Intermittent limp

[gail]

Ben has developed a limp, front left, which is worse on certain surfaces, and disappears completely on grass/mud. He is fine in himself, no limp indoors, and is not licking the paw at all. We cant see any signs of a corn (this seemed the most obvious) We will take him to the vet Monday, and in the meantime try metacam for 3 days to see if it improves. He is already on joint supplements. Nails have just been cut.
Obviously worried and hate seeing him limp. Has anyone else had something like this?

[sueb]

Sorry Gail cant offer any advice really, as I would have thought if he had an embedded thorn or something he would be licking at it. But hope the vet will help get things sorted for him, poor lad.

[rachael]

Sounds like it might be a corn to me. Make sure you mention the possibility of this to the vet. A friend of mine has a greyhound who had similar symptoms and they had very expensive x rays on the dogs shoulder before they realised that it was a corn and there was nothing wrong with his bones!

[Ian]

I'd have gone with a corn like Rachel, based on the fact that it's surface dependant. Take a look at the pictures here: www.google.co.uk/#hl=en&tbo=d&sclient=psy-ab&q=Greyhound+corn+picture&oq=Greyhound+corn+picture then check out the foot he's limping on and see if there are any marks that look similar. Don't forget one or more of these pictures might show corns at a more advanced stage that you're at with Ben. There is a fabled corn solution published on the forum in this thread I think, it was provided by Bryan (who posts as davidbailey) Pat has no experience or knowledge of the cure so we couldn't endorse it, and could only say try it at your own risk.

[Ian]

This is that Corn Solution via 'davidbailey' thread gail: greyhoundhomer.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=medical&action=display&thread=1821

[gail]

The vet prodded and poked and could not find any pad problems, she bent all his toes and joints, the only sign of pain was in his right shoulder. her feeling is that this could be an old injury or a touch of arthritis, and advised short walks and no running.
A month later, and he is much improved, but was still a bit hesitant on his walks, occasional limping, and a bit subdued.
Last week we started giving serrapet, a natural supplement, and the difference is pronounced. He is pulling us along on walks, and his movement generally is easier. the limp has gone.
Has anyone else tried this product?

[sallyannh]

I missed this one first time round. Darcy has had an unexplained limp on his front left leg on a couple of occasions. He doesn't have a racing injury on that leg and we haven't been able to explain it, definitely not a corn.

We got him a raised feeding bowl about 8-9 months ago and the problem hasn't occurred since.

[sueb]

Gail,
So glad Ben is feeling better, I've never heard of that supplement, what's in it?

[gail]

It is an enzyme (derived from silkworms??), the website gives you all the info. We thought was worth a go, as is recommended for joints, old injuries etc, and a friends dog did well on it. Maybe it is a coincidence, but in the last week we have seen such a change. He already has yumove, but we know that his dad had severe arthritis, so maybe we are paranoid, and it cant do any harm.