[Jethro]

We got Jethro, a one year old Basset-Lab mix, from PAWS New England, last Friday. He came up from Tenessee. He is a sweet, sweet dog and we may keep him. I am concerned that he has a definite, moderate limp on his front left leg. He doesn't seem bothered by it. Will run and bounce and play. Not tender to touch and no heat that I've noticed. His front paws are definitely splayed over 60 degrees and he does look a little asymmetrical in joint angles on front. I hesitate to bring him to a vet who wouldn't know much about Bassets and ortho issues, especially if it's an old, badly healed injury ( he was listed as stray) or what I've read here as the "pano..." sp? thing which sounds like it resolves on it's own eventually. If we decide to keep him, it will be regardless of this limp, more a family lifestyle decision. He is fabulous. I'd like to do what's best without breaking the bank with vets who may not be able to help. Anyone know good Basset vets in Rhode ISland? Any thoughts? Thanks a bunch.

 

[SophieB]

I may be wrong, but I wonder if Jethro's limp could be from the Lab side of him... Labs are known to be prone to hip dysplasia that would make him limp! Also if he was a stray, perhaps from being very young he has spent a lot of time on his legs wandering around for many miles and may have done some damage that way! Have you got some pics of Jethro please?

 

[Mikey T]

he does look a little asymmetrical in joint angles on front

not atypical for a baset hound or mix not conformational correct but that are a lot more arount that are not correct than are.

Not tender to touch and no heat that I've noticed. ...or what I've read here as the "pano..." sp? thing which sounds like it resolves on it's own eventually

Pano in general is very painful for the dog. In bassets it general starts at 5-7 month but occasionally latter. The quick diagnostic took is to guage the dogs reaction when squeezing the bones in the middle not at the joints and looking for indication of pain. Unlike other orthopeadic condition Pano cause pain in the middle of the bone not at the joints.

Most limping is the result of a soft tisue injury. Strick crate rest for a week or two would be curative for all but the most severe sprains and strains and in the event not curitive will not cause further damage.

I have not had the need for a orthpeadic vet since moving to RI but if I did I would more than likely opt to travel to my old vet in MA Dr. Wayne Renegar at East Bridgewater Vet clinic.

On of the problem whith the basset mixes to larger dogs is they tend to have longer and smaller diameter bones. This put much more torque and strain on the joints than an typical pure bed basset would So incongurities and anomilies that occur are more likely to be a problem in a taller mix.

His front paws are definitely splayed over 60 degrees

as a comparison below is mariah less than conformationally ideal basset hound mild hip displasia and front feet that face east and west when sitting. Yet she is one of the top agility bassets of all time still going strong at the age of 9 1/2 with neary an orthopeadic issue.

 

[Jethro]

Thanks, Guys. It's definitely a front issue, not a hip issue. I was thinking perhaps all the walking he may have doens as a stray caused a problem. Also, Mike, I hesitate to crate him for rest because I know how they thrive on attention and love the outdoor stim., too. I'd feel guilty doing it unless I knew it was an acute issue that needed rest. Reassuring to see your babe's photos. I'm happy to see you're actually in RI. How do I find these events? Also, I have photos on my phone and am trying to figure out simplest upload.

 

[Mikey T]

I'd feel guilty doing it unless I knew it was an acute issue that needed rest.

create rest does not require issolation The crate is issues when you are not able to immeadeate supervise. there is nothing in the crate rest protocol preventing the dog from snuggling with you on the couch etc. Not doing so can lead to a life time of problems. A restriction for a couple weeks is well worth it.

Reassuring to see your babe's photos

not ment to be reasuring just factual that are dogs with less turn out that have problems as well The thing is simply observing the confirmation of the dog is not diagnostic.

Reassuring to see your babe's photos

At you looking for them as a spectator or percipatant.?

 

[jaleely]

this is what Bowser's paws look like.

 

[Jethro]

Thanks, All. Vet says xrays negative but ligamentous laxity in right elbow. Rx rest and antiinflammatories for a few weeks. Hard to make energetic puppy rest. Thanks, Mike for reminding me of long term importance of rest vs short term annoyance.

 

[Mikey T]

but ligamentous laxity in right elbow

IF the rest and anti-infamatories dont do enough you may want to consult with the vet about useing a soft cast to support and imobilize the limb allow the ligaments to tighen which they tend do from inactivity on their own. This is however a delicate balancing act using progressively softer casts to prevent muscle wasting and other problems from to much inactivity. A soft cast is nothing more than gause wraping that limits movement, and works as an external fixative.


Fisher the harrier had this technique use successfully when had to acclusions (bone brreaking at the ligament attachment point) after running into a dump truck. This was a much more conservitive approach than the surgery the emergency vet recommended and was very successfull.

This type ofw rap is proving effective in dealling with HOD and it appears knuckling over as well. There is at least one school of thought rather than a bone/conformation problem knuckling over is caused by ligament laxicity in the carpsal area (wrist) of the dog again wrap techniigues can help reduce such lacticity.

Developmental Orthopedic Disease - Knuckling Over

It is my opinion this condition is not genetic - it is due to uneven growth pattern between the bone and tissue/muscle of the puppy

...

Zephyr my first agility dog suffered what appeared to be a knee injury swelling and pain at the knee, but phisical manipulation did not result in what would be typical lacicity or movement in the knee from a ccl, petella tendon or any other soft tissue injur to the knee. After a month of crate rest and the problem worse not better, we opt for exploritory surgery over an MRI cost the same with the chance of surger being able to correct the problem.

Turn out she did not have a knee problem at all, It was a digital fexor tendon (toe) the runs past the knee streach over 1: longer than it should of been. Corrective surgery Soft casts and six more month of crate rest and she was once again competing in agility.

Thanks, Mike for reminding me of long term importance of rest vs short term annoyance.

having had a dog on prolonged crate rest 7 month in total I will be the first to say that it is not without problems and will likely cause some behavioral and physcological changes in the dog. But these are relatively minor when compared to to the pain and immobility for the rest of life not doing so.