William Is Limping

[Guest UESBrindle]

We took William to run on the sandbar for the July 4th weekend, and after a good run he started limping. We figured it was just a tweeked or over-exerted muscle, gave some asprin, emailed the vet when we got home. The vet was away on vacation, sent one email saying he suggested Metacam, and I should order it and have them call his cell. I had a few other questions, emailed him, never got a reply, so I just went ahead and ordered 32 ml or Metacam this Monday. It hasn't come yet, but William has been getting around ok with only the occasional limping on a walk, so we thought he was getting better.

 

Last night when I got home from work, he was holding his paw up off the ground, so it was clearly not getting better, so we took him to the ASPCA hospital for an emergency walk-in.

 

The vet checked out his leg, moved it around, touched different spots, checked out his paw pads, and he didn't make any indication that he was in pain other than holding up his paw not wanting to walk on it. She suggested x-rays, and said if it was cancer, it'd clearly show up in the films, and also suggested a lyme disease test since he had a few ticks on him while on vacation (we took 3 off while thy were just walking on him- none actually "stuck" for a feeding).

 

The xrays came back, and were pretty good for not putting him under or giving sedation, which I was glad they did. No sign of anything out of order, and she said his muscles feel normal. She also did standard bloodwork to make sure everything is ok to give him meds, and perscribed previcox, half of a 227 mg tab per day, which we're giving today with breakfast.

 

We'll hear back today about the blood work, and likely tomorrow about the lyme disease, but assuming that the lyme comes back negative since they didn't actually stick to him, what else could it be?

 

We have a follow-up appointment with an orthopedic surgeon first thing Friday morning, but I'm just wondering what else they could find that xrays, poking and proding, and bloodwork wouldn't find?

 

Has anyone else had limping issues where the diagnosis/source weren't initially very apparent? What did it turn out to be?

Edited July 17, 2009 by UESBrindle

[LBass]

No experience or suggestions here, but good thoughts for William...feel better soon, handsome boy.

 

--Lucy

[dante2zoe]

One of ours turned up lame like that. We were just walking down the sidewalk and he went tripod. Foot was warm and swollen. Vet couldn't find a thing. No x-rays though. He wanted to give him time on the meds. Previcox for one week and he was okay. Off previcox and he started limping after walking on some grass and stopping suddenly. I was messing with his foot and hear an audible joint crack. He has been fine ever since. I think he just dislocated the outside toe or jammed it or something. It's been 10 days and he seems to be fine. I would think that the x-ray would show a joint misallignment, but could it have popped back in and is now stretched and sore? Just a thought. Paws crossed for you!

[Guest Energy11]

THAT is a tough one! I am GLAD the x-rays came back clean. Let's hope the Pervicox (good medication) works. Prayers for a quick recovery!

[fsugrad]

No experience with this, but sending and for beautiful William! Please keep us posted.

[Batmom]

1. Foot

2. Soft tissue injury (strained muscle)

 

For the foot: Get a flashlight and a magnifying glass and go over every square millimeter. In between the toes on top. In between the pads on the bottom. Part the hair at the base of the toenails and look for any swelling or redness. Grasp each toenail and wiggle it gently. Grasp the toe and wiggle it gently from side to side. Gently squeeze each toe from the sides. Gently press each pad. Examine pads for redness (worn pad; insect bite; bruise), dark spots (bruise), pinholes (could be a corn starting), hard spots (could be a corn in existence).

 

If it's a soft tissue injury -- hard to diagnose. Sometimes clever person or vet will be able to detect by moving the limb thru its full range and finding the "ouch" spot. Other times, rest and anti-inflammatories are about all you can do.

 

Good luck -- hope your pup is 100% again soon.

[Guest UESBrindle]

Ok, will get out the headlamp tonight and look at his feet. I guess now is the time to buy a magnifying glass!

 

The vet moved his whole leg around, bent it different ways, and William didn't give any noise or any sign that he was in discomfort, so we'll see how the anti-inflamatories go and if he's doing better.

 

Even if he stops limping on the pervicox for a few days, I guess I'm just worried that when the course of meds is done, he'll either have healed/recovered, or will still be limping, in which case, we know what'll help it, but still don't know why.

 

The vet said if he's doing better we could cancel the friday appointment with the ortho doc, but I don't think I'll have a clear indication in a matter of 36 hours to determin if it's helping enough to cancle the appointment, so I think we'll go regardless.

 

Thanks everyone!

[Guest Speedhoundz]

Did the vet x ray the entire shoulders? I'm not saying it's OS--there are so many other things it could be, like a corn--but my friend's grey had OS that went undiagnosed for far too long because the x rays were taken just below the affected area. So you may just want to double check to make sure the x rays went high enough on the legs/shoulders.

[Guest UESBrindle]

The vet did say to fast William before the Friday appointment incase the orthopedic surgeon wants to sedate and xray the scapula, so we'll see Friday I guess.

