Yesterday, late afternoon, while I had the dogs outside to play and hang out, I thought I noticed Cooper look uncomfortable while lying down. I hadn't heard him yelp or make any noise like he had hurt himself at any time, so I wondered maybe I had just imagined it and I let him snooze away on the yard. I had been outside with the dogs the whole time, except to run in quickly to use the washroom myself. When it was time to come in I didn't notice anything with Cooper, although I was busy grabbing toys and getting Dozer on his leash, that I met Cooper at the door and we came inside. Once indoors, the dogs decided to have a play session, nothing too crazy, and that's when I noticed it. Cooper was limping, a very notable limp on his left hind leg, and standing with his paw in the air at times. He laid down on his bed and I tried to coax him to get up so I could see his gait again, but he didn't want to get up so I let him rest and at supper time he very reluctantly got up to eat. At that point I am really concerned... he was still limping and holding that paw in the air, very uncomfortable looking. My hubby came home at that point and he helped me have a look at Cooper's leg and paw. Cooper didn't have any obvious signs of pain when we felt his leg, but growled and yelped when his paw was touched. No cuts on his paw, nothing sticking into his foot. His nail on his outside toe looked like it was sticking out toward the outside more than the other foot and that toe was swollen, twice the size of the same toe on the other foot. Cooper was obviously very uncomfortable, choosing the farthest and most secluded area of the living room to go and lie down in. I called out Vet Clinic and we were asked to bring him in to have a Tech assess him and possibly an appointment with the Vet right after. The Tech assessed him and thought he had either broken his nail at the foot, which they said would have to grow out as they couldn't cut it, or that he possibly had broken that toe. The tech had the Vet assess him quickly and she didn't feel it was broken, as she couldn't feel a definite break, but did agree that the toe was very painful and swollen. She was thinking infection, but I wasn't convinced seeing as how suddenly the limp appeared. She put him on Metacam for the pain, leashed potty breaks and rest until Monday and if he is still limping then he will have X-rays and be seen by his Vet. I'm not fond of the vet that was working last evening and if Cooper hadn't of been in so much pain, would have opted to wait until today to have him seen.
Cooper was pretty miserable all evening, even after the Metacam. This morning, the limp is much less noticeable, he isn't holding the paw in the air, the toe is still swollen, but overall Cooper looks like he is more comfortable. I will keep him quiet for the weekend and see how he is once the Metacam is finished.
All good thoughts appreciated.....been a rough month for my guy :(