It’s a bit strange to hear that your vet didn’t suggest anything to help your dog’s condition. Anyway, giving her glucosamine doesn’t harm your dog but at the same time, you can’t expect her to get better either. My vet, orthopedic specialist and he’s got a great reputation in this area told me that there is no scientific evidence that glucosamine actually help animal’s joints. It definitely help dog owner’s mentally though because that gives you a sense of comfort and security regardless if it’s effective or not.

Obviously I’m not a vet but I don’t think she has CCL. If she does, she would not be able to walk and having trouble getting up , period. I just feel like it’s something else because she can’t extend her leg. When our dog was still a puppy, one morning he woke up and started walking with one of his hind legs not touching on the floor. He walked that way for few minutes. I was so alarmed what i saw and took him to the animal emergency. They could not figure out but very next day, I took him to our regular bet and found out that was caused by “growling pain”. It’s very common in giant breed pups. So within few days, he was back tom normal.

Your dog is not a giant breed so I can’t say it might just be a growing pain but it’s a possibility.

Anyway, hope you’ll get an answer from the orthopedic specialist and her leg get better. I know it’s hard to see your dog not behaving or moving the way she should.

Does anyone have any ideas what else it could be?

Thanks

Lennox’s problem on his right knee last year was caused by slipping tendon. (Long digital extensor tendon) It was out of place and that caused the loud clicking sound. Our vet (orthopedic specialist who has a great reputation in this town and I actually went to see his lecture about CCL only few weeks ago.) told us to limit the daily activities and exercise for several weeks and see how he does. He didn’t prescribe any medication. (Lennox has a very sensitive stomach and anti-inflammatory medication always gave him a problem)
So we followed his instruction and within few weeks, his clicking sound faded away. After we visited the vet’s office for follow-up, he was cleared.

Then, until now, he was doing just fine. Now he’s almost 3 years old and weighs about 150LBs.
When we were walking this past weekend, I noticed that the way he was walking didn’t look right. His right back leg was little off. After we got back home, he walked normal so I thought it was strange. Then the next day, he did the same while we were walking. Then later that night, he dragged his right back leg a bit and was not putting his weight on the leg. He walked just fine and didn’t show any strange movement in next 2 days but I was very concerned and decided to take him to the vet and made an appointment 2 days later.

The vet who saw him was not the same orthopedic specialist we saw the last time. (Unfortunately, he was on vacation and we were told that he’d not be back until the second week of November. I didn’t wanna wait that long so I decided to see the other doctor within the same facility)

So she asked me to walk him a bit so that she could observe the way he walks. Then she checked his right knee, hip, etc. Feeling with her hand. She said that it seems that his knee has some inflammation and she could feel that there is some fluid in it. She told me that he might have some soft tissue injury which should be heal by itself over the course of time. However, considering the history of his right leg, he might also have inner ligament injury which could lead to CCL or arthritis. She said he’d not need any medication for now and but restrict his activities for next 2 weeks to see how he does. Then come back to get checked out again by the other vet (our regular one who diagnosed his knee clicking sound before). If the condition improves, he’ll not need any special treatment but if it doesn’t, she said they might have to see his knee under the scope. I can’t remember the name of the procedure but it’s basically stick the micro scope in his knee and see inside. That’ll cost about $3000 and if they see CCL damage, it can turn out to be TPLO or TTA which will cost even more. I know they would not do traditional repair since Lennox weight more than 100LBs.

Right now, he walks fine and his movement is normal. No favoring the leg or dragging the leg. He has not shown any sign of discomfort or pain. (Well, it’s really hard to see if he’s in pain because of this breed’s trait, as you guys know)

Anyway, I just got back from the vet’s office and not feeling so good about it. We just have to watch him closely and restrict his activities for next 2 weeks and hope his condition improve.
I’ll post the follow up when we go see the vet in 2 weeks.

-naoki

I’m having some dog problems. Specifically related to my Tosa’s back legs.

I just got back from the Ortho Surgens and she needs double corrective surgery on her hind legs.
Prognosis is Patellar Luxation (knee cap’s keep slipping out of their groove inward).

It’s happening quite often now, more over the last couple of weeks.
The doctors are saying that it’s a gene thing and just bad luck I guess because Tosa’s aren’t known to have this problem.
She started showing signs of trouble a month ago and I thought the problem was a result of an injury. Apparently it wasn’t an injury, but the knee cap popping out for the first time.
I’m deathly afraid that she’s going to have some long term problems, and we love this dog so much, but I’m looking at a pretty large bill.

The surgens commented on how straight her hind legs are….in the front as you look at the back leg. Normally they say, dogs will have a (dog legged crook to their hind legs). But neither do any of the other Tosa’s I’ve seen online, so I suspect that’s just an observation, and not attibuting to the problem.

The more I research it, the more instances I see of Great Danes and some mastiff’s having this occur.
Just thought I’d keep you in the loop, as I’m sure you’d like to hear of such things.

I talked to her siblings owners and they haven’t had any problems, so I’m wondering how the gene thing is a possibility.
I guess she’s just a little more prone than them, dunno.

I’ve been taking great care to allow her to take it very easy on it, but still walking her (on lead only).
She eats very well, but is not overweight by any means….90lbs today actually.

Have you heard of this before, do you think it may correct itself, etc?