QUESTION

Our female dog has been limping for a while on walks, although she appears fine in the house. We have been to the vet who has checked her out thoroughly and prescribed anti-inflammatory drugs which haven't made any difference. We notice during exercise that she has difficulties and that her left paw especially tends to be held above the ground and at an angle, curved towards her body. She had a mild hip dyplasia when born but it hadn't caused her any apparent angst. We are concerned with her difficulties in walking although she is fine in the house. We are really concerned as we are unsure what to do to alleviate the obvious pain she is in during exercise, though she doesn't vocalise her pain. I would be grateful for any pointers you could give.

N. Zedan

ANSWER

Dear N. Zedan,
There are a couple of pointers that we could look at in this case. First, trying to work out if it is a problem with the joints or with tendons. In general, a problem with joints is worst after rest and a problem with ligaments worse in excercise. This is not exclusive but a good starting point. Joints will respond well with non-steroidal pain killers and also with use of neutroceuticals including Synoquin and Cosequin or with use of injections of Cartrophen.

Ligaments in the short term will not respond to very much at all but will in the longer term usually respond to anti-inflammatories and time with gentle excercise.

Things become complicated in the case of cruciate ligament ruptures which if only partial can be difficult to assess in the ocncious dog but will behave both as a tendon injury and a joint problems by virtue of being a tendon within a joint.

If I am reading your e.mail correct then it is the hind leg that is causing problems and I would place a cranial cruciate ligament sprain or partial rupture at the top of the diagnostics list.

Examination under sedation and radiography would be often required to complete the diagnosis and the use of combination treatments of non steroidals and nutroceuticals would be my treatment of choice.

Paul Wilson