Hyperextending wrist

[Shamas mom]

I got home from work today and noticed Shamas' wrist is extending too far. No one noticed him limping...and he doesn't SEEM to be...but his left front leg, I've never seen him bend that wrist so far. It should go about 45 degrees? This is going closer to 30degrees when he puts weight on it....

I wonder if he had a hard landing making a jump?

I'm calling the vet tomorrow....for now, I've wrapped the wrist with a bandage, in such a way that it limits the range of motion to normal. Good thing he tolerates me wrapping him up. I know lots of dogs eat bandages.....

I'm thinking I'll get him a carpal splint from now on...the kind sport dogs wear post-injury to prevent repeat injuries. This is the same leg he was limping on about 6m ago, with no clear sign of injury. His Xrays showed him clear of arthritis

I'm sure with the number of times I've taken this old boy in for things I see that don't show up on tests, she probably thinks I'm a hypocondriact dog mom....

 

[Cath]

Poor lad

 

[Shamas mom]

Yeah, he's showing his age this year


Hubby and I talked it over, and we agree we want Xrays. There seem to be three levels of support/splints available, and Xrays will tell us how much support he needs. Plus, depending on the condition of the ankle, it seems vets can actually cast splints for the dog personally. Since this is an ongoing/repeated injury I believe that some level of support should be ongoing to avoid further trouble on the joint.

we can think of two things likely to have bothered his ankle: jumping off our bed, which is high. and slipping on the ice the other day. The most likely seems to be the jump from the bed. He's getting hefty, and it's a big jump for a boy that heavy

we're also looking at a lifting harness, to help him in and out of the car--we don't believe Shamas would take well to not having car rides, but we don't want him landing on that joint until it's healed. Today when we took him to Chapters to walk on the cushy carpets, I lifted him out so that he came out of the car on his back feet first, with me holding the weight from the front of his body by the harness. But his current harness isn't designed to be weight-bearing

Speaking of weight-bearing, my hip's not happy about it either. Might have to let hubby do the heavy lifting here on out.....

 

[Jacqui-S]

Oh dear.
How is Shama's weight loss doing?

 

[Shamas mom]

well, he looks trimmer. I won't know until the vet weighs him.

I think this is more of an age/arthritis thing? He jumped both up and down from the bed this morning. I'd think if it hurt, he'd avoid doing that....but on the other side, he's a touch grouchy.

I'm sure the vet can tell us. And if it's nothing to worry about, well she can tell us that too, and it's one more Xray in his folder

 

[Shamas mom]

So he's got Loose Ligaments, in all of his legs. Definitely tweaked the front one, but not so much that he's favoring it, just enough that when the vet manipulated it, he said "No thank you, I'll pass on that"

Treatment plan:

neoprene wraps on walks, and weight loss.

we're not sure if off-the-rack hind leg wraps will be helpful or not, as in the Dr's experience, they don't tend to dit well, and thus don't help a lot. I might look into a custom one for that weak back left.

She sent home a couple of pf doses of Metacam, in case it's needed. But I only took a couple of doses, as I tend to be conservative about pain relief. I've got a spray designed for aches and pains I can use.

 

[Shamas mom]

Oh dear.
How is Shama's weight loss doing?

No weight loss. He weighed in a couple pounds heavier...but this may literally be a case of the gear he wears. He leaves the house with a HEAVY tactical harness, thick collar, leather leash, and muzzle. plus carabiners to hold all the gear connected, for safety.

The harness has always helped keep him calm.

 

[Shamas mom]

SO I ordered front carpal wraps. Just neoprene ones. Still looking at rear ones. I don't want something bulky-just a little support on that wobbly back left knee.

Yesterday, after the vet, I let him lead me for as long as he liked, then called him a cab home. Good thing he had his big harness on, I could help him in and out of the car. Love that handle along the spine

Only thing is...his muzzles rubbed a sore spot on his nose. I'm trying to think on the best way to pad it or him. so we don't get a repeat once he starts wearing it again. Perhaps some neoprene glued to the inside?

 

[Shamas mom]

Shamas refuses to walk with the braces on. Without them, he's started what I refer to as dropping steps. He'll put his weight on the foot, and quickly shift off again, as the foot refuses to hold. I know that feeling-my knee used to do it when I was overweight. It hurts and feels like the joint's going to fail and make you fall over.

structurally, it's an issue of loose ligament....not really treatable except by bringing his weight down. But we're not having much luck there. We've cut his calories but I don't know if we cut them enough....

I'm considering a weight loss formula.

Seems clomicalm has a listed side effect of weight gain too....wonder how much impact that's having on his not losing weight?

Adding to the difficulties, it's now getting hot enough to limit walks. Shamas pants terribly for about an hour if walked in temperatures over 25C....which limits me to early morning and late evening. If I work that day, he only gets the evening walk.

Considering a pool