Please help. My pup has an off and on limp in his front left shoulder.

[ScoutLewis]

My 10 month old little boy has had on off and on limp for the past month now. We've had him in the vet twice now. The second time we did x-rays and they came up negative. Vet thinks it might be a pulled muscle or something with cartilage (spelling?). I've heard that some pups can grow so fast that they can get slight muscle/ligament injuries. Does anybody have any ideas? Sometimes when we walk around the neighborhood he'll be fine, then all of a sudden he'll start to limp, then it's gone. Today he and I were out playing fetch in the field and he started limping again. I'm sick of seeing him with discomfort... whatever it may be.

[Dax]

Have you checked his pads on his feet & nails. Mine limp more when their nails get too long or if ice/dirt between toes. Does he yelp when the area is touched? Mine hit her shoulder when she was a pup and it bothers her now so it could be an injury that acts up after exercise.

[ScoutLewis]

I've looked at his paws and pads several times but haven't found anything. His nails are good so I don't think that's it. I'm just worried because it's on and off. Perhaps a muscle. How old is your dog with the shoulder problem? Any ideas as to what initiated the problem? Thanks for you help Doglover. He's only ten months old, far too young for this! He is 85 pounds so perhaps he did grow a little too fast.

[Dax]

My rotti cross (Dax) started to exhibit the limp early on as well (Under one year) but then she had quite a bump to the shoulder (she bend a screen door). She is now turning 10 and it still comes and goes.

She is also on Tyroid pills and when the tyroid condition was first diagnoised she could hardly walk at all. This also made her overweight, easily tired, and generally lazy.

NOT WHAT YOU WANT TO HEAR I know. Here are some things that I found helps;

a) weight loss - a 5-15 lb drop thru dieting can do wonders.
b) limiting "HARD PLAY", jumping up & down
c) sleeping in a warmer area - not cold concrete or drafty floor (mine has her own sofa)
d) gentle massage of the shoulder after exercise to keep muscles long.

[weimlover0816]

My 10 month old weim has also had this problem on and off for a few months. Our vet told us that it basically amounted to "growing pains", like you mentioned before. They said not to worry. I'd ask your vet about giving an anti-inflamatory on an as-needed basis to help ease the pain. Oh, what type of food is your pup on? Puppy or adult?

[Dax]

She's ten years old. Since she is already on medication, I don't like to give her more unless she really needs it. Our last go around with pain killers/anit inflammatory pills made us watch her all night long as her breathing became very erratic.

She'll have to suffer a little bit - but that's why she gets massages, etc.

[ScoutLewis]

Scout has put on about 70 pounds in the 7 months we've had him. He's about 10 months and 85 pounds now, no more than a pound or two over weight if that. He's on Nutro Large Puppy formula. He's been on inflamatory already, two different times now. He does not display any verbal signs of discomfort. He does pant a little more than he used to and sometimes he'll lay down when we're playing fetch. He's just about to the point where he's almost outgrown his cage. Maybe it is too small for him and he can't stretch out while he sleeps. I just don't know what it could be other than growing pains. Thanks for your input!

[weimlover0816]

I asked about the type of food because my vet suggested switching to adult food when my weim was having the pain. Because puppy food and adult food have different balances of proteins/nutrients/etc. Puppy formulations are made to promote growth. Adult food may help, ask your vet, or just switch. But remember to switch gradually or your pup's belly will be upset for a while.....

[ScoutLewis]

Thanks for your help! I'll look into the adult food. Hopefully it's nothing major that's bothering him!

[goombaya]

You should have your vet look for signs of Pano.