I'm hoping somebody can give me advice/remedy here.   I think my Whippet has a corn on the pad of her nearside front paw.   She's lame and showing reluctance to put the foot to the ground, especially after exercise.  I've palpated her shoulder, leg (no heat) and the only thing she reacts to is a rough patch on that toe.  It doesn't look exactly the same as photos of corns in Greyhounds/Whippets however.   She has been checked by my vet who took her off to clip her nails back (something I can't get right with her - her feet are so different to a Basset foot and somehow her nails always look long, to be) and I think he must have skimmed (?) the pad - she seemed more comfortable for a while.   He did say he thought he could feel a 'click' in her shoulder.

I've checked various websites re treatment, some being quite graphic (surgery to remove the corn) and not something I really feel I want to put her through.

She's 6 now, spayed (at 11 months - before her first season which my then vet wanted her to have but by 11 months I'd have expected the growth plates to have closed ......) and she does have most of her exercise on hard ground.

Any experience with corns/Whippets and treatment done, would be welcomed.

Tks.

Hi

I have a friend who has had a similar problem with her whippet so I sent her your post - this is her response; I hope it helps.

I really feel for this poor soul but I am guessing I cannot respond as I am not a member.

My experience says:

If the dog can exercise without limping on grass but limps on any hard surface or following exercise, it is corn.  Persuading your vet to diagnose this is difficult if they are not experienced with whippets/greyhounds - seek out a vet that is!

The only possible treatment is to have it ‘hulled’ or surgically removed both of which helped Raffi in the short term.  However, there is no guarantee that the corn will not reoccur.  In our case we had the corn removed 5 times before we accepted defeat and had his toe amputated. He is currently just fine, comfortable and not missing his toe either.

Dont know if its of any help but I'm sure Noel Fitzpatrick did surgery on a Greyhound with corns! It was on tele a few weeks ago. The dog was lame and he smeared its pads in toothpaste and the corns could be seen clearly. You might be able to find the episode on the net or catch up tv. Im sure it ended successfully!

Thanks Jan (from another Jan!).   I'm trying to swerve surgery, of any kind to be honest and I am aware that they can return.   I've just contacted a very experienced Whippet breeder down here, and she's going to get back to me.   Unlike the person who bred my bitch, who said she'd never experienced this, and ditto with the mother of a friend who also bred them, this lovely lady has, told me not to exercise her other than on grass (which unfortunately means I'll have to take her off in the car from now on as it's all pavements to get to grass otherwise) and to 'ignore' vets taking me down the 'it's a shoulder problem' road = xray = kerching.

I do appreciate the input as Whippets, day to day, are new to me (my neighbour had these but I don't recall her having corns on her Whippets/Lurchers/Greys. but then she took her lot out across the fields).   Going from Bassets, loose skin, thick pads, to Whippets, thin skin, and pads, is quite the culture shock.

ps    I did see that Noel Fitz. programme re the Greyhound.   But as I recall, he did surgery on him...?   That did get me checking Teazel's paw however.

what about a second opinion specially if you arnt sure its a corn

If it's not too big why not try a ordinary corn pad to cushion it.

It's an idea (using a corn pad) but I seriously doubt she'd keep it on.   I will be taking her back to the vet, but I'm exploring alternatives before I do.

Hope this comes up for your perusal http://lorirosehomeopathy.com/conditions.php

We have never had any experience of corns in ours in nearly 50 years of owning whippets, so cant offer any of my own advice.

Thanks for posting that link Lexy.

I've never had a dog with corns, but found the article very, very interesting.  It never hurts to learn more about dogs.

Thanks Lexy.   Interestingly the contact I have down here (very experienced in Whippets including writing a book on them) suggested this person - £50 might seem a lot but IF I get into x-rays and treatment with my vet, perhaps not!   I have left a message for Ainsworths to get back to me - and there are some suggestions from them online.   I'm pretty sure I will be going down the homeopathy route.   I had them out on the headland just now (wonderful morning her on the N.Cornwall coast although not so great for surfers!) and she was just fine, and still is.

The help here is much appreciated and indeed, I'd never had this before so it's never too late to learn something new!!!

Bazooka that corn.  Honestly that is what a very good greyhound vet advises.  My own vet suggested corn plasters.

I've also come across people using Lavendar Oil to soften the corn prior to paring it.  They can be very hard to get rid of a friend of mine has had to have her dogs toe amputated, which seems very ott to me.

It's supposed to be caused from a lack of cushioning in the pad.

Thanks WoodyW.    Strangely she doesn't seem to be as uncomfortable as she has been.  I'm keeping an eye on what's going on, and restricting her 'road' walking.