Limping... Paws Or Claws?

[Stargazey]

Hi, it's my 1st time posting so here goes.....

My nearly 4 and a bit year old Whippet girl has developed a bit of a limp today on her front left paw. She slightly skinned the pad that's partially up her leg (sorry don't know the proper name for it) last Friday when out walking when she jumped off a rock down onto the beach in her normal acrobatic way (at least I assume that's when she did it as she had a bit of a stumble - didn't complain about it though.) I noticed it that evening and have been keeping it clean with warm salty water and putting Hypercal cream on it. Today when I got home from work she seemed just a bit stiff on it, we took a gentle stroll and it seemed to loosen up (i hadn't put 2 & 2 together at this point stupidly). She also occasionally seems to drag one of her front paws when walking so I was wondering if the nail beds could be at all sore - although they don't look it. This evening she's really avoiding putting any pressure on it at all... so I suppose my question(s) is this....

Would you treat the slight wound on her pad any differently? (It doesn't seem hot or inflamed at all)

Do you think it's possible that it's something completely different as she only started this evening? Or is that too bigger co-incidence?

At what point if not now would you recommend I take her to the vet?

I really appreciate any input! Many thanks.

 

[fallenangel]

If its only a graze on her stoper it shoudnet make her limp my lot have 1/2 riped the,m of and didnt limp. sounds like shes done somthing else maybe sprained or twisted it. might be an idea to check if shes any corns that can make them limp especily if they have been out on hard ground footpaths. it just looks like a hard bit of pad slightly raised. All you can realy do is see how she is in the morning if shes still not putting any weight on it might be an idea to pop to the vets even if its only for a bit of pain relef

good luck hope shes feeling better soon. salt waters one of the best things for cuts and grazes

 

[Stargazey]

Ahhah! Just decided to have one more check before bed and lo and behold there is something in her pad, either a thorn or a tiny bit of glass - either way it's really quite embedded so unless anyone had any tricks on removing said objects i guess we're off to the vets tomorrow! Joy!

Thanks for your help!

 

[jinnyfizz]

That's good that you found the cause

If you haven't gone to the vets already, then try holding her paw in warm salty water to draw the object out. Just softening her pad should help to remove it :thumbsup: :luck:

 

[Stargazey]

Thank you for your advice! After last nights second salty soak we finally got it out. Don't think she's quite forgiven me yet though :/ Funny girl! She's walking fine this morning - PHEW!

 

[eve]

Glad the problem got sorted without requiring the vet.

My Misty is funny, if she gets ANYTHING stuck in or on the foot, she just stands there holding the offending article in the air untill SOMETHING is done, she will not budge until she is happy that I have resloved the problem to her satisfaction. o