Limping puppy

[Duckslayer89]

I have a 9 month old black lab. He’s really good looking and well tempered. Medium sized and muscular. We walk him regularly. Monday he started limping and holding his paw up when sitting. I checked his paw for thorns and didn’t see anything. I started to rub his paw and the webbing for thorns and there was nothing. He yelped a tiny almost whine when I was rubbing his paw but it could have been just because he didn’t like it. So I’ve been waiting for him to get better and now I’m freakin out thinking it could be elbow dysplasia because it doesn’t seem to be improving. Could it be a pulled muscle or shoulder? I’ve extended his elbow out when he’s relaxing and bent it straight then up bent multiple times. Flexed his joints and he acts like nothing is wrong at all. Then goes back to limping around the house when he walks around. Thanks for the help

[KFhunter]

How long has the limp went on?

[Duckslayer89]

How long has the limp went on?

Started on Monday my gf says

[Duckslayer89]

He will still paw with his left hand and also run around on it. Just limps

[KFhunter]

Limp on hard floors?

Shag carpet?

Lush lawn?

[ShaneTyTrey]

Is it possible he could have gotten glass shards in his paw? 

[KFhunter]

I’ve extended his elbow out when he’s relaxing and bent it straight then up bent multiple times. Flexed his joints and he acts like nothing is wrong at all

This leads me to believe it's most likely not elbow dysplasia, most likely a sprain from rough play.  It could be a tweaked toenail too or tweaked finger.

Take him swimming and see if he's using full range of motion in the water, otherwise I'd try to just keep things low key for another week or so and see if it resolves.   

[Duckslayer89]

I’ve extended his elbow out when he’s relaxing and bent it straight then up bent multiple times. Flexed his joints and he acts like nothing is wrong at all

This leads me to believe it's most likely not elbow dysplasia, most likely a sprain from rough play.  It could be a tweaked toenail too or tweaked finger.

Take him swimming and see if he's using full range of motion in the water, otherwise I'd try to just keep things low key for another week or so and see if it resolves.   

Unfortunately he was chasing toys on the patio in the back. He doesn’t know how to take it easy. Everything is 100% as fast and as hard as he can. So definitely no more concrete playing. That’s good news about you not thinking it’s his elbow. I’ve pinched and pushed on every part of his elbow and he never even lifts his head up. So no signs of pain when touched. Idk if elbow dysplasia is sensitive to the touch?

[Duckslayer89]

Is it possible he could have gotten glass shards in his paw?

That’s a possibility as we go for walks around the neighborhood

[KFhunter]

Ah  ha!

Dogs get their nails stuck in between the deck boards and tweak them all the time

I'd bet a beer this is the case

Edit: nevermind, I see its a patio not a deck, and concrete not wood

[callturner]

Does he flinch when you massage his paw? Could be a sliver of some sort .

[KFhunter]

He'd be chewing on his paw, that wasn't mentioned so I assumed that's not happening

[KFhunter]

I'd give it a few more days, try the swimming and see if soft surfaces still limp then time for vet by next friday unless marked improvement.

[Duckslayer89]

He'd be chewing on his paw, that wasn't mentioned so I assumed that's not happening

Ya no licking or chewing at all...any other ways to check for elbow dysplasia kfhunter?

[KFhunter]

Not at home

[Duckslayer89]

I'd give it a few more days, try the swimming and see if soft surfaces still limp then time for vet by next friday unless marked improvement.

Ok sounds good I’ll try that man. I didn’t see this before my last post

[buckfvr]

Could be a bruised pad, youd not see it but it happens and makes them limp.......Ive had labs steady since 1978 and seen it more than once.

[Ridgeratt]

I know that if he picks up a cheet grass seed in his pad he will have a sore paw and will limp as well. They will tuck right up into the folds of the paw.

[10thmountainarcher]

I’ve extended his elbow out when he’s relaxing and bent it straight then up bent multiple times. Flexed his joints and he acts like nothing is wrong at all

This leads me to believe it's most likely not elbow dysplasia, most likely a sprain from rough play.  It could be a tweaked toenail too or tweaked finger.

Take him swimming and see if he's using full range of motion in the water, otherwise I'd try to just keep things low key for another week or so and see if it resolves.   

Unfortunately he was chasing toys on the patio in the back. He doesn’t know how to take it easy. Everything is 100% as fast and as hard as he can. So definitely no more concrete playing. That’s good news about you not thinking it’s his elbow. I’ve pinched and pushed on every part of his elbow and he never even lifts his head up. So no signs of pain when touched. Idk if elbow dysplasia is sensitive to the touch?

