Hi
My Chesapeake bitch Wizz is 20 months old, she is fit & active, occasionaly I notice she's a bit stiff onher front leg, this may be after swimming or a long walk. I use her for picking up in the season & I haven't seen her lame or stiff after a days work. Has anyone got any advice, should I put her on a glucosamine supplement? she hasn't been hip scored yet

Could be many different things. I would rest and if that doesn't help sounds like a trip to the vet is in order unless she is limping bad then go right away. Glucosamine supplements are a good thing to give but should probally find out why the limp.

I would check for Lyme disease.

It is only occasionaly, only seen her a bit stiff twice. I'm just concerned & also with the season fast approaching, want to make sure she is fit & healthy.
What is Lyme disease?
Also do you think it may be wise to get her hip scored?
What is the best glucosamine supplement?

Lyme Disease is a disease with complicated symptoms that is spread by tick bites. The ticks that are most troublesome are not the big dog ticks, so even if you have never seen an engorged tick on your dog she might still have Lyme. The topical anti-tick stuff is good, but not a perfect prevention. I know because at least one of my dogs had Lyme in spite of regular Frontline use. Some dogs are tough enough that they display almost no symptoms until they are pretty deep into the disease. There is a screening blood test that can be done in any vet's office that tests for 3 common tick-associated diseases (Erlichiosis, Lyme, and Rocky Mt. Spotted Fever) and it isn't expensive. The standard treatment for Lyme is antibiotics.

But there are plenty of other problems that can cause occasional lameness. For example, elbow dysplasia does occur in Chessies and could be causing your girl's problems.

Really, the best thing to do is to bring her to a vet clinic (like others have said) for a diagnosis. Our dogs will do almost anything for us if their bodies allow. In my opinion, it's up to us to follow up when they show us that there is a problem. I speak from personal experience that there are few things worse than finding out later that a dog was asked to do more than was right.

Claire

I agree that that a tick panel is in order. It only takes 5 minutes in the vet office for an answer. Also I would keep her quite untill you have the testing done in case it is something else, but get her to a vet!


Joyce