Favouring front foot

[sjtorr]

I put Lexi in kennel overnight, a kennel we use regularly that we both love. When I picked her up this morning she was favouring her front left foot. She didn't really like me examining it, but she let me as long as I was gentle. I couldn't tell if she has sprained it or broken anything.
I'm thinking giver her a couple of days of rest, no walks, no park, just to see how it heals, and if it's no better Monday take her to the vet for an evaluation. Thoughts? I just feel that taking her today is overreacting.

 

[Jinnytee]

I agree with you to just keep an eye on it and encourage Lexi to take it easy, for now ..... and take her to the vet if it doesn't settle after 24 hours rest, or she seems in pain, has swelling etc. Have you been able to check between her toes and up inside the paw pad ? My girl had a small graze right up inside the soft part between the pads on the underside of her foot, where she probably stood on a stone. It was very minor, and not noticed by me when I was checking her leg and foot over, but she wouldn't put her weight on it at all and was limping..... hence I found out the expensive way by a needless, (this time), visit to the vet.
A dollop of over-the-counter antibiotic cream and she was right as rain.

 

[sjtorr]

She let me investigate the pad and between the toes without complaint. Then Starting at her inside toe I applied pressure to the base of each toe, each was fine until I got to the outside toe. My best guess is she strained the outside toe, either cornering grad during play or jumping down out of the car. Shoulder and the rest of the leg seem fine.
If it's really the toe, my guess is it will be the same for her as it is for people with a sore toe... Let it heal. ?

 

[Harv]

We have had the same thing with Harvey this afternoon, it's his back leg he won't put weight on.

After examining his leg and foot, we noticed one of the toe nails is black right the way up on one side, he also gets a bit edgy if we touch it.

He is fine when just sat there but is in discomfort when he tries to walk.

We have tried to clean it and will see how he is in the morning, I am thinking we will need to get the vet to look at it and clean it up.

 

[sjtorr]

Thanks for mentioning the nail... Made me take a second look, and yes that nail is a weird color. Have done an Epsom salts bath, will do two more tomorrow, and to the vet on Monday for some antibiotics. Have also used diluted lavender oil to help calm her. Fingers crossed it doesn't get worse...

 

[Harv]

We have been bathing his paw and tie nail with warm salt water, thankfully today he seems a big better and is now walking around although you can tell he is still tentative with it.

Will still take him to the vets tomorrow.

 

[sjtorr]

How is Harvey?
Lexi is just miserable. Taking her to the vet in the morning... Not sure this counts as emergency. She is now allowing the Epsom salts bath with no argument, but now putting no pressure on that paw. Hoping they will be able to give her antibiotics to clear it up.

 

[Harv]

Harvey is fine now, whatever was causing him discomfort appears to have gone.

We took him to the vets today so they could check him over, the vet checked his legs, paws and toes and found nothing wrong. Interestingly the vet said the black toe nail was just pigmentation and nothing to worry about.

The vet did say that he may well have trodden on something and bruised his paw or toe and it was just sore. They also said that it is common for them to break a toe which can be painful as you can imagine, but it's just a case of letting it heal.

Hopefully the vet can find what is wrong with Lexi, maybe it is a bruise from treading on something awkwardly?

 

[sjtorr]

It's either a sprain or a break, and the nail colour is just the blood as a result if the trauma to the toe. Antibiotics, pain medication, and more Epsom salts baths are the treatment. I didn't bother with an X-ray to confirm a break... Treatment is essentially the same anyway.
Definitely feeling better today, and she even asked to go for a walk. It wasn't long, but we went. She is bored, and miserable, but who can blame her. I would get too with a sore toe.