Poppy limping on front left leg

HAH

HAH

Moderator
Location
Devon, UK
Poor Poppy, and I can entirely understand the frustration with the lack of definitive diagnosis. Hopefully Thursday's visit might shed some more light - a lack of improvement will give useful information, if nothing else.

Just a reflection on our experiences in managing Kipper's limp, which is linked to probable arthritis in his front right shoulder and left elbow but has manifested in recent months through pain and reduced mobility in his left carpal joint (wrist). He's been on Librela for around 18 months but it is now showing less effect than previously. We're keen to manage his limp conservatively, partly for comfort but mainly as the source is not entirely clear and does seem to vary.

The things that seem to work for him are physiotherapy, hydrotherapy and infrared therapy combined with pain management and antinflammatories. We've also bought a red light therapy unit (Photizo brand) that uses red light LEDs, so more diffuse than laser and suitable for use at home. The documented evidence for effect is mixed so not definitive, but we've found that Kipper is generally a bit more mobile after a session. It's not cheap, but so far we think it's helping.
 
Jacqui-S

Jacqui-S

Moderator
Location
Fife, Scotland
I hope the vet can throw light on this.
I am not an expert on xrays, I guess a small flake fracture or calcified tendon flake is most likely.
Priority is obviously making her comfortable
:hug:
 
M

M.F.

Do Poppy’s front toes spread out when she stands on them, or are they tightly held together?

Snowie’s are splayed. Back ones are tight. I think the splayed toes leave them open (literally!) to thorns etc cutting the skin. I just found another abscess/sore on another toe. Started the Bioscrub paw baths today. If no improvement in a few days, back to the vet again. He’s also limping on and off and I think it’s these darned infected sores he gets in his toes.
 
SwampDonkey

SwampDonkey

M.F. said:
Do Poppy’s front toes spread out when she stands on them, or are they tightly held together?

Snowie’s are splayed. Back ones are tight. I think the splayed toes leave them open (literally!) to thorns etc cutting the skin. I just found another abscess/sore on another toe. Started the Bioscrub paw baths today. If no improvement in a few days, back to the vet again. He’s also limping on and off and I think it’s these darned infected sores he gets in his toes.
Click to expand...
Sounds like you need to invest in some boots to stop injury on his walks or maybe he has some auto immune problem?
 
MellowYellow

MellowYellow

M.F. said:
Do Poppy’s front toes spread out when she stands on them, or are they tightly held together?

Snowie’s are splayed. Back ones are tight. I think the splayed toes leave them open (literally!) to thorns etc cutting the skin. I just found another abscess/sore on another toe. Started the Bioscrub paw baths today. If no improvement in a few days, back to the vet again. He’s also limping on and off and I think it’s these darned infected sores he gets in his toes.
Click to expand...
Poppy's toes are tight, both front and back. But she is holding her left front leg slightly out to the side now. Cortisone does not seem to have done anything; back to the vet tomorrow :(

I'm very sorry to hear of Snowie's issue...
 
MellowYellow

MellowYellow

Hmmm. Vet says the problem is definitely the lump on the outside of Poppy's toe. It is not an infection, but rather it is inflamed tissue and so intertwined with the joint that it cannot be removed. It is painful for her when she walks, but not otherwise. So the treatment continues to be anti-inflammatories, another cortisone injection in three weeks, and rest as far as possible. She says that if we can get the inflammation under control that Pops should have a full return to health and should be able to run and walk normally, which is a huge relief to hear. If not... the vet says in extremis the toe could be amputated. Obviously that would be something we would consider very carefully and only if there is really no other option.

On the whole I am relieved, as of course one starts to worry about bone cancer etc. Now I feel we can really concentrate on the healing without worrying so much about underlying causes. I have to add that Poppy seems very happy in herself, and quite often skips about happily in the woods; it is really walking on hard ground or stones that causes her problems.
 
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