Dog not putting pressure on front right paw

[star777]

My dog (Shepherd/Chow mix) was outside playing in the snow we had Friday and Saturday. Well this morning I noticed when I put her food out that she was lifting her right paw as she was eating. Then all of a sudden she just plopped down and stayed laying down by her food bowl. I called her over to me and she would use her right leg but wouldn't put too much pressure on it. She does walk around, but again she won't put full pressure on the right leg/paw. I tried to check it out and her right leg would just shake as I held it. I spread apart her two middle nails, to look into the paw and she gave out a loud yelp (she almost never yelps). So I let it be and went back later to look. I really can't see anything or swelling. She has bad allergies where she constantly licks her paws (she is on allergy shots and special food), but her paws don't look overly red or even like anything is wrong. When I was trying to look at her paw, she would lick the area and my hand. Any ideas of what could be wrong? The regular vets are closed today, can it wait until tomorrow? I guess I'm overly worried because this dog never cries out in pain.

Thanks in advance for any help!!

 

[mamatutu]

This site might help you:

Causes of Limping in Dogs

Our lab/greyhound mix had a paw injury years ago where she may have come down hard on a rock or something, and actually split the webbing(?) between two of her toes. Even though it healed, she was always somewhat flat pawed/footed on that leg, but she still ran like the wind! I hope your furry friend feels better soon.

 

[desertrat]

My dog (Shepherd/Chow mix) was outside playing in the snow we had Friday and Saturday. Well this morning I noticed when I put her food out that she was lifting her right paw as she was eating. Then all of a sudden she just plopped down and stayed laying down by her food bowl. I called her over to me and she would use her right leg but wouldn't put too much pressure on it. She does walk around, but again she won't put full pressure on the right leg/paw. I tried to check it out and her right leg would just shake as I held it. I spread apart her two middle nails, to look into the paw and she gave out a loud yelp (she almost never yelps). So I let it be and went back later to look. I really can't see anything or swelling. She has bad allergies where she constantly licks her paws (she is on allergy shots and special food), but her paws don't look overly red or even like anything is wrong. When I was trying to look at her paw, she would lick the area and my hand. Any ideas of what could be wrong? The regular vets are closed today, can it wait until tomorrow? I guess I'm overly worried because this dog never cries out in pain.

Thanks in advance for any help!!

No obvious injury it can wait. Dog will probably be better by tomorrow. If not then vet. Maybe just a strain or splinter.

 

[star777]

No obvious injury it can wait. Dog will probably be better by tomorrow. If not then vet. Maybe just a strain or splinter.

Thanks! I hope so! The yelp scared me a lot.

 

[desertrat]

Thanks! I hope so! The yelp scared me a lot.

Front or back?

 

[desertrat]

Front or back?

If it's the rear and the paw doesn't seem sore it could be the anterior cruciate ligament. Happened to my beagle mix. Cost big bucks to fix and she was in a cast for weeks. She was just chasing a ball up the stairs and I saw the leg go out.

 

[star777]

If it's the rear and the paw doesn't seem sore it could be the anterior cruciate ligament. Happened to my beagle mix. Cost big bucks to fix and she was in a cast for weeks. She was just chasing a ball up the stairs and I saw the leg go out.

It is the front right paw. At this moment she will get up and immediately put her right paw up in the air. Then it's like she hesitates to lay down because she's not sure what to do with the paw to keep the pressure off. It looks painful. I hope it's not going to cost me big bucks. It was around $800 last time just to find out she had a UTI.

 

[Roman]

Poor baby, good luck, and well wishes.

 

[star777]

Poor baby, good luck, and well wishes.

Thanks!

 

[RPMDAD]

star, the snow/ice may have irritated the paw, i saw one of our cockers limping for a while after taking it out in the snow. I think their paw started melting the snow underneath the paw and then it froze back up until thawing out back in the house. I would keep an eye on it though, our cocker was fine within a day.

 

[star777]

star, the snow/ice may have irritated the paw, i saw one of our cockers limping for a while after taking it out in the snow. I think their paw started melting the snow underneath the paw and then it froze back up until thawing out back in the house. I would keep an eye on it though, our cocker was fine within a day.

I plan on taking her to get checked out tomorrow, but I would be so happy if it was all better when I woke up! Thanks for the info., I hope that's all it is!

 

[desertrat]

It is the front right paw. At this moment she will get up and immediately put her right paw up in the air. Then it's like she hesitates to lay down because she's not sure what to do with the paw to keep the pressure off. It looks painful. I hope it's not going to cost me big bucks. It was around $800 last time just to find out she had a UTI.

Oops missed that in the title. If I remember right it cost about $1700 to fix the rear on my dog. With no guarantees it would hold and a fair chance of the othe leg going soon after because she'd be favoring the bad one. It worked well though and no more problems.

