Gimpy pooch

[Trek420]

Last week on her walkies my mutt let out a yelp and immediately turned up lame on her right foot. After a complete visual check up she hopped slowly back home. No bee sting, glass, goat head thorns ... and for two days was completely off the rear foot. Gradually she's been using it more but still has trouble turning around on smooth flooring, she loses footing.

I'm afraid perhaps finally age (she's 12) and arthritis are catching up with her. Now she's on doggie ibuprofin, still enjoys her walks but right now we're taking them slower, shorter and easy.

[NbyNW]

Poor thing. I hope the foot gets better!

Gordy has occasionally sprained an ankle or shoulder or cut a pad, but I think it's because he's 3 and has lots of energy and runs around like he's possessed.

If he needs a little extra traction while waiting for an injured foot to heal, I put a baby sock (the kind with grippy things on the bottom) on the injured foot and secure it with fabric tape around the ankle. This usually comes off if it's raining, though, so still working on a solution for that problem!

If the injury is higher up on his leg, then booties work pretty well to give him extra traction.

[OakLeaf]

Poor puppy. Kind of sounds like the hip, that she can't stabilize on slippery surfaces.

Careful with the NSAIDS, they're really hard on dogs' stomachs, worse than they are for people.

[Trek420]

If the injury is higher up on his leg, then booties work pretty well to give him extra traction.

The booties probably keep him warm too which may be comforting on the injury?

Mae seems to like a hot towel on the leg.

[NbyNW]

He actually finds the booties very confusing!

First time I put them on him was because it was -30 degrees outside ... he started walking like John Cleese in the Ministry of Silly Walks! But he eventually figured out that walking outside was much more comfortable with them on.

[Trek420]

Awww, such a cute face. And those confused feet.

[badger]

my pup didn't really care for booties, either, he chewed them off.



p.s. when my dog was having a really hard time with his hips, I actually took him to my chiropractor and he did an adjustment. It really helped!