Limping Is Getting Worse - Need Some Other Opinions

[Guest LashandRed]

We have just about reached our frustration point.and I just don't know what to do. Our boy Red, who is only 4 years old, several weeks ago was running around, and came up with a limp in his left front leg. It was minor at first we thought it was something he stepped on, so we checked his paws and found nothing (that we could see). During the week the limp got progressively more pronounced, so we took him to the vet. The vet looked, she couldn't see any place on his foot or pads or between his toes where there might have been a puncture where possibly a thorn or piece of glass might of ended up. There appears to be no swelling when compared to the other foot. We checked for corns but we haven't found any yet. She gave us a pain killer and we were to "monitor" him. He was okay on the pain killer but I didn't like that because it just masked the pain but once that was finished after 4 days the limping got worse. The limp was more pronounced on hard surfaces so to me this means that something is causing pain from the pressure. Either from the bottom of the foot or coming down from the shoulder. He was standing more on his toes, and not on his back pad.

 

Now he is a stoic guy, no yipping, and gives no indication of being in pain when we squeeze any of his pads. Okay so now we go back to the vet, this time I want X-rays. So poor guy is medicated, and X-rays are taken of both front feet to compare the bones. Nothing, everything looks normal. So today the limping is by far the worse, now he won't even put the paw down. I just don't know what to do. Is there anything like a dog chiropractor, could he have thrown his shoulder or back out or something like that? What about doggy massage? There is a canine physio-therapist but I am not sure about physio for something that hasn't been diagnosed? I just don't know what to do and it is killing me to see him struggle just to walk. Any ideas would really be a help. Ideas we have had so far are, 1) dislocated a toe, 2) muscle strain in the shoulder, 3) fallen arch? thanks

[Guest Redpack]

Could be a muscle pull. Had this happen and had to leash walk only for about three weeks and an anti-inflammatory was prescribed. I would be relieved the x-rays showed nothing. That eases the biggest fear. Hope your Red is back in top shape soon.

[turbotaina]

Take each toe and squeeze it from the sides of the pads. If he pulls back, he could have a corn lurking in there that hasn't erupted from the pad.

 

If he had dislocated a toe, there would likely have been swelling associated with it, but not necessarily (particularly if it happens frequently). Dogs don't have arches, so there's nothing there to fall, but they can and do strain various tendons and ligaments, all of which can take a long time to heal. You can usually tell if a flexor tendon is harmed because there will be involvement in the toes and/or the wrist won't straighten when the dog's elbow is fully extended. You can wet the back of the dog's front paws and get a good luck at the superficial digital flexors - if on the affected foot, one looks thicker than the others, he probably bowed it. (These are the tendons that run down from the stopper pad and spread to either side of the back of the foot).

 

Yes, there are veterinary chiropractors out there, so yes, that's an option, as is acupuncture. My first route, however, would be to a veterinary orthopedist. A specialist is worth his/her weight in gold.

 

What town do you live in?

[Guest LashandRed]

We live in Calgary, Alberta. We (both myself and the vet )have squeezed all around the pads looking for corns to appear, nothing so far. I hadn't thought about the tendons, I will check on that. Our vet has us soaking his foot in warm water an epsum salts.

[Bevd]

Did they only x-ray the feet or the whole of the legs?

[Guest LashandRed]

They did both legs and feet, but "focused" the feet, vet was worried possible tumor. But all clear, maybe I just need to be more patient, I just wish he could talk to me....

