OK, I know the default answer to that question in any thread is “yes, take her to the vet”, but I’ll lay it out anyway.
Mo is +/- 14 yo spayed female black Lab mix (we got her 13 years ago at the pound).
Generally healthy (gets a once a week incontinence pill of some sort), eats well, normally likes her walks, etc. Probably a little arthritic (sometimes takes a while to get moving on walks which I attribute to loosening up stiff joints).
At any rate, took her out for her nighttime pee. Walking in the yard, her right hind leg spasmed three or four times (basically kicked back and out). She did a not particularly good squat to pee, took a couple of tentative steps, had one more spasm, then decided that she wanted to tour the cul-de-sac before going back in (I did ask her if that was good idea, she seemed to think it was, from which I infer she wasn’t in pain, because she’ll head for home by herself on walks if she decides she’s had enough).
She was fine this morning, trying to con me into her longer weekend morning walk vs. the standard week day one.
I could take her to the vet, but since it was (so far) a one-time thing and there are no ongoing symptoms, I’m assuming they’ll say “let us know if it happens again”. Or am I being obtusely blase about it, and should take her in?
Has she has spasms or other possibly neurology-related symptoms before?
I’d keep a closer eye on her, maybe test her willingness and ability to be active. Maybe touch her legs to see if she’s unusually reticent to contact in those areas.
But at that point, I’d think it may have more to do with a combination of aging and having a bad morning.
If she’s not getting age-related diet/treatment to ease muscle/joint/bone issues, it may be a good idea to start.
She might have stepped on something–or stepped awkwardly–and was shaking it out of her foot. Keep a log: how many times it recurs, how many days out of the next week, how long to recover; you’ll get a better idea of severity. Might have been a fluke.
When we got our first puppy (20+ years ago) she leapt off the bed her third day and immediately started to limp. SHIT! I broke the puppy! Frantic call to the vet. If it’s not better by tomorrow, bring her in, they said through humoring-the-first-time-puppy-owner giggles. Next day, everything’s fine (except for the gray hair).
My beagle does this. She doesn’t like things between her toes. And Does a spastic beagle dance, trying to shake the offending crud off.
Check between her toes.
Thanks for the quick replies - wait and see it is.
I’m pretty sure my wife already gives her some sort of joint supplements (but those may be woo based, I don’t really know. I think something with glucosamine at any rate).
She didn’t step on anything - she has us well trained so when anything (usually snow/ice or (this morning) a sweet gum ball) gets in her toes, she stops and lifts the offending paw up so we can deal with it.
Apparently there are no online pictures of Mo. While I look into remedying that, here is her arch-nemesis, Athena. (Actually, they co-exist fine by generally ignoring each other).
Dissenting opinion, sorta. The “once a week incontinence pill” sounds like diethylstilbestrol, which can have some side effects. If she hasn’t had blood work done in the past 6 months, she’s due.
I’d wait and see. I’m usually a wait-and-see person, but I noticed the night before last my elderly Siamese Sabrina straining in the litter box. I made an appointment the next day, because she’s about 16-17 and had pancreatitis before. Just went this evening and she has a raging (top of the chart) urinary tract infection. 3 weeks of clavamox. And all I saw was her straining. Sometimes it’s good to listen to your instincts.
I love, love your babies! I hope Mo is ok.
I have 2 Siamese who absolutely rule my 2 doggies. They don’t stand a chance with the deadly (but devastating beautiful) duo.
Keep us posted.
