OK I'm freaking out

[Dougal&Little]

I'm usually a fairly laid back person when it comes to the fur kids but we were out walking yesterday when we bumped into some fellow agility handlers (the ones with "real" dogs) and Dougal was running with "the big boys" and one of the ladies asks - does Dougal have a luxating patella?

OMG I freak out! I know that he hops sometimes - and so i got Dougal x-rayed before I started doing agility. The vet said there was a little looseness in the hip joint but he was fine.

So now I'm seeing his every move as confirmation of something wrong with his hind leg. And after a fast walk of about 4km (just over 2 miles) (our usual walk) Dougal seems quite stiff on his hind leg. It just isn't moving as freely as his other hind leg. He certainly seems worse after exercise. Does a luxating patella get worse with exercise? Is it some other degenerative disease because he's the world's biggest yorkie? Have I not been giving him enough cuddles?

I bumped into another agility lady in the park today and she's going to tell me about a really good dog chiropractor that all the agility handlers use and hopefully I can get Dougal looked at on Monday - the chiropractor only comes to Wellington once a fortnight.

But between now and then we have agility. Should I do it with the hurdles at about 15cm - 6" - or should I keep him off the hurdles? Dougal has been doing full mini height jumps of 38cm so 15cm is nothing to him. What about the contact equipment. The A Frame can put a lot of stress on the hind legs can't it? Admittedly the A frame isn't at full height, But still?

Argh sorry for the long post. I'm just so freaked out!!!

[alaskayorkie]

Originally Posted by Dougal&Little

I'm usually a fairly laid back person when it comes to the fur kids but we were out walking yesterday when we bumped into some fellow agility handlers (the ones with "real" dogs) and Dougal was running with "the big boys" and one of the ladies asks - does Dougal have a luxating patella?

OMG I freak out! I know that he hops sometimes - and so i got Dougal x-rayed before I started doing agility. The vet said there was a little looseness in the hip joint but he was fine.

So now I'm seeing his every move as confirmation of something wrong with his hind leg. And after a fast walk of about 4km (just over 2 miles) (our usual walk) Dougal seems quite stiff on his hind leg. It just isn't moving as freely as his other hind leg. He certainly seems worse after exercise. Does a luxating patella get worse with exercise? Is it some other degenerative disease because he's the world's biggest yorkie? Have I not been giving him enough cuddles?

I bumped into another agility lady in the park today and she's going to tell me about a really good dog chiropractor that all the agility handlers use and hopefully I can get Dougal looked at on Monday - the chiropractor only comes to Wellington once a fortnight.

But between now and then we have agility. Should I do it with the hurdles at about 15cm - 6" - or should I keep him off the hurdles? Dougal has been doing full mini height jumps of 38cm so 15cm is nothing to him. What about the contact equipment. The A Frame can put a lot of stress on the hind legs can't it? Admittedly the A frame isn't at full height, But still?

Argh sorry for the long post. I'm just so freaked out!!!

Ugh, welcome to my world. I took 3 months off because the vet "thought" Eddie had a knee problem. When the three months was over, he still wasn't sure. His advice is to continue with agility. His reasoning is that if he's got a bad knee, it's going to cause problems sooner or later whether he's doing agility or not. So why go overboard trying to protect him? He could hurt it walking down the street, just like he did originally.

Right or wrong, I've decided to do just that. If he hurts it, or favors it in class, then I'll stop and decide what to do. But I think pulling him out of agility and babying him for the rest of his life is going to diminish his quality of life, possibly for no good reason.

That said, if you're awaiting another diagnosis, I don't think it could hurt to have him go over minimum jumps and avoid the A frame altogether.

Sorry you're having to go through this. I don't think there's a "right" answer.

[yorkiemalt]

well, from one "worry wart" to another.......the fact that you say he is worse after exercise would be enough for me to stop whatever it is he's doing that's making it worse.

I would exercise him or do his agility up until the point he is painful. Instead of a 2 miles walk, try a 1 mile walk and see is he's still stiff.

I love Alaskayorkie's way of thinking and it is soooo true.....he could injure his leg simply walking around the house!

Do you use a glucosamine supplement? I just started on both mine since the knee surgeries and found Cosequin to be the best researched, human quality and easy to chew formula.

Hope he is feeling better...

[alaskayorkie]

Originally Posted by yorkiemalt

well, from one "worry wart" to another.......the fact that you say he is worse after exercise would be enough for me to stop whatever it is he's doing that's making it worse.

I'm still second-guessing myself. Yorkiemalt brings up a point I overlooked. If you have noticed him getting worse after exercise, I'd be more inclined to take it easy.

Unfortunately, these guys don't help us out when they're injured. They hide their injuries because that's what they had to do long ago when they were in the wild. If they showed a weakness, they would be more vulnerable to predators.

