Expert: Jennifer Date: 3/27/2004 Subject: My dogs limping, only 3 years old
Question Hello thank you so much for getting back to me. The dr hasnt returned my call yet! So Im going to see a different vet on Monday. Is there any other reason that could cause this? I mean one leg, then another? It is frustrating! He doesnt flinch or yelp any time I squeeze around his legs he limps on. I dont know if he has feeling, I will pinch (not to hard) too see. Someone said hip dysplasia, but I think it wouldnt be in his front legs. Also someone said arthritis. Any thing else come to mind? I am so worried. Thanks so much for your time, THANKS! How long before I see an improvement if its a vaccination reaction. Also they gave both shots in the upper shoulder.-------------------------
Followup To
Question -
Hello, I have an English Mastiff. He weight is 130 lbs. I took him to get shots last week, got rabies, and DHLPPC booster. 2-3 days later he was limping and lifting his right front paw. I checked his paws and legs, to no avail. Then next day took him to vet, they said maybe a broken bone, give me a break, no way! So, we put him on anti-inflamatory pills. Not helping, now he is also limping and lifting his back left paw. He is not getting around too well b/c of it. Im wonder if they hit a nerve or something when they gave him a shot. We took him to vet and I just called and they talk about blood test and all that but just say its highly unlikely they hit a nerve to do damage. He was fine up until the shots, I dont know what else it can be. Can you help us, we are tired of the dr's go around, for its visit after visit b/c they dont know whats wrong. I was wondering what could cause this. I have searched the internet and nothing has come up. If you cant help please let me know where I might get some answers, he is still young! thanks, its soo sad to see him this way!
Answer -
Hi,
The first thing that comes to my mind is that he had a reaction to the vaccines. Most of the time, this is minor. Sometimes dogs will lift their paws because of soreness. Usually it goes away by itself. As a rule, the distemper and lyme vaccines go in the shoulder blade area and the rabies will go in the hind leg muscle (sometimes they can be given subcutaneously, under the skin) the rabies shot is known to cause soreness and sometimes limps. Like I said, this normally goes away by itself. Putting him on inflammatory drugs for a weeks or so can't hurt, though. It is quite unlikely that they hit a nerve during the vaccines. The dog is more likely to injure a nerve by himself, just jumping around or falling and landing the wrong way. I agree, that it is ridiculous for the doctor to think it may be a broken bone! A broken bone does not travel from one leg to the next! Also, if it were nerve damage, usually it does not result in limping. When you damage a nerve it causes numbness and tingling. If that were the case you would be able to pinch him hard and he not react. Most likely it is a vaccine reaction. Even if he has had vaccines prior and never had this problem because veterinary offices use different formulations of the same vaccine. Some are live, some are modified, and some contain or don't contain certain viruses which your dog may react to getting or not getting in the vaccine. I know that is confusing so for example, a distemper vaccine for a dog can contain anywhere from 4 to 7 different viruses. Most doctors will not give a strain called Lepto now because it caused too many reactions, so most vets opt for vaccines that do not contain Lepto although there still are some vaccine manufacturers that produce it and some vets that use it. It is their preference. All I am meaning by this is that if this is a vaccine reaction, maybe this round of vaccines included something that the other rounds did not or visa versa. I hope this helps and let me know if I can be of further assistance. Good Luck! Let me know how he does! Jennifer
Answer First, you are welcome for the help. I know how extremely frustrating and sad it is to watch your pet suffer or be unhappy. Hip dysplasia does not seem possible to me, only because it would be quite rare to have it affect both the front and back legs and have it come on so sudden. Arthritis would be more of a possibility, but still I would think it to be rare to affect both front and back legs all of a sudden. Are you sure they gave a rabies shot in the shoulder area. This is not procedure. Vaccines are given in certain locations so that another vet would know how to diagnose any reactions at a later date and just so the vets can seperate the vaccines. This would be very worrisome to me if this were the case. There is nothing else I can think of off the top of my head. I would reccomend getting some bloodwork done if you haven't already just basics like a CBC and chemistry or SMAC for short. Just to make sure all else is well. Vaccine reactions can last for up to like 2 weeks, unfortunately. I will ask my vet I work for tomorrow if he can think of anything else off of the top of his head. I do think it is a great idea to see another vet. Let me know what he/she says. The one bit of advice I can tell you is, don't do anything your gut tells you not to. If your vet tells you that he doesn't know what is wrong, for example, and he wants to do all of these expensive tests and you don't feel right about it, don't do it. Unfortunately, there are vets out there that are only out to make money by racking up the diagnostic procedures when the answer is quite clear. Continue to go to different vets until you find one that you are comfortable with, it makes all the difference in the world. Good Luck and let me know how things turn out. If you want you can send me messages directly at mastifflover888@yahoo.com and I will return emails that way. Also, I can email you any suggestions my vet has when I speak with him. Up to you! Jennifer
