Posted: Tue Dec 20, 2011 9:33 am Post subject: Suddenly started limping, update his pad has split pg 2
Hello all
Yesterday morning Cooper was limping on his front right leg. Today it seems more pronounced.
Ive checked his paw and I cant see anything stuck in there and he doesnt yelp or pull away (more than just because he thinks i want to play) when I squeeze all his toes, and pads.
His pads are very rough and scuffed, and a few have cracks in them, but they dont feel hot, not oozing or bleeding (and they smell of popcorn )
Felt all up his leg up to his shoulder and nothing feels swollen, and he doesnt indicate that any part hurts to touch.
Ive extended his leg right out and he can do that no problem.
So last day or so, I have just taken him to the end of the road and back to do his business, but otherwise rested him. Have been giving him some metacam (but thats now run out)
He is just 11months as of a few days ago, and hoolies about. We havent seen him injure himself tho'.
Just seems very sudden,
im worried if its his elbow.
Thinking i should take him to teh vet, but with the xmas period coming up, are they just going to send us away and tell us to rest him and if its not better in teh new year.... Or will tehy do an xray straight away??
i know its hard to diagnose just from a limp (let alone from an essay), but are there tell tale signs of ED??
Thanks
Stacey x
Last edited by Gsygal on Mon Dec 26, 2011 8:26 pm; edited 2 times in total
I would rest him a few days and just toilet walk him in garden/up the road on lead.
Perhaps make a vet appt for Wed/Thurs am. If he is still limping or in discomfort then pop him to vet for anti-inflams, if not cancel appt.
He could well have strained or jarred something which a few days will ease. A course of 3/4days of metacam and rest generally eases, if not and limp still there vet tends to start to investigate further with xrays etc. In my experience anyway!
I have a very stoic lab here - the only sign she gave specialist of discomfort in her left elbow was a flicker of movement in her right standing wrist. This happened when he pushed her elbow gently up towards her chest when bent. I've never noticed any sign of pain in her so when she limps I know she is in discomfort!
Luna never gave me signs of HD but when sore with her elbow/s she will tend to bow-stretch more...
Hopefully your gorgeous boy has sprained/pulled it.Same happened with Ted and i was conviced it was the start of ED,however vet manipulated all his joints,put him on a 5day course of Rimadyl (which made him quite ill)which cleared the limp up and vet says hes "pretty" sure its not ED and if limping starts again to bring him back for x-rays.They do tend to jump around like lunatics dont they and its really hard to keep them calm,even when Ted was on strict rest he'd have these mad half hours when hed turn into this wild eyed beast tearing round the house.Hilarious but scary when your worried about their joints,little buggers arent they.Let us know how he does,take care,emma x
Chances are it's just a sprain and a few days rest (crated if necessary) will sort it out.
As for signs of ED, then lameness/stiffness on rising after rest, but then fine after a few strides, is a classic. The first signs of ED can occur at any time, although I think most commonly it's between 8-12 months. But as I said before, it's a much higher chance he has just hurt himself doing something daft and he'll be fine in a day or two.
If you do take him to the vet and you're not happy with the "Rest, wait and see" advise, then ask him to do some x-rays. He is your dog and you're paying after all, so you should be the one calling the shots, not the vet .
The limp doesnt get better after walking for a bit. So hopefully a sprain rather than a joint problem.
Ive made an appointment for Sat morning, which i can cancel if he gets better. In the meantime, ill rest him. They cant give me metacam unless they see him. But i dont think hes in a lot of pain to warrant rushing him to the vet today.
When you say crate rest, do you mean keeping him in his crate except for toilet breaks?
Cooper isnt one for just lying nicely by the fire unless he has a tasty kong, and even that only lasts so long.
Hubby has just called to say that he was having a look at the paw and when he went to spread the 2 middle toes apart, Cooper screamed.
Could this be a broken toe and if so, do you think a vet will need to strap it before Saturday?
Possibly. Then again I once stubbed my toes really badly on the steel base of a fan, and they went black and hurt as much as they would have if they were broken.
It might be worth taking him in with that sooner to get it looked at though. Poor Cooper, I hope he is feeling better soon!
There wasn't anything between the toes, was there? A small split, a tiny thorn, a lump...anything? It's just that having broken several of my own toes, I think you'd have noticed if this is what he'd done. The toe would have swollen significantly and be hotter than the rest.
Well I've just been home to see the "patient". He let me feel his toes, but when i went to wiggle them (gently) he pulled away.
They are not swollen, and I cant see any bruising. None of the toes look or feel crooked or anything.
I took him for a stroll just round the lane and he was still limping, but still trying to get to the labradoodles in the garden we pass everyday.
Still leapt at our postman he sees everyday, counter surfed to see if there was any post for him, pinched my earmuffs and ran off with them.
Maybe a full body cast might just slow him down a touch????
Well I bought carrots at lunch to play some hide the treat games to keep him occupied tonight, so will rest him tonight and see how he is again tomorrow.
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