Taylor Is Limping--a Lot

[Guest taylorsmom]

Hello everyone--

Well, I came back this afternoon from spending over 4 hours at the U of Penn Vet Hospital with Lucy the Lab (allergies, not a big deal) to find my sweet girl Taylor limping like crazy. She started limping a little bit last night, but it is way worse today. When she stands she holds the leg up off the ground.

I have poked and prodded and cannot seem to find any sore spots. I am holding off on giving any pain killers, because I don't know what I am dealing with (and of course my imagination is running wild, to the big "O" of course, although Taylor is only 4, almost 5--I know it can happen anytime). There are also no cuts, scrapes, or any other problems I can see on her foot/pads, and her toes seem fine (I wiggled every one of them!).

I know a little while ago there was a thread in which the person asked to be reminded of all the things OTHER than osteo that limping could be caused by--I can't seem to find it, and really need to read it. Can anyone help me find that thread? Any other thoughts would also certainly be welcomed.

I have heard about the "72 hour" rule regarding limps, and since it is the weekend I am thinking that I will wait at least until Monday to see about making a vet appointment.

Thanks for listening!!

Edited March 19, 2008 by taylorsmom

[Guest armanntoo]

If you can get her into the vet on Saturday, I would.

[Guest taylorsmom]

If you can get her into the vet on Saturday, I would.

Can I ask why you would rush?

[Burpdog]

I'd make the appointment for Monday now. You can always cancel. Sounds like if she is lifting it, it's hurting pretty good.

 

Sending prayers!

[RaineysMom]

no advice, just prayers it's nothing serious! :hope

[Guest taylorsmom]

I just thought of something else, I don't know if it is connected, probably isn't. Taylor got up in the middle of the night last night and threw up, mostly foamy white stuff. She was fine today in terms of appetite and has eaten breakfast and dinner just fine.

Good advice to make an appointment for Monday, unfortunately it is after hours now but I will call tomorrow morning.

I hate limping.

[Guest armanntoo]

If you can get her into the vet on Saturday, I would.

Can I ask why you would rush?

 

Just to be cautious. I lost one of mine to OS three years ago, when he started limping, I thought that he had just strained something...by the time we found out, it was too late. So now, I'd rather be safe than sorry.

Edited March 14, 2008 by armanntoo

[Guest taylorsmom]

If you can get her into the vet on Saturday, I would.

Can I ask why you would rush?

 

Just to be cautious. I lost one of mine to OS three years ago, when he started limping, I thought that he had just strained something...by the time we found out, it was too late. So now, I'd rather be safe than sorry.

So sorry about your guy--thanks for your advice, I truly appreciate it.

[Jackandgrey]

Just remember there are many other things that cause limping. Jack started to limp suddenly and was in serious pain. I was panicked. I did take him to the vet right away because whatever it was he needed something for pain. I really didn't think it was osteo but was of course afraid it was. It wasn't. He had hurt his shoulder. Three weeks of metacam and limited activity and he is fine. So take her if she needs an analgesic but don't panic!!!

[6greyhounds]

My beautiful Phawn started limping and took her to the vet they treated her for arthritis and she did not get better the limping got worse. Finally they decided to x-ray and it was too late she had an in operable turnor of her hip. We were told to take her home, love her and spoil her. We had less than two weeks and it was Osteo

 

Also i have a post about Softee having her toe amputated her problem started out as an infected nail bed. The toe that was amputated was biopsied to be Squamous Cell Carcinoma

 

Please get your precious baby to the vet and get checked out

[Guest SoulsMom]

Soul started limping on a Friday and I had him to the vet the next day. I was so worried like you are, and it turned out just to be a sprain, but I'm still glad I got him in so quickly. When the vet examined him it was really apparent that he was in a lot more pain than he was letting on. After getting some meds he felt so much better within a few days. I'm glad I didn't wait.

[Guest Tigonie]

Assuming your vet has regular hours tomorrow, why not just try to get an appointment? Or maybe there's another vet with regular hours who could look at your dog as a regular visit. The side benefit of that is that your vet becomes a second opinion, if you feel you want one. I can understand hesitating about an e-vet visit, of course!

 

Emma was limping at one point about a year ago (turned out to be a sprain), but she also had some swelling. Compare the legs and see of there is any sign of swelling, since that could indicate an injury.

 

You didn't say whether it was a front leg or a back leg. If they X-ray, don't be surprised if they x-ray the legs on both sides (either both front legs or both back legs). Apparently, they often do that for comparison. Emma had her problem about 6 months after we moved, and I was kind of annoyed about the two x-rays. I wondered why they wouldn't be able to tell what a dog's leg looks like normally! I asked my previous vet from before we moved, and she said it was common to do both. They may or may not do two x-rays, but don't be surprised if they do.

Edited March 15, 2008 by Tigonie

[Guest taylorsmom]

It is her right front leg. I wish I could take her to the vet tomorrow, if she had an opening, but I am committed to do a pick-up and delivery for my rawfeeding co-op first thing tomorrow and it will probably take the whole morning. Grrrr. And it is a big order, so I cannot leave my DH to do it on his own.

