Late this afternoon we did a lovely walk in the forest including a steep climb up the side of the mountain. On the way down, Snowie and his friend raced around like hooligans chasing each other when all of a sudden Snowie took a tumble over a tree root and screamed. Of course I thought it was his back. Thankfully not. This time his front left paw. I made him lie down and then examined it. It was just hanging loose, but he was not unhappy with my examining it, showed no signs of pain. Then I heard a little click. So I stretched it out as much as I could, assuming it had been dislocated. After a little while he stood up but did not want to put any weight on it. I tried picking him up but he was way too heavy to carry down without endangering both of us. So I put on his harness and then lifted his weight off his foot while we slowly made our way down. At a point where I had to let go of him, he trotted off!! Clearly it was not broken (relief!). My friend said I should wait a day before rushing off to the vet, especially Christmas Eve! Of course this kind of thing has to happen on such a day! Never on an ordinary day. It is now a few hours later. Snowie is limping but shows no distress when I feel his paw. And I can feel the tendon nice and strong in the wrist area, so at least that is not snapped. My husband says it is like any sports injury, and we don't rush off to the doctor every time we sprain an ankle or a wrist in sports. So I said I'd go onto The Labrador Forum and find out if anyone has any specific advice -- please! Thank you! And Merry Christmas to all who celebrate.
What an awkward way to start Christmas Eve!.... I would give him some rest and see how he is doing. When he still is limping after Boxing Day, I would say a visit to the vet....That is what I would do, but perhaps that someone else has a better advise.... Merry Christmas to you too!
Well maybe. But the thing is humans can evaluate the injury themselves and talk to other people about it. Dogs can't do that. I'd go to a vet. Christmas Eve or not. For much less than that, my dogs would see a vet - pronto. I hope it's nothing, and it well might not be. But either of my dogs would have been seen by a vet by now to check.
Thank you. This is the route we've decided to take -- to wait and see. I could see there was no break or snapped tendon but was pretty sure there is a sprain. His limp has improved considerably overnight and he is putting equal weight (it appears) on both front paws -- for example, he goes up and down the stairs, albeit more slowly now, one paw at a time, regular walking, not hop hop hop. He did vomit in the night. Not sure if it was a result of the tumble and pain or because he'd found half a polony on our morning walk and gobbled it up plastic and all, plus the various chicken bones, cinnamon buns, and who knows what else someone had discarded -- all made him rather thirsty during the day. While he was lying there retching and vomiting (am guessing his foot was sore otherwise he'd usually stand), I stroked him and he wagged his tail throughout -- the darling! Nose was nice and cold and wet. But he insisted on going outside into the cold (summer) night to cool down on the pavers, and then came back in and leapt onto the bed to sleep off the rest of the night. We're going away on the 28th to a remote area for a week's holiday, with him. Last time we were there, earlier this year, he was being treated for his slipped disc. Fortunately there is a big river for swimming so he should get plenty of rest and easy exercise for his paw and his back (which seems to be remarkably recovered thankfully).
Thank you. This was my thought, too. And in years gone by, I would've rushed Snowie off to the vet -- the running joke then was: "Snowie's nose is dry. Quick! Take him to the vet." And usually the advice from the vet was: wait and see. Even when we took him for his slipped disc, it was wait and see, then we will decide on a course of action. So that is why I decided to wait overnight and see if he showed any recovery. Which he has. So he will get leash walks today, all controlled and slow. And we'll see on Monday how he is. He really is like a bull in a china shop, yesterday racing up and down the path, no regard for his clumsiness, pure joie de vivre, and took a tumble. His friend, a medium brown dog, nimble like a mountain goat, Snowie the clumsy clown. He lay down right now next to me and folded his paw right under, a very common thing he does. If it was a bad injury, I don't think he would be able to do that. But anyway, will reassess throughout the day and see how things go.
Tell me about it!! Whoever said that getting a dog is good for your blood pressure must've been drumming up business for the cardiac specialist!
Mine woke up yesterday morning Christmas Eve, my senior dog could barely walk. Off to vet, he has 'active spondylosis' which means he has spurs of pointed bone from his veterbrae pressing on the nerves and a lot of inflammation. I was in quite a state, so yes, dogs are a worry @JulietT and @MF. Do hope you dog's paw/writst is better today.
