[Princess Buttercup]

So yesterday, Princess Buttercup and I went to the high school and I noticed she was walking kind of funny. I first thought it was her vest/cape that she wears when "on duty" that's a little too big. However, when we got home she continued to limp after the vest came off. The funny thing is that she doesn't seem to be in any pain. She doesn't whine or wince, whe still goes up and down the stairs, in fact she even ran a bit and played some catch (no limping there). It's just plain strange.

So although I'm much better with the 2 legged animal variety... I tried to evaluate her. Her pad doesn't have anything in it. She doesn't have any pain with compression, distraction, or joint mobilizations. All of her joints feel stable, there's no swelling, you can even squeeze her entire leg without any complaint from her. She simply doesn't want to put weight on the leg. When you lift up the other front leg she lies down, she lifts it up when she's standing, and limps when she walks. She didn't complain of any pain to her spine, shoulders, all the way down to her toenails. (Which as I look are a little on the long side, so she'll be getting a trim tonight!)

I thought about giving her some over the counter people meds, but despite her limp she really doesn't seem all that uncomfortable. She's a bit of a drama queen, I swear she was polishing her daytime emmy when she got her last round of shots! So we totally expect her to whine when she's in pain. Right now we're doing the wait and see approach. She's in her kennel all morning and at lunch she's still limping. We live in a condo so she goes potty on a leash and is forbidden up on the furniture. I'm debating packing her up and down the stairs, but once again- no whining, she's just a little slow and hesitant.

What do you think... does it sound like pano? She's 7.5 months old. Should we be medicating her? Should we sneak her over to the vet? Doesn't sound like pano shows up on xray and since she's not whining we didn't think she needs any prescriptions. However, we're a little worried because her mama had a bad leg that buckled when she walked. However, if it doesn't go away... she'll fit right in with the injured athletes at the high school!

Thanks again for all your help! By the way... she's spot/bump free after switching food!

 

[Mikey T]

What do you think... does it sound like pano? She's 7.5 months old. Should we be medicating her? Should we sneak her over to the vet? Doesn't sound like pano shows up on xray [/b]

Could be but keep in mind, in general, pano begins with a fore limb not a hind limb, it is four time more common in males than females and often diagnosed because of pain when the long bone is compressed squeezed. The traditional age is between 6 and 18 month. Actual the only definitive diagnose of Pano is by X-ray it will show up as mottling however this often doesn't not occur after the first symptoms. In any cases of limping or limb soreness I prefer to medicate as little as possible. If the dog is feeling to good it is hard to keep them resting which is necessary to prevent re-injury (if it is a soft tissue injury and not pano) which is often more sever. Also over the counter meds nsaid and even Tylenol are not as safe for dogs as for humans while the risk for most are not huge they are larger. Also keep in mind an animal in pain is genetically predisposed to be stoic, not to show it because it makes it more vulnerable Just because she acts like she is not in pain does not mean she is not. The hounds I have had have been on the extreme ends. Toughy who was on the extreme woossy end. When being examined for Pano screamed out in pain when the vet squeezed any bone. There was another time he was limping on and off again for a couple of months and if you touch the leg he would yelp out. One day while lying on his side I petted his leg and he yelp, Hey wait its the other leg that suppose to be sore. I gave him the look this time. And I swear he returned with a sheepish grin, but lo and behold he didn't limp after that. So a bit of drama is not past them especially if they think it will get them some extra attention.

A trip to the vet is never a bad idea even if you get confirmation of what you already suspect. It is hard to put a price on piece of mind.

 

[Yogi's Mom]

Yogi had pano when he was a puppy. He was in a great deal of pain and would not eat or play. I took him to the vet and they gave us pain medicines for him. I would take her to the vet if she does not improve. Better safe than sorry.
Glad to hear her skin issues have cleared up!