Help with my 8 year old's LIMPING

[JewellRose]

Hi all,
My rotti,who is 8 yrs,7 months old,started limping 2 days ago:-(.She tends to not put any weight on that leg either.Its her backright leg.She had her check-up not too long ago and also has had her hips checked.She isn't overly active and all we did that day was go pick apples...she hopped from the front seat to the back in my SUV and also hopped out of it when we got home.All I can think is that she pulled a muscle or with her age,may be getting arthritis.Is there a muscle rub I could buy or should I call the vets now and have them check her? I have noticed when she sleeps or rides with us on our long rides ,she has a harder time getting up.
I wished I had found this site years ago,this is GREAT!

[Sharon Marples]

Originally Posted by JewellRose

Hi all,
My rotti,who is 8 yrs,7 months old,started limping 2 days ago:-(.She tends to not put any weight on that leg either.Its her backright leg.She had her check-up not too long ago and also has had her hips checked.She isn't overly active and all we did that day was go pick apples...she hopped from the front seat to the back in my SUV and also hopped out of it when we got home.All I can think is that she pulled a muscle or with her age,may be getting arthritis.Is there a muscle rub I could buy or should I call the vets now and have them check her? I have noticed when she sleeps or rides with us on our long rides ,she has a harder time getting up.
I wished I had found this site years ago,this is GREAT!

Welcome to the forum! I would suggest that you take her and have the vet check her out. It could be HD, soft tissue damage, a pulled muscle or it could be a torn ACL. If the ACL is torn, it can only be remedied by surgery. If it is something else, crate rest and no jumping should help. At any rate, I think a trip to the vet is called for. A set of x-rays of the hips and a drawer test to make sure the cruciate ligament is not torn will put your mind at rest.

In the meantime, keep her quiet, no jumping off or on anything, no running, no long walks, etc.

[JewellRose]

Thank you for your advice!!! I will be calling my vets ASAP.Will post as soon as I find out something:-) again,thanx!Wanda

[KatarinasMom]

I agree that a trip to the vet is a good idea, but in the meantime check the pads of her paw on that leg.....maybe she got something stuck in it when you had her out. Good luck and let us know how everything goes.

[chivas]

Hopefully its just a strained muscle. If, after you take her to the vet and she doesnt show any improvement (even if prescribed meds) after 1 week, get her back and INSIST on xrays and bloodwork. Osteosarcoma manifests itself in just the way you described and its too common in rottweilers. Xrays may not show anything but bloodwork could show a high alkaline level which can be indicative of a tumor. Haste, unfortunalty, is the essense in dealing with OS. But I will keep positive thoughts that she just had too much fun apple picking!!!

[Sam's Mom]

My Dog presented with similar symptoms, I took him to my Vet,twice. As it turned out to have it properly diagnosed I had to go to an ortho/rehab vet, (which involved time wasted) Often times regular vets just don't have the expertise needed.

[JewellRose]

I wanted all to know that Jewell is fine.All checked out good,guess she bruised her leg getting out of my truck! !!I haven't been online much, as have been busy but wanted to thank everyone for the replies and I thank god that it was nothing more!!

[Sharon Marples]

Originally Posted by JewellRose

I wanted all to know that Jewell is fine.All checked out good,guess she bruised her leg getting out of my truck! !!I haven't been online much, as have been busy but wanted to thank everyone for the replies and I thank god that it was nothing more!!

Glad to hear that Jewell is fine. Since she has injured that leg, be sure to limit her jumping in and out of your truck and off of other things so as not to injure it again.

[JewellRose]

Thanx Sharon!
Yes,my vet informed me so and also I purchased some doggie stairs for Jewell.She has been using them to get up on my bed as thats where she lays(cuz she can see my driveway there,lol) and waits for our return when we don't take her with us.She seems to be in heaven now knowing she has something to walk up onto my bed now. It is deer hunting season here and thats why I have been so busy.I do not take her out deer hunting but she does go with us for bear and bird( hubby is a guide).I met a gentleman who has 2 huge rotti's that search for wounded animals...quite the dogs and very good at what they do!
Thanx again!
Wanda

[jlaack]

I would be very cautious about writing off the limping as a simple bruise even if it isn’t a problem any longer. Osteosarcoma & Lymphoma are VERY common in Rottweilers, especially seniors. If you look at Osteosarcoma studies many use Rottweilers in their research since they statistically have a very high occurrence of the disease. Options and intervention are best if you catch it early. My 8-year-old Rottie is in the hospital as we speak for Osteosarcoma related problems.

He first had unexplained limping in December of 2004 with some very small abnormalities on his radius. It actually wasn’t truly unexplained. While chasing his tennis ball I saw him hit his leg on a large lava rock. We went to several vets regarding his problem and all we gained from those visits were theories. We were told not to worry; it was probably just minor trauma to the bone from hitting the rock. Did I mention we even had 2 Orthopedic Specialists check him out and provide their opinion beyond my regular vet? In about a month the limping and the bump miraculously disappeared. The problem came back in the exact same spot in March of 2006 along with a confirmed diagnosis, he had Osteosarcoma Bone Cancer. We were very lucky since the average life expectancy for a dog with Osteosarcoma without treatment is 3-5 months.

From my personal experience and many conversations with other people going through this with their dogs (not just the Rotts) the best thing you could do is to take your Rottie to a Vet Teaching Hospital for evaluation by a specialist. If there isn't one near you, most will look at X-Rays for a small consulting fee. Heck, I don't even think Colorado State charged us for looking at the films we already had. If the suspicion is cancer be prepared that a biopsy can cause it to spread and can eliminate doing a limb sparing procedure for treatment.

I am hoping it isn't cancer. But please really be sure that it isn’t…Conventional and holistic remedies along with survival rates and quality of life are best if it is caught early.

Good luck! My thoughts are with your Rottie and YOU!