I need some dog advice. Pulled muscle?

[Neshanic]

I took my dog out to a park here to chase the ball. On the first throw, he runs like a maniac to get it, but as he got up to the ball, he yelped a little bit and then started limping. He trotted back. I was worried so I took him back home.

After napping on the couch, he woke up and now walks like he is stiff in right rear leg, and I have felt it gently to see if he reponded to a pain.

Could he of pulled a muscle running? He is now on my bed sleeping. He's a four year old Bull Mastiff/Rotty mix.

[Critters2]

1. Have you ever had his hips checked?

Hip dysplasia is VERY common in large breed dogs. It's very painful and limping is a common symptom. With a dog that large, that would be my first thought.

[flvegan]

2. Take him to the vet. It's very possible that he pulled something

or even stepped on something.

[LeftyMom]

4. If you're going to think my thoughts, I must ask that you type slower.

:D

[LeftyMom]

3. Might he have stepped on something?

I'd check his paws first and go from there.

If nothing obvious turns up and either the problem gets any worse or is still around come monday I'd head on over to the vet.

[NancyBreen]

5. My Belgian Shepherd is healing after his second

knee surgery. His first limp was his right knee at age 3. His left knee went out last spring and that operation took place the end of May. He's healing well and no longer has a limp until he gets really tired.

[Neshanic]

6. Thanks for the help...I did check his paws, and the doctor at his last

recent visit said he was fine in the hip department. He walks with a stiffness on the one rear side, kind of favoring it. Because he made a small yelp, and it was then right after, what do you all think? Is a pulled muscle possible?

[Wcross]

7. It is probably nothing.

I might want to wait and see if he "walks it off". It isn't something I would go see an emergency vet about. I have five dogs and after the first three vet visits for a limp I have learned to wait and observe. Let him hang out and rest the leg, see if he improves.

[Neshanic]

8. Really? It happened about four hours ago...

He just got up off the bed right now and seems a bit better. I am going to take him out to do his business, and then bring him right back in so he can rest.

Thank you all so much, this dog is the center of my universe.

[Wcross]

10. Wait four days.....

Of course if it gets WORSE take him to the vet. If he shows steady improvement then he should be OK.

Now I have to ask for a picture of this guy. Please!!!!! He has to be a big guy with those bloodlines!

[Neshanic]

11. I will post them...we just back from a quick walk.

[blockhead]

9. my golden/lab

did the same thing playing ball this summer. I don't think it was so much the running but the real fast stopping. He ended up snapping some sort of cruciate ligament which is equivilent to blowing out his rear knee. I remember a couple weeks before that, he let out a yelp and had a slight limp while playing ball, which the vet said might have been a sign of a ligament tear.

It was about an eight hundred dollar surgery to repair but his ball fetching days are over.

I hope yours is just a pulled muscle. Good luck Nesh.

[Neshanic]

13. Thank you. He's going to the vet on Tuesday for his kennel cough shot/spray thing, but I am going

get him in there on Monday morning.

[Neshanic]

12. Here is the big lug. The first day and then him guarding the frig.

[Wcross]

14. He is a great looking dog!

Thanks for posting those pictures!

[barb162]

17. The first three are a cute puppy. The next two are of a horse, right?

:hi:

[Zoigal]

15. What a handsome guy....

Hope he feels better soon. p

[Neshanic]

16. Thanks, I have been cuddling on the bed with him, he's a sweetie.

[Wcross]

18. They all are.

I never met a bad dog in my life. Just badly trained.