Limping On Left Front Leg

[babesmom]

My 7 yr old girl pulled up really lame last evening. She favors the paw but hops stiff legged not pulling it up and curling the paw under. I am going to try baby asprin to see if she gets relief and keep her from running on it. How long do I wait to see improvement? I fear it is a muscle or ligament tear..........

[Chele]

Please, please if this doesn't clear up soon. Have the vet look at her....carefully. I had a vet keep telling me that Ginger just had arthritis. What she had was bone cancer. I'm somewhat paranoid about limps now, but better safe than sorry.

[Brooke&Ryan]

When Julius turned up lame last year we gave him a day of strict crate rest before we called the vet.

The first time that he was lame, the vet thought that it was a soft tissue injury. The second time, we insisted that he be tested for Lyme. It turned out that he had Lyme & so if you end up going to the vet a titer for Lyme & tick-borne disease might be in order. Just a thought....

I hope that your girl feels better soon. It's no fun when they're in pain.

[Judy Chrusch]

Originally Posted by Brooke&Ryan

When Julius turned up lame last year we gave him a day of strict crate rest before we called the vet.

The first time that he was lame, the vet thought that it was a soft tissue injury. The second time, we insisted that he be tested for Lyme. It turned out that he had Lyme & so if you end up going to the vet a titer for Lyme & tick-borne disease might be in order. Just a thought....

I hope that your girl feels better soon. It's no fun when they're in pain.

Thank you Brooke for mentioning Lyme bc that's what I was going to say. Too many times they come up lame and they are misdiagnosed and sometimes it's too late . With lyme it can sometimes be in the front then switch to the back. My boy always had the limp in the right front.

Rest her a day or so and if you don't see any improvement or she gets worse or it reoccurs then get her to the vet and insist on a lyme test. Are the ticks bad in your area? I hope she feels better soon and that it isn't anything serious.

Judy

[StephanieandToby]

My dog had had a recurring limp on his left front leg for many years...when she starts to limp give her REST REST REST!! In and out to pee and poo and that's it! If she can't put weight on it I would take her to the Vet right away...I last took Toby to the vet about a month ago because his limp was sooo bad on his front left shoulder....the doctor suspected bone cancer or tendonitis of the bicep....before I went through all the tests I gave him four days complete rest and luckily he has healed....Good luck and I hope all news is good!

[zeus'smommy]

Hi there... just wanted to give my 2 cents- I work at a vet clinic- so I seem to see it all...... I would not wait too long- and the advice already given is GREAT advice- REST!!!! Here is the deal on taking her to the vet- if it is lyme, a fracture or something like that- it will not get better with rest at all- and you will see that after a day or so.... so why wait? Is everything else normal- eating, drinking?

[chivas]

From 1 who has lost 2 unrelated rotties to bone cancer, I would take my dog in ASAP at first sign of a limp ESPECIALLY if the dog is over 6.
With my Roxie, we thought it was arthritis because she had been hit by a car years earlier and waited about 3 weeks before taking her in, she was DX with OS and only lived 6 more weeks.
Chivas came up lame on Sunday, I had her in the vet on Monday. Didnt see anything on Xrays but the BW came up with high alkaline (indicator of tumors often). Put her on pain meds and cancer fighting regime, she was with me for 5 more months, not long enough.
If its nothing, then you can breath easier.
OS doesnt always show on Xrays, insist on BW too.
Kim

[Diane Heller-Vaccaro]

When Nero was diagnosed with bone cancer it came on so sudden I was sure he must of cut a pad or something. After I checked and waited a few days to gather myself more than anything because I knew in my heart what it was I just wasn't ready to hear it out loud. Of course it was bone cancer he I opted for pain meds and that's when I learned about RAW food. He lived almost 6 months after the diagnosis.

Please let us know.

[babesmom]

Thanks so much for the info. I will be taking her in this weekend. I have not let her out to play and she lies around all day while I work. She is a very active dog and has on occasion hurt her other foot running and trying to keep up w/the other 2 dogs. It usually goes away in a day or so. I did notice her paw was sort of puffy. I won't wait too long and will let you know the status. She is so very hard to look at her feet. She tore a toenail off when she was 2 and we have to sedate her for nail trims. Now will be a good time to do that.

[Diane Heller-Vaccaro]

Well the fact that it goes away is a good sign. That never happened to Nero it just got progressively worse. He also had lymes a few years prior and that doesn't get better either without meds. So maybe you'll be one of the lucky ones. I'll say a little prayer for you both.