Talisker, or Tali as she’s known at home, came to see the MSK Vets team with a persistent limp affecting her front leg. At first glance, her lameness raised concerns about a possible musculoskeletal problem, but one detail quickly caught our attention.
Tali was noticeably more uncomfortable when walking on hard or uneven surfaces such as gravel, yet appeared almost normal when walking on grass or softer ground. This difference gave us an important clue and prompted a careful check of her paw.
On closer inspection, we found the cause of her discomfort- a tiny piece of blackthorn lodged deep within one of her paw pads. It was difficult to see but more than enough to cause ongoing pain and alter how she was walking.
Tali was an absolute superstar while the thorn was gently removed. Despite its small size, it had penetrated surprisingly deeply into the pad, explaining why her lameness had persisted. Thankfully, everything else was healthy, and no further issues were identified.
A helpful reminder for dog owners
Small foreign objects in the paw can easily cause limping and may look like a more serious problem at first. Changes in how a dog walks on different surfaces can be an early sign that something is bothering their paws.