 

[getbent]

If it's the rear and the paw doesn't seem sore it could be the anterior cruciate ligament. Happened to my beagle mix. Cost big bucks to fix and she was in a cast for weeks. She was just chasing a ball up the stairs and I saw the leg go out.

Not to hijack the thread, did your dog do a lot of limping before diagnosis? Our Lab starts limping every 4-8 weeks. Always the same leg. Ive tried moving the leg in every direction, he never cries, wimpers or tries to pull the leg away (same for the foot as well) . Goes away within a couple days.

 

[getbent]

Thanks! I hope so! The yelp scared me a lot.

Hope everything turns out ok and she's back up and running

 

[star777]

Not to hijack the thread, did your dog do a lot of limping before diagnosis? Our Lab starts limping every 4-8 weeks. Always the same leg. Ive tried moving the leg in every direction, he never cries, wimpers or tries to pull the leg away (same for the foot as well) . Goes away within a couple days.

I'm thinking maybe once has she really limped and it went away the next day
That time it was due to her paw being sore from allergies so she didn't need to go to the vet (and I can't remember what paw it was). Today is nothing like then. I touch her right paw/lower leg and she pulls it away real quick but she lets me do whatever I want to the left one. My mom came over and brought me some dog asprin to give her and said that the way she is walking shows she is in pain. To me it seems worse now than this morning, probably because she is still trying to get around instead of laying down. (She has separation anxiety so anytime I get up or move out of sight, she tries to follow).

I'll let everyone know what the vet says once I can get an appointment somewhere tomorrow.

 

[star777]

Oops missed that in the title. If I remember right it cost about $1700 to fix the rear on my dog. With no guarantees it would hold and a fair chance of the othe leg going soon after because she'd be favoring the bad one. It worked well though and no more problems.

OUCH!! That is a lot, but to me it would be worth it just for that chance of complete recovery. I'm happy to hear that it worked for your dog

 

[ICit]

I'm thinking maybe once has she really limped and it went away the next day
That time it was due to her paw being sore from allergies so she didn't need to go to the vet (and I can't remember what paw it was). Today is nothing like then. I touch her right paw/lower leg and she pulls it away real quick but she lets me do whatever I want to the left one. My mom came over and brought me some dog asprin to give her and said that the way she is walking shows she is in pain. To me it seems worse now than this morning, probably because she is still trying to get around instead of laying down. (She has separation anxiety so anytime I get up or move out of sight, she tries to follow).

I'll let everyone know what the vet says once I can get an appointment somewhere tomorrow.

Make sure u let the vet know u gave her aspirin ... just in case they put her on an anti inflammatory Med.... if not it could cause major issues like gi bleeding

There is a good chance it could.be just soft tissue trauma... or even a hair line fracture in the metatarsals...
Till u get her in... crate rest... leash walks.. and pamper

 

[star777]

Make sure u let the vet know u gave her aspirin ... just in case they put her on an anti inflammatory Med.... if not it could cause major issues like gi bleeding

There is a good chance it could.be just soft tissue trauma... or even a hair line fracture in the metatarsals...
Till u get her in... crate rest... leash walks.. and pamper

Thanks Icit! I can't crate her, it creates bad anxiety and she chews the metal bars and has broke the welding between them. I have her in the the living room and moved her food and water near her bed. I'm trying to make her comfortable, hopefully she will go to bed soon. I'll def tell the vet about her being on asprin, thanks for letting me know that.

 

[MarieB]

Thanks Icit! I can't crate her, it creates bad anxiety and she chews the metal bars and has broke the welding between them. I have her in the the living room and moved her food and water near her bed. I'm trying to make her comfortable, hopefully she will go to bed soon. I'll def tell the vet about her being on asprin, thanks for letting me know that.

Not what you're talking about, but my dog had separation anxiety like that. We put him on clomicalm for awhile and did some at home training with him and it helped him a lot. He was still a "stalker". My dog also chewed and bent the metal bars on the crate. I can give you more info if you're interested and haven't already tried it

I hope she wakes up feeling better and that it's something minor and cheap to take care of.

 

[star777]

Not what you're talking about, but my dog had separation anxiety like that. We put him on clomicalm for awhile and did some at home training with him and it helped him a lot. He was still a "stalker". My dog also chewed and bent the metal bars on the crate. I can give you more info if you're interested and haven't already tried it

I hope she wakes up feeling better and that it's something minor and cheap to take care of.

Can you can send me the info in a PM on here, please. She is a lot better than when I got her from the pound 4 years ago, but I can't leave her at anybody's house alone or with someone there because she paces and whines. I haven't tired leaving her alone at any relative's house in fear she may destroy something. At home she is just fine without a crate, no bathroom issues or destruction of things, unless I accidentally forget to put the garbage away then I will come home to a mess.