Hi everyone! I have been lurking mostly in the past few weeks.

A few weeks ago Toby came limping up to me with his back paw lifted. I thought he had a sticker, So I felt his paw for something, it was clean. He kept lifting up his leg, and my husband walked over and said, he has a muscle cramp or something and started rubing his upper leg, he said something 'popped' back in place and Toby trotted off like nothing happened! well, its happened a few more times since then, but all I have to do is rub his upper leg and he is off and running. He is 15 months old, still on puppy food, picture of health in every way. Has anyone got any ideas of what the heck is going on with his leg?

ask, Sandra she went through something Oprthopedic with her one dog I believe. And remember that one site that I gave to you , think you book marked it, think it was a link off that weimi site, do you have it???? I don't like the "popping sound" though/

I don't like the sound of that "popped back into place." Cheryl, I would have an x-ray done just for peace of mind.

Rosemary - I have looked on a few of thesite you gave me, one being the Merick Vet site. To be honest, I just dont know enough about the tedons and muscles of dogs for the site to be of much use.

Barbi - it is a type of pop, but not really, hard to describe. LIke something was twisted and when I rub it downward, it moves it back. Toby starts running at once, certainly no long term pain. Its only happened a few times.

I called his vet just now, he needs a bordetella booster anyway, so I am taking them in on Saturday. I am very leary of surgery though, he is so young. I take them to a larger vet practice that has Saturday and Sunday hours, and to be honest, I dont trust some of the larger vet offices when they want to perform surgeries on pets. The office I take them too wanted over 400 bucks to nueter Toby! I took him to the Spay clinic and they did it for 65 bucks. See why I am a little leary? I mean the staff seems like they care and they have always provided good care, I just think maybe they want to provide a little too much care at times.

I think there's an otho site there,but I' wrote sandra Slayton & asked her to view this thread, keep us informed & I'll keep Toby & you in prayer! Maybe it was a lab/ retriever site, Dog owners site?

I hope his leg will be ok. Please keep us updated.

It sounds very much like my golden, KayCee. First I have to say I lost am wonder old Irish Setter at age 12 to bone cancer in rear leg in '97. Okay, we got KayCee and her littermate brother Hunter at 8 weeks of age in Oct. '99. When I first saw KayCee limping just before Christmas in '01, I was in a panic. Then a short time later she wasn't limping, big sigh of relief. But then she started limping again and I got her to the vet. As soon as he watched her walk (limp) he said someting like "luxating patella." Never heard of such a thing. After he examined her leg, he had me hold her knee and when he moved her leg I could feel this movement and hear a light popping sound. Explination. The groove the kneecap rides in isn't deep enought and the kneecap jumps out to the side. When it is out, the dog limps or doesn't use the leg and when some movement puts it back in place, no limping.

Kase had her surgery right after Christmas. He deeped the groove the knee cap rides in, tightened the crui legiment and the joint. I had to keep her inactive for 4 weeks--like tied to furniture on 4 foot leash, take her out on leas to do busniness, etc.

THEN a year later her other knee "went south" and it really was bad. She coulnd't run, she couldn't get on the bed, etc without help. This surgery was even "bigger" than the first. All the above procedures had to be done, but this time he had to cur the tibia crest and rotate the tibia bone and insert pins. She was in splint for severl days, then kept inactive for 6 weeks. This was done just a little over a year ago ag age 3 1/2. (Was just past 2 when had first surgery) and today she runs and keeps up with the other dogs, has no trouble getting onto furniture. Is great to see be being a normal dog. We know arthritis is loomin ahead and we give her 2 synoviG3 tablets a day for joing reinforcement. I will be checking back to see what you find out and if it is luxating patellas and surgery is done, I can give you all kinds of helpful hints I learned while going thru this twice. Good luck. Sandra

Thanks so much for all the responses.

Sandra, I did a search on luxating patellas, and Toby's problem is in a different area completely. I can feel a tendon or something at the lower edge of his upper thigh right at the wide curve before the thigh meets his body. (does that make sense?) Its as if a muscle or tendon is out of its proper place, but when I rub it downward, it moves back into place. And Toby has absolutely no pain after. Its hard to explain unless you are standing here with me and Toby is here to show you!! But I am pretty sure its not bone or joint related.

It sounds very serious - keep us posted after you see the vet, I'm really curious as to what this is.

I'll be watching Sat for your vet's diag. let us know!search this! there's a section for Joints, muscles & bones, these are usually easy to understand & have great links etc( when one of the cfp pets hurt, it seems like WE ALL FEEL IT!
http://www.peteducation.com/index.cfm?cls=2

15 months old w/arthritis? thats toooooo young 2 have that i think. i hope toby gets better.

Keep us posted Cheryl , Let us know how Toby is doing.

Thanks for all the prayers and good thoughts. His appt is Saturday at 1 pm, so I will make sure and post right when we get home.

I have done so much researchin the past few days, I am almost certain it is a tendon in his 'shin' I think it might be loose,,? I am certainly not a vet! But he seems so active for it to be anything too serious. The dog never stops running!

I will keep you updated for sure! Thanks again for the links and the suggestions.

Hi Cheryl, Well at least its good news to know, he isn't in any pain.

It wouldn't be the beginnings of hip dysplacia would it?

Either way, I hope Toby gets better real soon!

Just got back from the vet's.

Toby got an "ideal" on his body score!

The vet said that his leg is healthy, no problems. He thinks Toby sprained it, and of course, wont rest so its not allowing the sprain to heal. He said there is no swelling, all the bones and joints are healthy. Because Toby is a big boy (he is 93 lbs) he said that his muscles are working hard when he plays, and from time to time, he will get twists and sprains, just like humans. And the vet said that he wouldnt worry about it, it will heal on its own.

THANK YOU for all the good wishes and prayers, they worked!

What wonderful news! I'm so glad to hear that there's nothing major wrong with his leg.
Now lets just hope he calms down and lets it heal

Yay for Toby!