This Little Piggy...

[ramonaghan]

...seems to be the culprit. The second toe (not counting dewclaw) on her left foot...in other words, one of the wonky toes I have wondered about all along.

 

 

For those still following along at home, I thought I'd give a Sweep semi-update. Earlier this month her left front leg limp suddenly got worse; it was terrible when she first got up and no longer completely resolving when she'd been up for a while. She was very tentative with her left foot upon rising, though she would eventually put weight on it. I was totally freaked out, because she's had no off-leash activity or running since late January. Her walks have been nothing more than 10 minute stroll-and-sniffs around the block. We'd done 6 weeks of acupuncture and 4 minor chiro adjustments to her neck, and switched her to a harness in case it was a neck issue. She was always worse in the day or two after acupuncture, and we weren't seeing any significant improvements overall, so we couldn't justify the continued cost. We thought we'd been doing everything we could, so the sudden decline after 8 months was very troubling and pitiful to watch.

 

We tried to make an appointment with the board-certified orthopedic surgeon we'd seen before at the specialty clinic, but he's not seeing patients for a few weeks (had his own surgery, I think). So we saw another vet there, which has turned out to be a blessing. She was able to get a repeated pain response from Sweep upon manipulating that second toe. The range of motion is okay, but any direct pressure elicits a reaction. Over the course of the past week Sweep had another set of full-leg x-rays, which thankfully were clear (confirmed by a radiologist). The original specialist examined Sweep too and both vets agree it's that toe. So we still don't know exactly what the issue is (no evidence of old fractures or anything) or what triggered the decline, but we seem to have finally isolated it where we can do some more targeted therapies. The new vet is doing some further research before recommending next steps, but things she's mentioned include a nerve block to be extra certain it's that toe (though she says it would be very tricky to isolate that toe and none of the surrounding area), a steroid injection into the joint, cold laser therapy, and--absolute last resort because it's weight-bearing--amputation. For now Sweep is walking normally again thanks to Previcox and Gabapentin.

 

So, that's where we are. Baby steps. Anyone have any experience or advice as far as the possible courses of action, or anything I should ask in our next consultation with the vet?

Edited April 24, 2016 by ramonaghan

[macoduck]

We had good success here with the cold laser therapy on shoulders. Pudge practically fell asleep during the treatment.

[Remolacha]

That looks very much like Conner's sprung toe. Nothing shows on x-ray because it is a ligament, not bone. We have had some success with laser treatments, but in his case it will probably never go away (he has other mobility issues, and is 11) I will post a couple of pictures if I can get *&%(&^ Photobucket to cooperate. It is his right back foot.

 

[ramonaghan]

That looks very much like Conner's sprung toe. Nothing shows on x-ray because it is a ligament, not bone. We have had some success with laser treatments, but in his case it will probably never go away (he has other mobility issues, and is 11) I will post a couple of pictures if I can get *&%(&^ Photobucket to cooperate. It is his right back foot.

 

It does look very similar. I remembered your post about that and reread it recently. I think that could be what we're dealing with too, even though we've never seen any bruising. Might just be an old issue that keeps getting reaggravated.

[Guest Scouts_mom]

My Bree had that toe on a hind leg amputated just before she came to me. She had broken it at the track and it hadn't healed correctly. The lack of that toe has caused absolutely no problems--she runs and plays with the best of them. I've had dogs with amputated "weight-bearing" toes before and have never seen any problems. If you do the nerve block and it is clear that the toe is the problem, I won't waste my money and Sweep's time on any of the other therapies, but would go ahead and get it amputated. She will feel better for the rest of her life.

Edited April 24, 2016 by Scouts_mom

[ramonaghan]

My Bree had that toe on a hind leg amputated just before she came to me. She had broken it at the track and it hadn't healed correctly. The lack of that toe has caused absolutely no problems--she runs and plays with the best of them. I've had dogs with amputated "weight-bearing" toes before and have never seen any problems. If you do the nerve block and it is clear that the toe is the problem, I won't waste my money and Sweep's time on any of the other therapies, but would go ahead and get it amputated. She will feel better for the rest of her life.

 

Thanks for this. It is something I'm giving serious thought to, both because she gets pretty nervous at vet appointments and because she's only 6. I want her to be able to run and take long walks again.