Why does my Sheltie limp?

THE PROBLEM: Patellar Luxation is common in small dog breeds like Shelties. It’s where the knee cap (patella) floats out of position (luxation). This causes pain and difficulty straightening the leg. If your Sheltie has patellar luxation, you’ll notice her limp and hold her hind leg up while she’s exercising.

Are Shelties a healthy dog?

The Sheltie has a lifespan of 12 to 14 years and may be prone to minor concerns like patellar luxation, allergies, hypothyroidism, Legg-Perthes, canine hip dysplasia, hemophilia, trichiasis, cataract, Collie eye anomaly, and progressive retinal atrophy, or a major one like dermatomyositis.

Is it normal for a dog to limp on its front leg?

Before this happens, you may see the dog limping when they get up. This can happen on any leg, not just the front one. It is similar to when we have a paresthesia, a condition known more colloquially as a limb ‘falling asleep’. This type of lameness in a dog’s leg shouldn’t be worrisome if it is an isolated case.

How long did Bonnie limp after her leg injury?

Bonnie didn’t limp the entire week that she had her bandage on her paw, and she didn’t limp for about a week afterward. We started taking her on gradually longer walks. Unfortunately, one day I saw her step on a large stone with her bad leg. Immediately afterwards, she froze and looked scared.

Are there real life cases of lameness in dogs?

The following are real life cases of Lameness in Dogs that have been treated by Dr. Mike Richards, DVM. We are stumped as to what might be wrong with our dog’s (Bonnie’s) right rear leg. She started limping one day after chasing a rabbit in a field.

Can a vet make a diagnosis for a limping dog?

There are a fair number of dogs with minor limping on a regular basis in our practice that we can’t make a definite diagnosis for. Usually, if the lameness becomes severe again it is possible to make a diagnosis at that time.