Jackson's limping - need some help! {update: Dx w/ Lyme Disease}

[nneessaa]

Oh no! He is sooo adorable and sad looking. Hopefully you can get him a vet appt next week some time. Poor little dude. Scruffs sends him a get well soon bark!

[kjc]

Checking back for any updates. (and praying hard) Best to have a vet look at him esp if you're serious about continuing his agility training. Tendons and ligaments and muscles keep bones in place. Damage or strain to any of them can cause a prolonged episode. Getting the swelling down allows the hurt areas to recover and the bones may move easily back into place. Your vet needs to rule out any tears or more serious injuries that could require surgery to repair. Check out dog swim therapy for his recovery (of course, if recommended by your vet). I think I read about a place in MD that has a pool for dogs. May be good to keep his muscles toned until he is weightbearing again. In the meantime, try a cold compress for 5-10 minutes 3-4 X Day to reduce swelling temporarily. Try to feel along his leg to see if you feel a spot that is much warmer than the rest of his leg. This will be where the injury has occurred, and where to apply the cold pack. More is not better with cold packs. You want to take care to not freeze and damage the skin. Allow skin to return to normal temperature and color between applications. I wouldn't give any medications such as aspirin as it could cause bleeding and it may interfere with his diagnosis.

[Britster]

Originally Posted by Ladymom

That video is so sad. Poor little Jackson.

Make sure your vet checks his hips, too. According to the YTCA health survey, Legg-Perthes is even more common in Yorkies than LP's.

Health Survey 2007

Of course, we are all hoping it is nothing that serious!

Wow, thanks for the info. Haven't heard much about Legg-Perthes at all. Now I have a bit of information to bring in to my vet tomorrow.

I'm definitely calling very first thing in the morning and getting him in asap! In the meantime, he's been on the down-low all day doing alot of sleeping and laying down.

[Britster]

Originally Posted by kjc

Checking back for any updates. (and praying hard) Best to have a vet look at him esp if you're serious about continuing his agility training. Tendons and ligaments and muscles keep bones in place. Damage or strain to any of them can cause a prolonged episode. Getting the swelling down allows the hurt areas to recover and the bones may move easily back into place. Your vet needs to rule out any tears or more serious injuries that could require surgery to repair. Check out dog swim therapy for his recovery (of course, if recommended by your vet). I think I read about a place in MD that has a pool for dogs. May be good to keep his muscles toned until he is weightbearing again. In the meantime, try a cold compress for 5-10 minutes 3-4 X Day to reduce swelling temporarily. Try to feel along his leg to see if you feel a spot that is much warmer than the rest of his leg. This will be where the injury has occurred, and where to apply the cold pack. More is not better with cold packs. You want to take care to not freeze and damage the skin. Allow skin to return to normal temperature and color between applications. I wouldn't give any medications such as aspirin as it could cause bleeding and it may interfere with his diagnosis.

Thanks! I did purchase weave poles and a jump hoop but I don't think we're ever going to get into serious agility, just backyard fun. But obviously not anytime soon!

I've heard of a place in Annapolis too that does doggy swimming and therapy. I'll have to look into it depending on what the vet says. And yeah, I'm too unsure about giving dogs people medication so I'm going to hold off until the morning at the vet. Thanks for your advice!

[capt_noonie]

Originally Posted by Britster

Thank you!

I was thinking the same thing. I feel like more symptoms would have occurred if it was a grade 3 or 4 LP problem not just suddenly when he's never had issues in his life.

He was also rough housing on Christmas Eve & Christmas with my dad's dogs, as I said, so I'm wondering if it's just now starting to bother him or something.

No idea, but thanks for the well wishes!



Yep, thanks for the link, I was reading and researching and I'm definitely going to be asking the vet lots of questions. I just don't see how it could be a grade 3 or 4 and happen so suddenly but I guess it's possible?

I'm calling the vet first thing in the AM. I tried to get him in today at a local vet open on Sunday's but unfortunately, the ONE vet available has a high fever and will not be in today. So I'll just take him to his regular vet tomorrow morning.

Oh no! I saw the vid, he looks so sad.

