[oink]

My 8 month old lab had been limping every now and again with his hind leg so we took him to the vet, had an x-ray and his joints seem fine.

The vet told us to rest him with 2 10 minute walks a day on the lead.  We've been doing this for about 6 weeks now, gradually increasing his walks and he's been fine so yesterday I allowed him off his lead for the first time. As he's a young lab he's had a LOT of bent up energy so off he went as fast as his legs could carry him.  All seemed well until we got back, after he'd been in his bed for about half an hour, then when he got up he was limping again.  This only lasted for 20 minutes or so and he seems fine again but it's frustrating not knowing what's wrong with him.

The vet says she thinks it probably a pulled muscle that will get better eventually but I thought you guys may be able to offer a second opinion.

Basically he has only ever limped once he's rested in bed AFTER a run.  Even then the longest it's  lasted was probably 2 hours but it does seem to happen every time he has a long walk off the lead.

Any ideas

[geebee]

Hi there
if he's okay now, great, but if it happens again I would ask your vet to refer you to an othopaedic referral vet.  I worked in n orthopaedic referral clinic & most practices are very happy to refer you. It's helpful if ou jsut ask pleasantly rather than implying you don't think they are competent! That way you keep a good relationship with your practice. I would say the only person who can give a second opinion is a vet. You could waste valuable time following up suggestions from lay people (not in the egg sense!) There is one condition common in labs which requires surgery but must be done before a certain age. Where are you? The best place to  be referre if in Scotland/North England is East Neuk Vet Clinic in Fife, if you're in west Scotland Andy Millar @ Broadleys in Stirling.   In England ? are you anywhere near Willows vets? Hope this helps

[doganjo]

Hi there
if he's okay now, great, but if it happens again I would ask your vet to refer you to an othopaedic referral vet.  I worked in n orthopaedic referral clinic & most practices are very happy to refer you. It's helpful if ou jsut ask pleasantly rather than implying you don't think they are competent! That way you keep a good relationship with your practice. I would say the only person who can give a second opinion is a vet. You could waste valuable time following up suggestions from lay people (not in the egg sense!) There is one condition common in labs which requires surgery but must be done before a certain age. Where are you? The best place to  be referre if in Scotland/North England is East Neuk Vet Clinic in Fife, if you're in west Scotland Andy Millar @ Broadleys in Stirling.   In England ? are you anywhere near Willows vets? Hope this helps

How long are your walks and when did you start taking him out free running?  I always advise my puppy owners to restrict exercise to their own gardens or short lead walks till the pup is 6 months old.  Thereafter, free running in short bursts of 10 to 15 minutes max till about 9 to 10 months.  Bones and muscles are still soft till then and prone to damage so I suspect your vet may be right.  Muscle damage can take quite a long time to heal.  Were his parents hip scored?  If your vet x-rayed hos whole leg including the hip then it probably isn't hip dysplasia, but anyone wanting to buy a pup should check the KC recommended health recommendations for their chosen breed (in Labs it's hips and eyes)

[Jackie]

I never free run a golden untill its 12 months old as I cant afford any problems with hips etc. I do road walk but not too often and not too far or we can 'walk off the bone' meaning get skinny legs.

Like young children pups think they can do more than their bodies can take.

[ellisr]

Dad used to breed labs as gun dogs we had a pup that just wasn't as strong as the rest and ended up being our pet, he was full of energy but done the same thing if he ran around for too long, later in life (much later) he got the limping back after he had been resting and was diagosed as being arthritic in his hips, the signs would come and go but could get really bad in winter he lived a full healthy life apart from this until he was 12. We did give him cod liver oil from being about 4 to help him through the winter and kept most walks on the lead and not for too long he became accustomed to this routine and we ddn't have a problem with pent up energy or weight gain.
I miss him now as he was the most loving companion and when I left home he came with me for company and stayed with me until his end.

[Sandy]

We have shortened our walks a little bit and I never throw a ball as I do not want the young dogs to run after it as they do run fast durring thier free run any way. Here is a photo I found on photobucket of my tow young Labds watching the chickens, I let them in with them but the Yellow cannot resist the pond and messes up the water!!! THey are fine with the chickens and ducks but this photo made me smile.
http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/uu232/pryde/SunnySundaytakingdowntheBarB021-1.jpg[/img]]