I'm starting to feel like a bloody hypochondriac, but it really is one thing after another with this pup.

I first heard it yesterday, a rhythmic "pop" noise (like you get when your elbow or knee joints "crack"). I couldn't place it and tried to listen in, but it's getting louder and I'm pretty sure it's from her back legs.

I've had a feel and nothing seems out of place there, and she doesn't seem to be in any pain or discomfort at all. The only thing I'd say, though, is that we went for a walk in this big garden yesterday and I let her run around at her pleasure. She came back to me a few minutes and had her back right leg up, and wouldn't put it down. I thought it might be that she stepped in some poison ivy or something, but that wouldn't make sense because wouldn't all of her legs/paws feel it? She also went jumped down a bushy hill and didn't expect it to be steep, I think, and instead of running down she kind of lept 3-4 down it.

Could she have sprained her leg or something? The popping sound is definitely coming from one/both of her joints.. it pops with every step.

Should I take her in?

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arts. music. more. leeds.
http://thegoldenowl.co.uk

Could be a problem with her patella (kneecap) so its worth having it checked out.

I think I would defo take to the vets for a check up, more for peace of mind than anything

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I'm booking an appointment now. My vet is 70 miles away in Chesterfield. I only went in on Tuesday, he said she was perfectly fine.

Shar Pei suffer from hip/patella luxation, could this be the result of the injury she got when we were out playing the other day?

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arts. music. more. leeds.
http://thegoldenowl.co.uk

Wow 70 miles! can't you find somewhere closer?

Sorry I don't know anything about that condition, but if his breed have a predisposition to hip probs, I would definitely see a vet and don't let yourself get fobbed off, make sure he's throughuly checked over, and if you think he injured himself the other day tell the vet everything so that he can make a sound assessment

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70 miles can't you find one nearer? Not meaning any offense, but what would happen in the case of an emergency and you needed to get to the vet asap?

I would certainly get it checked out. I don't know much about sharpeis, but were the parents hip scored? It could be as a result of an accident, but it is likely that there is an underlying problem anyway.

My local vet is incompetent. I've started using Chris Mann in Hady Hill, Chesterfield. He was very highly recommended to me by many, and the cost of a train from Leeds to Chesterfield return is actually cheaper than the cab to my local vets here in Leeds. Plus I don't have to wait an hour for five cabs to turn up, having obviously chose to ignore the note on the booking saying "with dog", to turn their nose up at me and my pup and drive off.

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arts. music. more. leeds.
http://thegoldenowl.co.uk

A cheeky edit, eh.

She's still registered with the local vet and, in case of an emergency, I'll call her up.

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arts. music. more. leeds.
http://thegoldenowl.co.uk

Well, I can sympathise with the problems of finding a vet you can trust, although 70 miles Not sure I would do it.

Was your dog's parents health tested if there is a problem? Puppies can strain things, but I would be concerned that there was an underlying problem that caused it in the first place, particularly with hips, but also with knees. If she's not putting any weight at all, then I would get her to the vet. If she's ok and just limping, then I would rest her for a few days.

OFA: Patellar Luxation
Patellar luxation - some info.

Also Hip dysplasia
OFA: Hip Dysplasia

Though definitely take her to the vet.