Expert: Charlotte Sherrell, DVM - 7/16/2008

Question
A few weeks ago we took our sweet yellow lab Khaki to a beach to play.  She
is 8 years old and played hard.  That night she got so stiff we had to carry her
up stairs.  I gave her some dog asprin and she then was only limping on her
back paw.  I thought this was just more stiffness and would go away.  She will
run and play without much of a limp but is limps a bit when she walks.  Then
today, after 2 weeks of a little limping, when I came home she wouldn't put
any weight on it.  I have searched for splinters in her paw pads and can't find
any.  I also can't get her to react to find what is hurting.  I of course am taking
her the vet but they can't see her for 4 days.  I'm worried.  What could it be?

Answer
Kimberly -

Let's just hope that it is arthritis and she was a weekend warrior who overdid it and now has to pay the price (pain and stiffness!!!).  Because she is a lab there is a chance that she may have damaged her cruciate ligament.  Damage to the cruciate is common in labs especially as they age.  The fact that she does not want to put weight on her leg does indicate that she is in a great deal of pain.  Call your vet to see if you get her in earlier to help her manage her pain.



Best Regards,

Charlotte Sherrell, DVM