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Pins and Needles/Dead Leg??

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  • 09-01-2012 1:33am
    #1
    Long Road 8378
    Registered Users Posts: 50 ✭✭


    May sound like a stupid question but.... can dogs get pins and needles or a dead leg?

    Our Lab X is only 3 years old. He often wakes up and has a bad limp when he starts walking. He stretches and then after a few minutes he is fine.

    We have taken him to the vet (2 or 3 in fact for different opinions) and none of them could find anything wrong with him. We are a bit worried that it may be something more serious developing but on the other hand, our fella is very prone to faking a limp in order to get treats and we wouldn't be at all surprised to find out that he would be acting up. This is TOTALLY our own fault as when he was about 1 year old he stubbed his toe badly and was limping so we picked him up, put him on the couch, gave him treats and babyed him completely so now he will often limp when he sees the treat box or when we have visitors who happen to be softies. This limp disappears when the treat is given to him, it's miraculous to say the least! At the time, we felt so sorry for him, (toe stubbing is painful!) but had we realised the possible consequences of our actions we would never have done it!

    Money is tight these days so you can understand why we are not so keen to take off to the vet again and pay more money to be told there is nothing wrong with him, especially as he is prone to 'hamming it up'. Which is why I am hoping that pins and needles in dogs are a possibility. This could explain a lot, especially as it's most likely to happen after his naps.


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    #2
    andreac
    Registered Users Posts: 8,000 ✭✭✭andreac


    Did the vet take X-rays of your dog? Is your dog insured?


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    #3
    tk123
    Registered Users Posts: 14,020 ✭✭✭✭tk123


    Stiffness after he's been resting could be a number of things. What has he been doing leading up to it before having a snooze - running off lead/swimming etc?

    What have the vets done? Eg when my guy started having problems he was really stiff getting out of his bed - he went to be checked out and they tested the range of motion in his legs and tested all along his back - he was tender in his back so he got anti inflams. and painkillers..Then when he wasn't any better he got xrays, when they didn't show anything obvious they were sent to ucd for a second opinion and they requested different views etc.. he was eventually referred to UCD and then a second opinion down to Cork.

    IMO you want to get whatever is causing this seen to now before it could escalate to something a lot worse that's gone untreated. If he has arthritis better to find out now and start supplementing his diet, making changes to his exercise if needed etc etc.


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    #4
    Long Road 8378
    Registered Users Posts: 50 ✭✭Long Road 8378


    Thanks for your replies.

    No, not one of the vets did X-rays, they just checked all four legs, joints, his back etc. He isn't insured yet but he will be by the end of the month.

    He will limp either way when he gets up. Whether he has recently been walking or just chilling for the day, that's why we are so confused. We would like to get to the bottom of it in case it is something serious. Also, we never told any of the vets that he has a very regular habit of faking for treats as we were afraid that they would think we were just overreacting.

    Maybe we should insist on x-rays. I feel really bad for him if he is in pain. Would hate for him to be arthritic, can that happen in a dog so young?


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