My dog walks strangely, lifts leg, no limp, but X-rays are clear. Why?

I'm sorry to hear about Freddie Harte's limping. I am not seeing any obvious defects on this x-ray. The challenge is that the findings on exam are extremely important in trying to diagnose orthopedic issues; it would help to know if Freddie has proprioceptive deficits in his hind end, decreased range of motion, muscle atrophy, medial buttressing, etc as well as trying to localize any pain that may be contributing to his limping - all of this information would be combined with findings on x-ray to try to reach a diagnosis. Small dogs such as Shih Tzus are prone to luxating patellas, which may not always be evident on an x-ray but would be detected on exam. Did your vet discuss the option of referral to a specialist for a more concrete answer? I'm happy to give you my input on the x-ray - but referral to an orthopedic specialist who will be able to put their hands on your dog, as well as look at these x-rays, will give you much more beneficial input. I know its frustrating to have a chronically limping dog without an answer! I hope this helps!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Lucy. I am sorry to hear about her recent troubles. How frustrating! There is a muscle known as the iliospoas that wraps around from the lower back to the pelvis. If this muscle is strained, it is extremely painful. This can be detected on a physical exam, but would not show up on an x-ray. Other problems can be related the spine itself such as disc disease. The most common cause of rear limb lameness is a torn cruciate ligament in the knee. Has she had stifle x-rays? More rare conditions are autoimmune joint disease or a tick borne infection. Both of these are typically accompanied by a fever. You may consider a referral to see an orthopedic specialist if you are having trouble reaching a diagnosis. I hope this information helps!

What you are describing makes me wonder if Ivy has a problem with her balance or something else neurological that makes her movements abnormal. I would recommend taking some video of her walking and have your veterinarian evaluate them. If she has always moved that way, then there may not be anything to do about it, but if her movement is getting worse, I would have your veterinarian perform a neurological examination to see if there is anything abnormal. Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

She could have some arthritis in her hips, a loose knee cap, or a strain/sprain. You could have your vet examine her to determine the cause. Your vet can take an X-ray, if needed, to help diagnose and the determine the best way to treat. She may need an anti-inflammatory to treat.

Limping can be caused by several different problems - if x-rays didn't show a fracture, then it is likely that Bentley has some type of soft-tissue injury causing him to limp. One of the most common injuries like this that we see in dogs is a torn cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) - this is the same ligament that human athletes sometimes injure, called the ACL in humans. This ligament is responsible for stabilizing the knee joint when the dog walks, so if it is torn it causes significant lameness that does not improve with rest and pain medication. Other possible causes of limping for over a month would be a torn muscle, or a torn tendon or ligament in another part of the leg. Unfortunately, these injuries will not show up on x-rays. If your veterinarian doesn't have any other suggestions for further testing (such as a sedated orthopedic exam to check joint stability), then I would recommend asking for a referral to an orthopedic specialist. Bentley may need an MRI or other advanced imaging to diagnose the problem.

Hi there and thank you for your post! I am sorry to hear Sasha is in pain with her left leg. The left ankle being swollen does not make me think an ACL tear, especially if the xrays and physical examination were normal with the knee joint. However, that being said, sometimes when dogs are worked up and energetic in the clinic setting, it can be difficult to assess the knee joint with them awake. These cases I sedate for the xrays and examine the knee joint further under sedation. This may be something to consider with Sasha if she is not improving. Another possibility that I would want to rule out is Valley Fever. The area that you are in certainly does have Valley Fever present (a fungal infection) and this can cause lameness in animals. I would certainly have a Coccidioidomycosis titer performed with your veterinarian to be on the safe side. This also may be a soft tissue injury such as a strain or sprain and may take some time to heal. If there is no improvement, after the directed course of treatment, I would suggest seeing an orthopedic specialist for a second opinion. A CT scan of the ankle joint may help pinpoint the problem as well and this can be done with most orthopedic specialty clinics. Please do not hesitate to call me with further questions / concerns. My main area of interest is orthopedics and if you would like to discuss this further by phone, I am available by consultation.

Poor Alfie! It sounds like he has a chronic problem. This could be related to an abnormality within the bone structure of his lower back, or hips. Sometimes an issue like hip dysplasia or a pinched nerve can show up like this. It would be less common, but an injury to his cruciate ligaments could also present this way. The only way to know will be to have Alfie visit his veterinarian. The doctor will palpate all his legs to determine the cause. The doctor may also need radiographs to look for changes to the bone. Until you get him into the veterinarian, he needs strict rest, so no walks, no running, no playing and try to keep stairs to a minimum. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.