Guest iLoveLucie Posted October 9, 2011 Share Posted October 9, 2011 A couple of days ago DH noticed our 4 yr old male, Buddy, was occasionally limping during our morning walk. He wouldn't put his full weight on his rear right leg. We checked his paws - maybe he stepped on something - but things looked OK. He was fine the rest of the day. Yesterday he spent the day at day care, so he was more active than normal, but again seemed fine. He wasn't limping when we picked him up and didn't limp during our evening walk. This morning the limping started again once we got outside for our walk. This time it was more frequent and several time he wouldn't put any weight on his rear right leg and he hopped along on 3 legs. Again, we checked his paws - nothing looked torn/cut. If we walked slow he was OK, but if he tried to catch up with our female Lucie he'd be back on 3 legs, holding his rear leg off the ground. He's been sleeping most of the day, but just got up to get water, and is again walking on 3 legs; even drinking water he held his rear right leg off the ground. I checked his feet again - and this time noticed a large bump on the top of his foot. Now he is limping/walking on 3 paws every time he gets up. Could his toe be broken? Could it have taken us 3-4 days to notice - which means it's probably gotten worse...? Besides not putting weight on it, he doesn't seem to be in extraordinary pain - no crying, etc. but I'm sure he is not comfortable, and our 4-a-day walk routine won't help. If this continues a trip to the Vet is in order, although I'm worried about waiting until Monday when our regular Vet is open... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeorgeofNE Posted October 10, 2011 Share Posted October 10, 2011 Make sure you feel each of his paw pads very carefully in case it's a corn. Unexplained limping in a greyhound would be cause for concern to me (and my vet!). If he were my dog I'd schedule some x-rays. Quote Susan, Hamish, Mister Bigglesworth and Nikita Stanislav. Missing Ming, George, and Buck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest EmbersDad Posted October 10, 2011 Share Posted October 10, 2011 id say look for a corn as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest iLoveLucie Posted October 10, 2011 Share Posted October 10, 2011 Thanks all. Newbie question - but what does a corn look like/feel like? Nothing seems out of the ordinary on his foot, but maybe I'm not looking for the right type of thing. We shortendd all walks yesterday (no yard for us, so walks = potty breaks) and he'd limp at first or hop-along on 3 feet, but then after a bit he could walk on it, slowly. I'm calling our Vet today either way! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbhounds Posted October 10, 2011 Share Posted October 10, 2011 Yup- vet visit-- keep us posted!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duncan41 Posted October 10, 2011 Share Posted October 10, 2011 Hope this turns out to be "nothing"! Went through something similar with a 3 year old about 4 years ago. After 3 sets of x-rays and 4 exams by two different vets over a 6 month period revealed nothing, treatment with Rimadyl and rest (no running!), we purchased TheraPaws for both back feet. Our girl wore them for two years on walks only and then we weaned her off of them (read: DH got tired of putting them on and taking them off - LOL) and she has been fine ever since. Quote Linda, Mom to Fuzz, Barkley, and the felines Miss Kitty, Simon and Joseph.Waiting at The Bridge: Alex, Josh, Harley, Nikki, Beemer, Anna, Frank, Rachel, my heart & soul, Suze and the best boy ever, Dalton.<p> ....for all those hounds that are sick, hurt, lost or waiting for their forever homes. SENIORS ROCK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
racindog Posted October 10, 2011 Share Posted October 10, 2011 Just be aware of possible spinal issues. Slim had intermittant non-weight bearing lameness whose cause was undiagnosed by even a board certified vet. Luckily another vet was able to and thus we were able to treat it successfully. Since then I have noticed it is not uncommon for my houndies to present with lameness when there is nothing wrong with feet or legs etc. but rather it is a vertebral issue. Whatever it is I'm sure he'll be OK with some time to heal-he probably just strained something. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest iLoveLucie Posted October 10, 2011 Share Posted October 10, 2011 Got a vet appointment this afternoon - he's still hobbling around this morning... it's so sad to see him move so gingerly, but he still gets excited at times (ie. when we were getting ready to go out for our walk) and his tail wags like crazy as he hops around so I'm happy he's still in good spirits. I noticed it seems to bother him more when we're walking on the roads vs. the sidewalks. Hoping we just need to get him some stylish booties! