. I've just never seen a puppy that is this unsure on his feet. He acts more like an arthritic 9 yr old dog than a 9 month old!
 
#9 ·
I would get a second opinion for sure. You know what's best for your pup. If you think some thing is wrong and you still feel like your not get answers that make you feel
Comfortable you must keep looking into the matter. My GSD hd pano off and on for a couple months killed me to see him go threw the pain. I would definitely check a neurologist bc if the blance issues. Good luck you are in my prayers.
 
#11 ·
Thanks again everybody. I'll post an update when we get back from the vet tomorrow. Luckily, if I have to consult a specialist, I'm not very far from the UGA vet school.
;) Yes, I pray all goes well tomorrow at the vet. Please keep us posted. We all wish the best for you both. Please give us details of what the vet says. :D
 
#12 ·
Truthfully, I'd take him back to the breeders too and have him run with the other GSD's so both you and she can take a look at what's going on .... (and may have more info for the vet too..)
 
#13 ·
Hoping for good news.
 
#14 · (Edited)
Okay, the vet decided to reschedule the x-rays for Friday so that while he's sedated they can go ahead and neuter him. She did say that he still looks a little too wobbly and that his back leg muscles seem underdeveloped and flat. She's first going to check for signs of pano in the x-ray, then look at his hips, then his elbows, then if everything there looks okay, she'll get an x-ray of his spine.
He's actually lost a few pounds since I last weighed him, so that makes me a little nervous. The vet is thinking the suppressed appetite and low energy is due to pain--but pain from what is the question.
She also did a few tests on his foot--bending it in unusual ways--(which she said were neurological in nature). I couldn't exactly see what she was doing since I was holding him still. She seemed to think that he passed those, or was encouraged at his reactions. My poor guy was shaking like a leaf, so she said it was difficult to tell for sure on the neurological tests.
 
#17 ·
I would wait as well. And be sure to have labs run beforehand, if that is what you decide.
 
#21 ·
Your dog should not go under any kind of surgery if he is not 100% I'm a bit surprised your vet would even suggest to go ahead with this. You don't need to "go under" for x-rays; at the most sedation but a good vet and Vet Tech should be able to do x-rays with neither. You could very well loose him if you go through with this surgery. From the descriptions you are giving it does not sound as if your dog has a skeletal issue but a neurological issue. The foot test is you just flipping the back feet upside down to see how quickly they recover the foot back to paws down; you should see a quick recovery in a healthy dog.
 
#22 ·
Now, I'm wondering if I should just cancel the appointment and start looking for another vet period. This is the same office (not the same vet) I took my previous dog to for 12 years, and they always seemed very good....but I just don't know. Is it possible the vet just doesn't think there is really problem with my dog and doesn't want to say so, or is there some other explanation?
 
#24 ·
I would not do surgery! I would run to a new vet as fast as I could, a sick dog should never be put under unless there is no choice. Vets are to snip happy these days!

Have they done blood work to check his kidneys? It may be nothing but wobbly back legs and lack of muscle in the back legs is something my pup had and he had bad kidneys. If it has not been checked I would at least rule it out.
 
#25 ·
Talking as a vet tech xrays can easly be taken with a dog not under anesthetic and especially if he is a bit "sedate" as you are describing. I think there is definitely something going on, and would never consider neutering him at this time.
I am surprised the vet put off the xrays for another two day to be able to neuter him, that is the least of his issues right now.
Sounds as if he has had a deficet since birth and it is now showing more since his body as its maturing is demanding more to grow.
Has his blood been drawn? That should have been done at the first visit. There are so many things that the blood will show, infection, low white count, high white count, anemia, liver values, kidney values, basically all the body functions.
Since you live so close to a major vet school, I would be taking your boy there today.Not wait another day. Something is wrong and it seems your vet is more interested in neutering him than doing the basic things first and going from there, especially if he is showing more signs of balance issues, etc.Not sure xrays will show much except bone issues, but from your descriptions he has more "internal"things going on.
Good luck
 
#27 ·
talking as a vet tech xrays can easly be taken with a dog not under anesthetic and especially if he is a bit "sedate" as you are describing. I think there is definitely something going on, and would never consider neutering him at this time.
I am surprised the vet put off the xrays for another two day to be able to neuter him, that is the least of his issues right now.
Sounds as if he has had a deficet since birth and it is now showing more since his body as its maturing is demanding more to grow.
Has his blood been drawn? That should have been done at the first visit. There are so many things that the blood will show, infection, low white count, high white count, anemia, liver values, kidney values, basically all the body functions.
Since you live so close to a major vet school, i would be taking your boy there today.not wait another day. Something is wrong and it seems your vet is more interested in neutering him than doing the basic things first and going from there, especially if he is showing more signs of balance issues, etc.not sure xrays will show much except bone issues, but from your descriptions he has more "internal"things going on.
Good luck
amen!
 
#26 ·
I agree with bowwowmeow. I would go to a specialist for this case.
 
#28 ·
I would not even consider surgery on a dog that isn't 100%. They always do blood work first at my vet before neutering or any type of surgery. For the vet to want to do the neuter first before checking to see if anything else is wrong seems bad to me. I would either start up a conversation with them about this issue or go to another vet. I changed vets when I got Pyrate 8 years ago because the vet I had been using for at least 10 years sold his practice and when I would go there they never had the same vet on duty twice and I always had to explain that no I wasn't a new patient and if they would look at the size of my file it would be obvious - at least 20 cats and several dogs had been through the practice prior to the sale. When one of the new vets picked Pyrate up and turned him upside down after his neuter from the shelter then complained because he squirmed and told me he would be aggressive I switched vets and found the best most caring practice you would ever want to use. They are available for emergencies 24/7 and I have never had any question as to their practices. My dogs love them (most of the time).
 
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