Billy is limping

My son was throwing the ball and billy was running after it and started limping. He did not help but he is still limping. I am hoping he has pulled a muscle and it is nothing more serious.

How long would you leave it before going to the vets ?

Personally, if the leg and foot look "normal" (don't forget that if Billy stepped on something or cracked a nail that might cause a limp) I would see what a night's rest does. Very gentle manipulation and gentle probing might reveal where the seat of the pain is.

Thank you Lynda for your help xxx

Yeah, what Lynda said. If there's no obvious harm and he's not in a lot of pain, I'd leave it for a little while.

Usually, after about three days, soft tissue injuries start to show improvement. Hope he feels better soon!

In the mean time, you could try a heat pack or warm hot water bottle to keep the muscles loosened up!

I'd just add - if you feel undue heat and/or if there is any swelling, then a cool (but not icy cold) pack can help.

Do let us know how Billy is tomorrow - good luck      

Thank you for your concern xx gonna rest him for a few days let you know tomorrow xx

Lynda's advice - excellent, as usual!

Get well soon, Billy!

Eleanor flatters me, bless her! At my age I have gathered a certain amount of experience and knowledge over the years, but I panic like the most witless novice if my own dog is concerned!

I think we all behave different when it's our own dogs in trouble! One of the first things I learned on my dreaded course was that, in an animal emergency, you should always try to get somebody else to sort if your dog gets injured in something like a traffic accident. Although even the lecturer admitted that she hadn't followed her own advice when her dog was run over.

I'm usually okay with other animals, but if Dempsey's hurt, I get all shaky!

Yes, it's so hard to be objective when it's your own nearest and dearest in trouble!

Weird, isn't it? I also find myself more sensitive to pain when it's Demps. Before, when he's accidentally caught my hand (hard!) while he's diving for a toy, my eyes have watered like mad and the bottom lip would start shaking! With any other animal, it's a mild expletive and then on as usual!

My son feels like this too, he regards it as a personal slight to him.

I suppose, in a way, that's what it is for me as well! I don't think Demps out to get me! But maybe there's some subconscious emotional hurt or something!

I think that's probably it, Eleanor! Like when Kuchar runs away given a sliver of a chance, son feels "he hates us, he wants to escape - if he loved us he would come back to us", whereas I know that Kuchar loves us but is over-excitable and loses both his brain-cells in the hysteria of the moment. Little git.

And sometimes, when the little tykes look at you, it's almost as if they're laughing!

Definitely!

Sorry Lynne, we've gone   , as we are so inclined to do when we start rabbiting on!

Hoping you are feeling a LOT better tomorrow, Billy   s to you both.

Woops!    

Lots of for Billy!

How's he doing?

Thank you everyone for your concern you are all really kind xx

He is fine today took him for a gentle walk and he seems fine going to do it again tomorrow just to be sure, but he is restless nit used to just a walk x

That is such good news Lynne. Hopefully it was just a little pull that will soon be just a memory.

Bless him! Glad he's feeling better!