Limping on rear leg.

Dr. Marie replied:

Sorry to hear that Buddy is having problems with his leg. I'll give you a few possible ideas as to what could be going on with him, but lameness issues can be tough to talk about online without being able to examine Buddy.

My first concern when I see a dog with a sore back leg is a cruciate ligament tear. This is the same thing as an ACL tear. It's possible that Buddy had a partial tear in the ligament when you first had him and now it has progressed to a complete tear. A partial tear will often get better on its own, but unfortunately if there is a complete tear it will only heal properly with surgery and that surgery can be quite expensive.

It's also possible that he has some pain in one of his joints. This could be from arthritis (although he's a little young for that) or possibly even from hip dysplasia.

If he has joint pain that comes and goes then lyme disease is a possibility if you live in an area that sees lyme disease. Lyme is spread by ticks. It is usually treatable, but some dogs can have lasting joint pain despite treatment.

A back problem is also a possibility, especially in a beagle or bassett hound. Both of these breeds can be prone to back problems. If it is a back problem, it may be some inflammation between the discs or it could be something more serious such as a bulging disc. A bulging disc can be serious and can need surgery.

I would highly advise you to have a vet take a look at Buddy. They will do a good thorough exam. If there is a cruciate tear then the vet can usually tell by doing some manipulation of the knee joint. (It's not something that you could feel at home though). The vet may also want to take some xrays to see if there is another issue present. They can also prescribe some safer medication to help with discomfort. It's possible that this is just a simple sprain or strain, and if so, a few days of anti-inflammatory medication can be really helpful. Ibuprofen can be very hard on a dog's kidneys, so it's not recommended to stay on that. There really isn't an over the counter medicine that I consider safe and effective for dogs.

I really hope that there is nothing serious going on!

If you have more questions, let me know. I'm heading offline right now but I'll be back on in the morning.

Dr. Marie.


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Dr. Marie replied:

I'm guessing that Buddy's tail is totally normal. Some dogs can be born with a tail deformity that makes it go in a funny direction or sometimes have a kink in it.

It's not likely to be connected to his current issue.

Glad to hear he's feeling good today!

Dr. Marie