I had a similar experience recently with my new girl Annie. She is so much smaller than my other two that they sort of ran over her in their hurry to cross the yard. She yelped once then only limped. Gently squeezing up and down the leg did not seem to cause any pain. Joints felt tight but very movable. I took her in the second day of limping. Doc just exmined and did pretty much the same as I had, squeezing up and down the leg and working the joints. He said probably nothing serious and gave some relaphen for pain/inflammation. She was still limping on day 5 (I think it was) so I took her in again and asked for xrays. Vet complied -- nothing broken no sign of a problem. She limped for just over a week and then it was good as new. So, I guess it was just a soft tissue injury like a sprain. Still, those can hurt and a little something to help with pain might be in order.
My Jack Russell actually had a come-and-go limp that bothered me. I took her in twice and by the time her vet appt came she was no longer limping and I think they thought I was crazy. Finaly I got her seen the 3rd time while she was still limping. Nothing appeared broken but the vet did full body xrays (under anesthesia) and found she has a narrowed space between 2 vertebrae which may cause occasional nerve impingement, which results in the limp. It is slight -- no action required but he gave me relaphen to have on hand to reduce inflammation which should also stop the nerve impingement if she limps again. After all that to do and $$$, she has never limped again. Go figure.
Just giving my experiences with "limps." I would still check them out but it will probably be nothing major to worry about. Still, you want to be sure. |