[Dougal&Little]

Hi all

Thanks for the support. I spent all day worrying about my boy. He still seemed quite stiff when I got home. And he wasn't interested in doing any training. Normally when I first get home he's quite into it. So I decided not to take them for a walk. I did about 15 minutes training with the Wee including hurdles and weaving and contacts.

I did a little bit of training with Dougal. some contact work and turns. He seems really eager to do that. Evil Wee will probably be bouncing off the walls shortly without a walk - but Dougal's definitely quite subdued.

The chiropractor hasn't called me back but that might be because she's out seeing clients.

[Dougal&Little]

Originally Posted by yorkiemalt

Do you use a glucosamine supplement? I just started on both mine since the knee surgeries and found Cosequin to be the best researched, human quality and easy to chew formula.

Thanks yorkiemalt. I haven't used glucosamine because Dougal is quite young. He turns 4 this month! I'll keep that in mind until he's diagnosed.

I think his stiffness is in the hip tho rather than the knee. He doesn't move like it's dysplasia - there's not that hip movement you get with dysplasia.

I'm almost hoping it's an injury - something that could be cured - rather than anything else. Argh it's the not knowing I think I hate more than anything else.

[Connie]

I'm sorry you are having this worry with Dougal. I guess if it were me, I would try to limit his exercise, and hopefully, in doing that, limit the pain. Jumping can put added stress on their joints and I guess I'd be trying to "save on them." On the other hand, he probably needs some exercise to keep his muscles and ligaments healthy because they aid in keeping the joints in place. Maybe when you take him for a walk, try to avoid pavement or cement and find a soft type ground to walk him on. I sure hope all turns out well with him! Best wishes to you!

One more thing...yorkemalt mentioned a glucosamine supplement...I agree with her on that. My sister's yorkie, who is no longer with us, had gotten so crippled up he couldn't even go up and down stairs. She started him on glucosamine and he was like a new dog...running around, up and down stairs and seemed to be pain free!

[Dougal&Little]

Now that it's nine o'colock at night and dark out Dougal seems to be fine. Chasing his sister. Typical huh!

Well hopefully he'll be diagnosed on Monday and I'll know what's the best way forward for him. I'll certainly be investing some glucosamine pills I think.

[alaskayorkie]

Originally Posted by Dougal&Little

Now that it's nine o'colock at night and dark out Dougal seems to be fine. Chasing his sister. Typical huh!

Well hopefully he'll be diagnosed on Monday and I'll know what's the best way forward for him. I'll certainly be investing some glucosamine pills I think.

Eddie asks Dougal to be careful when he's chasing Wee. He wants to make sure he doesn't damage her perfect doggie butt.

Sounds like you've got things under control. Try not to let yourself get too stressed out. No matter what his condition, he will always be loved and he will always love you. And that's all that matters.

[Dougal&Little]

Dixie was very sweet to Dougal last night. Well when I say sweet you have to realise it's tempered with Evilness. She put a paw on his neck and forced him to accept lots of kisses. She obviously thought he wasn't feeling well.

Edited to say: it makes me laugh that a 6.5lb dog can "pin" a 13.5lb dog and he's too scared to move away from her even if he doesn't want all those kisses.

[Dougal&Little]

We saw the chiropractor today. What a lovely lady. She found that it was a couple of vertebrae out of place - probably from a fall - or knowing Dougal being bowled at high speed when he's running with the big boys. She manipulated him and he's sooo much better.

He's moving a lot more freely and his little eye twinkle is back. She found tightness in all his legs all steming from his spine. We have a follow up appointment in a fortnight's time but there's no restrictions on him (except I have to keep him quiet for 24 hours now).

Even I can feel that there's a lot less tension in his muscles. I can see so much more movement in his spine when he's trotting now he's got full on butt wiggle again. She said he had difficulty moving his head in one direction. That might explain why our weaving took a backwards step too.

She also suggested that there might be a link between the muscle tension and some itchy skin that he had a while back. Certainly the spots she pointed out as especially sore are the places Dougal was itching and licking!

Oh I'm so relieved. Alaskayorkie, maybe Eddie could do with a trip to the chiropractor if he comes up lame again. His problems might have nothing to do with the cruciate ligament.

[Catrina]

Glad to hear that it was nothing too problematic!

[alaskayorkie]

Well, I've heard everything. When I bought a Yorkie, I thought all they needed was an annual vet checkup. Now I know they need surgeons, behaviorists and chiropractors. Anything else? Agents? Financial advisers?

I'm delighted Dougal seems to be doing better. I would have never in a million years thought of a chiropractor. I suppose now he'll be expecting massages and stuff!

[Dougal&Little]

LOL! I know, everyone at my work is saying "a chiropractor...for a dog!". But I think he's a little athelete and will hit the same problems as a human who's working out.

But it's amazing I can see his back moving as he walks soo much more than it was before seeing the chiropractor. It's like a little doggy miracle!

[Ozzie'sperson]

I think we should get tax deductions for them!