Guest LindsaySF Posted March 9, 2010 Share Posted March 9, 2010 One of my foster dogs has a bit of a weird gait, her front legs come up sort of like a show horse prancing along. She's a bounce (owner has cancer ) but I can't remember if she had this gait the first time I fostered her or not (summer 2009). I'm wondering if maybe her toes haven't quite recovered from her overgrown nails? Front nails before and after (I used clippers and a dremel) Back nails before and after Her gait when her nails were long was very much impaired, she lifted each foot very high off the ground and walked very slowly. Her back nails were the worst but it is her front feet that I notice when she walks now. She is not limping or anything and runs fine in the yard, was able to go on a 2 hour walk this weekend, etc. I might be worried unnecessarily, just because her nails were sooo long. Thoughts? ~Lindsay~ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greysmom Posted March 9, 2010 Share Posted March 9, 2010 Nails that long can definitely cause them to change the way they walk. See if it changes now that you have them at a more manageable length. And keep after them every 10 days or so until she can walk without them clicking on the floor. Quote Chris - Mom to: Felicity (DeLand), and Andi (Braska Pandora) siggy by Chris Harper, on Flickr Angels: Libby (Everlast), Dorie (Dog Gone Holly), Dude (TNJ VooDoo), Copper (Kid's Copper), Cash (GSI Payncash), Toni (LPH Cry Baby), Whiskey (KT's Phys Ed), Atom, Lilly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JAJ2010 Posted March 9, 2010 Share Posted March 9, 2010 That poor pup! I hope as she get used to having normal nails she will get better about walking. *running off to dremel right now* Quote ------ Jessica Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeorgeofNE Posted March 9, 2010 Share Posted March 9, 2010 Great job getting them down to that length! Quote Susan, Hamish, Mister Bigglesworth and Nikita Stanislav. Missing Ming, George, and Buck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FiveRoooooers Posted March 9, 2010 Share Posted March 9, 2010 Nails that long can definitely cause them to change the way they walk. See if it changes now that you have them at a more manageable length. And keep after them every 10 days or so until she can walk without them clicking on the floor. Yes. Horses compensate this way too, and until they realize that something has changed (this girlie now has beautiful short nails), it takes them a while to even know that they can try going back to the "normal" way of traveling; they've gotten so used to their new way of going. Quote Old Dogs are the Best Dogs. Thank you, campers. Current enrollees: Punkin. AnnIE Oooh M Angels: Pal . Segugio. Sorella (TPGIT). LadyBug. Zeke-aroni. MiMi Sizzle Pants. Gracie. Seamie . (Foster)Sweet. Andy. PaddyALVIN!Mayhem. Bosco. Bruno. Dottie B. Trevor Double-Heart. Bea. Cletus, KLTO. Aiden 1-4. Upon reflection, our lives are often referenced in parts defined by the all-too-short lives of our dogs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest LindsaySF Posted March 9, 2010 Share Posted March 9, 2010 I figured the effects would linger a bit until she realizes the nails are short. How long does that usually take? Does it depend on the dog? Just wondering at what point I should panic. *running off to dremel right now* I went and dremeled everyone else's nails right after I did hers. I felt the need to! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest mcsheltie Posted March 9, 2010 Share Posted March 9, 2010 You said it. It depends on the dog. Sometimes the weird gait is a learned behavior and has to dissipate with time. Others realize in a couple days they aren't sliding all over and start to walk normally. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batmom Posted March 9, 2010 Share Posted March 9, 2010 Lindsay, we haven't had the toenail experience, but Zema had a leg injury (nonstructural -- shallow skin wound) once that required bandaging for @ 3 weeks. And of course a dog can't walk on a bandaged leg. It took her 3 weeks AFTER the bandage came off to consistently use the leg again. Quote Star aka Starz Ovation (Ronco x Oneco Maggie*, litter #48538), Coco aka Low Key (Kiowa Mon Manny x Party Hardy, litter # 59881), and mom in IllinoisWe miss Reko Batman (Trouper Zeke x Marque Louisiana), 11/15/95-6/29/06, Rocco the thistledown whippet, 04/29/93-10/14/08, Reko Zema (Mo Kick x Reko Princess), 8/16/98-4/18/10, the most beautiful girl in the whole USA, my good egg Joseph aka Won by a Nose (Oneco Cufflink x Buy Back), 09/22/2003-03/01/2013, and our gentle sweet Gidget (Digitizer, Dodgem by Design x Sobe Mulberry), 1/29/2006-11/22/2014, gone much too soon. Never forgetting CJC's Buckshot, 1/2/07-10/25/10. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest LindsaySF Posted March 15, 2010 Share Posted March 15, 2010 Thanks for the replies guys. Heidi is still walking funny, but as another WAG volunteer pointed out to me, really only on certain surfaces (like my wood floors). She probably hasn't realized yet that her nails are short and she won't lose her footing like before. We'll give her more time and see what happens! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Finnsliz Posted March 15, 2010 Share Posted March 15, 2010 kjh here on GT had a dog who naturally pranced and it had nothing to do with her nails. She was a big girl and loved to prance on the beach especially. I miss Miss Jitterbugs and her cute prance. Quote <p>Finn, Wink, Birdie, Snap and SmokeyJG Quicknfast 7/25/99-5/16/08, JG Quickwink 7/25/99-9/22/13, Iruska SweetDuv 7/19/03-11/9/16, Delbar 6/11/11 and Catahoula Smokey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest greytcritters Posted March 15, 2010 Share Posted March 15, 2010 WOW those were some long nails!!!! I have had a few dogs that like to prance...it was just them and their personality Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest bluefawn Posted March 15, 2010 Share Posted March 15, 2010 Awww, poor Heidi! So glad she is in good hands now! Looks like it affected her joints some. Agree that she will probably take a while to realize that she can get good traction on bare floors. I would trim them more often than the others, so that the quick will retreat some and you can get them just a big shorter. I am sure she is thanking you for the great job you did for her! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest LindsaySF Posted March 16, 2010 Share Posted March 16, 2010 I couldn't remember if she had pranced before or not, she was with me last summer before she got adopted. She does walk differently on the wood floors though, so I think some of it is mental. She's not limping or in pain so we'll just see where this goes. Thanks all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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