Lurcher Toes

[scotty2306 37]

Has anyone ever had a lurcher stub it's toe and the bit the nail grows from be rock hard and swollen? It's been like this since October time.had him vets and they said it will stay like this.it don't bother him at all but just wondering if it will cause probs later on.

[skycat 6,174]

Sounds as though there could have been a dislocation of the claw, or a possible chipping of the bone at the end of the toe. Either way, there would have been a lot of scar tissue build up in the area, which can cause the swelling, or blood which pooled in the area with nowhere to go. There may have also been a localised infection. I had a dog dislocate a claw once, and when the vet opened up the toe the joint was surrounded by hardened pus even though there had been no external wound and the dog had to have half the toe amputated.

Best thing to do the moment you notice such a problem is to cut the claw back to where it comes out of the toe to reduce as much pressure as possible. Too late for that now, but I'd keep the nail cut right back: go through the quick and keep the claw filed right back. The hard swelling, which is scar tissue is now there to stay, but shouldn't cause a problem unless the dog bashes its toe again, which could cause pain for a while, or even do more damage: hard to say. Keep the nail cut right back.

[Millet 4,497]

I had a dog's year's ago Skycat that had terrible feet.. it done 3 of it's toes like what has been mentioned over a several month period and after cutting the nail right of each and everytime made no difference at all..he was stuck with the swelling which ended his working carrier.. i know a lot of lurcher folk and greyhound men mention that method.. but i have never seen it work on my own dog or my mates dog's..

[Maximus Ferret 2,065]

I had a dog's year's ago Skycat that had terrible feet.. it done 3 of it's toes like what has been mentioned over a several month period and after cutting the nail right of each and everytime made no difference at all..he was stuck with the swelling which ended his working carrier.. i know a lot of lurcher folk and greyhound men mention that method.. but i have never seen it work on my own dog or my mates dog's..

Cutting the nail back won't remove the swelling. What it will do is take some of the pressure off the injured toe. Often this can allow healing to take place when it wouldn't otherwise. The toe won't be as good as new but when I've had dogs with injured toes which I couldn't get sound again, doing this has cured the lameness.

(When the nail is cut back it will bleed like f*ck and if done without a local anaesthetic it will be a bit painful for the dog).

Edited June 8, 2014 by Maximus Ferret

[Millet 4,497]

In theory it sound's good.. but from personal experience i have never seen it work..all's i have ever seen it do is cause the dog more grief and get blood everywhere.. ..but i suppose it all boil's down to what kind of damage the toe has recieved..

Edited June 8, 2014 by Millet

[socks 32,253]

Dislocated toe ...........

 

 

This is the toe a week later after i re set it ... Note no nail removal ......

 

[Millet 4,497]

That's a sight i dread to see Sock's but sadly i have seen it several time's...good to see you fixed it but the dog i had just kept popping them out..

[beast 1,884]

Dislocated toe ...........

 

 

This is the toe a week later after i re set it ... Note no nail removal ......

 

 

socks, how hard is it to set a toe like that/ is it just a case of popping it back, or do you really need to know what youre doing before you start messing with that stuff/ i've been lucky, in all my years with dogs i've never had a toe dislocation

[Millet 4,497]

I used to pop them back into place and tape them to the next toe for a fortnight..followed with a month of lead walking..but once they pop again i found they keep popping and the only way to stop this is by getting it pin fired but i don't know a vet who will do that these day's..

[socks 32,253]

 

Dislocated toe ...........

This is the toe a week later after i re set it ... Note no nail removal ......

 

socks, how hard is it to set a toe like that/ is it just a case of popping it back, or do you really need to know what youre doing before you start messing with that stuff/ i've been lucky, in all my years with dogs i've never had a toe dislocation

Some will pop straight in and some need manipulation it all depends on the dislocation and which joint has popped ... The trick is to get it straight back in then treat the swelling and kennel rest .........

[skycat 6,174]

It also depends on whether or not the ligaments which hold the joints in place have just been stretched or are actually torn/ruptured. If they've only been stretched, then the toe will heal quite quickly providing the dog isn't allowed to run on it for a few weeks. If they've been torn, then you're looking at at least 3 months, and still no guarantee that the toe won't come out again in the future. Ligaments have a very poor blood supply which is why they take ages to heal, and if they've been completely severed they find it hard to reattach, hence the reason so many older working dogs have mangled feet: most owners just don't give them long enough on the lead.