Limping after taking a rest
Hi all, I'm looking for some advise.
I'll start with the back story:
About three weeks ago Philip stayed with some friends' during the day, I picked him up late at night and we came home and went straight to bed. The next morning he woke up with a slight limp in his left rear leg, but it went away after he took a few steps. The behavior repeated every time after he took a longish nap. Seeing as he had an exercise-filled day with the friends (they have a young child who played with him all day long), I figured he simply pulled a muscle, so I restrained his activity, and the limp went away after a few days.
Fast forward to last night:
I took Philip to a dog park where he had a blast running as usual, upon returning home he went to sleep, and woke up with a limp on the same leg as before. As before, every time he gets up from a rest, he won't put much weight on his leg at all, then puts a little more with each step, and it completely goes away after just a few steps. Same thing happens every time he gets up after laying down for a while.
Seeing as it's Labor Day weekend, and it doesn't appear to be an emergency situation, I won't be able to take him in to the vet until Tuesday at the earliest. Any advise as to what I can do in the mean time, or what I should ask the vet about when we do go?
Philip is only 1.5 years old and has been very healthy thus far. He had his yearly check up just a month ago and was all clear on everything.
I'll start with the back story:
About three weeks ago Philip stayed with some friends' during the day, I picked him up late at night and we came home and went straight to bed. The next morning he woke up with a slight limp in his left rear leg, but it went away after he took a few steps. The behavior repeated every time after he took a longish nap. Seeing as he had an exercise-filled day with the friends (they have a young child who played with him all day long), I figured he simply pulled a muscle, so I restrained his activity, and the limp went away after a few days.
Fast forward to last night:
I took Philip to a dog park where he had a blast running as usual, upon returning home he went to sleep, and woke up with a limp on the same leg as before. As before, every time he gets up from a rest, he won't put much weight on his leg at all, then puts a little more with each step, and it completely goes away after just a few steps. Same thing happens every time he gets up after laying down for a while.
Seeing as it's Labor Day weekend, and it doesn't appear to be an emergency situation, I won't be able to take him in to the vet until Tuesday at the earliest. Any advise as to what I can do in the mean time, or what I should ask the vet about when we do go?
Philip is only 1.5 years old and has been very healthy thus far. He had his yearly check up just a month ago and was all clear on everything.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Sam Tsang on
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It is very common to experience that especially after vigorous play, make sure he is in great shape, if he's got some extra weight, it's time to keep him trim.
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Permalink Reply by CorgiLove on
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Thanks for the reply, Sam! Well maybe it's nothing major, that would be a relief! I think what really worries me is that it's the same leg again, and that he's been to a dog park many times before with no problems whatsoever. Oh yes, he is very fit, definitely no problem there :)
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Permalink Reply by Christopher on
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At his age, and if it goes away that quickly there's an excellent probability that it's just a pulled muscle. Your vet will (should) do a complete orthopedic exam, checking his ligaments and joints. Carefully checking his feet, toes, etc. is also in order. Unfortunately with Corgis it's tough sometimes to thoroughly check the rear leg ligaments without sedation, because they are so short-boned and muscular. But given what you describe it sounds like something that should just go away on its own.
My little guy has been struggling with a limp that is now just going away after 16 weeks so I've had lots of time to research this stuff :-)
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Permalink Reply by Molly on
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Molly is about the same age and has experienced the exact same thing. We went to the park, she came home, took a nap, and woke up limping. She was fine after she walked a bit, but then she took another nap and woke up limping again. We took it easy for a couple of days and she's fine. Too much fun can take it out of them. I wouldn't worry and just restrict activity. Philip should be just fine in a couple of days. Good luck and let us know what happens.
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Permalink Reply by alynne on
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Neeks is 2 year and has been doing that on and off since she was about one. I think she just plays too hard and the muscle gets stiff when she lays down.
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Permalink Reply by Sarah C. on
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Along with the possibility of a pulled muscle or muscle fatigue, if it is a rear leg he might have a luxating patella(wiggly kneecap. People have this too, my kneecap wiggles all over the place) that wobbles out of place when he is laying down and it takes a few steps for it to slide back in place.
Your vet will check for this by manipulating the patella with his fingers to see how far it moves.
Bad news - it can cause early arthritis and lameness.
Good news - if it is severe it can be corrected with surgery, and if it is not then it's likely your dog will be nearly normal and love life despite it.
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Permalink Reply by Avyon on
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As everyone else stated it doesn't hurt to get a vet just to take a look :) Though it does sound like a typical thing for a long day of play.
We call it robot dog.
Everytime we go to the river dog park and Roxi swims all day, the next day all her legs are stiff and she hobbles around like a robot. Its the only time she does this though but I think swimming for a whole day does take it out of her.
I wouldn't worry too much. They just love playing so much that they don't know their limits hahahah.
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Permalink Reply by Judi, Dawn, Soffie & Griffyn on
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I'm sure your Phillip doesn't have a serious problem and hope that it proves to be a simple muscle pull. But if you have a moment please read my blog about Soffie and her torn cruciate ligament and what we are going through with her now. She is much improved but still has a way to go. And an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure! http://www.mycorgi.com/profiles/blogs/is-your-corgi-overweight-take
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Best wishes to Soffie! I hope she keeps improving and is back to her normal self soon.
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Thank you all for your replies!
I'm so glad to hear that it seems to be a common occurrence. I've never seen that in a dog so I've been worried sick, and this is certainly a relief :)
I'm restricting his activity again, and I'll still call the vet on Tuesday, just to be safe. I'll keep you guys updated on how it goes.
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Just wondering how Phillip is doing?
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Thanks for asking :)
We finally had time to drop by the vet office, and they said the same thing most of you did - i.e. the verdict right now is that it is indeed just playing too much and hence a sore muscle.
I'm having him take a break from dog parks and other forms of excessive running until the end of the week, and we'll see how it goes. He is already doing much better, so I'm sure it'll go away in no time.
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