[lflaherty45]

Glad the x-rays didn't show anything, maybe it is a slight sprain ? hoping it clears up soon.

[Hawthorn]

Yes, Sunny had some intermittent limping on one of his front legs a while back, which the vet couldn't find a reason for. Eventually we took him to a greyhound specialist vet who found a problem in his neck which was treated with chiropractic sessions with success. I don't believe that this problem (a slight misalignment of one of the vertebrae) would have shown up on an xray.

[carronstar]

Give my buddy William a big hug and kiss for me (and his lady love). I know that when Scarlett pulled a "paw up, can't walk" it took her vet (not Andy) nearly 45 minutes of examining her leg and really kneading her shoulder to find the knot that was causing her the pain. Once he found that knot and worked on it, and she had a course of meds, she was fine. You know how to reach me if you need anything.

 

If Andy doesn't answer emails (can be an issue if he is on holiday) call him on his mobile. I have never had a problem getting him to return a call. If need be, tell me and I'll call!

Edited July 15, 2009 by carronstar

[Remolacha]

How old is William? Fletcher has started the intermittent limping/holding up paw over the last few months. My vet did xrays, twice, to get the shoulder in. No "C" (Whew), no corns, no spinal or neck problems. We tested for TBDs and Valley Fever (both neg). There were some slight indications of arthritis in the shoulder and elbow, so I started him on glucosamine and Metacam as needed. That seems to have taken care of it, except he will still hold up his paw for a little while after tear-assing around the yard . Fletcher turned 7 in March.

 

Wouldn't hurt to test for Valley Fever, and be sure the whole neck/spine thing is checked out. Good Luck!

 

edited to add, I see you are in New York, so don't bother with the Valley Fever test unless William was ever in the Southwest or CA

Edited July 15, 2009 by Remolacha

[Guest UESBrindle]

William turned 5 in May. I'll make sure to ask about all of the spine, shoulder, neck area Friday when we go to follow-up.

 

I also called DBF on my break, and he said even though he gave William the meds at breakfast this morning, he's still hopding up his paw. Does anyone know how long it usually takes to kick in?

[MerlinsMum]

I'm sending lots of good thoughts for William on Friday :goodluck Let's hope they figure out what is causing his limping.

[TheFullHouse]

My Andy did that and we went to the vet, clear x-rays, nothing. Physical exam was perfect and we all just shook our heads trying to figure out what it was. Three weeks later a tiny corn appeared on Andy's toe.

[Guest UESBrindle]

I checked out a corn website, and am wondering, to those of you who have seen one in person, does this look like the begining of one?

 

 

Also, what's the course to take if it is a painful corn? since it's not even above the pad yet, but still making it very uncomfortable for him to walk? Would the best thing to do be to nip it in the bud and have it hulled of shelled?

[Batmom]

Looks more like a little puncture or foreign body than a corn, but it could be a corn. As a first step, wouldn't hurt to soak his foot in Epsom salts (at your drugstore; directions on the box; you mix up with warm water) 5-10 minutes 2-3 times a day. I usually wait till pup is lying down, soak a washcloth in the Epsom salts, wrap dripping wet washcloth around foot, put foot with washcloth inside 2 plastic bags, deliver tummy rubs for 5-10 minutes.

[Guest BlackandBrindle]

I agree with Batmom.

 

Although Sadie's 'corn' or whatever it was looked like that in the beginning. Convinced it was a foreign body I soaked it every night for about a week. One night when I had just soaked it I was fooling with it and it peeled right off but she stopped limping.

 

I heart epsom salts

[CaliforniaGreys]

Epsom salt for sure, it's a great healer. Already been said but it doesn't look like a corn, looks like maybe a pucture from a thorn or something like that

On the NSAIDs, usually it takes 3 days to see improvenment

Edited July 15, 2009 by cbudshome

[duncan41]

Suze is 5 years old and has been limping in the right rear more on than off for the past 3 years - started shortly after she and her sister Fuzz adopted us. Have had two sets of xrays - the second one last month with no abnormalties showing up in either set. (Whew!) Changed Vets just last month and the new Vet (who did the 2nd set of xrays) thinks it's because Suze has what she called "soft pads". There are portions of her pads that do not have that "pebbly" or toughened texture - they are extremely smooth and soft - especially the pads on her back paws. She now wears TheraPaw boots on both rear paws and I have noticed an improvement in the last several weeks. She had been limping while walking on the tile in the house, but isn't any more.

 

I will keep William in my prayers.

[tbhounds]

I would think that it's more than likely a foreign body in the toe--they don't usually get that painful that acutely with a corn.

[ChiliDog]

Healing thoughts and big hugs coming your way from all of us in Montreal!

[SIGreyLady]

I hope William's paw feels better soon. He's a good boy

[gracegirl]

Just now seeing this...hoping cousin William has a good day today. Unfortunately I don't have any advice to offer. But I do have cookies!