We are looking for some guidance here. We have twice noticed our dog favouring his right rear leg whilst at a full run. The first time was at 6.5 months, the second at 8 months. This has only happened when playing with another dog, so I suspect over-tiredness has exacerbated it. He does not have any visible problems when getting up, walking, trotting, or running normally. After these two occasions, we put him back on his lead straightaway. He was pulling like anything to get back to his canine friend, and seemed to have no problem at all - it just seems to be the gallop that is the problem.
The first time, our vet walked him in a circle, and said that he had slightly reduced movement on the right hand side, but this could be due to growing pains. The second time, he manipulated the hip slightly under sedation (Strider was actually sedated for having stitches out from a lump removal) and felt a slight "clonking" that he has concerns about.
The vet has suggested X-rays to see if there is a problem. He thinks that Strider may be a candidate for pectineus tenotomy, which he says he can do immediately after the X-rays if appropriate. This is occuring on Wednesday.
I have some unease with this - the vet said that it involves cutting the muscle in the leg. I asked if this would make a difference to Strider, and he said not. My unease is this - if the muscle makes no difference, why is it there in the first place? Furthermore, what are the possible consequences downstream - e.g. if a hip replacement is needed?
Our current thoughts are that we want to know what the outcome of the xray is, but do not want to proceed straight to this surgery without understanding more about it. Our vet has not mentioned triple osteotomy of the pelvis, which some sites say may be appropriate for young dogs, if arthritis has not yet set in. Perhaps glucosamine and restricting play with other dogs may be the solution.
Has anybody got any thoughts on this, and what the next moves might be? I think that reflecting what is in the Xrays, rather than the potential of operating immediately after taking them, would be a good idea!
We think that finding a specialist for a second opinion might be sensible, although I do not know any in the UK.
Cheers
Chris
The first time, our vet walked him in a circle, and said that he had slightly reduced movement on the right hand side, but this could be due to growing pains. The second time, he manipulated the hip slightly under sedation (Strider was actually sedated for having stitches out from a lump removal) and felt a slight "clonking" that he has concerns about.
The vet has suggested X-rays to see if there is a problem. He thinks that Strider may be a candidate for pectineus tenotomy, which he says he can do immediately after the X-rays if appropriate. This is occuring on Wednesday.
I have some unease with this - the vet said that it involves cutting the muscle in the leg. I asked if this would make a difference to Strider, and he said not. My unease is this - if the muscle makes no difference, why is it there in the first place? Furthermore, what are the possible consequences downstream - e.g. if a hip replacement is needed?
Our current thoughts are that we want to know what the outcome of the xray is, but do not want to proceed straight to this surgery without understanding more about it. Our vet has not mentioned triple osteotomy of the pelvis, which some sites say may be appropriate for young dogs, if arthritis has not yet set in. Perhaps glucosamine and restricting play with other dogs may be the solution.
Has anybody got any thoughts on this, and what the next moves might be? I think that reflecting what is in the Xrays, rather than the potential of operating immediately after taking them, would be a good idea!
We think that finding a specialist for a second opinion might be sensible, although I do not know any in the UK.
Cheers
Chris
