Cat bite abscess. This can happen in cats of any age even kittens and is perhaps the No. If left untreated, felines with leg bites often develop festering wounds, which can lead to lameness. Dog attacks and vehicular accidents are the most common causes of feline trauma. In older and larger cats, arthritis is more common than many pet owners realize. Take a history. Most veterinarians will begin by asking a few basic questions to help them understand the history of the problem: When did you first notice the limp or abnormal gait?
Has it changed? How has your pet been acting otherwise? What medications or dietary supplements have you used? If your pet has taken any kind of medicine or supplement, take it with you when you visit the vet.
Do a physical evaluation. Examining the entire body , not just the problem leg, is a crucial part of the process. Do a dermatologic evaluation. Do a musculoskeletal evaluation. Do a neurologic evaluation. Take X-rays and imaging studies.
X-rays are a basic first line of testing for many limping patients. Order laboratory tests. Blood and urine testing may be useful if your veterinarian suspects certain underlying causes. Aside from a basic urinalysis and a CBC and chemistry panel , your vet may choose to order other tests to help identify specific diseases, such as myasthenia gravis or one of many tick-borne diseases.
Depending on the underlying cause, treatment can range from a simple pain and anti-inflammatory medication to surgery and long-term rehabilitative therapy. Any pet who appears to have a leg problem — that includes limping, hobbling, dragging, holding up a limb or merely favoring one leg over another — should see a veterinarian. Routine blood testing prior to surgery also helps us to identify and take precautions for common problems that increase anesthetic or surgical risk.
This means your Basset is more at risk than other breeds. When a dog bloats, the stomach twists on itself and fills with gas. The twisting cuts off blood supply to the stomach, and sometimes the spleen. Left untreated, the disease is quickly fatal, sometimes in as little as 30 minutes.
Your dog may retch or heave but little or nothing comes out , act restless, have an enlarged abdomen, or lie in a prayer position front feet down, rear end up. Preventive surgery in which the stomach is tacked down or sutured in place so that it is unlikely to twist is an option.
If you see symptoms, take your pet to an emergency hospital immediately! Unfortunately, Basset Hounds can inherit or develop a number of different eye conditions, some of which may cause blindness if not treated right away, and most of which can be extremely painful! We will evaluate his eyes at every examination to look for any signs of concern.
Glaucoma, an eye condition that affects Basset Hounds and people too, is an extremely painful disease that rapidly leads to blindness if left untreated. Symptoms include squinting, watery eyes, bluing of the cornea the clear front part of the eye , and redness in the whites of the eyes. Pain is rarely noticed by pet owners though it is frequently there and can be severe.
People who have certain types of glaucoma often report it feels like being stabbed in the eye with an ice pick! Glaucoma is a medical emergency. Cataracts are a common cause of blindness in older Bassets. Many dogs adjust well to losing their vision and get along just fine. Surgery to remove cataracts and restore sight may also be an option. Dogs have a third eyelid that contains a gland that produces about one-third of the fluid that bathes the eye.
If the gland is sore or swollen, it looks like a red blob in the corner of the eye. This condition is called cherry eye, and it can occur very suddenly in one or both eyes. If this happens to him, we may treat it with ointment first, but surgery is often the best option. Intervertebral disc disease IVDD is a common condition in dogs with long backs and short legs, which may include your Basset.
The disease is caused when the jelly-like cushion between one or more vertebrae slips or ruptures, causing the disc to press on the spinal cord. If your dog is suddenly unable or unwilling to jump up or go up stairs, is reluctant to move around, has a hunched back, cries out, or refuses to eat or go potty, he is likely in severe pain.
He may even drag his back feet or be suddenly paralyzed and unable to get up or use his back legs. Call us or an emergency clinic immediately! For less severe cases, rest and medication may resolve the problem. In severe cases involving paralysis, we may recommend surgical removal of the ruptured discs within 24 hours of the onset of symptoms to get the best results. As with so many other diseases, weight control helps to prevent this problem.
A genetically linked neurological condition that could occur in your Basset Hound causes a wobbly, drunken gait.
