Can anybody shed some light on this please (I really don't want to hit the vet's office .... yet!).  My Basset, 5 now, has had 3 episodes of lameness, not wanting to put his front left to the ground.   There has been NOTHING to suggest injury in any of these cases, and fact is it comes on as fast as it goes.   In each case, after spending the night in his crate as usual, he has come out completely sound again.   The second time this happened, I took him to my vet - the next morning and again he wasn't lame at all.   He said he could feel a slight clicking in the elbow construction (I'd gone to OCD) but in truth, my lad didn't really react at all and he was pulling him around lots.   And Basset boys especially are not known for being especially stoic.   At that point there was really nothing to be done, short of x-ray which I didn't want ... yet.   After the second episode, quite soon after, he had some considerable swelling between two toes on that side.   Back to the vet.   Nothing was found but he was given antiinflammatories, and the paw was bandaged to keep him from licking at it, which he was.   That resolved, and had me wondering whether the lameness on that side was connected to perhaps a seed going into his pad (never saw one).   

He's been fine for some months now, but yesterday evening, he got up lame on that side again.   He was perfectly fine when fed his tea.  Nothing to suggest injury or over-exertion.   This morning, again, after a night in his crate, resting peacefully, he got out - SOUND.

Now I know you are all going to say see the vet, which if he does this when the vet is actually open another time (taking a perfectly sound dog in is 'difficult'!) I will, and go for x-ray.   But another thought - he was been microchipped.   Has anybody had one migrate and cause this kind of lameness (hitting a nerve or whatever ???)

Back history - this boy, who came to me at 4 months as a show prospect, went lame when around 8 months.  I went to Pano which having him x-rayed at the time, front to back, was not the case.   The only thing that showed up was premature closure of the growth plates, ulna, both sides.   This has resulted in rather more turning out of his front legs than I'd like to see, even for the breed - I've seen worse!! but is enough for me not to want to show him which is a pity because he's otherwise a lovely boy.  At the time we discussed surgery, but it would probably have needed repeating given his age (still growing), so we didn't.   I was warned he might have arthritis later on.  What he's showing now isn't what I'd have said was an arthritic condition, and this wasn't  said to be happening when I saw the vet about this.

Apologies for the length of this, but frankly I'm confused about exactly what is going on, given the rapid onset, and going away again.

MamaBas, Before going down the route of x-rays, have you thought of a chiropractor. Know we're very fortunate with ours but her hands have been better than any x-ray at diagnosing problems with our two; back, neck, pelvis & even legs, just a thought & less stressful?

Thanks Lacy.   I'm not sure about a chiropractor - the vet I was using does accupuncture but whether the one I've now switched to does anything of the 'alternative' kind, I don't know.   The trouble is this comes fast, and goes just as fast which has me confused as to what's going on!    If it was OCD which was ruled out when I saw the vet after the second episode, I'd expect it to be there more often, and not 'heal' overnight!!   Similarly with arthritis which I was warned might happen after the prem.closure, later on.  I wish he'd do this (not, but....) on a day the vet is open (it's a Sunday syndrom!!) because walking in with a dog that's sound doesn't make for easy diagnosis!   Believe me, I'd rather not have to have him x-rayed!! 

Still thinking on all this......  (and I've not ruled out the possibility of the blasted 'chip migrating)

I'm thinking problem with nail bed ?   That would cause swelling to toes, licking, lameness etc, all of which you're describing.

One of my boys who I had to rehome (started fighting with his Dad and now has great home as an only dog) had started going off one of his back legs every so often, no real discomfort when examined by the vet and xrays could find nothing wrong. He has now been diagnosed with arthritis in his hock after an MRI scan  . He is on medication with green lipped mussels in it and does hydrotherapy which is making such an improvement.

I'm thinking problem with nail bed ?   That would cause swelling to toes, licking, lameness etc, all of which you're describing.

Of course I'm not able to rule out anything with this one ..... so a nail bed problem could be causing this.  It's not something I've ever experienced with my Bassets before.  However, what happened with his paw before was definitely down to a swelling between the toes although using forceps, the vet wasn't able to find anything actually IN there.  If this was nail bed infection, would it come on fast, and go again equally as fast?

Keep the suggestions coming!!!!

> xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">I'm thinking problem with nail bed ?   That would cause swelling to toes, licking, lameness etc, all of which you're describing. <br /><br />Of course I'm not able to rule out anything with this one ..... so a nail bed problem could be causing this.

Well, I'm not sure it would be actual infection, but maybe a crack along the nail?  One of my girls had this, it was really difficult to see, but I expect your Vet would've noticed it, if he'd been examining the dogs paws.  With my girl, it exposed the quick somewhat, and so it was quite painful I presume, however it did clear up without treatment without the need to actually remove the nail and/or toe.

> What he's showing now isn't what I'd have said was an arthritic condition, and this wasn't  said to be happening when I saw the vet about this.

Intermitant lameness can well be from arthritis. Buster (English Mastiff),  has arthritis in both front elbows (elbow displasia diagnosed at puppyhood). This year he's been put on permentant Metecam as the intermitant lameness had got more often (he's 7 yrs old now and he's been managed on supplimets alone 'till now) Even on his Metecam he can go rather lame all of a sudden and it can disappear very quickly - in a couple of steps, or it can last over night. I've noticed that 'scratting' the ground after a wee can sometimes trigger a little bout of lameness. The vets words they are arthritic 'flare ups'.

With premature closure of the growth plates that results in un-even growth of the long bones in the foreleg, it will put pressure on/in the elbow joint in such a way as it wasn't built for it causing arrthritis. ETA - it will/can do the same to the wrist.

As you don't want to go down the xray route yet, try some glucosamine HCL suppliments and cod liver oil suppliments. It will do no harm trying to get his joints in tip-top condiiton.

As for the limp vanishing before the vet sees - I was plagued by the same problem when Buster was a pup - completely lame at home but walked fine at the vets. I had to resort to taking some video footage of him at home to show to the vet.

Best of luck.

With premature closure of the growth plates that results in un-even growth of the long bones in the foreleg, it will put pressure on/in the elbow joint in such a way as it wasn't built for it causing arrthritis. ETA - it will/can do the same to the wrist.

This is exactly what the vet who did the initial x-rays on him to find the prem.closure problem, suggested might happen.   I've not had this in the hounds we bred (prem.closure) but have had arthritic conditions in the occasional oldie - the difference was it didn't come on suddenly and it certainly didn't resolve overnight the way it's presenting with this lad.   And this is what has confused me.   Good advice however although I have a feeling I will have to get him x-rayed, eventually!!!  Thanks.