OOPS MY DOG IS LIMPING by Ruth Reynolds for Pat Long's Berner-L series on orthopedic issues in the BerneseMountain Dog
Most limping is due to soft tissue (non bone) injury and merely requires rest for recuperation. The “rest” part is the challenge for many owners. Utilizing a crate throughout the dog’s life puts an injured animal at distinct advantage. With rest, and sometimes prescribed antiinflammatories, most limping will abate and the animal will resume soundness permanently. Without rest, soft tissue injuries are not unlike that sprained ankle we never really rested appropriately, which flares up under abuse from time to time. To avoid recurrent limping, 10 days of crate rest with leash walking (only to eliminate in the yard and then back into the crate immediately) is the minimal requirement in my program of husbandry. If symptoms are not improved in three days, the animal sees the veterinarian. I rely on years of experience in assessing whether or not to see the vet before the three day wait-and-see period passes. If one has any doubt whether or not one's dog’s injury merits medical attention, arranging to have the dog examined right away by someone WITH experience....the dog’s veterinarian, is usually a good choice.
Many owners find the strict crate rest unbearable and leave the animal loose in the house as long as it is not rowdy. It is not the “rowdy” part that is of concern, as typically the animal is too painful to WANT to engage in serious play. What is of concern is the repeated strain on recuperating soft tissues in the rising and falling of the animal as it moves from room to room. The repeated ups and downs are not conducive to healing. Thus strict crate rest is advised for lameness at onset. Periods of hands on gentle body massage (while watching tv!) are beneficial as long as the animal is not getting up and down.
I would like to share a phenomenon I have observed and practiced in treating injuries sustained through rough play. Explaining why it occurs is difficult (if even possible)...so I will focus simply on sharing with you the technique and results I have experienced.
When I witness a blow, a fall, a tumble which results in an animal’s sudden lameness, I immediately go to the animal. I cup in my hand the affected limb at the site of apparent discomfort, and gently squeeze (not to cause pain) in a supportive fashion. Using that cupped hand, I gently move over the area in a massage-like squeezing application of my energy. The response from the animal tells me how gentle/firm to squeeze and whether this is helping or not. If I feel the animal begin to relax a bit, I continue. If the animal tenses, he or she is experiencing pain and I lessen my pressure and sometimes stop altogether. Rarely when I have used this technique does the animal not get up and resume normal activities.
Granted, without intervention, the animal may have walked away without a limp anyway. However, I have also applied this technique to lame animals, some unknown time after onslaught of symtoms with the same results. Soundness does not happen EVERY time, but that has not discouraged me from using this technique EVERY time....in the event it will help.
Consider the natural instinct of a parent to pick up a crying child who has fallen and to cup the site of injury as though to protect it. What happens in this instance is that the parent instinctively brings to that injury site their own positive (non-pain, wellness) energy. Practitioners of the many ancient healing arts utilize this very technique in drawing pain from patients. Try it if you have the misfortune of needing to use it. It just may help and it won’t hurt a bit.