Limping Greyhound

[longlands6]

Hi all

My 5 year old Greyhound has previously raced but has be homed for over two years now. In the summer of last year he was spooked by a dog and ran off as they do this followed by months of keeping him on a lead and only walking short distances due to a limp stemming from his left shoulder. He did have a course of anti-inflammatorys also. It appears that the muscle has never fully repaired and after the weekend has suddenly developed quite a significant limp on the same shoulder.

I am considering taking out insurance as feel this problem is likely to develop into arthiritis as he gets older - but i guess my questions are what treatment if any would a vet give for a torn muscle in the shoulder or is it likely that it would only be more anti-inflammatories? Is it more likely that the problem will just come and go and never fully heal regardless of treatment?

[Lisa]

If it is getting worse get it x rayed asap! It may not be the same thing. Greyhounds can be very prone to bone cancer in this area and it needs checking. Insurance sadly wont cover it now. If its a pre existing condition and arthritis does develop in the area if its just an old injury playing him up it will be on your vets records already x
Please DO get that shoulder x rayed though and quickly

[Milothemonster]

I second Lisa.. if you dog hasnt been xrayed then do get it done, to rule out osteosarcoma.

If it is a muscle injury then this may well continue to flare up from time to time when the dog has done too much. My Lurcher Milo damaged a muscle in his neck as a youngster and has resulting flare ups which cause him to limp on a front leg occassionally. This is also more likely to develop into arthritis as the dog gets older.

Vets usually give anti inflamms but hydrotherapy is also valuable to help with this condition and often improves it.

But as said do get your dog checked out again and x rayed just to rule out anything more sinister going on which may be masked by the symptoms of a damaged muscle.