limping lab

[kooba]

Hello guys. Need some advice. I have a male yellow lab that weights 70lbs at 9 months old. He started limping on the front left leg on Thursday. We were out for our walk on Wed. night and we met a couple other dogs, they were playing and running all over the place. I don't know if he got hurt then or on thurdays walk. I had him out today and he walked around the yard and ran alittle. didn't seem to bad then went into the kennel and favored the leg a little. I checked the paw, rubbed around the leg. Would you guys get this checked out right away or give it a few more days and see what happens? I just hope its nothing serious. What are some things I could do to check him myself? Thanks, kooba.

[LABS4ME]

When I saw the header, the 1st thing that popped into my mind was "how old is the dog?". Then I read he's 9 months old and 70lbs, (pretty good sized for 9 months)... I bet you got a case of pan-osteitis... or growing pains.

It is caused by the bones growing to rapidly and usually afflicts dogs between 8-12 months of age... I see it a lot more often in big males than in other dogs. Sometimes it 'travels' around the legs over a couple of weeks time, sometimes it afflicts just the one leg... it has been mis-diagnosised as Lymes disease several times. It is not rare. I've seen it many times and the dogs are almost always 9-10 months old.

Watch him for a couple days and see if it gets better. You can help him with a St. Joseph's baby aspirin to help with the pain if you want. If it persists over a couple days, bring him in for an x-ray. I've yet to see a dog break a bone or get a bad sprain playing, but I gues there is always a chance... as I've said in many posts... a visit to the vet may be in order just to calm your concerns, an office call is usually pretty cheap.

Hope that helps...

Good Luck!

Ken

[kooba]

Thanks Labs for reponding so quickly. Thats some good news if it is only growing pains. I will give it a few more days and see if it gets better. IF not, will bring him in. My vet also said to give him a aspirin too. Did that right away. He is a big boy, just don't want anything to serious to happen to him. KOOBA.