I went through something similar recently with my female lab. Got X-rays done and everything, ended up being a soft tissue injury to her paw. When I would press on it she showed signs of pain.

[Duckslayer89]

I’ve extended his elbow out when he’s relaxing and bent it straight then up bent multiple times. Flexed his joints and he acts like nothing is wrong at all

This leads me to believe it's most likely not elbow dysplasia, most likely a sprain from rough play.  It could be a tweaked toenail too or tweaked finger.

Take him swimming and see if he's using full range of motion in the water, otherwise I'd try to just keep things low key for another week or so and see if it resolves.   

Unfortunately he was chasing toys on the patio in the back. He doesn’t know how to take it easy. Everything is 100% as fast and as hard as he can. So definitely no more concrete playing. That’s good news about you not thinking it’s his elbow. I’ve pinched and pushed on every part of his elbow and he never even lifts his head up. So no signs of pain when touched. Idk if elbow dysplasia is sensitive to the touch?

I went through something similar recently with my female lab. Got X-rays done and everything, ended up being a soft tissue injury to her paw. When I would press on it she showed signs of pain.

I pressed on all his pads and didn’t get a reaction. Is elbow dysplasia usually tender to the touch?

[10thmountainarcher]

My girls pads were fine, it was when I pressed on top that she showed a reaction. Could be his shoulder as well.

[Shoofly09]

I know that if he picks up a cheet grass seed in his pad he will have a sore paw and will limp as well. They will tuck right up into the folds of the paw.

This happened to my springer.   Cheat grass seed worked itself in between pads, and was two centimeters inside her foot.    They had to knock her out and have surgery to open it up and dig it out.

[Moccasin_Mountain]

I know that if he picks up a cheet grass seed in his pad he will have a sore paw and will limp as well. They will tuck right up into the folds of the paw.

This happened to my springer.   Cheat grass seed worked itself in between pads, and was two centimeters inside her foot.    They had to knock her out and have surgery to open it up and dig it out.

That staff's nasty, it'll get in their ears too sometimes

[Colin]

Typically a good plan of action when a dog comes up with a limp and an obvious injury or injury event is not apparent then crate rest for 2-3 days and reevaluate. If it is just a sprain or strain then it needs to rest. If you don't see improvement in a few days then jump down the rabbit hole and see where it leads.

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[h2ofowlr]

My female black lab is limping around the back yard this morning.  We were throwing the ball for her and my male, she may have gotten ran over by the male trying to catch the ball not sure.  We will keep an eye on her this week and see if it improves.

[Duckslayer89]

My female black lab is limping around the back yard this morning.  We were throwing the ball for her and my male, she may have gotten ran over by the male trying to catch the ball not sure.  We will keep an eye on her this week and see if it improves.

Sounds like the exact thing that happened to him except we were just by ourselves one dog. But today I woke up and thought he was walking a little better finally. My gf thought the same thing so crossing my fingers. He’s been resting in the living room and no toys allowed inside so he’s being lazy getting rest for sure

[Duckslayer89]

Well my dog started limping bad again about a week ago. I don’t know what happened but he was fine before we left for a hospital visit. Then came home and he was limping holding his paw up. He’s slowly getting better I feel like but tonight I noticed him curling his paw. I straightened it out flat just wondering maybe coincidence but then he curled it three times after i straightened it. He’s never once indicated pain anywhere I touch or stretch. He jumps up on the wood pile and wants to play. Would a hurt elbow make the paw want to curl?

[LDennis24]

Does he seem ok neurologically? Do anything goofy on a regular basis or more so lately than before? Look up knuckling and see if you think it could be something like that. Hopefully not but a Vet would be able to tell you if it's something that's serious like that. Good luck!

[Duckslayer89]

Does he seem ok neurologically? Do anything goofy on a regular basis or more so lately than before? Look up knuckling and see if you think it could be something like that. Hopefully not but a Vet would be able to tell you if it's something that's serious like that. Good luck!

He acts normal but did get sick day before yesterday. Just puked a few times and was lethargic for the day. But then bounced right back only sick one day. It’s definitely not neurological.

[BD1]

Looks like you on month 2 of not knowing...if it were me I would have already visited my vet Best of luck for your pup...nice looking dog.

[Duckslayer89]

Looks like you on month 2 of not knowing...if it were me I would have already visited my vet Best of luck for your pup...nice looking dog.

He got better though all the way back to normal and started again. Or I would have. And thanks yes he is.

[BD1]

Gotcha...makes sense