This condition, known as wobbler disease or wobbler syndrome, happens because there is a narrowing of the vertebrae in the neck, which pinches the spinal cord and associated nerves. If the nerves do not send signals to the brain the way they are supposed to, your dog cannot feel his feet. The first signs you will often notice are unstable hind legs, stumbling, and sometimes falling. Medications, neck braces, rehabilitation exercise programs, and surgery are treatment options.
You might notice that he runs along and suddenly picks up a back leg and skips or hops for a few strides. If the problem is mild and involves only one leg, your friend may not require much treatment beyond arthritis medication. When symptoms are severe, surgery may be needed to realign the kneecap to keep it from popping out of place.
Basset Hounds are especially prone to a life-threatening heart condition known as dilated cardiomyopathy, or DCM, in which the heart becomes so large, thin, and weak that it can no longer effectively pump blood to the body. As this problem advances, he may act weak or tired, faint or collapse, breathe in a labored way, or cough. Left untreated, hypoadrenocorticism can be fatal, and symptoms often mimic many other diseases.
Fortunately, we can run a specialized timed blood test to check for this condition. Though any dog can acquire this disease, Bassets seem to get it more frequently. There are several types of inherited bleeding disorders which occur in dogs.
They range in severity from very mild to very severe. Many times a pet seems normal until a serious injury occurs or surgery is performed, and then severe bleeding can result. When Basset puppies are allowed to grow too quickly, the cartilage in their joints may not attach to the bone properly. This problem is known as osteochondritis dissecans or OCD. If this occurs, surgery may be required to fix the problem. Feed a large-breed puppy diet rather than an adult or a regular puppy diet.
Weigh your puppy every three to four weeks. Hemangiosarcoma is a type of bleeding tumor that affects Basset Hounds at greater than average incidence. These tumors commonly form in the spleen, but can form in other organs as well. Unbeknownst to a pet owner, the tumor breaks open and internal bleeding occurs. Some tumors can be volleyball-sized or larger before signs of sickness show.
Certain cancers, such as osteosarcoma , also affect bones and require prompt diagnosis for the best prognosis. Injuries and trauma are the most obvious causes of limping in dogs. From car accidents to sports injuries, our dogs are exposed to almost as many types of injuries as we are.
Broken bones, fractures, sprains, dislocations, ligament tears, joint trauma , and spinal injuries can all cause moderate to severe limping, and in some cases the dog may not be able to put weight on the affected leg at all. Proper conditioning can help reduce the risk of some sports injuries, but a limping canine athlete should be given plenty of rest until the cause of the limp is identified and treated.
They are like children and will likely yelp and cry for about five minutes. You may find them acting perfectly normal after that time and save yourself a trip to the emergency room.
If, however, they are still lame or non-weight bearing after 15 minutes, you should have them be seen by their veterinarian. Other times, the cause is a little more elusive.
Radiographs can help identify a broken bone, joint disease, and other skeletal abnormalities. Biopsies and joint fluid collection can help identify cancer and other possible causes, and blood testing for infectious diseases like Lyme or immune-related diseases may also be necessary. Prior to testing, your veterinarian will perform a physical examination of your dog to test for tenderness, pain, and range of motion in his limbs. You can also do your own examination at home before you call the veterinarian.
This information can help your veterinarian determine whether or not your dog can wait for an opening or if he needs to come in on an emergency basis. While this may sound intimidating, in most cases the sooner you get your dog in to see the veterinarian, the better the prognosis.
While you are waiting for your appointment, try to keep your dog as calm as possible and abstain from exercise or play to avoid making the limp worse, and if necessary, crate your dog in the car to prevent further injury. Note: Never give any over-the-counter or prescription human pain medication—including ibuprofen or acetaminophen—to dogs as this can be toxic or fatal.
Always consult your veterinarian. GLM contains beneficial nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Combined with glucosamine and chondroitin, GLM can help decrease pain and preserve joint function. Compare Breeds Compare up to 5 different breeds side by side. Dog Name Finder Browse our extensive library of dog names for inspiration.
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