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My Border Collie Is Limping - Not Much Anymore!


Lollipup
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Chester, my border collie pup, has gradually developed a limp in his front left leg. When he is just walking around normally you can hardly notice it and when I would point it out, some people couldn't even tell. But when he runs around it must get sore and he limps on it quite obviously. He doesn't hold it off the ground though.

I'm really worried what this could be, I've felt it all over and checked the pads of his feet and found nothing and no signs of pain when I'm feeling it. I can't pinpoint a time that the limping started because at first I wasn't even sure if he was limping or not.

I'm worried it could be OCD. Chester is 6 months old. Anything else I should be considering?

If it were an injury, all I can think of is that maybe its from the front attach harness - it was causing him to walk sideways and pulling up under his armpit so I stopped using it. That was a few weeks ago though. Other than that, he had a small fall when he was 8 weeks old and at the time he yelped once and then limped for a couple of seconds then it was all fine and no more limping. Also I'm not even sure if that was the same leg.

I'll have him at the vets in 3.5 hours. :laugh::bottom:

Lola and Chester:

post-35789-1288150208_thumb.jpg

Edited by Lollipup
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Just sending best wishes for your lovely pup and a good outcome at the vet. Would think OCD is unlikely in a Border Collie, though I guess anything is possible.

Could be some sort of soft tissue damage - my BCs have variously had sprained toes. As one vet said - the good news is, it's not a fracture - the bad news is it's not a fracture. Soft tissue injuries tend to take longer to heal (in us and in dogs) and need rest :laugh: .

Let's know how you get on. And if you need to, don't be afraid to ask for a second opinion from an orthopaedic specialist.

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Thank you Tassie. I hope its nothing serious but at the same time, I hope they don't just tell me to keep an eye on it without looking into it.

I just ordered some crates today that were on special on catchoftheday.com so if I need to keep him rested that will help. Keeping him still is such a challenge, as you know! :laugh:

Edited by Tenille W
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There are a bunch of things it could be. Could be a soft tissue injury or strain. Or OCD, ED, HOD, even pano. Hopefully your vet can help you sort out what's up. Hopefully it's nothing much. :bottom:

I don't know what the rest of those letters mean and I hope I don't have to find out! :laugh:

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So we saw the vet this afternoon. They couldn't feel anything and couldn't see much of the limp as he was only walking. They couldn't gauge whether Chester was pulling back his leg in pain or just because he didn't like it, because he did it with both front legs when they felt them.

They said our options are to try anti-inflamatories and rest for a couple of weeks and see how it goes, or go straight to x-rays. Then our usual vet, who is very experienced with this kind of thing, came in from surgery and spoke to us as well. I mentioned I had future plans for Chester to do dog sports and canine freestyle and he said "Then I would definately get x-rays now" because if it is something serious, better to findout early. Also I can't be wondering and stressing for much longer :confused: He is thinking possible elbow displaysia. :)

So Chester is getting X-rays on Friday in both front legs. I'm hoping and praying they show nothing. Please, please, can it just be a muscle sprain....

:D :(:)

Also vet prescribed the anti-inflamatory previcox for the interim.

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Sorry to have to say it sounds like a classic case of OCD to me. It is know to occur in Borders and can happen in elbows, shoulders or hocks but usually follows an injury. We score elbows but of the few cases I have known of, most weren't in the elbow. I have seen a few with shoulder OCD and the description you have given would fit that.

Good move to get the x-rays asap. Sometimes complete crate rest for several weeks will fix the problem, otherwise surgery followed by 6 weeks complete crate rest is required.

Hopefully, I am completely wrong but if it is OCD, have a good look at his diet and think about the environment he lives in. One owner I know of that has a terraced yard had three dogs from different lines with OCD but it is really not all that common in the breed. It seems the constant running up and down the terraced yard was too stressful for the growing joints.

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Sorry to have to say it sounds like a classic case of OCD to me. It is know to occur in Borders and can happen in elbows, shoulders or hocks but usually follows an injury. We score elbows but of the few cases I have known of, most weren't in the elbow. I have seen a few with shoulder OCD and the description you have given would fit that.

Good move to get the x-rays asap. Sometimes complete crate rest for several weeks will fix the problem, otherwise surgery followed by 6 weeks complete crate rest is required.

Hopefully, I am completely wrong but if it is OCD, have a good look at his diet and think about the environment he lives in. One owner I know of that has a terraced yard had three dogs from different lines with OCD but it is really not all that common in the breed. It seems the constant running up and down the terraced yard was too stressful for the growing joints.

Thank you dancinbcs, I have sent you a PM, hope that is ok.

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ITS GOOD NEWS :laugh:

No signs of any problems on the xrays. Although the specialist vet will be double checking when he returns on Tuesday, all the other vets could find nothing. No sign of OCD or similiar. So this means its some kind of sprain or muscle prob and the anti-inflams are working. However Chester will need 3 weeks full rest :cheer: That is going to be a challenge! Still I am SO releived it was nothing more serious! :)

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That is good news the no abnormality was found.

Of the 4 BCs I have owned every one of them has gone though a limping phase in the first year or so of life due to some soft tissue injury from hooning around and being silly.

Good luck with the 3 weeks rest!! If you do clicker training or similar it is a great time for target and trick training to keep the mind occupied. Also some nice raw meaty bones and treat toys could be of use too. Just watch the food amounts as he is will be inactive he may not need quite as much as usual.

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Thank you everyone for your support. Piper I do do clicker training so I'll do some simple tricks with him. Also have meaty bones, pig ears and a kong for him. Hoping all this will help. The hardest part is keeping him away from Lola as he loves to play with her. My crates are on order, hopefully they'll arrive soon! Might get a pen together too.

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