Limping Labrador

Question
Hello, I have a 3 years old Labrador Retriever. I cam back home from work and found him limping with log of pain on his right front leg. He was limping and not putting his foot to the ground. We took him to the vet and he gave him a pain killer and muscle relaxant injection. I drove him back and he immediately put his foot on the ground but still limping. The vet said if the dog puts the foot on the ground and starts putting weight to it and there is no pain then its a muscle sprain and will go in 4-5 days. I give him pain killer morning and evening and apply Relispray with hot water therapy. He is able to put weight, no pain and jump in joy also, but he is still limping and shows some swelling. Its 3 days today. Do you think its something serious, treatment is right or do I need to do more? Her is eating well, happy, and playing as well but am not letting him put too much pressure on his legs. Please advise. Thanks.

Answer
If his foot is swollen then he needs it xrayed. If it is swollen elsewhere then that needs to be xrayed.

If there is no swelling of the limb then he needs to have his shoulder xrayed for OCD. That is a problem some young active dogs get. It is osteochondritis dessicans. If that is negative then have him checked for panosteitis, which is a painful condition of the bones in growing dogs.

In either case, an xray is warranted if the limping doesn't lessen in a week.