Posted: Sat Nov 26, 2011 5:36 pm Post subject: Rufus has luxating patella- Great post op news!!!
Just after some advice/ reassurance please.
Rufus started limping wednesday morning. We were out with my friend and her lab and the two dogs were playing together and running about. They decided to go for a dip and as Rufus went down the very gentle slope to the water he yelped and lifted his right back leg. He did what I can only describe as the %$�(�$)!" I've stubbed my toe dance and then went into the water after Muffin before I could get to him. When he came out he was weight bearing but a bit cautious on it and by the time we got back to the car he was trying to get free so he could run around like a loon and you would never had known he had been limping. I rested him all afternoon and tried to have a short walk with him wednesday evening in the field next to us when he started limping briefly again (no yelp and just a brief lift it up, dance a little and put it down and walk a little gingerly) but again stopped by the time we got home (3 min slow walk). So thursday and friday I crate rested him and only took him to the garden for toilet breaks.
Today I took him for another short walk. We are lucky that we live next to a field so we went there as I knew we wouldn't meet anyone and he would wander along with me and the kids. Less than 10 minutes in he yelped and started limping on his back right leg again. I took him straight home but he had stopped by the time we got back and have rested him since. We were out 15 mintues max.
He is not at all stiff but if I feel his thigh and leg he does turn and start licking me. When he stretches he is now not fully stretching / extending his back right leg which his was wednesday, thursday and friday. He doesn't seem in any pain once he starts walking normally again and would happily jump all over the sofas and run like a nutter (which I'm not letting him). When he did it, I checked all of his paws incase the was something in them but they all look and feel fine and all of his nails are fine too.
I'm going to rest him until monday and then take him along to the vets for a check over. Is there anything else I should be doing? He's very happy in himself and eating and toileting as normal.
Thanks in advance
xxxxxxx
Last edited by Txx on Tue Feb 21, 2012 6:26 pm; edited 22 times in total
I would think that he has a slight sprain that was caused by his slip into the water. When he goes out for his walks he probably just turns slightly wrongly or twists his leg and aggravates it. It doesn't sound like anything to worry about to me.
As you can pinpoint it to a situation I would just let time be the healer. Obviously, if it were to get worse then I would get it checked out but seeing as he is quite comfortable for most of the time, i bet he he will be fine in no time.
I was just going to say that it sounds like a sprain or something too, T. If it was something major, he wouldn't be weight bearing on it at all. If it was one of the joint problems, then he wouldn't necessarily be in enough pain to yelp.
It sounds as if you're doing exactly the right thing by watching him carefully and making him slow down a bit
I do hope that he is back to his normal bouncing self very quickly and I'm sending you a because I know how worried you'll be no matter what anyone says
____________ Sarah and Bran
Always watched over with love by our angel, Flora, from Rainbow Bridge
Bran Training
I think you are doing the right thing - rest him as much as possible (could be worth cutting back his food a bit while you do ) and then I'd take him to vets for a few days of anti-inflams to help speed up recovery a bit and ease any discomfort.
It does sound like a sprain or strain, he will probably need two weeks complete rest and then short lead walks for a few more weeks, if you do too much too soon, it will just go again as they seem to be weak in that spot for a while after.
Amber did her front leg in the summer, it took three months to get her back to normal off lead exercise but it was worth it.
Thanks guys. I am feeling a bit better for all your comments and I definitely needed that hug Sarah! I'm feeling guilty for taking out today and for not resting him longer but I knew he was desperate to go out and I gave in, he did seem ok in garden. I will be much tougher and not give in to those beautiful brown eyes and give him much longer to rest. Three months must have been for you and Amber but if thats what he needs we'll manage. I just hope it doesn't snow as he sent him loopy last year
I have cut down his food as he is soooo prone to weight gain and I went to the butchers to get him a bone to keep him busy for a few days so he'll just be having kongs stuffed veggies and a small amount of kibble and his bones.
I wish he could talk so I could ask him if he was in any pain or discomfort. If he is I don't think he's showing any signs of it but I do worry. I will get the vet to check him over especailly as we do agility. I will feel much better knowing someone has seen him as he's my first dog and I may have missed something plus I'm a worrier .
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because I know how worried you'll be no matter what anyone says 
.
