Skip or not?

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Lotsaquestions
Posts: 646
Joined: Wed Aug 23, 2017 6:06 am

Skip or not?

Post by Lotsaquestions »

I need some help, if that is ok.

I know at least Nettle has seen cruciate ligament damage before, but I hope others can watch and help me too. I've been making a video diary of his pre-painkiller walks and today he seemed to skip LOADS, but then on the way back not at all. I noticed that with each of these skips he pulled forward and barked (like he wanted to go faster). My mum thinks it was definately a skip from the damage, I think it might just be him lunging forward but I'm not sure. I was wondering if other people could watch the vid and give their opinion? His definate 100% skips don't involve him lunging forward he just lifts his leg momentarily and skips on his left to compensate.

I need to make the judgement on if he's improving or not pre painkillers for him to be off them. Instincts tell me he's jolting forward in excitement and is just taking off on the leg he's favouring (his back left).

https://youtu.be/Njor1IO30q4
Shalista
Posts: 1363
Joined: Tue Feb 17, 2015 10:04 pm

Re: Skip or not?

Post by Shalista »

Im tempted to say thats an ouch. (remember take my words with a generous heaping of salt. unlike Nettle i work with people gait, not doggy gait :wink: )

Def concur with the weight bearing on the left and elevating the right though very obvious at :55 for those wanting a quick peek. Idk though, hes not showing a limp unless its catching just wrong in those times?
Baxter (AKA Bax, Chuckles, Chuckster) Rat Terrier, born 01/16/13
Lotsaquestions
Posts: 646
Joined: Wed Aug 23, 2017 6:06 am

Re: Skip or not?

Post by Lotsaquestions »

He doesn't limp constantly, it is the occasional 'skip'. Its random as to when it seems to happen. Because he's able to put weight on it the vets think he's only stretched it or at worst a minor tear. Patella luxation and the like has been ruled out (luckily!). I'll see if I can find and post an example of a definate 100% skip to post to compare.
Shalista
Posts: 1363
Joined: Tue Feb 17, 2015 10:04 pm

Re: Skip or not?

Post by Shalista »

id go with maybe an ouch? like if its tight and twinging or something? as opposed to a continuous pain.

also we do a lot with humans in pt who develop abnormal gait patterns because of pain they HAD and the pattern stays with them even after the pain is gone. If he's been doing this all along when he was DEF in pain he might have just carried the gait pattern over even though he isnt in pain anymore. if that makes sense.
Baxter (AKA Bax, Chuckles, Chuckster) Rat Terrier, born 01/16/13
Lotsaquestions
Posts: 646
Joined: Wed Aug 23, 2017 6:06 am

Re: Skip or not?

Post by Lotsaquestions »

That's interesting, so he might instinctively pull off on his left even though the pain has gone?
Shalista
Posts: 1363
Joined: Tue Feb 17, 2015 10:04 pm

Re: Skip or not?

Post by Shalista »

it happens in humans, cant say if it happens in dogs or not.

unfortunately since dogs lack the voices to TELL us if they're in pain or not we have to read the signs we have and id er on the side of caution and say he IS in pain just in case.
Baxter (AKA Bax, Chuckles, Chuckster) Rat Terrier, born 01/16/13
ZaraD
Posts: 577
Joined: Sat Feb 04, 2017 10:06 am
Location: Staffordshire, UK

Re: Skip or not?

Post by ZaraD »

I had to watch that twice as I keep getting distracted by his cute fluffy tail :lol:

I thought that was an ouch to. To me I thought it looks like when he goes ahead of you he skips not long after.

Has he had any X -rays?
Lotsaquestions
Posts: 646
Joined: Wed Aug 23, 2017 6:06 am

Re: Skip or not?

Post by Lotsaquestions »

Yeah he's had x-rays. Nothing wrong with his joints or bones. Its all just the ligament and soft tissue damage. When he was under the vet did another drawer test on him and said he couldn't move it which meant his ligament was fully healed. At least that is what he told us before last friday.

If his skipping is getting worse despite the bed rest I'm not sure what to do. I don't know what sort of progress I should be seeing, or if it 'gets worse before it gets better'. If I see no improvement by friday I'm going to ask the vets, see if I can get a specialist in to look at him.
ZaraD
Posts: 577
Joined: Sat Feb 04, 2017 10:06 am
Location: Staffordshire, UK

Re: Skip or not?

Post by ZaraD »

Lotsaquestions wrote: Tue Feb 06, 2018 10:04 am Yeah he's had x-rays. Nothing wrong with his joints or bones. Its all just the ligament and soft tissue damage. When he was under the vet did another drawer test on him and said he couldn't move it which meant his ligament was fully healed. At least that is what he told us before last friday.

If his skipping is getting worse despite the bed rest I'm not sure what to do. I don't know what sort of progress I should be seeing, or if it 'gets worse before it gets better'. If I see no improvement by friday I'm going to ask the vets, see if I can get a specialist in to look at him.
I found this for you on the supervets website https://www.fitzpatrickreferrals.co.uk

If I were you I would be going back to the vet to ask for other options or to see a specialist.
ZaraD
Posts: 577
Joined: Sat Feb 04, 2017 10:06 am
Location: Staffordshire, UK

Re: Skip or not?

Post by ZaraD »

Just found this as well http://www.physio-vet.co.uk/cruciate-ligament/

Found out there not to far from me, don't know were in the UK you are but there in Crewe, Cheshire
Lotsaquestions
Posts: 646
Joined: Wed Aug 23, 2017 6:06 am

Re: Skip or not?

Post by Lotsaquestions »

Willows is my closest specialist, they're really good.
ZaraD
Posts: 577
Joined: Sat Feb 04, 2017 10:06 am
Location: Staffordshire, UK

Re: Skip or not?

Post by ZaraD »

Lotsaquestions wrote: Tue Feb 06, 2018 10:39 am Willows is my closest specialist, they're really good.
Willows vet group? That's the vet that Sampson is with were with the one in Stoke on Trent, willows are really good.
Lotsaquestions
Posts: 646
Joined: Wed Aug 23, 2017 6:06 am

Re: Skip or not?

Post by Lotsaquestions »

Its Willows Referrals, I don't know if they are part of a vet group. :lol: They opened a centre in Solihull for the West Mids. They're expensive (£3k for an MRI & consult!) but they really are good. My trainer's dog was referred there recently, they found out what was wrong instantly and now he's bad on his feet, no surgery required.
ZaraD
Posts: 577
Joined: Sat Feb 04, 2017 10:06 am
Location: Staffordshire, UK

Re: Skip or not?

Post by ZaraD »

Done a quick Google search there not part of the willows vet group.

I would definitely see about getting a referral or appointment with them if he still doesn't improve.
Lotsaquestions
Posts: 646
Joined: Wed Aug 23, 2017 6:06 am

Re: Skip or not?

Post by Lotsaquestions »

I have emailed my vet for clarification on what sort of progress I should be seeing at this point, hope he's on track... I attached the vid too.
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