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Subject: 8 month old female (spayed) golden retriever. Weight: 75 lbs. Started limping at about 5 or 6 months favoring left front leg. No licking of foot. No apparent pain when probed. Sometimes not noticable, but limp usually there. Recently developed a similar limp favoring left rear leg. Hard time getting up; some shaking until she gets moving, then she gets better. Runs and plays with two small dogs in the back yard, occasional 1-2 mile walks, but no hard exercise. Had both front legs x-rayed at 6 months and no bone problem found. We recently found a tick on one of our small dogs, but haven't found any on the golden.

Submitted: 242 days and 1 hours ago.
Category: Dog
Value: $15
Status: CLOSED
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Optional Information

Age: <1; Female; Breed: Golden Retriever

Already Tried:
x-Ray front legs

Accepted Answer

If the pup has not been tested for Lyme's disease, she should be. This tick borne illness can cause symptoms as you describe, and is getting more common across the us.

 

At 8 months, 75 pound is heavy for a pup. They are skeletally immature for their weight. If she is going to be a very large dog by breeding, and is not fat right now, I still suggest you switch to an adult formula food. She should be restricted (under direction of a veterinarian) from growing so fast. Her growth plates need time to close before the full weight of muscle is put on. She should not only be kept from excessive weight, but this kind of dog who is already showing orthopedic issues should be kept underweight.

 

It doesn't sound like she is over-doing the exercise just before the lameness appears, but if she is, make sure you give police her play. She should never reach the point of fatigue, as her muscles provide protection for her joints only when they are strong.

 

If this keeps happening, I would get a referral to a specialist. Or at least have the x-rays sent to a radiologist for interpretation. These things can be very subtle and easy to miss on x-ray.

 

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Expert: Dr. Wally
Pos. Feedback: 99.1 %
Accepts: 
Answered: 3/26/2009

Dog Veterinarian

20 years experience in veterinary field.

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