Gryffin Lameness

[Guest GryffinSong]

Gryffin has been limping on his right front leg for at least a week now. It seemed to start at about the time that his wrap came off for his dislocated toe (on the other foot), but it's getting worse. We (the vet, my mom, me) can't find any sign of pain on exam or while he's walking. He does tend to be stoic, but you'd think he'd grimace on exam or give us SOME hint where the problem is! I'm beginning to wonder if it's not pain but numbness or somesuch. My mom says it reminds her of the way a friend of hers walks, who's had a stroke. He often holds the foot slightly up, but with the toes turned under, resting on the ground. He does not pick up the whole leg, like my Italian greyhound does with a healing leg break. And tonight, he was standing around and shifted weight slightly. His toes stayed turned under and on the same spot on the ground, while the leg moved in. In other words, the toes didn't follow the leg when he moved it.

 

I have another appointment for him to be xrayed on monday. In the meantime, I'm wracking my brain for ideas, ways to make him comfortable, and how worried I should be.

 

The vet put him on glucosamine and a pain killer (Tramadol 100 mg every 8-12 hours). The pain killer seems to make NO difference whatsoever.

 

Any ideas?

 

Gryffin and I thank you for any ideas!!!

[Guest amour]

Don't understand the toe curling. Have you checked his pads on that foot?

[Guest GryffinSong]

Yes, we've checked his pads, in between his toes, all up and down that leg, wiggled his toenails. All get NO pain response. Given that the pain meds aren't seeming to make a difference, we're wondering about some minor paralysis in the lower leg. Perhaps something neurological.

 

As for the toes curling, it's more like he doesn't want to pick up that foot completely off the ground, so the toes just lay there. And if he moves forward, he ends up with the knuckles sort of under his foot. Hope that makes sense. Perhaps I can get a photo next time he's up and around. I hate to wake him to try it.

Edited January 15, 2010 by GryffinSong

[Guest Adrianne]

We're dealing with knuckling right now with Wilbur. He started knuckling as soon as he broke his leg. We hoped at first it was just because his leg hurt so badly he wasn't going to pick it up enough to place his foot properly. However, five weeks later, it is obvious that he's suffered nerve damage in that leg. At this point, we're hoping the rod in his leg is hitting a nerve--it's possible, but not likely. We have seen improvement, but it is very slow. I ordered Wilbur a custom made boot to wear on that foot to keep his toes from being continuously scraped raw.

[Guest GryffinSong]

Poor Wilbur.

 

I wonder if Gryffin could have damaged a nerve in the right leg while he was limping around with the splint on his left leg for his dislocated toe? That would sure be a better prognosis than some neurological disorder.

 

Hugs and healing wishes for Wilbur!

[Guest Adrianne]

Well, I'm certainly no expert--far, far from it. I'm getting a crash course these days, whether I want it or not.

 

Try pinching one of his toes on that foot. My vet did that with Wilbur, and we got a loud and immediate reaction from him, which was a good thing. It let us know that he had feeling in that leg all the way down to his toes.

 

I'm sure you'll get lots of good advice here. I'm sending you and Gryffin lots of good thoughts.

Edited January 15, 2010 by Adrianne

[Guest GryffinSong]

Thank you, Adrianne. NO response. My vet now thinks, based on phone conversation, that radial nerve damage/paralysis may be what we're dealing with. When I pinch a toe on another foot he pulls away. No reaction on the front right. My best guess is that the nerve damage is not too severe, OR is lower on the leg. Although he's dragging his toes occasionally, it's mostly when he's standing still. And he can still put some weight on that leg.

[Guest Adrianne]

Are you pinching harder on the knuckling foot than the other foot? That was suggested to me. My vet actually pinched Wilbur's toe with a clamp, and he said he pinched it pretty hard.

Edited January 15, 2010 by Adrianne

[Guest GryffinSong]

I'm not sure if I pinched harder on the "bad" foot. I'm sure the vet will do that on monday though. I have trouble doing things like pinching ... anything that might hurt my baby!

[Guest Adrianne]

What is the latest on Gryffin? Did he go back to the vet today?

[Guest mickie37]

Checking back for an update on Gryffin. I hope you were able to get some answers.

[Guest GryffinSong]

Thanks, guys. Yes, he went to the vet and xrays show that it's almost certain osteo. See new post. Needless to say, I'm devastated.

[Guest greytloves]

So sorry to hear this Karen. Glad you are back on GT we will certainly support you.

[Guest Adrianne]