Dog Community

Limps Only During Walks

Posted : 8/16/2006 8:43:28 AM

I have a 6mo old female lab and about three days ago I noticed that she had a slight limp on our walk. It didn't seem to bother her and it she only limped during the walk. Yesterday on our walk, she was limping again and today she limped more, and more pronounced.

Now, the thing is that she only limps on our walk on asphalt. If she's on grass, she's fine. We go outside and play fetch and she runs until she's tired. Inside the house, on carpet, tile, and hardwood floors she's fine. She didn't want to stop walking today but I stopped because I wanted to make sure that she wasn't really hurt. But we went out to the yard and ran around right away. I can touch her pads, her legs and move her limbs without any issue.

I don't cut her nails because we walk daily which keeps them short enough. Are they maybe too short from walking and the nails are bothering her? The webbing inside her pads looks pink all over and there are a couple of places that it's a bit redder.

I'm not sure if I should be worried since she is fine everywhere else except asphalt? I know this sounds crazy...but any help would be great!

Fallen

Posted : 8/16/2006 8:57:11 AM

Well, definately take her off the asphalt and onto grassier areas! Lol. How short are her nails? Do they curve, or are they straight? If they curve, they're too long. If they curve slightly (1 mm) then they're fine. If they're straight, they're too short.

Maybe she has some other illness? Note which leg she usually favors, and you'd probably want to take her to the vet.

cakana

Posted : 8/16/2006 11:58:42 AM

Oddly enough, when I read this it reminded me of when we first rescued our lab and she did the exact same thing. I actually started out on a walk and turned around and came back because I thought she'd injured herself. It hasn't happened except for the first few months we had her and I attributed it to the heat on the asphalt. I think her pads are toughened up enough now though and it doesn't bother her. Maybe try walking her at the coolest part of the day and if she seems like it doesn't bother her, I'd continue on the walks.

As for nail length, I go by sound. If I can hear clicking, then I know the nails are too long. Mine keep theirs worn down on their own though unless we haven't been out much.

Shannon Henne

Posted : 8/21/2006 8:00:14 PM

Thanks. I never cut her nails because we walk every day, so they're short from that. I didn't walk her for a a couple of days becasue of the "limp"...but she was fine with fetch and running on the grass. I watched her this morning, and she looks okay. I only walk her in the mornings because it's just too hot, and I don't want to post a message with that problem! Thanks again...it's good to know I"m not nuts.