When do you call the vet for limping?

[coribelle26]

Sometime this morning Winston started avoiding putting weight on his right front leg. We looked at his paw and didn't see anything wrong, nor did he cry or react in a big way when we pushed on different parts of his leg and foot (he tried to pull it away when we were really getting up in there looking at his pads and everything, but he did that with his good foot too). We think maybe he aggravated something jumping off the bed, or he may have slightly separated one of his paw pads again when he was running around outside, but nothing visible to us. Last time the pad thing happened the vet said we just needed to wait for it to heal, she didn't even wrap it or anything.

Other than the limping he's still maintaining his normal activity, jumping on and off the furniture, eating and drinking normally. Do you think we're okay to watch him for a day, maybe two, before we call for an appointment? He has such a severely negative reaction to the vet that I hate to put him through it unless it's absolutely necessary. But I don't know if there's some emergency situation that could be lurking that I'm just not thinking about.

[milosh]

I would call the vet and see what they suggest. My vet is really good about suggesting things to do at home before bringing my dogs in.

[Deleted]

I would monitor it today and take him in if it doesn't stop tomorrow.

Don't let him jump on/off furniture in the meantime.

[buddysmom]

Maxim gets sore easily in his old age. Camping can really do a number on him, but we don't want to take it away because he loves it so much.

We do restricted activity (similar to crate rest but he's not a crated dog) for about 2 days if we don't see any obvious injuries.

[speckledfrog]

I would definitely wait until tomorrow. If it seems improved in any way I'd give it another day. If it seems the same or worse I'd call.

[coribelle26]

Well he's only going to be 3 in March so I'm hoping it's not just inexplicable pain issues already.

I really think it's a paw thing, because I'm noticing that even when he lightly puts his paw down he picks it up quickly like something is irritating him. Poor guy. He just seems really uncomfortable but not in major pain.

Our only option today (even for a phone call) is the e-vet. I think what we'll do is take him to H's mom's house when we go to work tomorrow so he's monitored and have her call me mid-morning to see if he's still doing it and we need to call the vet.

Our vet ALWAYS says come in, no matter what, so a phone call is going to equal an appointment regardless.

[Deleted]

How old?

[Deleted]

3 could still be growing pains, my massage therapist's dog had them from age 2-4 when she overdid things.

[ErinExpat]

My cat will do this sometimes but she is a picker and is rough on her paws.

She will pick up a paw she's been chewing on sometimes like it's painful for her, but she certainly doesn't stop from leaping and jumping as she normally would.

If his/her spirits are good and the animal is acting normal, I would just observe.

Remember, this is coming from a cat mom who sees this frequently.

If I do see some irritation, I will apply a bit of coconut oil (seriously). Even if she licks at it, some will still soothe it and its good for her to ingest, anyway.

[isabel]

Could just be a light sprain or something funny with his paw. I wouldn't stress about it too much. Reassess in a day or two and see how he's doing. If the limping is minor, the cause probably is as well.

I was going to come in here to suggest possible arthritis flare up, but it sounds like your pup is too young for that.

[stephlove]

Our dog was doing the same thing and so we took him to the vet. We paid $95 for our vet to tell us he has growing pains.

I would give it another day or so before you take him in, unless he starts wimpering or whining about it.