Why are my dog's hocks wobbly and he's chewing them, but seems okay?

I cannot give you a definitive answer to your question just by looking at the is one x-ray. I can't get a good look at the x-ray as it won't enlarge enough for me to see what I need to see. Regardless, I think I see a lucent area on the calcaneous. That could be cancer but it could be osteomyelitis (bone infection) or even a fungal infection. It does not appear to involve the joint. The calcaneous is not at typical area to get bone cancer if that is any consolation. It is not impossible, just not common. This could be a hygroma (inflammation of the bursa) but without examining her myself it is too hard to say. I think your vet needs to aspirate the mass and look at the fluid under the microscope - usually you can see if there is bacteria in there (I would be worried about this so she really should be on some antibiotics) or cancer cells or just inflammation, etc. ( https://www.drsfostersmith.com/pic/article.cfm?articleid=2847 ) Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Well Max is probably the cutest dog I have seen all day! He could be slipping for long nails or poor joints. He is young but if he has joint issues, he could have arthritis at a young age and a hard time getting his grip on slick floors. I would consider putting him on a joint supplement. I like either dasuquin or flexadin UC-II. Make sure his nails are cut to where they are just touch the floor / even with his paw pads. The vet will be able to help you with this. Finally, I would consider getting him some “Dr. Buzby’s Toe Grips”. You can order these online. These work great to help give them traction. Also, I would confer taking him in for a thorough orthopedic exam. Your vet can even do X-rays to see the joints if there are any concerning problem areas. I hope this helps!

Have Hopper examined by your veterinarian. Spinal x-rays may reveal arthritic changes that could cause low back pain and home end weakness. Pain management, physical therapy, swim therapy and/or cold laser therapy may all be options depending on the diagnosis.

If there is no pain or limping then I would not worry. If he ever favors that leg, then I would get it checked. Arthritis is a possibility or a luxating patella based on the breed. Glucosamines and omega 3 fatty acids help a great deal but there are other medications your vet can add if needed.

I'm glad to hear that Rocco is still energetic as ever. In terms of things you can do to help with Rocco's discomfort, you might want to consider limiting the type of exercise that causes this kind of pain. As Rocco gets older, his joints may not be as well lubricated as they once were and he may even be experiencing some onset of arthritis. This can be verified with a physical exam and/or x-rays of the affected joints. Though you have indicated this only seems to happen after significant exercise, it might also be worth checking for tick borne diseases that can cause shifting leg lameness. Even though it doesn't seem likely in this case, if that were causing this it would be easily treatable. As for things you can do actively to treat the discomfort, I would consider starting Rocco on a joint supplement and/or fish oils. They will help lubricate the joints and reduce the affect of osteoarthritis long term. Pharmaceuticals available for the treatment of pain and inflammation in dog are extensive and variable. Some are generalized anti inflammatories, opioid pain killers, and some that address neuropathic pain. Other treatment modalities to address discomfort and inflammation include laser therapy, acupuncture, massage, and certain types of therapeutic exercises. The first thing you need to do though is have Rocco examined to rule out any sort of injury. Once that is determined, you can move onto treatment and prevention. Hope this helps.

Hi! Thanks for entrusting us with Jixser's care today! Lameness and stiffness can be a sign of a few things that range from a muscle sprain to even a fracture. This can also be due to arthritis. I recommend that you have him evaluated by your veterinarian so that this can be further assessed which will likely include radiographs. Treatment will be dependent on findings though at the very least pain control medications can be prescribed. If they determine this is possibly due to arthritis, they may start joint supplements like Cosequin and the joint diet hills Science Diet jd. Good luck! Hoping for a speedy recovery!

Hello, thank you for using PetCoach. I suspect Hank may have some arthritis. It is very common for dogs of all breeds, shapes, sizes to get arthritis as they age. The only true way to definitely diagnose arthritis would be with x-rays. I suggest you take Hank to your vet for an examination - there may be obvious clues to the vet that arthritis (or something else) is present. In the meantime you can try using a joint supplement that is made for dogs (not humans). I would use one that has the following ingredients: glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, methylsulfonylmethane (MSM). The MSM is very important as it is a natural anti-inflammatory. I would suggest one of the following products; ( https://worldtails.securevetsource.com/itemView/view/198943_Home.pml?productId=118402 ) ( https://worldtails.securevetsource.com/itemView/view/198943_Home.pml?productId=115737 ) ( https://worldtails.securevetsource.com/itemView/view/198943_Home.pml?productId=116465 ) It usually takes 6-8 weeks before you notice any difference once you start giving it to him so it use for a minimum of 2 months. If after that he does not seem to be doing much better you should really take him in to your vet for an exam. Hope this helps. Best wishes.