My 13 year old dog seems to have a dislocated shoulder. We first noticed that she was limping on her front left leg and then as the days have gone by it appears that her left shoulder is up higher than her right. It looks like it may be dislocated. She doesn't seem to be in any pain (That we can tell). The limp is not pronounced but definately visible. She still wants to play and go for short walks. Still goes up and down the stairs. We're just wondering if there;s anything we should do about the shoulder.

Hi, Malone,
Any dislocated joint needs more urgent attention than this if it is to be replaced satisfactorily.
Fortunately for you, many dislocations do not cause a serious permanent disabilty, since a 'false joint' forms, eventually, which gives a reasonable degree of moevement, often quite adequate for an older dog.
It may require an x-ray to confirm the dislocation, but it is unlikely that anything could be done about it now, and if she does not appear to be in pain,
any treatment would be pointless. However, it is always best to get it examined by a vet.
W

how is this usually treated?

Hi, Anastasia,

In most cases simple reduction by manipulation followed by strapping up is sufficent, especially if done quickly after the dislocation occurs.

W

My son's german shorthair dislocated her shoulder hunting about 1 1/2 weeks ago.
My son hasn't taken her to the vet because he believes nothing can be done.
She is limping quite a bit, but it's hard to tell if she is in alot of pain.

What should be done?

Thanks,
Sandy

Hi, Sandy,

If this dog did sustain a dislocated shoulder 10 days or so ago, it is now far too late to have it reduced satisfactorily. As a result it my well be that the dog will never be able to work again.
There will definitely be pain there, and your son should be ashamed of himself for not getting it attended to immediately.

W

the groomer dislocated my dogs rt shoulder 3 weeks ago - we have been to the vet 3 time - initally told it was a sprained leg - now today new xrays showed the dislocation - we can't get in to see the Specialist for another week - is there anything to do??

Hi, Vicki,

It is unlikely that a dislocated shoulder will be replaced satsifactorily after 3 weeks, and I would expect your dog to have a limp for the rest of his life.

There is no first aid that you can give to help

W

I have a pug that will be 14 years next month. On Christmas night she suddenly could not put any weight on her front right leg. I took her to the vet the following day. Although the x-ray showed nothing, they believe that her shoulder keeps dislocating and going back in. They told me to not let her do anything for the next two weeks except to go potty, eat and drink, and that I am to carry her to each of those places. If it does not heal in 2 weeks, they suggest I put her to sleep. Aside from some pain meds, nothing else was done, except a big bill. Is there anything that I can do to help her? I love my dog. I know that she is old, but I don't want to loose her like this. I want to help her. Is there anything that I can do to support her leg and strengthen it while it is in place?

BB

Hi,

It is very difficult to reduce a shoulder dislocation and get it to stay in place short of joint surgery and the advice you have been given about treatment sounds OK to me..
However, at 14 I do not think it will incapacitate her very much, and a suggestion that she should be put to sleep if it does not resolve seems a bit extreme!
A dog of this age going on thtree legs is not unusual, and in a couple of weeks the pain will be minimal, and certainly not enough to justify euthanasia.
If in a few weeks she is in worse pain, the diagnosis should be reassessed.

W

I thought that my dogs shoulder was dislocated as well. He had been linping for a few weeks then his forearm started to swell. I took him to the vet, he was about 12 years old; had him since I was a child. So I took him in and it turned out he had severe bone cancer. They told me that he was to far along and was running a fever. And th e cancer will spread throughout his entire body in a matter of weeks. So I didn't want him to go through the pain and suffering so we just put him down today... please, if your pet has any dislocated like sympthoms please take it in as soon as possible. Because I lost my best friend today. I don't want anyone else too either..

Our Husky Milo age 9 started yelping suddenly today, hanging his head low and won't raise it, if he does he yelps, we took him to the vet today she examined him and thinks he might have a bugled neck disk. She gave him some pain Meds and we went home with instructions for kennel rest, we have a vet appointment Monday for x-rays.... Tonight when we needed to go bathroom I had the chance to feel around his body a bit, I realized that if you felt both shoulders 1 was normal the other felt pushed in so I'm thinking its dislocated. When we go back to the vet should we have her x-Ray the shoulder instead of the neck? We lost our shiba earlier this year in March I was devistated, I'm hoping we can help him it's been a rough year for all of us.. I hate seeing him in pain and suffering so..