Choc lab developed a limp

Hello.. You maybe able to help offer advice
My 3 year old female choc lab has been limping slightly for nearly 2 weeks on one of her front legs .. After a couple of days it did seem to be getting better , but she still has a slight limp... I have checked both legs and paws but nothing shows in terms of any pain in my dog

She seems ok in herself maybe a little quieter on walks but still runs and plays with other pups when on walks..

I have tried for a few days to keep her on her lead.. I was thinking to keep her in just the garden over weekend for a few days rest to see if that helps..

It also seems to be a bit more pronounced when we are first out and eases a touch as we are out on a walk

Any advice / similar issues would be appreciated
Thanks

Hello Matt what does your vet say.

I have not taken her to the vets yet... I just thought it was a strain and would sort itself out. .

Sounds like a pulled muscle/strain in the shoulder. Try warmth and cold compress for ten minutes at a time over the day, maybe three or four times. If that doesn't help then seek a vets advice after the weekend unless it gets worse. No exercise for a few days. Does the area around the shoulder feel warmer than usual.? If you can get some rhus tox tablets they will help. They are homeopathic.

Could be a strain but it could be anything.. If it isnt better in a coulple of days go to a vet.
Dogs are good at hiding pain..

My little dog developed a slight limp that we couldnt explain, an xray at the vet showed a shoulder spur. Luckily caught early enough so that we could treat without surgery.

Thanks for the advice.. It is very difficult to tell which leg is the one that is sore .. Will try a hot/cold compress then if no better vets.. What is a shoulder spur?

A shoulder spur is a small piece of bone that grows in the wrong place. It is only usually small but needs to be corrected. But don't panic I am sure it is just a sprain unless she has jolted it badly? Can you remember what she did before she started favouring her leg? Please seek a vets advice if it continues but insist on an xray before using drugs. Hopefully your vet will agree with that. In the long run this will save cost. But rest is best.

i would def keep her quiet for a period of time. No stairs no jumping on and off things, no off lead basically you need to be the fun police (escorted toilet trips in the garden - sounds excessive but any hoolies and you are back to square one). No fun whatsover for at least a week two perferably. And when you think she seems ok start to reintroduce exercise SLOWLY and still no off lead for another week or so then reintroduce off lead slowly.

Ive been through months of this fixing a pulled shoulder in my boy its hard work but youve got to be 'cruel' to be kind as they say else it just drags on

You could pop her to the vet and they may prescribe some pain killers but even so I would still instill the same regime

Hello Matt after that length of time a a sprain should have sorted itself out.

I would get it checked by the vet to make sure there is nothing worrying going on.

A sprain will not recover if the dog isn't made to rest. The dog needs to be made to rest the leg for a week or so, and see how she does. No running and jumping with other dogs, and no off lead walks. She is a Labrador, so she's going to jump around even with a hurt leg... as my boy was a the same, but you've GOT to restrict the jumping and running if she is to recover. If the dog is still running and jumping, I'd reckon she'd not need painkillers, and they'd serve only to make her think she's fine and play even rougher, further injuring the leg.