Need help 5 week old puppy is limping - Page 1

My 5 1/2 week old puppy was out yesterday and she was under this bush and all of a sudden she started crying  and when she tried to walk she was limping on her front leg really bad about 1/2 hour later she seemed back to normal. When I let the puppies out a couple of hours later she was running around playing with her litter mates and seemed fine.

Well this morning I let the pups out and she ran out with the other puppies, no limp in site, about 10 minutes later I hear her crying again and she is under the same bush and now she is limping on her back right leg! My husband took a rake and cleaned out stuff from under the bush and all he found was some pine needles, pine cones and a couple of rocks.
I have a vet appointment for her this afternoon, I was wondering if anyone has ever seen anything like this? Thank you.

Robin

She is probably getting into a nest of biting insects.  To her credit, the pain from the day before did not deter her from re-igniting her curiousity and memory.   But she may become a dog for whom discretion is NOT the better part of valor.  That's good for training, at least.

The first thing my husband and I thought because we were both right there with the 1st episode was that she possibly got stung by a bee, I've caught her mother snapping at bees everyday, since the puppies started going outside. The only thing is none of her litter mates and there are 6 more, have been stung or bit and they go under the same bush every day, it seems to be there favorite bush to play/hide under!

But if she has a great nose and/or memory, she can dig into a nest of biting ants, for example, and the others won't have the drive to get to them.  She may turn out to be a driven tracker/worker.  Watch her carefully before selling her!

So, what did the vet have to say about this puppy limping?  Don't keep us hanging.

At the age of 5.5 weeks the cause is most likely a sting or bite. I would keep an eye on the area, and would discuss it with the veterinarian. Obviously there has been no serious allergic reaction?

At that age a broken bone is highly unlikely, as is a stretched ligament. Evenso, I would call the veterinarian just so he is aware.
 
Over the years my dogs have been bitten by spiders, stung by wasps and scorpions, and one was bitten by a poisonous snake. Fortunately all of them were not small puppies when this happened - especially the incident with the snakebite. Just keep an eye on the muzzle in case it swells, and watch the injured foot for signs of infection.

Best Regards,
Bob-O

Would you believe the vet didn't have any idea what was wrong with her! The vet said she didn't have any fractures, she couldn't find any sore spots on the leg. The puppy was chasing us around the vet's office, you could tell she favored her back right leg slightly. The vet didn't have a clue, thought maybe she stepped on something or got stung. She is eating, drinking and doesn't have a temp.  I got home from the vet and put her back with her litter mates and she seemed fine, then just a little while ago I went to let them out and I went to pick her up and she howled like I was killing her, I put her down and she ran around with the other pups for awhile, I picked her up again and she just gave me kisses. Go Figure! I definitely don't have a clue! This is my 13th litter of puppies, I've never seen anything like this, she was absolutely fine up until last night!

M L:   When you picked her up., how did you pick her up....describe how you reached and how and where were your hands.../

I would keep this puppy in  a play pen , you know the outdoor round 65.00 pens with door and screw pins into the dirt?

when other pups are playing)...watch her and observe if the pup yells again..put her some toys and put a big rug or piece of carpet and see how she lays...watch how she gets up and how she sits....see if you notice anything different from others?????

I would not let her play with others for a three or four day period   for observation....NO I AM NOT SURPRISED THE VET KNEW NOTHING>>>>>I DON"T LIKE TO WASTE MONEY>>>


Another thing to consider::::   could her mom have corrected her by grabbing the front of her and biting down real hard and it scared her or made her neck and front leg sore  ????  not the back leg...moms sometimes pic on one female pup and dig their mouths into them not breaking the skin but it hurts the pup and could make her ribs sore or her front or back end according to where Mom corrected her..I have seen lots of bitches do this and if you remember one other poster had a bout with it and she was feeding her bitch in the box with the pups....no no no .....never...

So the bitch was attacking the most strong forward pup because of her food being in the birthing area.


Just a thought ??even if not food,,,could be a pushy pup that mom had words with(  teeth words)