Hello, we have a lovely JRT (actually she's a Parson Russell) who is a working dog (we keep the local rabbit population down for the farmers with the aid of ferrets and the dog).
She is extremely fit and hardy, but 2 days ago when out for a walk across fields, she chased a rabbit into the brambles and was dancing from hole to hole, going down the hole coming up elsewhere, her usual behaviour.
I had a hard time trying to get her to come back to me (but thats another story). Eventually she came back and we went home. She is always tired out after this type of walk, so she slept the rest of the evening and night.
But when she woke in the morning, she was walking only on 3 legs, and still is. I have checked her pads and between and there are no thorns. I have pressed her toes and pads to locate the pain and there is nothing. I've massaged her leg muscles (its a hind leg) to try and locate any pulled muscle but she just lies back with closed eyes loving it. So I can't find any evidence of an injury.... do I take her to the vet? I don't want to pay the vet loads of money for him to say "its a sprain, let her rest". I suspect thats all it is.
How long should I leave her on 3 legs? (She seems happy enough and moves very fast on 3!)I did think I would take her this morning if still limping, but now I wonder if it will just get better on its own?
Obviously if she was cut / swollen / in obvious pain I would take her immediately but she's not.... 