Don't forget that Uni was not diagnosed until she was about 2 1/2 years, never showed any symptoms until then. And she is grade 3. Jackson is barely over one year, so it is possible.

Hoping for good news tomorrow.

[yorkiemalt]

awww....that poor baby! he just looks so sad and uncomfortable. I'm guessing, by the way he's holding that leg, that he might have an acl tear.

[Britster]

Originally Posted by yorkiemalt

awww....that poor baby! he just looks so sad and uncomfortable. I'm guessing, by the way he's holding that leg, that he might have an acl tear.

That could very well be it --

Ruptured Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) in Dogs

It appears that in most dogs with the problem, the ACL slowly degenerates and becomes weaker until it ruptures, without any sudden injury.

Dogs who have ruptured their cruciate ligament will appear suddenly lame, and usually hold the foot of the affected leg off the ground. The knee may become swollen. In time, the dog may start to use the leg again, but often lameness returns. Dogs with a degenerating ACL may also show some pain, and there may be some swelling in the joint.

Either way - I will find out hopefully tomorrow and let you all know.

Thanks for your concern and advice!

[lil louis]

I hope Jackson is feeling better.

[Wylie's Mom]

Oh man, that video .

But then he's wagging his tail like "it'll be okay, Mommy!" -- what a tough little guy!

Please keep us update...I know you'll get to the bottom of this.

[RemydeHaviland]

just saw the video... so very sorry!

Remy sends a big hug to Jackson. Good luck at the vet tomorrow.

When Remy had an LP-related episode he was holding his leg up kind of like that, but not 100% of the time. He would put weight on it when standing or moving slowly and then pick it up when attempting to walk quickly or run. The vet gave us Metacam (if I recall correctly) and he was on limited activity for about a week, and then he was good to go.

I really, really hope its nothing terribly serious

[Mom to Hot Rod]

Awww, Brit, Jackson looks so sad. If you can not get him in there, maybe try our vet over here. I know you have a busy day planned but I've been pretty successful with getting in quickly at my vet as there are several vets in the practice. Text me if you need the number.

Please let us know what your vet says.

[Woogie Man]

Poor guy....he won't even put the leg down. There's a good chance it's an injury from running in the snow. With the snow on the ground, he may not have seen something he should have avoided. Hopefully it's something he'll get over and not some more serious condition.

[BonBon]

Aww, Brit I'm just seeing this. Poor little Jackson! I'll be praying for him today. Let us know what the vet says.

[Britster]

SO -- odd diagnosis.

He tested positive for Lymes disease. She said it can take months to show up so it was probably a tick from the summer. She said that's probably the cause for the lameness/joint tenderness in his leg. She said his hurt foot was bigger than the other and more swollen.

I was almost tearing up when he was on the table, on his back, and she moving his leg up and down and he was just crying and yelping, spazzing out. I felt terrible and wished I could do something! But overall, he was a VERY good boy for the vet (which is unusual for him) and continued wagging his tail throughout most of the process. Like he knew they were going to make him better.

She took x-rays from 2 angles of his leg and said nothing was broken. His patellas look GREAT and healthy! She also commented on his healthy white teeth. The vet said there is around a 4% chance of kidneys being affected by Lymes and asked if I wanted to send out bloodwork to a lab but I opted not to, it was an extra $90 (on top of the already $350 vet visit!) I figured I could always do it at a later time if necessary.

This was actually a new veterinarian office we went to as our regular vet could not take us until 12:30 and that wasn't going to work with me needing to be at my dad's courthouse wedding at 1:45. I liked this vet much better, and so did Jackson. So I think we're going to switch him permanently.

She prescibed him 14 Doxycycline 100 Mg pills and I give him 1/4 tablet by mouth every 12 hours. Also, gave 7 25 Mg tablets of Rimadyl for 7 days for pain.

Whew! That was an experience. I'm just glad it's not a broken leg, luxating patellas, or something more serious.

Seven days of pretty much no activity besides bathroom breaks and he should be good to go.

[BonBon]

That's great news! At least I think it is. Lymes is fairly easy to treat isn't it? At least no leg injuries!! You be a good boy, Jackson, and your mom will have you back running & playing in no time!