Lameness of Labrador Could Be Caused by Many Kinds of Injury

Q: My 6-year-old Labrador began limping about three weeks ago after a short run. He seemed to get better but now is again lame. I can’t find any cuts or other injuries to his paws and he eats well and acts normally otherwise.

J.P. Porter, Tustin

A: He should be seen by your veterinarian. There are many possible injuries that could have occurred. Soft-tissue injuries, such as a joint tear or a pulled ligament, are possible and occur with overexertion. Strained or “pulled” muscles are frequent problems with large, active dogs. A deep bruise to the pads of the foot and the underlying tissues can occur from running onto a hard pointed or raised object. A puncture wound from a nail or wire is a frequent problem and can result in a serious infection, including tetanus. Fractures and joint dislocations should always be considered in long-term lameness, especially if they involve the toes. Usually there is local swelling and pain. In a 6-year-old dog, degenerative joint disease or arthritis is a distinct possibility and can be aggravated with exercise . Injury to a major nerve can start off as a lameness and then develop into a permanent problem without care.

Have your dog examined without delay.

Q: Two days ago, my female cat got her tail caught in the door as I was leaving for work. She took off and when I found her that night, the tail was very sore to touch and she wouldn’t hold it up. She won’t let me touch it. Now it drags behind her and I think it might be broken. Is it possible to fix a broken tail? My friend says she will probably have to have it removed and I don’t want that to happen. What do you think?

Anne Neils, Huntington Beach

A: Tail fractures in cats are a relatively common occurrence and in some cases can be successfully treated. Often, I have put the cat on antibiotics and corticosteroid medication and had the owner confine the pet at home. Frequent checkups are necessary to see if there is any apparent feeling to the tail and to make sure that there is no infection. After a given period of time, if your cat has lost all sensation to her tail, amputation may be done to prevent further injury to her or necrosis to the tail. Also, with any loss of function to the tail, the rectal muscles must be examined to make sure that they are functional.