Carrying A Foot

[Snoopy21]

So on Saturday evening Willow got up and went to run out the sliding door onto the deck as usual. As she ran through the doorway she clipped her back foot on the lower track of the door. Going by the sound she hit it very hard (I heard the sound of claws on aluminium). It obviously hurt, and she held the foot up straight away. I have had a careful look and the only thing that seems wrong is that her nail on her second toe is a slightly different shape. I had a feel and a pull and it is still firmly attached. She won't tolerate any pressure at all on the pad of her toe. Toe is straight, not swollen, no broken skin, no obvious bruising, no splits or bleeding of the nail. She is still hopping today.

What to do? She is very reluctant to move at all today (she seems sore from hopping around). Is there anything the vet can do for an injury like this or is it just a "keep her quiet and give her time" type thing?

Edited March 28, 2010 by Snoopy21

[persephone]

If she is so sore that she is reluctant to move- then a vet visit would be advised

[poodlefan]

Problem could be anywhere in the leg, not just the foot.

Definitely take her to a vet.

[Miranda]

She may have partially detached the nail at its base.

[Snoopy21]

I have made an appointment at the vet for later this afternoon. The toe is now going black and is swollen compared to this morning. I hope it isn't broken

[atua]

how did you go at the vet? Poor little darling hope it gets better soon.

[Snoopy21]

The vet thinks it is either a broken or badly sprained toe. We have been sent home for a couple of days rest with pain killers and anti inflammatories to see how much the swelling goes down before we decide whether an x-ray is necessary.

It is a weight bearing toe, so the vet is talking about possibly splinting it if it is broken - does anyone have any experience with that?

Willow is still pretty sore and is keeping pretty quiet (for her). I have her shut in the house where she has been happy to sleep quietly most of the day so far. But we are having a toileting issue. She won't go is I am watching and she really needs to stay on lead in our yard because otherwise she will run up the stairs (not allowed). Any suggestions? My idea is to just wait until she is absolutely busting and then try. She hasn't been yet, so that's coming up on 20 hours. Surely she must need to go?

[persephone]

Can't you just block off the stairs at the bottom? ' hanging on' too long isn't good for them,really... find a babygate or dash out & buy a length of lattice or something :D

[Snoopy21]

I wish we could. We have a steep acre block that slopes up from the back of the house. It is landscaped with BIG rocks and has a couple of sets of wide rock steps for access to the lawn etc. I can get her to a patch of grass or garden without too many steps, but can't just let her go herself.