When I was little I was one of those kids that always got sick at the worst times. My Aunt would always complain that I got sick whenever my mom would leave me with her (which was true, but it wasn't always my fault). I got the chicken pox on our trip to England when I was six. That sort of thing.
So I guess it's just me getting a taste of my own medicine to say that Theo is always sick! Not sick per se, but there's always something wrong with him. First it was that throwing up/runs incident. Then it was the runs again. Then it was throwing up. Then it was eye goop. Then it was face puffing. The latest thing has been limping. I know, serious stuff. Over the weekend I noticed that when I exercised him a lot (like playing fetch at the dog park, for example), he would start to limp on his front foot. I figured the front foot is better than the back feet because at least it's not an issue with his hips (which is a huge concern for Corgi owners!). But I couldn't figure out what was wrong with him. I tried gently rotating his legs and elbows, but he took it in stride. I tried massaging his shoulders a bit, but I think he would have liked that either way. In the mornings he was fine again so I've just been watching him like a hawk, figuring he stepped on some uneven ground wrong or something.
I also noticed that he's been hesitant on our walks the last day or two. He's doing the whole foot planting thing he did when I first got him. This morning I couldn't get him to walk at all. Every 20 feet he would plant feed, lay down, and refuse to move. Since there was obviously something wrong I didn't push him and we turned around and went back home. I finally figured out what I think has been bothering him.
I don't even know how to describe it. A callus? A blister? It's a small growth on the side of his pad, under the fur, on one of his middle toes. It's hard, but it's definitely a growth. It doesn't seem to cause him pain because he didn't cry out when I inspected it, but it obviously causes him discomfort because of the limping and refusal to walk and the fact that he kept trying to pull his foot away from me when I was looking at it. We have puppy class tonight so I'll try asking the trainer if she knows what it is. So far I'm guessing it's something not serious that just needs to heal.
Anyone seen anything like this before?
Update: My trainer thinks it's just something that got caught in his paw that irritated it. Today it looks more like an owwie than a growth. I've been cleaning it and putting Neosporin on it in the hopes that it'll go away soon. If it's not improved by tomorrow morning I'll call the vet.
We had some words this morning (read: he bared his teeth and snarled at me (but of course didn't even think about biting because he's as gentle as a kitten (where does that expression come from? Kittens aren't very gentle))) while I was trying to clean out his owwie. He was freaking out over the hydrogen peroxide I was trying to pour on it, even though I don't think it was hurting him because it was already basically clean. It didn't fizz or anything. So I got really annoyed at him because he was being such a bratty baby and I wasn't even hurting him. Ugh.
14 years ago
6 comments:
A dog wart?
Could be something that he stepped on at the park that is causing the bump. I'd say check with the vet because it could be something that could get infected - although they would probably just say to keep an eye on it.
Yeah, I was going to call them after I talked to my trainer tonight. I'm just tired of them asking to bring him in, charging us $50 to look at him for 5 minutes, and then telling us there's nothing wrong with him.
It could also be a lick granuloma. If a corgi is stressed, and they do have a tendency to lick their paws, they can lick a sore. It's hard, usually red, and irritated. Tank does it all the time. Breaks my heart! Sometimes they lick them til they bleed.
Poor Theo (and poor mommy!) Bryson developed a blister when we were dragging him around Sedona. It didn't look like a blister at first- it was whitish and very small. He didn't seem too bothered by it, and it went away when we left. But I'd say just to be safe, bring him to a vet if he still refuse to walk. Good luck!
Well I don't think it's the licking thing since I've never seen him lick his paws for any period of time...good idea though! Thanks! :)
I don't think it's a blister. It's in too weird of a location. It's not on the bottom of his pad, it's on the side between his toes under the fur. lol, I don't even know how I found it in the first place! It's so hidden.
Right now it's looking like a bite or something. Actually, it resembles a popped pimple, but I don't think that's what it is. When I squeeze it a little blood sometimes comes out, but it's obviously not bothering him as much as before because he doesn't cry out in pain when I do it. He just protests a little.
Well whatever it is, it seems to be slowly getting better. Theo will walk again, albeit a bit slower. He doesn't freak out as much when I touch it. So hopefully it'll be gone soon!
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