favoring back leg

[samsons]

last night I noticed Sam was favoring his left back leg, mind u I noticed this after the dogs had been outside with DH rebuilding the fence all day , then a swim at the lake. He just didnt seam to be moving right at the lake , but not limping. I did notice him holding up his leg will standing in the water ~ i just thought he was tired of watching the puppy swim out for her stick - she swims - Sam watches ! BUt anywho ~ we get home and it is very noticeable when he sat for his dinner. he still this morning is not limping but def doesnt want to put alot of weight on it ( last night i did give him a nice rubdown ) just as active as before, DH ( stands for dumb at this point ) said he " was tearing around the yard when i took them out " ARRGGGGGG ..... So my plan is to TRY to keep him a quit as possible , while spending the day outside building a new fence ( we are putting up privacy outside our chain , and then taking down the chain ) and maybe a baby aspirin, watching him closely. ANYMORE suggestions or hints on how to keep to 2 calm ( 3 Mo puppy also ) Sam is 2yo for those who dont know us. Would make my day. OR am i over reacting ?? and should just let it work itself out. ( i have read so much about torn acls that i am very watchfull )

if it is just a sore muscle , if kept as calm as a boxer can be kept ~ how long till i should see it getting better before i consider the vet. ( money is a bit tight this week , after the GREAT FENCE ADVENTURE ~ )

THANKS IN ADVANCE GUYS !
ang & sam

 

[darwinsmom]

If it is not showing improvement after a week of rest, I would be making an appointment. Is he holding the leg out to the side when he stands? That is common symptom of of cruciate injuries. If it is a partial tear, it may heal but would take ~8 weeks rest. With full tears surgery is required, esp. with a young active dog. Hopefully he will will be fine after a few days rest. No jumping, no running, no walks, and you will probably need to put him on a leash for potty breaks if you think he might take off.

 

[sriley]

Can you keep Sam in the house to rest (maybe give him a bone to chew on) while the rest of you go outside to work on the fence? I know he won't be too happy about it, but you don't want to make that leg any worse. I know my guys won't rest when they're outside.

 

[Sansal]

Sky was was limping a little bit a few weeks back and favoring her left back leg. I kept her quiet for a few days and it disappeared. I think as long as Samson doesn't look like he is in pain you don't have to take him to the vet yet. I also wouldn't give him the baby aspirin. I think it's better if he feels a slight discomfort and then he will naturally rest more.
Don't worry too much about it, it will most likely clear up on it's own.

 

[samsons]

thought to add this also ~ Sam is the laziest boxer i have ever met ! Also our dogs are NEVER outside alone... SO with DH ( dear this time ) working on the fence all day ( i was at work ) the kids had a full day of fun. This is why i am thinking sore muscle, but u cant be to careful.

he doesnt hold it out at all , more kinda the way horses hock up a leg when bored. just kinda taking pressure of of it. he is mostly walking fine , most noticeable when he sits.. kinda like if i rode to much and went to get up from sitting .. u just move a bit sore.

also ~ when we have sore muscles it helps to get a BIT of exercise ... should i keep him on leash , but let him move around abit outside.. or just potty breaks ??

fist time dealing with this in my boxers ~ know what to do for the horses , but boxers are a world apart !

thanks everyone ! just abit worried at this point !

 

[darwinsmom]

also ~ when we have sore muscles it helps to get a BIT of exercise ... should i keep him on leash , but let him move around abit outside.. or just potty breaks ??

Well if you are like me the 'sore muscles' are from using muscles we haven't exercised in a while rather than actual injuries. Seems like in Sam's case it is an injury. And you want to protect the injury while it heals. I think some slow short walks may be okay if it will help him from getting stir crazy, but you don't want the sort of high impact sudden movements of running, jumping, and esp. with boxers burning. Partly this is just cautionary in case it is something more serious, you don't want it made worse.

When Darwin tore his cruciate he never actually held up the leg. He just held it out to the side putting little weight on it and he limped. However many dogs will three-leg it. I think it just has to do with the pain tolerance of the dog.

 

[samsons]

I also wouldn't give him the baby aspirin. I think it's better if he feels a slight discomfort and then he will naturally rest more.
Don't worry too much about it, it will most likely clear up on it's own.

i had decided NOT to give the aspirin ... same thought if it hurts a bit , he will be more carefull.


thanks everyone !

 

[samsons]

sun morning

update ~~

Sam is just fine today ! so just must have been a bit sore from so much playtime on friday !
we kept him outside yesterday with us ( on 3 leashes looped to a fence ) so i could watch him , and he wasnt in the house pacing and jumping at the windows to see us. took a short evening walk ( 4 blocks or so ) and now this morning he is moving great - not a bit sore.

THANKS EVERYONE for the advice and support !

 

[darwinsmom]

Glad to hear Sam is all better.

Cruciate tears can occur from a traumatic injury and so you can see them in young dogs, but they are more common in middle-age and older dogs, where the ligament just wears down chronically before finally rupturing. It is also why many dogs that have one knee go, often have the other go soon after. We are at 11 months since Darwin's left ccl tore. Still crossing my fingers the other one doesn't go. They say the chances are 50-50.

 

[samsons]

Glad to hear Sam is all better.

Cruciate tears can occur from a traumatic injury and so you can see them in young dogs, but they are more common in middle-age and older dogs, where the ligament just wears down chronically before finally rupturing. It is also why many dogs that have one knee go, often have the other go soon after. We are at 11 months since Darwin's left ccl tore. Still crossing my fingers the other one doesn't go. They say the chances are 50-50.

our fingers & paws are crossed for u guys also !!!!