But I am definitely going to call tomorrow morning and get the first available appt. next week. Also, if it gets worse I will definitely go to the e-vet, I don't have a problem with that at all. Interestingly, I was just pressing the webbing between two of her toes on that foot and she screamed a little bit! So maybe that is the source of her pain (I did the same thing to her other foot and she did not react like that). I would be SOOOO relieved if it was just a sprained toe or something---saying lots of prayers for that! It's really funny, she will run and jump around intermittently, and then limp when she walks. I

[Guest greytmonty]

I am just reading this, I am so sorry. I think keep an eye on her foot and try to get a Monday appt if you can. Keep us posted.

[patricia]

Sending prayers.

[Guest HeatherDemps]

It can definitely be plenty of things other than osteo. My grey's limp in December did turn out to be osteo, but he was almost 12 then. Over the 9 years he's been with me, he has limped many times when it was nothing serious. He's strained muscles from running, hurt himself jumping down off the bed, etc. One time, he started screaming and when I ran down the stairs, I saw that he had his paw up in the air. I thought he had somehow managed to break his leg- turned out he had a loose thread stuck between his paws. Took that off his foot and he limped for a day or two- talk about a head case.

[Guest greytmonty]

I agree it could be many other things. Monty sometimes limps if he has over exercised, or bumped his chronically sore toe. Keep us posted! Sending good thoughts your way.

[RobinM]

I would not think the worst, although, I am one to say that!

 

At any given time, one of mine is limping or walking "off". Currently it's been Beau for the past 2 weeks tripoding when he walks fast or runs. The last few days (I put him a deramaxx) he seems a bit better but it's also the leg he had major surgery on just 9 months ago. The leg has a history so i don't panic.

 

If this is the 1st time, I would wait 3-5 days. See the vet, and if it's nothing they can see as a reason, have the x-rays done as a base line. This way you won't worry and I'm sure she will be OK.

 

Sending prayers anyway since it can't hurt!!!!

[Guest taylorsmom]

It can definitely be plenty of things other than osteo. My grey's limp in December did turn out to be osteo, but he was almost 12 then. Over the 9 years he's been with me, he has limped many times when it was nothing serious. He's strained muscles from running, hurt himself jumping down off the bed, etc. One time, he started screaming and when I ran down the stairs, I saw that he had his paw up in the air. I thought he had somehow managed to break his leg- turned out he had a loose thread stuck between his paws. Took that off his foot and he limped for a day or two- talk about a head case.

This is too funny!! Boy they really can be dramatic sometimes, can't they?? My DH is convinced that Taylor is "playing me" about this, because she only holds her paw up in the air when I am around! I don't think so, though, and I am still taking it seriously (trying not to take it too seriously!!).

Thanks, everyone, for the great thoughts and prayers. I did make an appointment to see the vet on Monday at 4PM, which will be the 4th day after the limp started (if she still has it by then, that is). I will keep you posted.

In the meantime, should I give her some buffered aspirin or something in the next day or two to ease the discomfort? I know we should lie low and not do any walks, since that made it so much worse yesterday.

Thanks again! What would I do without Greytalk???

[Guest BlackandBrindle]

You can give her a buffered aspirin if it's really bothering her, I would think. But I wouldn't give her one on Monday in case the vet wants to prescribe something (side effects and drug interactions).

 

Be sure and let the vet know you gave her buffered aspirin though

 

If it really is the toe/webbing, I wonder if soaking it in epsom salts would help?

[Guest SadiesMom]

I am so sorry to hear that Taylor is limping. I would be freaking out too, but it can be so many other things. Looking forward to hearing that everything is alright.

[Guest LokisMom]

If it is any consolation, we also had some limping awhile back. We freaked and they ended up Xraying Tally from her neck to her tail. TUrns out it was just a sprain. So they can limp for other reasons.

 

I am paranoid too and immediately think Osteo whenever one limps. Will keep my fingerscrossed that it is nothing serious with Taylor.

[Guest argolola]

Prayers that everything is just fine.

[Guest taylorsmom]

I gave Taylor an Ascriptin (buffered aspirin) yesterday and it seemed to help a little bit. I am going to hold off on any more until she sees the vet tomorrow afternoon.

I have a question about X-rays--I want to make sure I don't just focus the vet's attention on Taylor's foot in case that is not the true source of the limping. Are there certain X-ray views I should try to insist on to make sure we are looking at all possible places in case osteo needs to be ruled out? For instance, a whole leg X-ray as opposed to just a foot X-ray? Others have mentioned that they take X-rays of both front legs for comparison, should I ask for that?

Thanks everyone!

[turbotaina]

I gave Taylor an Ascriptin (buffered aspirin) yesterday and it seemed to help a little bit. I am going to hold off on any more until she sees the vet tomorrow afternoon.

I have a question about X-rays--I want to make sure I don't just focus the vet's attention on Taylor's foot in case that is not the true source of the limping. Are there certain X-ray views I should try to insist on to make sure we are looking at all possible places in case osteo needs to be ruled out? For instance, a whole leg X-ray as opposed to just a foot X-ray? Others have mentioned that they take X-rays of both front legs for comparison, should I ask for that?

Thanks everyone!

\

OSA typically appears in either the wrist or the shoulder on front legs, so whole leg x-rays would be prudent. OSA is pretty obvious in its presentation, but if its early, it may not be terribly obvious so I suppose taking films of the other leg wouldn't be a bad idea.

 

Good luck - clean x-rays all around! :hope