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corneliusmom20 · #1 (**permalink**) 07-07-2008, 01:55 AM

Hi Everyone...
As all of you know, i have a 5 yr old shiPoo and a 2 yr old Husky.

Well Sam the ShihPoo was on a walk with me and chloe on thursday night and two dogs were across the field with their owner.
Sam went nuts...as he usually does when he sees other dogs.
He tried to run after them, but being on leash..he was only pulled back and struggled to pull more on his leash.

So, i'm assuming that when he was pulled back, maybe his leg landed in an awkward way and strained his muscles in his front right leg.
I'm hoping its only that.

He'll use his leg sometimes, getting up from sleeping is slow...and when he doesnt want to use his leg fully, he'll put his paw down with little pressure and limp along.

So some past on Sam...in December of '07, Sam went for ACL Repair surgery on his back right leg. He had torn all of his ligaments that were attached to hiss knee. That leg has healed fully.
So Sam does have some joint issues.

So any help..anyone?
He doesn't want to eat food..because im assuming he's in pain.
When he does limp along...hes very slow.
I did take him to the vet for this on friday and the vet said a muscle strain....but if it is that..how long til it heals?
When it looks like sam is in alot of pain...the vet had prescribed Metacam..andd it works but it upsets his stomach.

Any ideas??
Does it sound like he may have actually torn his front ligmentss?? I'm so afraid that he might've.

Thanks everyone...im so worried about him

kellymack515 · #2 (**permalink**) 07-07-2008, 02:19 PM

I don't know but I would recommend getting Sam to the vet asap.

John_White · #3 (**permalink**) 07-07-2008, 04:38 PM

As I see it, you have two choices:
1. Let the dog rest for a few days and see if there is any improvement, if there is perhaps additional rest time is all that's needed. Of course any sign of the condition worsening, or if there's no improvement take it to a vet asap.

2. At the risk of erring on the side of caution, take the dog to the vet. This will give you peace of mind and perhaps pain medication will make the dog's recovery time more comfortable.

SherriX2 · #4 (**permalink**) 07-07-2008, 04:48 PM

He should be restricted to a small area and give him time to rest up the leg.Do you see any swelling? Did you stop the pain meds all together? You said the meds upset his stomach,did you let him eat first before you gave it to him? That is a good pain med,but I can tell you about some more if you like.

I'll be leaving here in a little while and will not be home until later tonight.

(BTW~~ I worked in a very busy vet hospital)

Reptscue · #5 (**permalink**) 07-07-2008, 05:47 PM

To me it sounds like he injured his neck... Ever have sciatica pain shoot down your leg or muscle spasms?
It is the same thing when they injure their neck. They can limp from it for a while.
A vet can determine if she pinched a nerve or not very easily. Is she stiff acting over her shoulders lower neck? Reluctant to lift her head? Turn to either side and down? One of the tall tell signs are they are reluctant to eat because they have to lower their head to do so.
Usually rest is the biggest key. No jumping, stairs, and stay to a leash.
If he can do all that fine, then it might be something in the leg or shoulder.

Best thing to do is what everyone has said... If it persists get him back to the vet for further treatment.

Good luck!

leoares27 · #6 (**permalink**) 07-07-2008, 08:04 PM

wait, didn't you say that you DID take him to the vet? If it is a muscle strain, like the vet said, then just let him rest it out...if it, or any of his behaviors worsen, take him back!
good luck!

stu · #7 (**permalink**) 07-07-2008, 08:16 PM

Take him to a vet

corneliusmom20 · #8 (**permalink**) 07-07-2008, 09:56 PM

I did take Sam to a vet on friday morning...

i was checking out sams legs last night...i guess you could say comparing them to eachother...
and the muscle below his elbow on his front right leg is much more swelled than his left, which is not hurt.

I did call the vet today, and he did advise to bring him back for another look over. I can't do till friday because of work, so until then i carry sam everywhere he wants to go. If he wants to go pee, i carry him to the middle of the lawn and put him down to pee.

When i came home this afternoon, he was using his leg. He was walking very very slowly. I'm not going to let him walk some more, just in case he re-hurts it.

He does have Metacam the painkiller, i do feed him before he takes it, but his stomach is so sensitive that it still bothers him.
Right now hes sleeping on a comfy blanket on the couch here with me...

TammyJamaica · #9 (**permalink**) 07-17-2008, 08:42 PM

Has Sam recovered?

corneliusmom20 · #10 (**permalink**) 07-17-2008, 09:50 PM

Sorry for the lack of update.

Sam is slowly recovering. About a week after the incident happened, he is starting to use all four legs again.
He still is walking slowly, but i'm not rushing him to run. He did try to run 2 nights ago, andd i guess he felt he couldnt cause he then stopped and sat.
He's actually starting to eat on his own again, and basically slowly recovering.
I dont givee him the pain medication anymore because i think that mightve been the reason why he wasnt eating to begin with.

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