Jackson's limping - need some help! {update: Dx w/ Lyme Disease}
 

Jackson's been limping for about 2 hours now, maybe more. It's his back left leg and he's not really walking on it at all, he's putting no pressure on it and keeping it off the ground except the occasional step. It's worrying me because he's never limped before (for this long anyways) and we haven't done any activities today.

He's been inside all day minus 3 potty breaks on the leash. He was fine all this morning... we went to breakfast and were gone from around 11am-1pm, came home and he seemed fine, went outside to potty as normal on leash. He laid with me and watched TV for 35 minutes and then I noticed he was walking around limping. Is it possible to sleep on a leg wrong and then begin limping? I checked his paw and couldn't find anything stuck in it... I felt all around and he never yelped in pain or showed discomfort but he was biting at his paw. We did have a glass break a few days ago on the carpet but thought we got most of it up, is it possible there's a tiny piece of glass in his foot that I can't see? :confused:

Any tips would be appreciated. I'm hoping it's better by morning. If not, I'm planning on taking him to the vet Tuesday (my dad's getting married on Monday) because he needs his year shots anyways. I haven't been letting him jump around as much and I pick him up to go down the stairs to potty.

Aw, he is STILL limping! =(

I just wish there was something I could do.

Oh no! Poor Jackson! At first i thought he got the limping trick, then I read your post. :( Is he not putting it down at all? Has he ever been checked for LP? Did you check btwn his toes for any broken glass?

So your dad's getting married, does that mean you will see your step sister?

I wish i could help you but i really dont know what could be wrong besides the glass you mentioned... there has been plenty of times I thought i cleaned an area where glass broke really well but you know they break so tiny sometimes... but if he doesnt feel better soon you should take him to the vet especially if he looks in discomfort i sure do hope Jackson feels better because i know your very worried

Not the trick :( He's got that down pat, lol now the poor thing is actually limping. Yeah he's not putting it down at all -- still! It's now 10:30 at night. He seems comfortable and has been laying down. He still gets up and walks, just on 3 legs. It's been hours now. I'm just baffled because I have NO idea what could have started it. He literally has been inside all day besides potty breaks. He has not been checked for LP and that's what I'm worried about. :( If it's not better by morning, I'm really going to want to be taking him to the vet on Monday.

And yep - I will be seeing her unfortunately. It's a courthouse wedding so nothing huge. I may skip out on the after-party and take Jackson to the vet if he's still not better. This is going to be tough tomorrow if he's still limping because I take him to my dad's with me and they have 2 dogs. I don't know how I'll keep him still.

Thanks for the encourage! I'm worried for sure but hopefully he will be better by the AM :)

I was thinking, too --- I mean we had all that snow this past week (it's all melted already, can you believe it?!) but could him running all around in deep snow have caused this, and not shown up until today? We were over my dad's Christmas Eve & Christmas so he was outside often with my dad's 2 dogs rough housing, etc, and there was still quite a bit of snow outside. But wouldn't he have started limping yesterday? I don't know.

Hmmm...what the heck?

I know you've checked his toes...did you take a flashlight and point it in there btwn the pads/toes...just a long-shot, but I'd try a flashlight just to get another look, if you haven't already. With the light...any teensy area of redness/swelling...if yes...maybe sliver of glass...?

So...when you palpated around, he had no pain around leg/knee/hip...only new sign (besides limping), was the brief biting of that paw?

And appetite is fine? He's not having abdominal pain (referred pain) or a hard tummy or swollen tummy?

I'll try the flashlight thing, thanks for the idea! I'm just wondering if it's something stuck in his paw. It's the strangest thing.

And nope, NOTHING! Just 10 mins. ago I felt ALL around again, poking and prodding, massaging lightly then massaging harder all over his back leg, he never flinched... he stayed sleeping soundly.

His appetite was fine but I offered him a treat about an hour ago and he didn't eat it. Other than that, it's seemed fine. No abdominal pain that I know of... I'll check again around his tummy but it doesn't seem swollen.

Wow can't believe all that snow is gone already!

Anyway, when we took Uni to the beach she was jumping in the sand and water, I guess similar to jumping in snow. the next day she lifted one of her back legs. I took her to the vet and that was when he diagnosed her with LP. Even though she is grade 3, that was the only time she lifted her leg. So I guess extreme playing could knock it out of place.

Poor Jackson. Yes, as Ann said, take a flashlight and see if there might be something between his toes. Do you think that maybe he could have twisted his leg from all wet ground? Maybe while he was running, he kinda slipped or twisted in the mud? I hope Jackson is better. :)

I'm betting it's a luxating patella. Have your vet palpitate his knees when you take him for his vaccinations next week.

Medial Luxating Patella

Just seeing this tonight! :eek: Oh no! So sad to hear of this happening to Jackson!

It can come during play, or at rest. Keep him from jumping on and off any bed or furniture, and from using the stairs. His pain/discomfort may help prevent him from overdoing. Now's the time to kick back and relax with him. It can take 2-3 days until he can put weight on it again. Keep him on leash in any situation where he may harm himself from becoming too excited and jumping around too much. He may go off feed due to reduced activity. He should still eat, but maybe not as much. With all his snow play of late, a full body massage would probably feel really good to him, and may help keep him calm.

Congrats to your Dad and Stepmom. Kisses to the Stepmonstasister! Just keepin' it real!

Keep us updated!

Ella had jumped off my bed and not broke, but popped her bone out of place and she too was diagnosed w/ LP. For the life of me i can not remember what the heck that stands for. I have alot of words in my head i think it is but i just don't know. Sorry that i can't help w/ Jackson b/c the two times Ella had began limping we knew the cause of it. I hope Jackson gets to walking on it soon. =]

LP= luxating patella