Boxer with a limp.?

Question

Okay, my 5 year old boxer lab just started to walk with a limp in his back leg. Is it artheritis? Isn't he to young for that? I called the vet to ask if it was safe to give him advil or something. and of course they tell you to buy their stuff. We moved out of a big house into a medium sized appartment so he lays down a lot more. And after he walks around for about 2 minutes his leg is fine. But im still worried about it, and at the moment money is tight. Is there anything i can give him to ease the pain?

--He weighs about 90lbs

Answer 1

I would also highly recommend that you take your dog to a vet.

Be very careful what you give dogs for pain management - they are not able to process the same medications that humans take for pain. In fact, many analgesics which are fine for humans can be fatal to dogs and cats.

I am not a vet, and I cannot tell you what to give your dog, but if my dog were in a similar situation, I would give him a buffered aspirin (I would make certain that it was buffered!) to manage the pain until I could get him to the vet the following day.

I would not use the medication anymore than 24 hrs unless explicitly advised by a vet.

Bottom line - if you ever have any concerns about your animal's health, go to the vet.


"Tylenol, Advil, and Other Similar Pain Relievers (e.g., Ibuprofen, Acetaminophen, Naprosyn, etc.)

Dogs
These products cause vomiting, progressive depression, abdominal pain, and dark colored urine.

Signs of accidental overdose
Often the first sign an owner sees is blue mucous membranes. Other symptoms include:

Loss of appetite
Drooling
Vomiting
Depression
Dark colored urine
Swelling of faces and paws

These drugs can be very toxic to dogs and cats. If your pet accidentally consumes any of these drugs, please call Adobe immediately. In rare cases, your veterinarian may direct you to use one of these drugs. Follow the doctor's directions carefully and report any side effects."

"Aspirin (regular strength)
Dogs
You may sometimes be directed to use aspirin for your adult dog or puppy for relief of pain. Aspirin comes in several forms. Many veterinarians recommend regular aspirin, but others recommend "Ascriptin" because it is coated with Maalox. All types of aspirin should be given with a meal or with a significant amount of food in order to prevent stomach upset. If your dog vomits when taking aspirin, stop the drug and call the veterinarian. Dogs who are on long-term use need to be observed for signs of stomach irritation. Look for vomiting (vomit may look like coffee grounds), diarrhea, with or without blood, black colored stool, or nausea. Call the veterinarian if you notice any of these signs."

Answer 2

Do not give Tylenol, Advil, Motrin or other drugs of this type to your dog, it is highly toxic and I have seen it kill larger dogs than a boxer. You can give a buffered asprin, but we warned that not only does it cause blood thinning and ulcers, but if you do go to your vet within the next 72hrs, many of the common drugs they would have prescribed cannot be used when asprin is in the system. The most important thing with a leg injury is rest. Outside to go potty on a leash, than right back in. No stairs or furniture. If he has a crate that would be perfect, or try using a small bathroom to confine him. You can also apply warm compress (not hot) for 10-15 minutes every 4-6hrs. 5yrs old is middle aged for that size of dog, so he's not to old, but it may be a soft tissue injury as well.

Answer 3

Please take your dog to the vet. No dog limps without something being wrong. My neighbor has a dog that was limping. Upon taking the dog to the vet, she found out he had cancer. Unfortunately, she waited too long, and the cancer had spread. Don't wait around to see if it gets better. If you were limping, you wouldn't want someone to tell you to "wait and see if it gets better." Your dog has no one else to care for him but you. Perhaps the vet would be able to help you out by giving you a payment plan or a discount if you discussed your circumstances with him or her. Or if really in need of financial help, you could contact local no-kill shelters, or your vet, and ask if there are any sources of financial help. You will feel awful if you don't take care of your dog and something serious is wrong. On the other hand, if you get him examined and it's something minor, the cost will be small and you'll be glad you did the right thing.

Answer 4

Your dog probably needs to see a vet. Advil & asprins are not very safe for dogs, that is why they are made for humans, not dogs. I know it is hard to get them to a vet when money is tight, I've been there, but since you are the dogs owner it is your responsibility to keep him healthy. Get them to a clinic or some place where it isn't super expensive & see what is wrong. The longer you wait, the worse it could get, if you don't see a vet your dog could be in extreme pain. Think about this: if your kid needed to see a doctor, you would somehow get him there, no matter how tight money was, so why not the dog?

Answer 5

There aren't enough details in the information you provided to estimate the reason your dog is limping. I would closely examine the paw and ankle of the leg he limps on for any swelling or irregularities after play, and also see if he jerks away from gentle prodding or handleing of the leg/ankle. If he does then you should immediatly take him to a vet to prevent any further injury or damage. You're always better off safe than sorry.

Answer 6

HI...No u'r boxer is not too young to get arthritis. My German Sheppard has lupus, low thyroid and hip displasia. He is about 6 yrs old. Our lab had arthritis and the hip problem. At the time I could not afford the meds from the vet either. One vet told me I could give him 1 baby aspirin per day and an o/c med clld FLEX -A- MIN. It's a human med. for bad joints. U can find it at any walmart store. I hope this helps.
We had to put our lab down about 3 yrs. ago because he couldn't walk anymore. He was 11 yrs. old. Miss that dog.

Answer 7

Don't give him anything like Advil or Tylenol. These products contain ingredients that are toxic to dogs.

If you want to give him something, you could give him a baby aspirin. I wouldn't do it for more than a couple of days though. Aspirin thins the blood and if left on it for long periods of time dogs can start to bleed from their noses and such.

Answer 8

He might have something in his foot. Don't feed it aspirin, or ANY drugs. He probably needs a supplement called Glucose a-main with Condroitin [not sure of spelling]. It eases joint pain. It helps my dog tremendously! You can get it at a vitamin shop or health food store, or at your local drug store in the vitamin section! You might be able to massage his leg. The vet will only take your money. See if there is a holistic vet in your area. They could tell you about natural or alternative vitamin supplements. I hope he gets to stretch his legs on long walks! Good luck to you with your pooch!

Answer 9

It may be his leg falling asleep. It could also be a serious problem. Give it a couple more days if he continues to limp i would take him to the vet. baby asprin or buffered asprin work great.

Answer 10

I think you should get him to the vet. Sometimes there may be a problem with his vertebra. Big breeds like boxers are known to have hip problems. Maybe you should have that checked out as well.