Dog limping - any ideas?

[HeatherAnn]

Just to say that dog is going to the vet sometime in the next week (not sure on the date as someone else made the appointment)

Dog turned one a couple of months ago so not an old guy. I noticed yesterday that he was dropping his shoulder while he was walking. Like a slight limp. It doesn't seem to be either of his front paws as they are both still on the floor when he walks and he isn't lifting one as though it's sore, nor does it seem painful when they are examined or touched.
He's fine in himself, still eating, not worrying. I noticed the shoulder dropping yesterday morning, by the afternoon it was gone so mum took him out in the eve, he had a little run then came home. Same thing happened this morning and when dad took him out he said that on the way home he started to slow up and drop his shoulder again.
He's still playing in the garden and when he runs or walks quickly it's not noticeable, only when he's walking. It doesn't seem to be effected by the surface he's on either, carpet, patio or grass.
Sorry for the essay but does anyone have any idea what this could be and what we can do?

 

[CorvusCorax]

Could be anything, back, shoulder, elbow etc - I'd rest him until you know what it is and would be asking for full x-rays from vet.
Hopefully just a little tweak. Walk is generally the most unforgiving gait when lameless is concerned, you spot things much easier than when at trot or gallop.

 

[HeatherAnn]

Thanks for the reply CC, we didn't walk him last night and haven't this morning, not that we would in this heat. He's still got access to the garden if he wants to lie in the draft but we're trying to stop him hooning.
He seems loads better this morning.
If he has stopped limping by his vets appt will it still be worth asking vet to have a look?

 

[CorvusCorax]

I would still get him checked out, especially if it has been intermittent as you say.

 

[Mynstrel]

Before you go to x-rays (unless an examination finds something that definitely needs it) discuss physio with your vet. Dads dog had an unexplained lameness which we & our vet all put down to a shoulder injury, no apparent soreness, no swelling, nothing to give us a clue of what she might have done, just a limp which was worse when she'd been lying down & she seemed to not be moving from the shoulder as well as she could.

We rested her - no improvement, had her x-rayed - nothing out of th ordinary. Following more rest & still no improvement we took her to a physio & she instantly spotted a strained wrist joint, the shoulder lameness was juust from how she'd been walking to make herself more comfy so she'd made the shoulder sore as well. Some laser treatment along with light exercise & stretches instead of total rest & she's well on the way to being back to normal.