Looking for some thoughts here on when I should go to a vet and how long I should take a "wait and see" approach.

Here's the background: Took Trinkett out to the Speed Alley fund-raiser (essentially a lure course they set up enclosed by that orange cyclone fencing) the greyhound adoption group was having on Saturday. She quickly showed me exactly why her kennel raced her so much! She was the test dog for the track they set up on Saturday, and we found that one turn was too tight when she went through the fencing. Thankfully her only concern was to find a way back inside the fence so that she could get to that lure. Then they changed the course lay out into a straight run from the far end to where the person controlling the lure was, behind some hay bales and under a shade canopy. That she was doing OK with, until the lure went behind the bales and she cut across the course, knocking the canopy support pole out of her way on the way and tearing up her stop pads. And yet she was still raring to run some more! I, on the other hand, decided enough was enough.

After that, I had her checked by the vet, mostly for my own peace of mind. The vet said that her paws and shoulders seem fine (the torn pads are the ones up by the "ankle", so they are mostly off the ground and not bothering her that much), she would probably be a bit stiff and sore, and that she would most likely self-regulate how much activity she wants to have. And yes, she is. Saturday and Sunday I put some warm compresses on her, and I'm letting her spend time baking in the sun outside during the day, but she is definitely favoring one of her forelegs today. It's worse when she is just starting to move, and seems to get less noticeable after she has been walking for a few minutes.

So, is this mostly the result of being a "weekend warrior", and something I should just keep an eye on? At what point should I be concerned that it's more and needs a vet to look at it? If she hadn't hit that pole so hard, I wouldn't be as concerned about the situation. But, on the other hand, the vet did look at her right after that, and she seemed fine at the time.

Early in the week like this, I tend to wait and see. Since my vet isn't open on Saturday, I tend to panic on Friday. You know she over did it. If she doesn't seem to be coming out of it in a day or 2, you can still run her in at regular office hour rates.

Update: Limping is much less today. And she even is doing some short (very short!) bursts of trotting, so I think that she is feeling much better than she was yesterday.