I have a 4-year-old Maltese. He developed a limp about a month ago. It started off VERY slight and has gotten progressively worse. Here's the symptoms:
1. It is worst when he first wakes up in the morning or after a nap.
2. After he's walked on it for a couple hours it almost totally disappears. He can run/walk normally.
3. It has gotten noticeably worse over the past month.
4. Anti-inflamatory medication had no effect.
5. X-rays were normal.
6. To the best of my knowledge he did nothing to injure this leg.
7. The leg concerned is the front left.
Any help would be greatly appreciated. The vet has no idea what's wrong but took a blood sample to test for infection.
Thanks!
2007-09-09 04:41:13 · 13 answers · asked by Jim 3 in Pets ➔ Dogs
take it to the vet WHILE its leg is hurting
or switch vets
ive seen something like this before on animal planet and finally after a few tries the right vet found it out
2007-09-09 04:47:21 · answer #1 · answered by Courtney 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You sound like a good dog owner. You've done all the normal stuff a concerned and caring person does, and you're planning a trip to the vet if needs be. Offer him a heating pad on low heat and see if he puts his sore spot on it. If so, he may be getting a little touch of arthritis. We had a dog that did that. He'd be sure to put his sore hip or leg on the warmth from the heating pad -- then sigh contentedly as he settled in. We covered it with an old towel before placing it on the floor and showing him where it was.
2016-05-20 04:50:30 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Perhaps it could be a thorn stuck in between a pad, but most likely not being the situation. But it doesn't hurt to check. Once my dog was limping for 3 days and I kept checking his paws and couldnt find anything in it. Then I decided to look once more, and i found a tree needle deep in his paw. Due to the ammount of fur it was hard to find. Perhaps your maltese is having a strain on her foot. Such has having to jump up or down tall or large things. That is most likely the reason because she is a small dog. If she is overweight, that can contribute to strain on a foot. And why one foot? because perhaps she waslks with the left lead (most dogs are lefties) If she is overwieght and has to jump up and down tall things, that is most likely the cause. Get her one of those climbing stair things. Another factor could be a problem in the hip . Why her left foot is limping could be because when she goes foreward with her left foot (ussually farther than the right) it puts pressure and tension on the muscles attatche dto the hip. Thus after excersise it may decrease because the rusty muscle is un tensed. Let me know if you find out what it is.
2007-09-09 04:50:37 · answer #3 · answered by Kelly H. 2 · 4⤊ 0⤋
I am not a dog expert, but I do have some experience in this department. Has your vet checked for arthritis? It sounds like that is a possiblility because after activity his muscles seem to slightly loosen. Some diseases can do this too. Bone loss/mass is also something to consider. Hope this helps. Email me if you have any questions.
2007-09-09 04:49:13 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
If your current vet was unable to figure it out, I suggest seeking the opinion of another vet. It sounds like arthritis but it could be a couple other things too.
2007-09-09 04:50:12 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
I'd go to an vet ortho specialist. Ligament don't show up on x-ray.
If left untreated this could lead to nerve damage, and or early arthritis.
Good luck in finding and resolving your dogs discomfort.
2007-09-09 04:54:05 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like the dog possibly ruptured its cruciate. It is not detected on x-ray and usually picked up on physical exam. The dog would need an orthopedic surgeon.
2007-09-09 10:47:51 · answer #7 · answered by grinninh 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Maybe your dog has something in his foot and is has became quite tender. Has your dog had any blood work done to see if there could be an infection from a sore or anything?
2007-09-09 04:52:29 · answer #8 · answered by Miss Behavin 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
he could be like my dog and have aritrites (sorry for spelling) she tends to have a leg that you can see it pop in and out when she walks. vet says it is that and cant really do much a out it so we give her pain med. she does just fine still has alot of spunk for her age. shes 12 yrs
2007-09-09 05:33:38 · answer #9 · answered by 59caddy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
give him some sardines in oil, or you can try a couple tablespoons of mineral oil a day. I did this for my dog when he had athritus and it helped with his joints, baby asperin, but of course now adays they have some some new and inproved medicines and vitamins.
2007-09-09 10:05:34 · answer #10 · answered by elizabet 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