Duncan is limping....

[jennifert9]

I know that most of my posts are WAY too long so I will try to keep this short...I "thought" I noticed Duncan limping about 2 weeks ago, just for a second, he didn't look like he was walking normally...But I watched him and never saw it again. Then about a week ago, he and Collin were "roughhousing" in the bedroom while I was in the living room...I heard a YELP (Collin often gets too rough IMO with Duncan, then again, he does it with his mom's dog that he grew up with and that dog seems used to it. Duncan, however, is not. Since I don't play that way with him.) Duncan comes running out of the room limping. Collin said nothing happened, Duncan seemed fine after a minute, walking normally, I thought nothing of it.... (Well...I was a little mad! )
This past weekend, we had to leave him at the kennel because we had to go out of town. The place was very clean and seemed well run although after we dropped him off, I immediately started worrying...I thought it was just the overreactive mother in me but...they didn't have me sign anything, didn't ask for an emergency number...nothing....(I did provide them with his most recent shot record however.) I called there about 10 minutes after we left and told them the name of his vet in NJ and the vet in NY (where most of his records are), gave them both numbers, gave them my number and my father's number and the authority to take him to any vet and charge it to me if something happened....Collin thought I was crazy but I was worried...Duncan is an overreactor, (like his mother) and he certainly doesn't think about the consequences of his actions, again, like his mother!
So, as we left, I had to walk away first and Collin stayed for a minute with him at the kennel. Duncan is WAY more attached to me than Collin so we thought that if I put him in the kennel and then left before I started crying, it would be better for him. But I saw him leaping at the chain link fence as I turned to go...
Now, with the limping, I'm worried that First, (and hopefully) he just twisted or sprained it from leaping on the fence, maybe got his paws caught for a second or something?....) Second, the limping WAS noticed for a minute BEFORE the kennel, even though only for a few minutes....

I have checked both front feet for any signs of cuts or tears or wounds and cannot find any. His paws do not seem to bother him at all. Unfortunately, that would be the easy solution...he has had numerous cuts to his pads over the years and those are easy fixes....
It is definitely one of his front legs that is bothering him but, to be honest, I can't figure out which one....!! I have made him walk towards me about 20 times tonight and he is definitely limping but I can't be sure which leg it is....One minute I am positive it's his left...then the next I am positive it's his right....I have made him give me his paw, he gives his right always (like I taught him...?!) and then gives his left for the "Other paw" command. I can see in his eyes and his behavior that something hurts but I cannot for the life of me, figure out what...? He curls one paw underneath him when he is lying down but it changes almost everytime....? When he is excited, he is fine...The worst part about this and the part that is eating me up inside is that I took him for a 2.5 mile walk this morning and another 1.7 mile walk tonight.... He seemed fine...occassionally on the evening walk, I noticed him looking funny when he walked but I just could not put my finger on what it was...???? I felt his shoulders, seemed fine? His back legs don't seem to bother him...Something is definitely wrong...I mean this is a dog that follows me from room to room and he has been relatively inactive for the last day or two....(we got back Monday afternoon so this is a day and 1/2 now...) I knew he would be super tired after being in the kennel for 3 days and probably would not feel good, he usually comes home from kennels feeling a little sick (diarrhea, lethargic...kind of blah, you all know what I'm talking about; those of you who have ever had to kennel your dog...that "yuck" feeling they have for a few days.... BUT, He WANTS to go for walks....he chases bunny rabbits when he sees them, no pain, no crying....??? But I KNOW something is wrong...I just don't know what...?
Combine this with the sleeping problems he has been having...and I'm a nervous wreck.... (He has been having those "reverse sneezes" at least 5 times a week, sometimes for minutes at a time and nothing I do will make them go away....)
He's about 5 this year, way too young for him (I hope...) to have a disease....right? He has been through so much stress this past year, moving 2X in the past 6 months and all that goes with that....
Since I don't have a vet in PA yet, I am going to go ask the property manager tomorrow where she takes her dogs...she has a little mixed breed and an adopted greyhound....I told Collin tonight not to plan anymore "trips" since all our money will be going to make sure Duncan is OK....I just have a bad feeling about this and I don't know why....Maybe I am just being paranoid....I need to calm down...(deep breaths....)
Just another note...the limping was gone and came back...and that is what worries me...if I never saw that first slight limp...I would just chalk it up to him spraining his leg on that stupid chain link fence....but this is something that I have seen 3 times on different occasions in the past 2 weeks and now I'm nervous...

