Growing Pains

[milles2]

Can anyone share some thoughts on growing pains?

Little Miss Lulu has been "gimping" every now and then. It's not really a limp, but her gate is funny and it seems to be her front legs. I have a Vet appointment scheduled for 5:30 today, I may be a hysterical doggie Mom but I am pretty concerned.

She has been doing this a few times a week for 2-3 weeks. One minute she is favoring her right front leg, then the next it looks like she favors her left front leg. Then 2 minutes later she is zooming around and walking fine.

Her puppy sitter noticed it yesterday so I immediately called the Vet. Her sitter played around with her legs, rotating the joints, feeling her legs and Lulu never seems to be in pain. She mentioned growing pains.

At Obedience class last night I noticed Lulu was again "gimping". I asked the instructor to observe her for me. She noticed to that she would favor her right one minute, then nothing, then she'd favor her left, then nothing. She also mentioned growing pains?

In an earlier thread ( about a corgi w/ leg pain) Glencorgi mentioned growing pains. I will know more this afternoon and I do hope I am only being a hysterical doggie Mom. But any thoughts on growing pains?

Thanks!

Susan

[Fluffypants]

I hope that growing pains is all it is. I think it's a good sign that the legs aren't tender to the touch. Let us know what the vet says. And you are not hysterical . . you are protective and concerned.

[Dillydoodle]

Dillon had a limp for a while as a youngster- he was misdiagnosed with elbow dysplasia, then a second diagnosis was made, as premature bone plate closure and was schedule for operation, only to find out as they took the final preop xray 5 minutes prior to the actual surgery that his leg "healed" itself (aka , second misdiagnosis) and then i was told he had a shoulder laxity...personally i think that it was this pano ( long name i forgot) but it is basically off and on limping due to growing pains... just so you know, dillon does not limp anymore, however when we go see the corgi vet on monday for his itchy feet, we will be discussing the results of the " shoulder xray" which showed this supposed laxity ( i am really skeptical becuase of the history of these vets with the constant misdiagnoses...) Best of luck and i hope it is nothing more than just a growth pain that will go away as they age...
Emilie

[Jeni D]

Dudley had the same issues when he was younger. I, too, took him to the vet and was told that he had growing pains. He now (8 months) never limps. Never feel bad for worrying about your pup...just means you're a good mom!

[glencorgi]

Growing pains, aka panosteitis, aka pano is fairly common. It is a random limping, can be only in one leg or rotate between a couple of legs or even alternate between two legs. X-rays will usually show an inflammation around the joint. As it is random and not always predictable, catching it with a vet's appointment can be a bit tricky sometime. "Hot" foods/puppy formulas (high protein foods) can contribute to the problem. Pano is another reason I am cautious about recommending calcium supplements for corgi puppies. Calcium as a part of a multi-vitamin supplement can be okay, but straight off the shelf calcium supplements I am not comfortable with recommending.

It is just something that bothers some puppies and not others. Hope your vet report was good!

Debbie

[Jespah]

I remember Riley having some similar issues and talking to my vets about it. She seemed to grow out of it. In an xray she had when she was fairly young, the vet and I were looking at it and both asking "is that how Corgi hips and shoulders shoud look?". Because they are a dwarf breed, the shoulder angle is very different from regular breeds. Had she continued having problems, we were going to send her off to the vet college as they had more experience with dwarf breeds. She grew out of it though and was fine.
I hope Lulu will do the same and that the vet gave you good news - Glencorgi sounds like she had some good info. (As ususal).

[milles2]

Thanks everyone. And the Vet diagnosed it as Panosteitis.

She examined Lulu and told me she sensed pain only in her two front legs. Because of that she thought it was one of 2 things: either Lyme or pano. She did the lyme test and it was negative so then we took xrays.
I can't believe how good Lulu laid down on the xray table! Of course, treats were involved and my two hoodlums will do just about anything for treats.... My Vet showed me the x rays and I could see clearly on the big bone in her right front paw a spot where the bone material was different than the rest of the bone. My Vet brought out a book that showed a cross section of a bone taken from a dog w/ pano. She described it as a lesion that forms inside the bone and it will eventually heal itself from the inside out. She told me the only treatment for pano is anti-inflamatory drugs + time.

She also told me to change her food by giving her 1/2 puppy food to 1/2 adult food. She thought she might be getting too much protien from puppy food alone.

The interesting thing is she told me not to restrict her activities. She said it would be good for Lulu to continue doing whatever she is doing, keep putting weight on her leg, and that when she felt pain, she would ease off on her own. So I am glad I don't have to slow her down. Not sure that I could!

Of course, I asked if I had done/not done something to cause it and she told me no. It just happens in some puppies. She told me it is more common in large breed dogs than smaller dogs. Lulu has been a jumper from the get go. She always tried to jump up on the sofa. I try to lift her up and she want's no part of that. She has more fun making attempts until she finally does it on her own. Then she jumps down. Yikes! She's so fast many times I can't catch her. So I've always worried I've ruined her for life not getting to her in time before she jumps off the couch.

So we have a month worth of Durmaxx (1 a day w/ food) and if she is still having pain we will go a 2nd month. My Vet says it can take 2-6 months.

So off we went and following getting their dinner, Tuck and Lu raced and chased for 2 solid hours. Whatever!

Lyme test: $50
x rays: 2 @ $75
total Vet bill: $230
Two Corgis frapping: Priceless!

[Jane Austen]

Lyme test: $50
x rays: 2 @ $75
total Vet bill: $230
Two Corgis frapping: Priceless!
__________________
Susan in Upstate NY

Susan You are priceless! ( My "Me Too")

[Fluffypants]

I'm glad it turned out to be nothing serious, Susan. Give the hoodlums a pat from me.

[Dillydoodle]

Glad to hear that it is nothing terrible - this is what i think dillon had initially too but was just mis diagnosed ...twice ! I know what you mean by them being so quick - dillon was the same way, i would run to grab him before he would do the super corgi leap off the bed- but half the time i would miss him and i always felt like i was going to ruin him too! i love your priceless comment!
Emilie