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minikoo132
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11-02-2010, 06:06 PM

Puppy with weak hind legs. Please help.

hi, this might seem long winded but im gonna try and give as much info as possible.

a couple of months ago my 10month (then about 8 months)old dalmatian puppys legs started just giving out, we took him straight to the vets and he had x-rays etc and everything came back clear, the vet put him on ani-inflamitorys and painkillers and put it down to a pulled muscle, i put it down to the fact we changed the flooring to laminate and he was slipping everywhere (the laminate has since been covered with a patchwork rug effect not the most attractive but if it helps i dont care!) he had also not long been neutered, i dont know if that made a difference. since then there has been an improvement id say 70% ish but its still not 100%! we tried out hardest to keep him calm, only lead excercise which was hard work with a hyperactive dalmatian puppy!

anyway the last couple of days his legs seem bad again, and iv noticed he has very straight hocks he has hardally any bend atall especially when standing still and his legs are very very straight! when he walks his hocks seem to click and there is a clicking noise sometimes but i cant work out if its coming from the joints or his nail or somewhere else. i still dont let him run far off lead but he does run round our garden now and does seem stiff by the end of the day.

iv been looking on the internet and found Hyper extension of the hock joint, which to me seems to be what hes got, but i cant find out if and how i can fix and help this condition! Is it fixable? if not is there anything i can do to improve it? is it something iv done thats caused it?

he doesnt seem to be in any pain with it other than getting stiff, he's still hyperactive, he still bounces everywhere jumps up, i caught him jumping around like a mad thing in the garden the other day, i obviously stopped him but what im trying to say is, he doesnt seem to let it stop him doing anything, im going to take him back to the vets again but they seem to be at a dead end, they just dont seem to know whats wrong!

im just wondering if anyone else had a dog with very straight legs, weak hocks? hes just so young to be having these problems and he has so much energy i feel horrible trying to restrict him! he just shouldnt have to be going through this! although it seems to be upsetting me more that its upsetting him, im just so worried its something thats going to get worse with time and like i said hes just so young.

if anyone has any ideas i would love to hear them!!!
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labradork
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11-02-2010, 06:33 PM
When you say his legs are giving way, in what way? and in what circumstance? is it after exercise, after getting up, or is it just random?
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minikoo132
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12-02-2010, 10:30 AM
hi, it seems to be after excersise, its when he gets stiff, its really hard to explain, if hes in the house with just me or my husband hes fine, but then if someone comes round and he gets over-excited and jumps around it will happen then, like the other night, his legs hadnt given out in ages and my husband had a friend over, they were out in the garden for a while with alfie (my dog) when they came in i could tell he had been running around and his legs were getting bad but he still wanted to play so the friend is trying to sit down and alfie being alfie was jumping around like a hyperactive puppy does and it happened then, i tried to hold onto his collar to calm him down and it happened again. he doesnt yelp or act like its hurt him in the slightest he just jumps straight back up and carries on being just as hyper! its just like his muscles are weak and he just falls backwards, most of the time into like a sitting possition, i hope this helps i just dont know how to explain it.
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Fred&Mya'smum
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12-02-2010, 11:05 AM
sorry to hear this, I don't know what to suggest except I'd take him back to vets, big hugs xx
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Dobermonkey
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12-02-2010, 02:30 PM
Hi

Was having a lunchtime google and found this site that has pictures of straight hocked dogs v's perfect confirmation

http://www.boxerkellaney.com/info/hyper.pdf

My boy is 'a bit straight through the hock' (his dads owners assessment ) but hasnt had any difficulties but perhaps he isnt as straight as alfie?

I would assume that as he gets older and more developed that his condition would improve as he will have more muscle to help compensate? (im no vet, just the way I figure it)

Also there is a condition of the knee called Luxating patella which can cause instability and sometimes 'lock out' a leg I believe? maybe worth investigating?

good luck with your investigations!
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Anne-Marie
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12-02-2010, 06:58 PM
This completely reminds me of my previous Rottie Ozzy and his problems, His turned out to be cruciate ligament problem and arthritis - I am not saying your pup is the same, but the 'clicking' is exactly what he had in the hock joint area.

Here are my threads about it..

http://www.dogsey.com/showthread.php?t=24647&page=1

http://www.dogsey.com/showthread.php?t=24865

Hope they find out what is wrong with your pup, it is so awful when they go lame, you feel so helpless don't you
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minikoo132
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13-02-2010, 04:42 PM
thanks every1 for the replys! makes me feel better just to hear what other people think

my husband is also hoping that with time and as his muscles get stronger the condition will get better, also we are hoping that as he calms with age he will also improve. i guess its giving him enough excersise to build his muscles without over doing it...

iv also started him on Glucosamine as iv been told this is ment to help joints, ligaments, arthritis etc. my way of thinking is anything is worth a go! i have also decided to take him back to the vets and ask about cruciate ligament injuries, iv done some research myself and this is one of the things im also worried about although im sure they checked for loose joints last time, it will put my mind at rest if hes checked again!

i was hoping to find a specialist to take him to but the problem im having there is that we live in a very rural area and the closest specialist i can find at the moment is 65miles away one way and alfie gets really travel sick so i just dont think that would be fair, but i am also going to ask my vet about that, so i will have to see if she has any ideas.

thanks again for the comments any more ideas are more than welcome!
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Borderdawn
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13-02-2010, 04:56 PM
Could you take a video of him in the house walking round normally, then when the weakness happen. if possible side on to the camera, trotting. Will help a lot to see where the weakness comes from. I doubt cruciate ligament damage myself.
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Dobermonkey
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15-02-2010, 02:05 PM
was thinking about this over the weekend and maybe a harness would be good to exercise him in? lots of hill work if you can? harness would give him more support and hills will work his back legs and build muscle. naturally i would get a vets opinion on this in case there is a skeletal or other under lying problem.

on the glucosamine front which product is he having? when tun had his bad shoulder (before xrays ruled out joint damage) he had a month of permanax tablets. they are green lipped muscle which is extracted in a preferable way to other freeze dried versions and has a higher content of the 'active' ingredient. (thats what it says on the site anyway!)

my ex used the human patches for his knee problems and said they did help a lot.
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twix
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15-02-2010, 11:39 PM
Sorry to hear your pup is having problems with his hind legs.

Your vet may be able to refer you to a hyrdrotherapy pool where they have specially trained staff to manage your pup in the water. Most pools have jets for the dogs to swim in & this would help build up muscle without weight bearing.

If you have pet insurance some companies cover hydrotherapy.

Twix
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