Thoughts on limps

Sorry, it's me again going on about my clonky donkey

In addition to his rickety back end, Jasper is limping on his front right. I'm speaking to the vet this afternoon, but forewarned is forearmed. The basic pattern is that he'll be OK when he gets up in the morning, and only limps slightly, if at all. on his morning walk. But when he's back home and has had a snooze, he'll be very limpy when he gets up again, then loosen up if he walks any distance. Similarly he'll not be too bad on his afternoon walk, but when he gets up to have his tea, or to go for last wee before bed, his leg seems painful enough that he's reluctant to weight-bear. By the time he's got to the back door, though, he's moving more easily again, though still limping.

It came on gradually, there's no warmth or swelling, and even when he doesn't seem to want to weight bear on it he doesn't hold his foot off the ground like he did when he had a corn (on his other front foot). I've not tried manipulating each joint as I know what he'll do if it hurts.....

I've been giving lead walks only for about a week, a couple of miles a day at most, but it's not showing signs of improvement.

Any thoughts on whether this sounds like a soft tissue issue such as a strain, or arthritis? Would arthritis make him reluctant to weight bear, and would it loosen up that quickly once he moves?

I know there could be other more worrying causes, but I'm sure the vet will want to try to treat conservatively first.

 

Yes it is - he occasionally stumbles on his back left, as if it gives way - it's definitely the less stable. So that may well have transferred more load onto his front right. He'll usually let me massage it. Not sure if he'd be happy going back to wearing pjs, but he does sleep under a blanket that seems to stay on all night.

@Tinytom, I'm sorry to hear about Romi's Bella The thing is, just getting an X ray is a big deal with Jasper, particularly at the moment as there's no way he'd go into the treatment room without me. He won't hold steady enough to have sedative injected into his vein, so we have to hold him still while the vet injects his bum, then he fights it all the way and takes ages to pass out because his adrenaline shoots sky-high (and it wouldn't be safe to give him another dose), once he comes round he cries all through the first night, and isn't himself again for several days. And if they did find the worst, we'd have to consider whether he'd tolerate the treatment. Even dressing changes could be traumatic for all concerned....

The vet didn't venture a diagnosis, which is fair enough, and has suggested a course of Rimadyl to see how it goes. She also recommended we just lead walk him on soft surfaces (grass), for 5-10 minutes at a time.... Boy, that's not going to go down well As it is he was getting quite frisky indoors this evening. After a bit of play with his Kong Snugga, he got that twinkle in his eye which told me he wanted to play at making puppies with me so I had to back off carefully

 

I did, a few posts up!

I know a mile (per walk) isn't exactly short, but in Jasper's head it's 'not even there yet,' and I get such looks when he realises he can't go where he wants to go. I need to harden my heart... and expect to be serenaded with whingeing all day long.

I don't think his front leg limp is likely to be neurological, but I have my suspicions about his rear end.

 

Thanks Jan. I gave him golden paste in the past when he had some tweak or other - didn't notice any difference. That's not to say I wouldn't give it a go again, but I've also just started him on YuMove Senior. Along with YuDigest and the Rimadyl the vet has prescribed, he'll be rattling!