limping border terrier

[oldie48]

My 13 yr old BT is generally a very healthy dog for his age. Sometimes on a walk he can look, just a little lame, but mostly he's completely sound. OH took him for a walk this morning and he was fine, washed him off as he went swimming and then a little later on, noticed he was limping quite noticeably on the left fore. I checked him over and there's nothing that I can find in the paw, no heat and no swelling. He's more lame when he gets up, seems able to put weight on the leg when he turns and moved quite well towards his food bowl (well he is a terrier). It's a bank holiday and I don't think he's in a lot of pain so will monitor him until Tuesday when the vet is open again but I just wondered if anyone had any idea what might be going on. As an oldish dog he doesn't rush around but I'm thinking a pulled muscle??

 

[chillipup]

If it's just a pulled muscle, a few days of restricted/low level exercise might prove it, if he improves of course. The thing that would worry me, however, is that you've already noticed that he's looked lame sometimes on a walk. If it's the same leg he's lame on, I'd get it checked out by the vet next week. Fingers crossed it's a pulled muscle but due to his age, I'd be suspecting maybe some arthritis somewhere in the leg. Best see your vet next week.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

I would think that a cold swim hasn't done his already slightly uncomfortable joint any good. I would keep him quiet over the Bank Holiday and take him to the vet on Tuesday. He will probably be given Metacam. He may benefit from a glucosamine supplement or a copper/magnetic collar, some dogs do.