[Guest brit1]

we have a similar situation here with my little sheltieX. She came up lame for a day a couple of months ago and then again last week, seemed like it was her paw. Upon examination one of her toe joints was swollen. There was also a tiny depression in the pad that corresponded to the likelihood of something having entered the paw pad in the past so she was treated with an antibiotic while we waited for a $100 culture report to come back. It came back negative but she seemed to have recovered completely so vet said probably was an infection. Well today she was dead lame on that foot for several hours and then magically able to walk on it. She also has an auto immune inflammatory disease but for several reasons this doesn't seem related. Its all so frustrating it makes me want to cry I hope you find some answers soon too. anne

[Guest LashandRed]

Thanks, another call to the vet yesterday and now we are also on anti-biotics, we have double checked all the pads and toes again, found a little pin prick thing, not sure if it is anything or if we are just hoping it is something. Has anyone used Thera-paws, will they work to take some of the pressure off of the pad if that is where the pressure is coming from? Also if we are focusing so much attention on that one paw, will he start to "consciously" hold up because we are examining it all the time? Do greys think that way? thanks

[duncan41]

Oh, I have been dealing with the same problem with a right rear. This girl is 4 years old and came up with a limp on the right front not too long after she adopted us two years ago. We rested her (no off-leash dog park) for a month and all seemed well. The right rear limp started in March - no dog park since then. She has been x-rayed from heat to toe because she had a sore neck at the same time the right rear flared up - all negative. I have watched our Vet poke, prod, rotate, palpate, squeeze from all angles every part of her feet, hocks, knees, hips and spine try to elicit some response! There is no swelling, no cuts, bruises - NOTHING! She is so stoic - never even blinks! The only time she ever cried out was when her neck was sore and she couldn't bend down to pick up a morsel of food from the floor! We use a TheraPaw when we go for walks and there is no hint of a limp! Ugh! I want to FIX the problem!

[Guest trevdog]

Their pads are very sensitive, even one little pin-prick spot can make them quite uncomfortable. I would try putting some bag balm on the pads.

[CaliforniaGreys]

I use thera-paws and they are a big help. But, my boy has corns. I'm guessing but I would think it needs to be determined if it's his foot or if he pulled a muscle. Did the vet put him on an anti-inflamatory or just pain meds?

[Ragsysmum]

Wouldn't be surprised if the source of the pain causing the limp is actually higher up in the shoulder or neck region. Firm but gentle massaging of the whole neck and shoulder area on that side may help to ease the problem.

[Guest LashandRed]

UPDATE: So more phone calls from the vet, have to give her credit, she continue to follow up, too bad my own doctors weren't as vigilant We are going to start back on the pain meds to help him walk a bit so it isn't so much a struggle when we walk to do our business. We will just make sure he doesn't get too confident because he is "pain free" We have an appointment for Canine physio and I now have the phone number of a doggie masseuse. No stone unturned at the this point. I just don't want to stress the poor guy out with so many people poking and prodding, thanks for everyone ideas and help. Terry

[Guest jurishound]

At the risk of worrying you but hoping you will find an answer, our beloved Cuffy (who was much older, at 13) presented with a limp in his right front leg that responded well at first to an NSAID (previcox). We were relieved to find that his shoulder xrays were clear, but then his limp got progressively worse, to the point where he was barely putting any weight on it at all. Our vet suggested that we take him to a neurologist, who was "90% certain" that he had a nerve sheath tumor, based on clinical symptoms alone. An EMG (electrical stimulation test) ruled that out, but the vet was able to palpate more deeply under his shoulder while he was sedated - revealing an embedded tumor that turned out to be soft tissue osteosarcoma. This type of osteo is very rare, so it is unlikely to be causing your houndie's symptoms, but you may want to discuss the possibility of doing an MRI of the shoulder with your vet. Good luck, and sending hope and good wishes for the best possible outcome for your boy.

Edited July 31, 2008 by jurishound

[Guest Greytminds]

Short walks if it is inflamed tenden or arthritise a natural remedy would be ice pack 2 to 3 times a day. A veggie goop of apple, carrot, celery, cucumber and ginger root mixed in at meal times would help as well. The vegatable combination acts as a lubricant for the joints and tendants and the ginger root has inflamatory properties. Of course these are natural home remidies not medical. But a different veggie goop recipe is working greyt for Lucky and Henry with seziures.

