Limping/Walking funny From Soft Paw Pads?

[LovemyEli]

For the past 3 months or so my 1 1/2 year old boy has been having this strange gait/walk/limp with his front legs. It is not apparent all the time, and seems to be aggravated on tougher ground. I had such a hard time wanting to do xrays because he is close to being of age for OFA and I would rather do it then.

We train on gravely asphalt, and it seems to be irritated there the most. But as soon as we take out a sleeve for protection he is completely normal!

I have had this checked out multiple times physically and they always said it is most likely Pano. I had him in yesterday and my new fav doctor felt his pads and said they just seem very soft. And to take him on hard surfaces on purpose so he will get the callouses. I felt them and they are very smooth and squishy. She said to try getting booties and that should for sure tell us if that is the case and that is cheaper then xrays which might not even tell us anything.

Does anyone have an experience with this?

He also has EPI which we just started treating over 2 months ago, so maybe this is health related somehow??

[LisaT]

I would look to other causes - pain in an upper joint can also make them tender on their paws. The IS joints in the rear or other back joints, in the front, neck, shoulder, etc.

Of course they can override it when there is something they really want to do

Don't forget to rule out tick disease