Once again...I said I would be short...and here I am...20 minutes later....I'm sorry...I really am....Any experience, good,bad or indifferent would be appreciated....
Thank you PTers for at least giving me a place to vent my worries....I'm a nervous wreck about my baby and I know y'all will listen and commisserate at the very least....I know nobody in this state and spend ALL my time with Duncan...I need him to be well....

Thanks

[jennifert9]

One more thing that may or may not be relevant but is worth mentioning...when Duncan walks on a leash, he doesn't walk "like a dog" Strange I know...but when he is on the leash, he walks like this: both feet on the one side move forward at the same time, and then both feet on the other side move forward...
Most dogs walk the opposite way...left front, right back, right front, left back....
He doesn't walk this way off the leash.
I had the vet watch him about a year ago, I think, when I first noticed this and she said that he is probably doing it because I cannot walk as fast as his "normal walking pace" so he does this to "slow himself down" so that he is not pulling on the leash... I know it's odd....
Off leash he mostly trots like a horse....(very beautiful if I can say so myself ) But I keep him on a 6 ft leash at all times because of his aggression problems in the past so he almost always walks this way when we go out.....so it's not like it's his "strange" walking habits that are causing this...Or maybe it is....? Maybe his body is aching from trying to slow down for so long...?
We always walk at least 3 miles a day so these long walks are not new to him...I even make him walk on the grass most of the time so that the pavement is not to hot for him...I can't think of anything else....He was tested for hip dsyplasia when I first got him and they said his hips looked fine and healthy...

[jesse_3]

Dang, I wish that I wasn't the first to post. I am not saying this as a proffesional, but, it sounds like maybe a tumor? Malignant or not, it could bother his leg. Usually the dog shows pain with a tumor though. That is where I am confused.
Now, please, don't panic. It was just an educated guess. Also, a dog of any age can get a disease.

I will be keeping Duncan in my prayers, and please, don't get too scared, I could be COMPLETELY off.
Steph and Jes

[jennifert9]

Steph, I appreciate your post...I should have been more thoughtful and mentioned the word "tumor" before because that is what I fear it may be...the symptoms are so odd and irregular....that word has been floating around my brain for weeks now....Please don't feel bad....
I love that you have the guts to say what I have been fearing...I love you for it...
I have checked every inch of his body for anything unusual but you know how it is...you cannot always tell....
Thank you for the concern...I will think positive that everything is fine!!

XXOO

[jesse_3]

Okay, well, I feel a little better about telling you this. I am not glad that it is what two people are thinking, but, I don't feel so out there.

I really, really wish that I could give you more than virtual hugs and best wishes to you two, but, that is all I can really give. I can lend you an ear if you ever need one!(((((((((HUGS)))))))))

I would get Duncan to the vet as soon as possible though. I REALLY am praying that it is not a tumor...and if it is, the next best is it isn't malignant...You have as much prayers as I can give. Jesse is in there with you too, she somehow understands that someone so far away is under stress. How?-I don't know.

I really don't know what to say, and I am sorry if this dampens your night what-so-ever. I am sure that it has. Your right, if you think positive, everything WILL be all right So, we should all keep positive about this.

Some more major ((((((((((((HUGS))))))))))))
Steph and Jes

please, keep me updated on Duncans progress, and what happens at the vet's.

[Pam]

This is just a guess but has Duncan been checked for Lyme disease? Bella developed Lyme disease a couple of years ago and her first symptom was a limp. I thought she had pulled a muscle running in the yard. It was right before she started on Frontline or received the vaccine. We caught it in time and she was put on a vigorous dose of antibiotics and is fine now. Ticks can be bad in our part of the country (I am from NJ too) so that might be a place to start. I hope whatever it is, is fixable and nothing serious. (((hugs)))

[jennifert9]

Pam, you are not the first person to ask me that....

