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	miniature schnauzer leg problem Q: Dear Sir/Madam, I took my dog to the vets a few days ago to see if he could establish why he was holding his leg up and then walking ok and then would hop as if it hurt. I thought maybe something was stuck in his paw as he would not let me touch his toes or feet. He is a 2 year old male unneutered miniature schnauzer. He is in good health every other way and the vet is mystified as to the problem and so we think he may have bruised or strained his back feet. To lower the problem he is on tablets now and not too much running. Which is hard to do as he is lively. Do you have any other idea of what may be the matter? Melissa (Concerned Owner)

A: Dear Melissa,

Without seeing your dog it is very difficult to say what is wrong with his leg. The fact that he can walk on it okay some of the time is good, as that would suggest that he has not done anything too bad to it. If he is a typical lively young Schnauzer, he has probably pulled or sprained something when he was charging around, as your vet suggested. Often dogs look as if they have something wrong in their paw and it turns out to be a sprain higher up in their leg. Sometimes their kneecap can pop in and out of place if their knee joint is not quite right, and they can be fine one minute and lame the next. Keep up the rest and tablets and it can also help to give his whole leg a good rub or massage - starting at his hip, working your way down and then back up again - that is if he will keep still long enough! If it is not settling then take him back to your vet and something may have become more obvious by then.

Hope he is soon back in top condition,

Maeve Moorcroft MVB MRCVS
(PetPlanet Vet)

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