Puppy Is Limping After Playing With Older Dog

[anthro-nerd]

It's one thing after another at the moment... my 7 month old puppy is now limping after a long walk on Sunday and playing too hard with my other dog last night. She is putting a little weight on it, but mostly lifting it up.

She'll let me touch it, it's her knee that's the issue, not her ankle or hip, but it isn't swollen or red or hot to touch. I'd like to avoid a trip to the vets if they'll just say wait and see, and I have doggy anti inflammatory medication at home already and know her correct dosage (from her spay). Is the 'wait and see' for a few days approach okay? Or should I take her straight in to the vets? Better to be safe than sorry... or it's 'just a sprain and they can't do anything anyway'? Lots of rest until it gets better? I don't know what to do!

[woofgang]

To vet today if you can. One of mine did similar at a bit of a younger age and at age 11 still has issues. Yes insist on rest, no walks or play until you have seen the vet.

[Sqad]

A "long walk" for a 7month old puppy is not advised in my opinion and it sounds like an acute traumatic arthritis.
If you have experience of anti inflammatory drugs in animals then i see no harm in hanging on for a couple of days before going to the vets.

[anthro-nerd]

Sqad, she typically gets just half an hour a day (5 mins for every month), the long walk was a one off, instantly regretting it now :-( and it's so hard to stop her playing with my older dog when she loves him so damn much!

Thanks woof, I'll take her tomorrow when I can.

[RATTER15]

At 7 months you need to be very careful, long walks wont do the pup joints any favours at all. they need short regular walks and gentle play or you will be in trouble with joint problems as the pup ages, especially in the bigger breeds. It is always safer to take the pup to the vet, but to be honest I would give it another 24 hours and then see.

[anthro-nerd]

Ratter, you're absolutely right. It was a one off walk and she's clearly over done it (my fault entirely of course, I feel awful). Vets tomorrow then!

[Ratty2E]

Could just be a sprain and after a few days rest she'll be right as rain. Obviously if it gets no better or worse then I'd get to the vet as it might be a sign of luxating patella.

[Georgiesmum]

Sounds to me as though the puppy went for far too long a walk and now needs plenty of rest on it.

[anthro-nerd]

Thanks Ratty, I'll take her tomorrow.

[anthro-nerd]

Georgiesmum, yes I think that's the issue too. Too long a walk and then play in the garden has over done it. Entirely my fault as the owner, and I feel dreadful. Poor lil dot. Lots of rest and cuddles and a slap round the face to me.

[anthro-nerd]

Spath, they don't have any processed grains anyway :-) in general her joints are great, I think in this case I've pushed her too far. Certainly something I won't be doing in the future. I feel dreadful. She's fine in herself, but just limpy and it's breaking my heart to know it's my fault!

[Sqad]

LOL...LOL anthro don't beat yourself up..........I have done that many years ago.
She will be fine tomorrow.......;-)

[anthro-nerd]

Sqad, I need to invest in meters and meters of bubble wrap so I can wrap both my fur-children up in bubble wrap whilst feeding them cooked chicken and gravy bones for the rest of their life!

[anthro-nerd]

So the only reason I took her on the group dog walk on Sunday was because Willis (my older dog) got attacked last week by a staffie and I felt like it was super important to get them both socialising with friendly dogs straight away (the pup saw the whole thing and has started barking at other dogs again). And to be fair to both of my two, they did fantastically well on Sunday and had a great time.

I guess rather a sprain and now lots of rest, than a lifetime of antisocial behaviour from being traumatised from the attack and kept away from other dogs. In hindsight, I could have still taken her on the walk but carried her half way.

Remind me again why we have dogs?

[RATTER15]

"I need to invest in meters and meters of bubble wrap so I can wrap both my fur-children up in bubble wrap whilst feeding them cooked chicken and gravy bones for the rest of their life!"

Why cook the chicken? feed it raw, then she can have the bones as well, (raw chicken bones are harmless) and far better than cooked.

[jennyjoan]

I would never ever give my dog chicken bones - they are too fine and could get caught in their gut.

[Tilly2]

If she's no better tomorrow, take her for a check up. I would. In fact, I would have taken her today:-)

[anthro-nerd]

She already seems to be much less limpy, my other half is a medic and has checked her over - all of her joints seems fine. If she doesn't improve tomorrow or gets any worse, then we'll be off to the vets, it's only down the road. We suspect it's a sprain though and with rest she'll be absolutely fine.