Intermittent Limping in a Dog: Could the Simplest Answer Be the Correct One? Suzie’s Limp

When Suzie first started limping, her foot was red and sore.

This is the best-case scenario when it concerns lameness—self-evident, apparent, nonscary reason–a booboo on foot.

The vet gave Suzie a shot of Convenia—an injectable antibiotic, the redness cleared up, and Suzie stopped favoring the leg.

It’s not over

However, a couple of weeks later, the lameness returned.

Suzie started the day off with no problems, fit as a fiddle. She had a busy day running and playing. It wasn’t until later in the evening when she got off her bed and limped on her way to potty and back.

This time, the foot, toes, and nails examination didn’t reveal anything suspicious.

I know how frustrating this can feel. You think you identified and fixed a problem just to have it bounce back. Provided that it’s the same problem in the first place.

What is this?

Could it be a recurred issue with the foot even though there are no outward signs this time? Is it a different problem? Has it been another problem all along with the raw foot being just a coincidence or a consequence?

What can be behind lameness? Anything starting with lesions, cuts, spider or snake bites, stings, broken nails, foreign bodies, infections, inflammation, injuries, orthopedic issues, neurological issues, cancer …

Foreign body?

Thinking back to Cookie’s similar problem, my money was on a foreign body.

In Cookie’s case, her returning lameness was caused by a piece of a porcupine quill fragment embedded in the flesh between her toes. It was not the only possibility by far, but it was undoubtedly the best-case scenario one.

Peeling the onion

Sometimes the most straightforward answer is the hardest to find.

The vets couldn’t find anything wrong. Suzie’s toes, foot, ankle all checked out. Then, after much searching and trial and error, a tiny cut with a tiny rock embedded at the end of it was finally discovered. Once the stone was removed, the limp was gone just like that.

Things are not always that simple, but sometimes they are.

Jasmine’s mysterious front leg lameness was far from this straightforward. Eventually, it turned out that it was neurological pain in her case. But sometimes, the simplest explanation is the right one.

In closing

Don’t jump to any conclusions when dealing with your dog’s lameness. Instead, start with the simplest and investigate until the actual cause comes to light.

Related articles:
What Is that Limp?

Further reading:
Limping in Dogs