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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