Oh boy, I can bet what state you were in. Will he be able to have a operation to shave off the spurs? Snowie also has spurs growing on his vertebrae (seen on an MRI and x-ray) but the vet said, in this case, it was to protect his spine given that he had a slipped disc, and the spurs would fuse the spine and keep it stable. I am now dreading that what happened to your dog is in our future. Snowie is walking gingerly but not hobbling. But so far has not insisted on his morning walk and I'm not insisting either -- I trod on the pointy end of a steel stake (yes!) a few days ago while walking on the mountain (they are used to keep logs for steps in place, although this one was in the middle of the path!). Couldn't walk for a few days, and have now been walking gingerly myself. But yesterday, when helping Snowie down the mountain, I completely ignored my own foot and am feeling the result today.
Yes, he is on Metacam and antibiotic, as sometimes a tiny infection can make the spondylosis flare up, he didn't have a temperature at the vet's but earlier at home his ears were burning hot. Also Gabapentin, but as I had stepfather on that and it made him feel ill, I only gave Drift one last night and see how he is today, Gabapentin is for nerve pain. He is improved today, I am not sure what the outlook is. I believe the inflammation should die down and possibly come and go, but not sure, a lot to take in yesterday.
Sorry your foot is being painful, how is Snowie today? I believe it is better if the spurs fuse, there was no mention of an operation and if there was, I would not put him through it. Have seen spine ops go wrong
I am so sorry about your boy. Hopefully the medication will give him the relief he needs. When we took Snowie in for his spine consultation (with the orthopaedic surgeon) I took a notebook because I also can't take it all in and forget everything unless I write it down under those stressful circumstances. Perhaps you can make a list of questions and email them to the vet? (I have done, that, too!) Although you were a vet nurse, weren't you? I guess, though, when it's your own dog, it makes it all different. Snowie seems to have made a speedy recovery. It has been incredibly hot today, so except for asking half-heartedly for a walk mid-morning (which I ignored, so he took himself off to lie down), he had a very quiet day, most of it lying down. We only did a very short walk a few minutes ago and there is no sign of a sore foot. Much relief.
MF, so pleased to read Snowie'ss foot seems so much better. Yes, it is quite different when it is your own dog as one is emotionally attached, I could always be cool, calm and reasurring with clients' dogs, but with my own, would almost go to pieces! Fortunately the vet I saw is so kind and gave me her mobile phone number, in case I needed her on Christmas day (the surgery goes over to an emergency surgery some distance away in 'out of hours), will see her next week and remember to take paper and pencil! Thank goodness the medications and when to give and other instructions were all typed out
@Stacia how is your boy? Have you seen the vet yet? I am pleased to report that Snowie appears to have made a full recovery. With the scream he let out on Saturday you would've thought it would take weeks to heal. But from yesterday already there was no sign of a limp at all. He is still on semi-restricted exercise, the first off-lead walk being yesterday evening. But all is looking good THANK GOODNESS!!! (Meanwhile I was wondering why my arm and shoulder were so stiff... and then I realised that carrying the weight of a 34-kg dog -- lifting him off his injured front foot with his harness -- down a mountain path for one hour can do that to you!)
I missed this thread over Christmas. I'm very sorry to hear of both your dogs' injuries. Glad that Snowie has recovered quickly and hope that Drift is responding to the medication.
Yes, I took him straight away on Christmas eve and he had x-rays (see my post earlier), took him back today, has to be on antibiotics for a month as infection 'can' cause the spine inflammation also Metacam possibly for ever, hope not, he has some neurological problem. Only short walks of five minutes, though I can do several of them during the day, I shall be walked to a standstill as have to take Rourke for 'proper' walks, though he will be working tomorrow which will make life easier for me.
Hi Stacia. I'm back on proper internet connection (could barely connect while we were away) and wanted to ask you how your boy has been this past week?
Thanks MF. He seems much happier but of course is on pain kilers and will be on antibiotics for a month. Unfortunately he will always now have spondylosis but hopefully without the inflammation. I have bought him an Equafleece to put on hm as soon as he gets in the car if he is wet, so that he will be warm and dry.
