Slightly lame pup

Custard Cream

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Our 8 month old Spinone, Myrtle, came back from her walk this morning ever so slightly lame on her near fore. Not lame enough to stop her jumping about like an idiot or to stop her getting on and off the sofa (!) but it's definitely a little sore.

She has big hairy feet, so a full inspection has been carried out and there doesn't seem to be any specific point that hurts when touched. I've gone through all the pads, between the pads and between each toe and I can't find anything that would cause it.

She's not madly licking at it or chewing at it either....everything else is fine, eating and drinking and all the toilet stuff works.

Have soaked it in warm water this morning and will do a salty bath this evening and if it's worse in the morning I'll ring the oncall vet. I've had experience of grass seeds, but this doesn't seem the same.

myrtle_zps7c40dc7a.jpg
 
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That is a possibility - she is such a playful pup and very 'leapy' at the moment and flies around speedily with our our Spin, Millie. The lack of licking and chewing might be an indicator that it's more internal than a foreign body I guess.
 
Maybe try and keep quiet ? ( I know easier said than done lol ) and just watch for a day or so -if theres nothing bothering her obviously in the foot a vet probly wont find much there either. Just have to add shes VERY cute !!
 
I'd keep her rested and on lead for a few days and see how she is then. Easy to say hard to do! If everything else is ruled out youngsters can suffer from pano stenisis (sp?). Effectively growing pains and it can change from leg to leg. If it possibly this I would perhaps check the protein level in her food as high protein is associated with it. Grow them slow and strong being the adage :0)

Anyhoo a weeks rest and no sofa or stairs or jumping in and out of cars would be a good bet

And god she is a heart melter isn't she :0)
 
Thanks everyone. It's odd. She's def lame still and a bit sad looking. Some moments it's not bothering her, then others she's lying there making sad whining noises :(

I've had another poke around and can't see or feel anything obvious. She's on Skinners Museli.
 
Well she's got me up with whimpering! She was lying on the bed making very sad noises so got up to let her out, and she's much more lame now. Holding the paw up when she's sat down. I've soaked it in warm, salty water for as long as she'd let me (which wasn't long) and she's settled next to me in the sitting room. She won't let me have a good look at the paw, I suspect something is in it, so I'll be giving the oncall vet a ring this morning.
 
A little update - spoken to vet first thing and I've given her some metacam and a couple of hours later she's looking much better. I'm to poultice it and give more metacam later and then take her in in the morning if no better. She's on box rest and I've just taken her out on the lead to relieve herself. She's very bright and bouncing around, it's hard to make her take it easy! hopefully the poultice will draw something out. I'm wondering if its a Christmas Tree needle...
 
Not at all having a go at you OP but it amazes me the vets prescribing metacam over the phone for a young, big breed dog, and not wanting to even see it. You aren't the first person on here to say that is what the vets recommend but I really cannot imagine our vets saying it. Maybe they would, I haven't put them to the test! Do you all keep metacam at home on an 'if in case' basis?
When our lab pup went lame it turned out to be fissures in her elbow growth plates and a long range diagnosis would not have helped.
That aside I hope Myrtle is better today, she is very lovely.
 
Little update.

We took her to see the vet and it's been isolated to her elbow! 5 day course of metacam and see how she does. Vet thinks she's bashed it clowning around, which seems likely. I can just imagine what was going through her mind when I was poulticing her paw - 'It's my bloody elbow you idiot!!'

Anyhow, there has been a marked improvement, but we think going for walks on a string is rubbish.
 
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