Unknown Lameness?

[DoggyMom]

My dog, Lily, is now limping slightly on her rear left leg. I've taken her to the vet on numerous occasions. They have done x-rays, leg manipulations, exercises, everything apparently, and still no diagnosis, except to say that she has a slight lameness, yet no known cause to it. She doesn't limp too much only after a run at the dog park, or after an afternoon at doggy daycare. I am at my wit's end trying to figure out what may have caused this. She gets only 1 trip to the dog park mon-fri, for only about 30-40 minutes, and several walks through-out the day. Too much exercise was already ruled out. Being as the vet's have no idea, I thought I would post here to see if anyone might have some idea of what may be happening.

[canvasjockey]

How old is your dog, did the Vet have any ideas? I'm a Vet Tech, and occasionally we have limping dogs who have no definative diagnosis but end up being assumed to be a strain, or some kind of soft tissue injury.

My older dog went through this, and was put on pain meds yet limped for months till it finally resolved itself - as can often be the case with these vague limping symtoms. Another question - does or has you dog lived in or has spent some time in the southwest US?

[DoggyMom]

Lily is almost 4. The vet said it may have been a strain, but there was no evidence that she could find that could pinpoint exactly. She is on anti-inflammatory meds at the moment. As for where she's lived, she was born at the SPCA in Oakland, California and has lived in Monterey, California since she was 8 weeks old.

[Patch O' Pits]

Did they test for lymes disease?

Could be a sprain or torn muscle or tendon as well. I hope whatever it is it clears up soon

[canvasjockey]

Then it's probably not Valley Fever, prevalent in the desert areas of the Southwest. We diagnose about 5-6 cases a week at our clinic, and a common symtom is phantom limping.

Sounds like it could be a sprain, do the anti-inflamitorys help? I can take some time to heal, we had a patient that strained his shoulder, we did everything and ruled out anything else (xrays, bloodwork, etc.) and in the meantime had him on anti-inflamitorys. It probably took 3-4 months for him to get better, the poor owner was worried the whole time but now that he's back to his old self we're all relieved!!

[Marty]

I would suggest stop all exercises and running till it heals, if your still exercising and running, she needs time to heal...

She doesn't limp too much only after a run at the dog park, or after an afternoon at doggy daycare.

[Sibe]

Sounds like soft tissue injury in which case an MRI would diagnose it.

You said she limps , .."only after a run at the dog park, or after an afternoon at doggy daycare"

Sounds like she might benefit from water therapy which is controlled physical therapy in a water tub. I would want to have her monitored while doing any activity, esp at dog day care.

[racelady02]

Have you considered massage therapy? Like people, animals can benefit greatly from massage. Your dog sounds like an ideal candidate to me. I am an animal massage therapist, and I have seen some amazing things.

Good luck!

[DoggyMom]

We do the massage therapy now :) Our trainer (who is the best in my book) referred us to another nice lady who showed me how to do it on my own. Lily goes crazy when I tell her "want a 'sage?" she knows exactly what it means, and lies down! When we are done, she always nudges for more :) I will be taking her to the vet again soon, for more xrays and such, to see if it has healed, or if there is more work to be done.
We have limited her exercise down to only 2 visits per week at the dog park with other dogs, and 2 short walks around the block each day. So far, I have not seen any repeat limping, so I am hoping that what I am doing is helping her. I hate to see my fur-baby in any pain!

[Rottweilerlvr]

That happened to Baxter and he would only limp after a hard run or long walk and the vet said it was like us spraining a ankle and he put him on pain meds and it healed up...