Q: Our Labrador puppy, Mariah, is limping. She is really sore in
one of her back legs. She had this problem before and we gave her
some aspirin and she got better. That time it was a front leg and
we thought she had just sprained her foot. But now she is sore in a
back leg, and we don’t know if we should just give her aspirin or
not. What should we do?
Q: Our Labrador puppy, Mariah, is limping. She is really sore in one of her back legs. She had this problem before and we gave her some aspirin and she got better. That time it was a front leg and we thought she had just sprained her foot. But now she is sore in a back leg, and we don’t know if we should just give her aspirin or not. What should we do?
A: Sorry to hear that Mariah is lame, and since this is the second time she’s come up limping, I recommend you take her to her veterinarian for evaluation. There are several possible problems that could cause her soreness. Some are serious, a few are not. But no matter what the malady, proper diagnosis and treatment is important.
One cause for lameness is dysplasia, and in puppies, it occurs all too commonly. The word “dysplasia” means “abnormal development,” and it can occur in any joint or tissue in the body. The most well-known form is hip dysplasia, which causes pain and instability in these joints. A dysplastic hip joint often develops degenerative joint disease (arthritis) if it is not treated.
Judging by your description, dysplasia may not be Mariah’s problem. She’s been lame in 2 different legs, so I’m more suspicious of a growth problem called panosteitis. This is often called “growing pain” because it happens mostly in young fast-growing pups and many times it affects more than one bone.
Panosteitis is inflammation of one of the longer bones in any of the legs (this means either the femur or tibia in a hind leg, or the humerus or radius in a foreleg). We don’t really know what causes this condition, but it seems to happen more often in young dogs that are fed a very rich diet.
Curiously, it is sometimes seen in dogs as old as 35 months, well past the time they have stopped growing. Usually panosteitis can be treated with medications used to control pain. Sometimes, aspirin is all that’s needed. And since it doesn’t affect any joints, there is never any subsequent arthritis.
Whatever the case, most veterinarians recommend feeding food that is slightly lower in protein to puppies like labradors, shepherds and other large or giant breed dogs. I recommend these pups be fed a high quality adult maintenance diet once they reach 5 months of age.
The only way to diagnose Mariah’s condition is with a thorough physical exam and radiographs. While her symptoms are highly suggestive of panosteitis, there are other, more serious orthopedic problems that could also cause her symptoms. Yes, aspirin is safe to use in dogs (ask her vet what dose would be appropriate), but she should be evaluated to determine whether or not she might need more aggressive treatment.
By the way, never use any of the aspirin-free drugs without consulting with a veterinarian. Medications such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen can be very dangerous to dogs and cats.
Q: Our cat, Walter, has really bad breath. I tried to open his mouth to look at his teeth, but he cried as if it hurt. Could he have a bone stuck in his throat? How do you get it out if he won’t let me look in there?
A: I doubt that a bone is caught in Walter’s mouth or throat. If this were the case, he would have an extremely difficult time eating or drinking, and he’d suffer from more than just halitosis. More likely, he has either a bad tooth or an oral condition called stomatitis.
Stomatitis is an inflammation of the lining of the oral cavity (the mouth) and can be caused by several different things. Infection from an injury or even a bad tooth could be the cause of Walter’s symptoms. Treatment for either of these conditions would be relatively simple.
Another more complicated form of stomatitis results from a type of allergic response. Lymphoplasmacytic stomatitis causes widespread inflammation of the gumline and the lining of the mouth. No one really knows for sure why it occurs, but in many cases it is successfully treated with prednisolone or other immunosuppressive medication. This treatment lessens any allergic response but also can cause other health problems, so the patient needs close evaluation. Occasionally, a few dental extractions are needed to calm down the inflamed mouth.
Walter needs a thorough exam by a veterinarian. He will probably require some sedation or anesthesia to get a complete evaluation, and it’s possible that a few tests, including a biopsy of the tissue lining his mouth might be necessary.
I’m afraid his halitosis is more serious than a bone stuck in his mouth. And the sooner he gets help the sooner he can feel better and get back his fresh breath.
