3 legged running... - Page 1

Hi everyone, Just wanted to see if anyone has answer for this...

When my 2 year old male runs he seems to not place his rear left leg down at all..  looks like he using it but that leg doesnt touch the ground. He seems to crab a little at this pace.

When sprinting whe does use both rear, when is walking he uses them just fine...  It is only at a fast pace that this happends with his left rear leg.

He does not look in pain or anything a like, I have seen this for a few months now. Any ideas or way to fix this? has anyone expirenced anthing like thise before?

Thanks

In a smaller breed my immediate reaction would be to check for a luxating patella in that leg,
i.e. the knee cap slipping outside the bony 'groove' it is supposed to run in.  Worth considering
even so, as it does occasionally occur in GSDs and other larger dogs.

The other thing that just might be causing this is a Gracillis Contracture;  the thigh muscle
cramps up, the dog gets a 'pins & needles' sensation, it causes a limp and the foot turns up &
outwards as he moves.  [I only know about this 'cos my boy has this problem all his life - ruins
the Gait from a Show ring point of view !]

If neither of these, I don't know.  Either way, I would check it out with my Vet.
I suppose it could just be a bad habit he's picked up ?
Linda.

My girl landed badly a few weeks ago and yelped in pain.  I knew in my heart she had torn her ACL from past experience.  She won't put weight on it and stands with it off the ground. It is still a bit wonky, she is now leashed and under my control.  I do not want her to tear it more so until it heals she is leashed and walked.

I believe the only way a leg injury can heal in a big dog is to keep it leashed and no running or jumping for weeks. If it is a small tear in ACL it will heal on its own eventually.  The problem is people don't usually wait long enough for the small tear to heal and eventually it tears even more.
Then it is not good.

The OP says this has been happening for some time, its only one pace
affected, and no apparent pain.  Didn't shout cruciate ligament injury
at me ! 

It was just a thought that crossed my mind.  My good friend just had her lab operated on to repair the torn ligament.  I am concerned for my dog as well, as her back left leg is weak. I have a sinking feeling.......

Hi everyone, Thanks for your help...
I think I try to make a video and then posted on youtube so you guys can see what I see....Might make it easier

@Hundmutter, I searched for luxating patella  and Gracillis Contracture on youtube but it did not look like what my dog is doing...

@Eldee, if he had a torn ACL would he be avoiding putting any weight on his leg when walking or running really fast?   

I decided to place a bit of pressure all over his leg to try to find a sore spot but didnt seem bother him.

I was thinking of taking him to a chiropractor... I really would like to get to the bottom of it... Any more suggestions?

Asking the obvious - has your dog ever had a hip xray?

@Blitzen

No, he has not been x rayed...

What the OP describes is not unusual in dogs that have had minor to moderate partial ACL tears that have healed with a significant amount of scar tissue; they tend to either hold the affected leg up fully, or at most hold it up enough that they do no more than barely 'kiss' the ground with the toes of the affected leg as they move.  You never see the dog do it when at a walk or trot, and they don't always do it if they're loping or galloping, either.  


Here's some info on normal canine gaits and analyzing them for problems.  

Never overlook the obvious - German Shepherd, rear end issue, think hips first and go from there.