Dog Limping... Help

So I am not sure what to do. I have a little Yorkshire terrier and since Monday morning he has not been putting any weight on one of his front paws. I thought at first that maybe something was stuck in his pad so I soaked his feet in salt water for a while to see if that would wash something out of it. I also physically inspected the pad very well and cant seem to find anything. I pulled on his leg and moved it around to see if would show any reaction but none at all, not even when I push on his pad. I would think that if something were broken he would show a reaction as if I were hurting him when I move his joints around. I also gave him another bath last night and just like normal, he rolls around on his towel after using his legs to spin himself in circles. he was most certainly moving the effected foot normally with no issue. I'm wondering if it's time for me to take him to the vet or if I should wait another day. I don't think its a broken bone (I don't know how that would have happened in the first place) and I would hate to spend a fortune on Vet bills if its nothing. If you have had an issue w/a dog having these kind of issues but not showing reaction when the leg was tested out, did it turn out to be something serious? Any advice would be very helpful, although he is in no obvious pain I still hate to see him like this.

Re: Dog Limping... Help

I'm so sorry!! Watching my dog in pain is one of the more excruciating experiences for me. This has happened to my dog a few times, with no explanation. It would normally go away after a day, but one time it lasted a few days so I took her to the vet and they said it could be Lyme Disease. She was positive for it. So she went on antibiotics and within a day her leg was back to normal.

Re: Dog Limping... Help

I never thought of that, we live in a very wooded area and my other dog had it last year but showed no signs, just found through normal blood work. Thanks so much, I will talk to my vet about an antibiotic :)

Re: Dog Limping... Help

Re: Dog Limping... Help

I have had alot experience with this, it never turned out to be nothng actually.
The first time my dog just jumped the wrong way n he shattered something in his upper arm, he would limp then stop when it was xrayed n he had to have surgery,
the second time they thought it was cancer n it turned out to be benign tumor that was hard because it was pressing on the calf muscle. he had surgery again.
Now..we have it again and they told me its probably arthritis n he is on tramadol and dermax.
He is going to b xrayed again.
I would personally just take the dog, it def can be something even if the dog moves then stops.
good luck!

Re: Dog Limping... Help

Posted by emilylives

I'm so sorry!! Watching my dog in pain is one of the more excruciating experiences for me. This has happened to my dog a few times, with no explanation. It would normally go away after a day, but one time it lasted a few days so I took her to the vet and they said it could be Lyme Disease. She was positive for it. So she went on antibiotics and within a day her leg was back to normal.

Re: Dog Limping... Help

I would go to the vet. My dog had the same symptoms and turned out to be a side affect from Lymes (and a little athritis).

Re: Dog Limping... Help

I would take your dog to the vet. My dog was limping and it turned out to be a pulled muscle but the vet tested for lyme b/c it can present the same way. My dog needed an antiinflammatory medicine...thankfull the lyme test was negative.

Re: Dog Limping... Help

Thanks for all the help everyone. Took him to the vet and he does have Lyme They are treating him w antibiotics and they think that's why he's limping. Hopefully he will be feeling back to himself soon.

Re: Dog Limping... Help

Posted by Lina

Thanks for all the help everyone. Took him to the vet and he does have Lyme They are treating him w antibiotics and they think that's why he's limping. Hopefully he will be feeling back to himself soon.

Re: Dog Limping... Help

Posted by bettybcafe

Im so glad you found out what the problem was. Be thankful it was just that because Lyme disease is easily treatable in dogs. Just make sure to keep him protected from now on. Make sure to get his lyme vacc and to keep him on flea/tick protection

Message edited 3/30/2011 1:09:00 AM.

Re: Dog Limping... Help

Posted by Lina

Thanks for all the help everyone. Took him to the vet and he does have Lyme They are treating him w antibiotics and they think that's why he's limping. Hopefully he will be feeling back to himself soon.

Re: Dog Limping... Help

Posted by Lina

Posted by bettybcafe

Im so glad you found out what the problem was. Be thankful it was just that because Lyme disease is easily treatable in dogs. Just make sure to keep him protected from now on. Make sure to get his lyme vacc and to keep him on flea/tick protection

Definitely, he is doing much better now and I have decided to get him his Lyme shot. I always keep their flea/tick med up to date but its tough because we live in such a wooded area, no matter what they still get ticks on them. I guess I have to look them over better when they come in from running around.

Re: Dog Limping... Help

I have them on frontline but my vet just recommended advantix because it has a tick repellant in it. I keep hearing conflicting opinions on which is better. I guess we will just do trial and error to see what works best for us. Thanks for the advice