 

Good Luck Paul

[Guest LashandRed]

UPDATE: Things are getting better for Red but now the little girl is limping, same foot, same symptoms, including exhaustion after just a short walk.

 

Okay hear me out, and maybe I am out there, but with Red, after a week of antibiotics and some pain med's the big guy is moving just fine and is a happy guy again, but now Lash has suddenly come up lame, same left foot. Is it possible that some type of viral infection that causes pressure on the lungs or heart could be making her hold her foot up because there is pain when she breaths? I've checked the paw, nothing visable, checked the legs, no apparent injury, she hasn't done anything that would "trigger" an injury. I have touched everything pads, legs, muscles, chest, she doesn't yip or have any pain. I have a call into the vet. But I am mystified.

[Guest jerrybird]

I'm wondering if perhaps there is some bruising in the pad? Perhaps Red stepped on something hard when he was initially running around? Was Lash running before she came up lame?

[zimsmom]

I cannot believe I am writing this (because I think it is the most over diagnosed disease know) but has anybody done a lyme/tick titer? Also if it persisted I would get repeat shoulder films & send them to a specialist in your area for a 2nd opinion.

[Guest ChasesMum]

Hi! I'm in Edmonton!

 

Far as I have been told here aren't ticks in Alberta, we get too cold for too much of the year ... unless you are in a heavily wooded area. Still something to consider though I suppose, run it past the vet, is he new off the track? Could he be a carrier from his racing days?

 

I hate to worry you but George was only 4 when he presented with much the same symptoms, we did chiro etc and he got better then got worse again fast. and eventually our vet sent to films to the oncologist in... Calgary! So I would have focussed xrays done by them even, or at least have him look at them. Our vet cleared G twice for cancer but the oncologist saw it and we lost him 4 months later.

 

Also, if you are as warm there as we are here, then walking on hot sidewalks has done this to Chase before, sensitive lil tootsies that she has.

 

 

You are lucky, wuth the CARE centre and a vet school in your city you have some of the best resources on your doorstep!

Edited August 8, 2008 by ChasesMum

[MaryJane]

Is your dog more "stressed" than normal? For example is the breathing normal or more like panting. Also, any signs of restlessness or not able to sleep at night? Is the leg being held up in the air with very little weight being put on it and is it getting worse?

 

Sometimes when we are with our dogs every day we don't recognize the "stress" which can be an indication of pain. If your dog does appear "stressed", you may want to consider redoing the x-rays to include the whole leg and having them sent to a osteosarcoma specialist.

 

 

[RobinM]

My Polli came to me off the farm at 8.5 years old. Out of the blue she developed a limp that was so bad she reminded me of IGOR of young frankenstein. It was bad. I had a full series of x-rays done and nothing showed up. We were all baffled. 6 weeks of minimizing her activity had her back to crazy, silly Polli. For Polli- this time all she needed was time.

 

Keep in mind if it got worse after the x-rays, it could mean that with all the manipulation they did to get the pictures they wanted, they had to bend and twist him in ways that would make the spot more sensitive. That's exactly what happened to Polli. She was in worse shape after the x-rays.

 

Limit his activity, keep a mental note of when and if it seems better and worse. I know how frustratiing this is. I have a 4 year old that we have no answers for yet either.

[Guest LashandRed]

Hi there everyone, I am not sure what is going on. So I am all stressed out, my significant other gets home and I say, "Did you see Lash limping this morning before you went to work?" Of course the answer is no, and then I say, "Just watch, call her over" and the little princess glides over like nothing every happened. Perfect, no limp, no holding the paw up, no stress, no panting....The evening walk was beautiful, playing, romping having fun.....And I get the look like I have lost my mind, however I did have a witness because a friend of mine did see the afternoon limping episode. I think I need the medicam..... Don't know how I am stressing out the dogs, but I just worry so much about them!

 

We will continue to monitor the pups, like my monikar says, I am still wet behind the ears. Hopefully my vet will still take my calls after this one.