Dog stumbling on front legs
Help. I have an appointment with a specialist hospital next week and I'm hoping you may be able to give me an insight as to what could be happening with my dog (9yo German Shepherd male neutered). Just so that I have an idea of what I need to look out for and discuss with them. Spender had disc surgery for a ruptured disc (T13) that was compressing the spinal cord 6 months ago. He was knuckling his hind leg paws and hips almost sat on his hocks. All was well and he made a full recovery. Hind leg neurological function returned although there is a spongy effect in the hind legs when he walks. A couple of months after surgery, he had a very sensitive back which is now normal. 4 months after surgery, he started dropping on the front end, right front leg, as though his right paw had fallen into a hole. This happened occasionally but he corrected himself very quickly and didn't appear to be in pain. Anyhow, while this was happening occasionally, he developed a front left leg limp which appeared to come on during exercise ( Exercise consists of a 45 min walk with the occasional trot twice a day, we keep him quiet). We rested him for 4/5 hours although he up and about in the house. After 5 hours the limp had gone and by the time I got him to the vet, he was walking normally. This has happened 4 times; a front left leg limp comes on normally during or after exercise and disappears within about 12 hours. On one occasion, I saw him doing it when he turned; he yelped and held left front leg up. So we rested him and when he got up to walk, the limp was in the RIGHT leg. ????? I took a video of this to show my vet because I thought I was seeing things. Again it resolved with 24 hours rest. When this was going on, these little stumbles (right leg) still appeared now and then. So far it has always happened on grass and on carpet but not so far on hard ground such as concrete or tar. Last weekend, the stumbles are becoming more frequent. But they appear to be now in LEFT front leg. On a side view when I watched him, I saw like a jolt in the pastern joint on the left leg. But on closer inspection he appeared to be putting the paw down correctly. At the moment he is stumbling more frequently and we are going to see a specialist. It looks as though the front leg is collapsing slightly when he puts weight on it. It's hard to explain, but no dragging of paws and there doesn't appear to be any knuckling that I can see. I'm beginning to question my own sight. Apart from that, he's fine. Appetite normal, urine and stool output normal. Temperature normal and blood count normal. I've spoken to my vet regarding his disc injury 6 months ago and if this may be a secondary affect. He says no, as T13 affects back end movement. So we could be looking at something new here. It's really strange. Have you ever come across anything that vaguely resembles something like this? Is it possible that the limps and the stumbles are related? Would the disc injury (T13) have any relation at all? My vet is completely baffled. I'd be really grateful for your thoughts |
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Dog with problems walking
When I came home from work yesterday, Sparrow(6yo female neutered mix breed), who stays in my basement with access to the crawl space under the house, was having trouble going up the stairs. She seemed sick - hot nose & depressed. She has a knot midway up her tail about the size of a quarter. Her hindquarters are slightly swollen and tender. Her behind was dirty with dust, some fecal matter, and little black dots that looked like flea eggs (she doesn't have fleas - she's on med from the vet.) It seemed she had been dragging her bottom on the ground. My gut feeling is that she may have been bitten by a spider or god forbid a snake (in my basement?!!) but I'm also worried that she's hurt her back. She can still walk - even jump on the bed - but she is not moving correctly. She is still eating and drinking. She's not any worse this morning, but no better. She's not limping, but she acts stiff - is not moving her hind legs with ease, but I don't see where they look out of whack. For example, when she goes up steps, she just goes one step at a time, very slowly and carefully when she usually bounds & skips steps. It doesn't look like she's knuckling over, and her feet and legs look normal. Another thought after babying her this morning - she has had trouble in the past with her anal glands being blocked. Usually I try to massage & expel them when I bathe her. I haven't noticed her dragging her butt, which usually happens when her glands are filled and need expelling, but is it possible this could be the problem? Or constipation?
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