We are from Syracuse, NY and Lyme disease among animals there is fairly rare...BUT we have since moved to PA about 30 days ago and Lyme disease is EXTREMELY common here...
Duncan is on Frontline but I may have waited over the 30 days to give him his most recent dose...(I did not want to give it to him right before we moved (when he was due) and then I wanted to wait until he settled down here before giving it to him....) I actually gave him his most recent dose no less than 2 weeks ago!!!! I have searched him for ticks but he has long hair and it is very hard to find them...I "feel" like I have dug through every inch of him and I brush him every day...but......................
Oh God, that is such a possible explanation...what if he has it? What do I do?? (trying to keep the panic out of my voice!!) Will he be OK? Oh God...I hope this isn't my fault...I will never forgive myself.......Is it the Frontline that keeps ticks away or the heartworm meds...? Because he is on both but I did delay both of them for a week until he settled down in his new home...?
What do I need to do now? (PANIC!!!???)

[jennifert9]

Pam, I am sorry if I sound like I'm screaming...but I'm so nervous now...what do I do to stop it? WHY is a limp the first symptom...? Have I waited too long? Oh God.....what have I done....what can I do.....?

[Pam]

Don't panic. Your vet can do a simple blood test and then you will know for sure. If it is Lyme he will be put on antibiotics for I think it is a month (it's been a while and I am trying to remember). Our vet also uses the Lyme vaccine because he says when the tick bites and latches on it doesn't die immediately but rather has to ingest some of the Frontline first in order to die, so dogs in heavy tick areas need the protection of both the vaccine and the Frontline. Please try not to panic. (Easy for me to say) A visit to the vet will help put your mind at rest.

[Pam]

Here is the thread that I started when Bella got Lyme. You can read through it and get more of an idea of the sequence of events. I am hoping that Duncan will be just fine. Try to relax.

http://petoftheday.com/talk/showthre...s+Lyme+disease

[jennifert9]

Pam, you are my hero....I CANNOT believe that you went through this with Bella...The symptoms sound EXACTLY like what Duncan is going through right now....
I hope and pray that I am wrong, that he just has a sprained ankle or something....
I read the entire thread that you posted and I cannot thank you enough...I hope that is not it but the more I read, the more the symptoms seemed the same...
We will be at the vets first thing in the AM....I can only hope that I didn't wait too long.... it anything happens to him and it's MY fault...I.....well, he will be OK. Maybe it's a false alarm.

Either way, Pam ,thank you for caring enough to read......I will post tomorrow morning....although it's 4am here and I don't think I wil get much sleep..... Thank you..XXXXOOOOOLove, Jennifer

[Pam]

Jennifer I am no hero but rather just trying to offer help to someone who clearly loves their dog and is worried. I will check this thread later to see what the vet had to say. If it turns out to be Lyme the good news is that there is treatment. It was probably not a bad idea to dig out the old thread for those who maybe are not that familiar with Lyme disease. Fingers crossed for you and Duncan today!

[Pawsitive Thinking]

Just picked up this thread - although I have no advice to offer I would like to send you and Duncan my heartfelt prayers and good wishes for a happy outcome

[Ginger's Mom]

Sorry I am so late finding this thread. I am glad Pam was up and online at that time in the night/morning. My first thought was Lyme disease also (again being from NJ it is pretty common). I did not look through the old thread, but they sure do seem to have made great advances in treating the disease in the past 10 years or so. Don't forget to let us know how you make out at the Vet's office, Jennifer.

[Pam]

Originally posted by Ginger's Mom
I am glad Pam was up and online at that time in the night/morning.

LOL! This has been happening to me a lot lately. I will wake up around 2:00AM or 3:00AM and not be able to go right back to sleep. That's the nice thing about the internet in general, and Pet Talk in particular, - there are always people awake whenever I am! LOL!

Jennifer I am thinking about Duncan and hoping you are getting some good news at the vet's. Please check in when you can.