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeorgeofNE Posted October 10, 2011 Share Posted October 10, 2011 My dog doesn't have corns, thank goodness, but I've read enough here on GT to know that a corn would feel like a hard spot on the paw pad. They can start quite small, so you'll have to run your finger over the surface of each paw pad and feel for anything that isn't normal paw pad! Quote Susan, Hamish, Mister Bigglesworth and Nikita Stanislav. Missing Ming, George, and Buck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlies_Dad Posted October 10, 2011 Share Posted October 10, 2011 Hope it's nothing serious. Unfortunately a limp can be a symptom of many things and unless you can easily identify it, e.g. a corn, a vet visit is best and if they cannot find anything, then I suggest an x-ray after that. I know it costs money but it can also help a lot with the diagnosis. Quote Kyle with Stewie ('Super C Ledoux, Super C Sampson x Sing It Blondie) and forever missing my three angels, Jack ('Roy Jack', Greys Flambeau x Miss Cobblepot) and Charlie ('CTR Midas Touch', Leo's Midas x Hallo Argentina) and Shelby ('Shari's Hooty', Flying Viper x Shari Carusi) running free across the bridge. Gus an coinnich sinn a'rithist my boys and little girl. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duncan41 Posted October 11, 2011 Share Posted October 11, 2011 (edited) . I noticed it seems to bother him more when we're walking on the roads vs. the sidewalks. That's exactly how Suze's started - worst on asphalt, better on sidewalks, better yet on grass, even better on tile and no limp on carpeting. During that 6 months of monitoring, the limp became much worse to the point where the only time she didn't limp was when she walked on carpeting. Glad you opted for a Vet appointment. Will pray that it's just another mystery limp. Edited October 11, 2011 by duncan41 Quote Linda, Mom to Fuzz, Barkley, and the felines Miss Kitty, Simon and Joseph.Waiting at The Bridge: Alex, Josh, Harley, Nikki, Beemer, Anna, Frank, Rachel, my heart & soul, Suze and the best boy ever, Dalton.<p> ....for all those hounds that are sick, hurt, lost or waiting for their forever homes. SENIORS ROCK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest mnblewis1 Posted October 11, 2011 Share Posted October 11, 2011 A dog I had years ago started limping. He did it for a couple of days, then quit. I pray for good news from the vet for your baby. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest iLoveLucie Posted October 11, 2011 Share Posted October 11, 2011 Vet appointment didn't shed too much light... they didn't find/feel any corns so the x-rayed and sent it out to a radiologist/specialist. For now he is on some anti-inflamatory medicine which seems to be helping him with pain and he's not limping too badly. So for now we wait until we hear from the specialist! Oh and try to keep his activity restricted... poor Buddy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest iLoveLucie Posted October 11, 2011 Share Posted October 11, 2011 Update from the Radiologist: The bump on Buddy's toe probably isn't anything "aggressive" (Vet mentioned worse case scenario of the c-word [cancer] and needing to amputate his toe!?!??!?). It is "bone re-shaping" probably caused by ligament strain or an arthritic development. We are to retrict activity to leash walks just for potty breaks, continue the anti-inflammatory meds and bring him back in 6 weeks for another round of x-rays. This is good news, right? I'm nervous with the lack of certainty and the "wait and see" approach, although this might be the right path for the situation. Buddy does seem better today; he's been playing inside (while I try to stop him and put him in his crate to chill) and the only time he hobbles on 3 legs is when we cross the street (roads seem to be his kryptonite). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbhounds Posted October 11, 2011 Share Posted October 11, 2011 (edited) Good news indeed!! He's young so it's likely trama related. The hard part is going to keep your boy quite for 6 weeks--good luck with that!!! Busy toys might become a good friend! Thanks for the update! Edited October 11, 2011 by tbhounds Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
racindog Posted October 12, 2011 Share Posted October 12, 2011 Great news. I'm sure he'll be OK and will get the all clear when he ahs to go back in a couple of weeks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kudzu Posted October 12, 2011 Share Posted October 12, 2011 Sure sounds like good news to me. The restrictions are a PITA with some dogs but should help. Hope he's greatly improved well before his period of "house arrest" is over. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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