Rear leg problem

[Ras Tafari]

Hello everyone. This is my first post here so I'll try to describe my problem as clearly as possible. I have an 7 and a half yo rottie named Snoop. He's been fine and healthy for the past 7 years, but lately a problem has developed. He's been holding his back right leg up for some reason. He hasn't been jumping or anything (I always keep my eye on him, cause he's a bit of a troublemaker). His leg is very shaky when he's trying to sit or lie down, but does not show pain of any kind...I wanted to take him for a walk but got scared when I saw him bunny-hopping on three legs. I love him very much and always find time to take him out, two or three times a day. Is that too much? Am I stressing him out with too much exercise? On average, we hike two times a day...in total about 1,5h.
We are very grateful for your help...greets from Slovenia(europe).

Klemen

[brunie's mom]

Stop trying to walk him. He is in pain if he is only using three legs.
First thing that comes to mind that he could have a torn CCL (in the knee joint), very common in the breed. It takes surgery to repair it.

Second thing that comes to mind is osteocarcinoma (bone cancer)....very common in the breed also. There have been a few threads started just this week with dogs being diagnosed with it.

Please get your dog to a vet...and have him checked out.

Gina

[jlaack]

I agree with Gina, get your dog to the vet asap. There is likely a medical reason that he is only walking on three legs! And yes he is probably in pain (which is why he is walking on three legs) but is being very stoic about how much pain he is truly in.

[Anne]

Another who agrees that the dog must be taken to a vet. These dogs are very stoic and if they show pain then you can be sure the pain is significant.
Please take your dog to the vet ASAP.

[Ras Tafari]

Hi everyone and thx for replying. Took the dog to the vet....unfortunately, the doc gave him some pills and that's it.
The vet was so affraid of coming near the dog that I seriously doubt in her diagnosis....oh, she didn't even suggest x-ray. I was shocked, have to find another vet.

Anyways....Snoop is now on Rymadyl and Symlax,
and he seems to be getting better. No more limping, lots of energy, lots of apetite... But I'm still taking him to a specialist...asap.
I've also noticed he has a very soft, water baloon like, lump on
his leg, it's positioned right on the back leg muscle and he does not seems to mind if I touch it gently.

Thx for all your help.

p.s.
I so wish we had qualified vets here!

[targonrotts]

glad the pain meds are helping, but i still would go to a vet and request an xray of that area. it can be a tumor, a mild fracture, a torn muscle,an abcess,an enlarged lymph node, anything.
it's best to catch things as early as possible to try to help them.
please take him soon and keep us posted on his progress.