The Limp Is Back

I started a discussion a while ago during the limping epidemic that seems to be going on about Finnigan limping ("Another one Bites the Dust"). His limp would come and go and for the last week at least he's been limp free. When I came home at lunch today to take him potty, he hobbled out of his crate and didn't want to walk. His limp is pretty bad and for no apparent reason. We don't have a yard so anytime he is outside we're with him and he hasn't done anything crazy. Besides that, he wasn't limping in the morning so what could have happened to him in his crate? Anyway, I am stumped and worried so tomorrow after work we're taking him to the vet. I was hoping to avoid this because not only is it expensive but how do you know that the diagnosis is correct? I hope it's nothing serious and I really hope he doesn't need surgery but most of all I want him to feel better. It's so sad seeing him limp around and despite his obvious pain, he still wants to play. He'll try to move at a jogging pace but ends up hopping to avoid putting weight on that back right leg. I'll let you all know what the vet says tomorrow. Wish him luck!

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Permalink Reply by Alice on November 4, 2009 at 6:35pm

Hmm, then I guess Finn is unusual in his urinating habits. When we saw the vet he was 8 weeks old. We addressed the leg issue and the peeing issue. Legs he said had week ligaments and needed strengthening and the urination he said was likely a week bladder issue that would get better with age. He said it was not uncommon in puppies though in an adult they would look for other causes. I believe that's when we voiced the neuro damage concern and he felt the organs and said if he was urinating due to a neurological issue he should be able to feel an enlargement in the organs (kidneys I think), but of course I can't remember everything he said now a year later.

I'm with you. If I were a breeder, I would want my puppies’ owners to keep me in the loop. I do know that Finn's breeder retired Finn's mother after his litter was born. It was her first litter and after everything going so badly he said he was suspicious of her line and suspected possible inbreeding. He finished her championship then retired her.

The father produced many healthy pups before and after Finn's litter and is now living with his co-owner so neither dog will be used by him for breeding anymore. Honestly, I'm surprised the breeder was not more suspicious of Finnigan's health. Maybe it is normal for a puppy to take longer to learn to use his back legs every now and then, but when you have a litter struck by tragedy as his was and the surviving puppy has trouble with his legs, wouldn't that be cause for concern? I realize I am one of those people that are overly cautious but he may be slightly under cautious. I don’t think he would have intentionally sold us an unhealthy puppy and I know he would have bought him back at any time, but I think he could have caught this early on.