Weakness in Right Leg

[Minky]

Hi everyone,

I took Vuitton to the vet yesterday because over the last couple of days he would want to stop and sit during his walks. His right back leg was slightly weaker and he was extra inactive yesterday. The vet examined him and noticed a definite problem but was not sure what it was. Vuitton did not show much discomfort during the examination and said his knee was fine. The vet said it could be a disc problem (though slight) but was not sure until it is x-rayed. The vet said his hips appear to the fine but said that the right leg is less muscular than the left. Vuitton was given some anti-inflammatories.

I jumped on the forum and read about Manja's hemivertebra. I am now worried and may get a second opinion. Kelly, how is your baby doing?

I hope the problem is a temporary thing and goes away after taking the medication.

[Martina]

Lola has a luxating patella Level 1, but that's the knee cap and the vet should be able to feel it with the hand - though they need the x-ray to tell what level it is. Anti-inflamitories helped in the short term and now she's totally okay, but I do watch her activity.

Good luck! Keep us posted!
Martina

PS: what you've described sounds worse than patella - so sorry :o

[Kelly+Manja]

hi there
im sorry to hear about vuittons leg. I suppose slipped discs can have different effects and consequences on a dogs gait. Hopefully its not a serious problem. With manja, as you may have read, its both hind legs which sort of swing out when walking and he never showed any signs of discomfort and doesnt need to sit down during walks (when you say he needs to sit down do you mean suddenly like out of a spasm of pain or just that he appears tired?)
However in the early days when i first realised something was very wrong with manja he sort of "seized" up on a long walk and sat down as if he was bent in half and couldnt straighten out again which was a really scary sight.
In hindsight the long walk must have been placing pressure on the mishapen joint in his spine and pinching the nerves.
To ease your mind a bit, manja is still doing fine. He still has a funny walk (and his hind legs are visibly less muscular than the front) but he hasnt deteriorated any further and with monitoring hopefully his condition will stabilize. No long walks or stairs or leaping (although its impossible to stop a dog leaping every single time really)
Please let me know what vuittons problem turns out to be.
good luck

[Minky]

Just an update on Vuitton's leg. Vuitton finished his course of anti-inflamatories and he appears "back to normal" appicon , he is walking and playing in the park. It is still a bit of a mystery as to what happened, it may have happened when he jumped off the bed or climbed too many stairs. I have noticed that he is a little weary when he climb stairs now. I just hope it was a strain of some sort and not anything to do with discs or the knees.

Kelly, I am glad to hear that Manja is doing well dispite his back problem, it is amazing how they just get on with it without any whining. I have heed your advice and will watch out for heavy activity. Thanks!

Thank you Martina and aussieowner for your thoughts.

Take care!

[gilazno]

appicon good news!!!