doggie is limping?????

[3kidsnabullie]

Hi to all you bullie experts....I need some help please.  Yesterday during an indoor playing session, I noticed my bullie hurt his leg....he started limping a bit.  Today he is acting totally normal, but he is still not putting as much weight on one of his back legs.  Of course we are heading off to holiday for two weeks, and our precious baby will be staying at the doggie spa/hotel.  This has never happened before...could he just have pulled something?  I hate to run for xrays when it could be something minor.  Please post if you have any advice.  Thanks!!!!!!!!

[bella-baby]

Bella did the same thing just the other night after agility training.  The dogs were on mats inside playing, Bella was chasing 2 dogs and the went seperate ways  and she went for one and then made a last minute decision to go for the other one and pulled something. She was limping, but she was fine the next day.

What I would worry about, in taking him to the spa is that he may be playing with other dogs and may not be totally healed yet. If they are indoors on mats, it may make it worse if he goes running, the traction isn't as good as grass and he could re injure it.

If you don't take him to the vet, I would definately let the people at the doggie spa know that he was limping, and his playtime will need to be closely monitered. When Bella hurt her leg, she would have continued to play if I hadn't noticed and called her off, thus probably making the injury worse.

[Lord Goliath]

When are you leaving for holiday?  My advice is to keep your Bullie as still as possible for a few days at least. This means limit his exercise and if possible keep him confined to a crate so that he doesn't try to run.  That should give it time to heal...if he is acting mostly normal he probably just pulled something and will be fine in a day or so with rest.

Keep an eye on him though.

[Daphnedoodle]

Daphne has done this before too! She was playing too hard and pulled a muscle in one of her back legs. I did take her to the vet only b/c she would not put pressure on it for a couple of days. ( Daph acted normal too, other than not putting pressure on her hurt leg)
Anyway the vet did not have to do any x-rays. He gave her some pain meds. It did take her a good while to get back to normal. The vet did say that sometimes it can take a while to heal.
Hope your bully enjoys the spa and gets better soon!

[cadillactaste]

When are you leaving for holiday?  My advice is to keep your Bullie as still as possible for a few days at least. This means limit his exercise and if possible keep him confined to a crate so that he doesn't try to run.  That should give it time to heal...if he is acting mostly normal he probably just pulled something and will be fine in a day or so with rest.

Keep an eye on him though.

I agree with James...To confine her to a crate...So she allows herself time to heal. For they will go about as normal as they can. And they really need to rest that leg...I am hoping you will have a few days...Before you actually leave. That you can do this...So you will be able to leave without as much concern for her leg...

I also might ask if they could...Not put her out with the "play group" and leave her more in a confined area for most of the day...With maybe a walk with a staff member. Verses playing with roudy dogs...Which could cause her leg to become more of an issue...See if their willing to go and give her walks...Verses playtime...To let her heal a bit...I myself would worry she would do more injury to her leg...During romping with other dogs...

A vet won't x-ray a leg...Unless they feel it deemed necessary. While on vacation...I called the vet that was listed on the information packet of where we were staying. And they opted not to even see our bulldog. Since he was not showing any other signs other than not putting weight on his back leg. And he came through without needing to be seen. But as soon as I seen him limping... he was crated...For his own safety to not cause more injury to his leg. And that giving him rest...Was really all he needed...So maybe you'll be so lucky and find the same situation with your bulldog...

Good luck and keep us updated...On how the leg is in a few days...

[3kidsnabullie]

Thanks for all the advice!!!  I feel so much better knowing that it is probably a pulled muscle.  I have kept him inside all day with very limited activity.  We aren't leaving until Wednesday so I will keep him as low key as I can.  The vet is also attached to where he is staying so I will definitely alert them of his leg during play sessions with other dogs (of course his favorite part of his stay).  Thanks again for all your help!!!  This board is the BEST!!!!!!!

[cadillactaste]

Thanks for all the advice!!!  I feel so much better knowing that it is probably a pulled muscle.  I have kept him inside all day with very limited activity.  We aren't leaving until Wednesday so I will keep him as low key as I can.  The vet is also attached to where he is staying so I will definitely alert them of his leg during play sessions with other dogs (of course his favorite part of his stay).  Thanks again for all your help!!!  This board is the BEST!!!!!!!

That is peace of mind...having a vet's office attached to the facility. They'll be able to evaluate any situation that may or may not arrise...Enjoy your vacation!

[Susan & the bullies]

I just took Auggie to the vet today because he was limping too. He strained his front elbow playing and has aggravated it by jumping off the sofa. They gave him 4 days of anti-inflamatories, they did not need to do xrays, they could just tell from manipulating his leg..........maybe this would help your guy too? The kennel people could give it while you're gone and maybe only introduce playing a few days into his stay.

Good luck!!