Mutley limping and has a bald patch and scabs on back leg

[S6 Devil]

My 7 year old Schnauzer Mutley has started limping after a day out with a friend. It is his rear right leg which was the one he limped on over a year ago. The cause was unknown but the vet thought it may be a cruciate. I did conservative management for 6 months and all healed well. The vet told me there was no arthritis either.

The friend who had him for the day assures me that he was on a lead and only started limping after a long sleep post walk. She tells me that he limped for approx 5 steps then was fine again. I collected him and he is still limping sporadically 5 days later. He puts full weight on the leg but seems stiff after a rest and raises the rear right leg to walk. I have noticed a bald patch of hair on his upper right thigh that had a scab which has now healed. The area is approx 2 inches by 2 inches. There are also some scabs on his tail close to the body. I wondered about a tick bite but haven't seen one, unless he removed it.
Any thoughts?

[bexVN]

Not so likely to be a tick esp if a few scabs. Has he been nibbling the area?

3 possible common reasons
Fleas
Anal Glands
Mange

It's probably time for a vet check. You could try treating with salt water bathing, drying off and applying eg sudocrem to the patches but that doesn't help explain the cause. Could get his leg ck'd at the same time.

[S6 Devil]

bexVN said:

Not so likely to be a tick esp if a few scabs. Has he been nibbling the area?

3 possible common reasons
Fleas
Anal Glands
Mange

It's probably time for a vet check. You could try treating with salt water bathing, drying off and applying eg sudocrem to the patches but that doesn't help explain the cause. Could get his leg ck'd at the same time.

Hi Bex,

Many thanks for replying. I didn't think it was ticks as the symptoms don't seem to fit. The other day when out for a walk he would constantly keep suddenly sitting down and trying to scratch/bite his bum. He still keeps suddenly looking at his bum as if there is something biting him. Yes, he has been nibbling at his rear end. I will have a feel to see if his anal glands are full.

He doesn't have any fleas although I have given him a wash in flea shampoo and Dermacton shampoo for itchy skin just in case. He has been wormed and drontalled.

I have been using germolene on the bare patch and it has all cleared up and the scabs on his tail are nearly gone. Just waiting for the hair to grow back.

Not sure about mange but will have a read.

The main reason I thought ticks is that they can cause limping. I don't know what the limping is about as he walks with a spring in his step and stands on the leg to pee...on everything! It's a strange one! It seems different from when he had a suspected cruciate tear. It seems like he is stiff and achy, like I am when getting up after sitting at a desk too long.

I have emailed the vet and will arrange to take him in tomorrow.

Edited by S6 Devil on Wednesday 20th August 20:54

[Thevet]

The info you give on being lame after rest is almost certainly arthritis, no major deal, it means wear and tear which will only get worse with increasing age, imagine an engine running with cartilage rather than metal bearings, wear will occur. Various things can be done to alleviate the symptoms of that wear but you canot reverse the wear, hence the reason I ache. I doubt the skin lesions you describe are the cause of the limp, but without seeing the affected area and assessing how sore it is and how it affects Mutley (good name, same as mine) then I cannot be sure of their significance. So, your dog is getting older and in my view showing some signs of that, but lots can be done to slow further deterioration and signs of discomfort if necessary.

[bexVN]

Ticks will only cause limping as a symptom of lymes disease and would usually affect all limbs and cause other vague problems. Lymes does happen but still pretty uncommon. Mention your concerns to the vet though.

Edited by bexVN on Wednesday 20th August 20:56

[S6 Devil]

Thevet said:

The info you give on being lame after rest is almost certainly arthritis, no major deal, it means wear and tear which will only get worse with increasing age, imagine an engine running with cartilage rather than metal bearings, wear will occur. Various things can be done to alleviate the symptoms of that wear but you canot reverse the wear, hence the reason I ache. I doubt the skin lesions you describe are the cause of the limp, but without seeing the affected area and assessing how sore it is and how it affects Mutley (good name, same as mine) then I cannot be sure of their significance. So, your dog is getting older and in my view showing some signs of that, but lots can be done to slow further deterioration and signs of discomfort if necessary.

Thanks Tim. He takes Vetzyme high strength flexible joint tablets and has done since the cruciate issue. I was thinking of starting him on Musselflex 500mg Organic Green Lipped Mussel tablets.

What else can be done to slow the arthritis, he's only 7yrs, seems young for arthritis?

[S6 Devil]

bexVN said:

Ticks will only cause limping as a symptom of lymes disease and would usually affect all limbs and cause other vague problems. Lymes does happen but still pretty uncommon. Mention your concerns to the vet though.

Edited by bexVN on Wednesday 20th August 20:56

Thanks Bex. I will let the vet know.

[gd49]

S6 Devil said:

Thanks Tim. He takes Vetzyme high strength flexible joint tablets and has done since the cruciate issue. I was thinking of starting him on Musselflex 500mg Organic Green Lipped Mussel tablets.

What else can be done to slow the arthritis, he's only 7yrs, seems young for arthritis?

Anti-inflammatory drugs will slow progression once arthritis has started, and if he's in pain and limping it sounds like he should be on them. You could think about hydrotherapy to help maintain muscle mass and joint motion as well.

If he's a full size Schnauzer then 7 years isn't that old for arthritis, big dogs age quicker than smaller ones.

[S6 Devil]

gd49 said:

Anti-inflammatory drugs will slow progression once arthritis has started, and if he's in pain and limping it sounds like he should be on them. You could think about hydrotherapy to help maintain muscle mass and joint motion as well.

If he's a full size Schnauzer then 7 years isn't that old for arthritis, big dogs age quicker than smaller ones.

Thanks gd49. He's a miniature Schnauzer. I am not keen on NSAID's on a long term basis, is there anything else that would help?

One other thing is that he has been struggling to climb stairs, so seems to have some muscle weakness in the right leg too. I'm now carrying him up and down the stairs and have a stairgate in place. I can't help thinking that there is something more than arthritis going on.

[bexVN]

Talk to your vet about options such as physio/ hydro. Xrays to get a diagnosis or all clear. There are other natural remedies eg devils claw.

People do misunderstand NSAIDS as a result delay using them until late on where their effectiveness is lessened. If it is arthritis they will quickly reduce inflammation and help give the joint time to recover, they may not need to be long term at this stage either.

Blood tests can be done to ck liver and kidney function first to ensure NSAIDS will be ok to use.

Remember some natural products can have harmful side effects, so just be careful about what you use.

[Nigeyp]

I realise this is now an old thread however our Springer Spaniel has developed what seems like an allergy and “wounds” have appeared on his foot and his tail that he’s chewing at, and biting at his groin, and he is also on Vetzyme joint tablets so we think it’s these tablets that is causing the awful allergic reaction, and could be the cause of your dogs bald spots

[bexVN]

Nigeyp said:

I realise this is now an old thread however our Springer Spaniel has developed what seems like an allergy and “wounds” have appeared on his foot and his tail that he’s chewing at, and biting at his groin, and he is also on Vetzyme joint tablets so we think it’s these tablets that is causing the awful allergic reaction, and could be the cause of your dogs bald spots

What does your vet think?