Causes of Limping in Dogs
93Sprains are common in working dog breeds
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Limping in dogs may appear suddenly out of the blue such as following an unnoticed injury or gradually, over time such as the onset of arthritis. While the causes of limping in dogs may be various, the underlying cause needs addressed as there may chances the limping may mean more than a simple sprain.
Having worked at a veterinary hospital, and often responsible for major decision making known is hospitals as "triage" I have learned that generally the most worrisome cases of limping are those where the dog refuses to put any weight on the affected limb. We therefore, used to give precedence on scheduling apppointments and reserved same day appointment slots for no weight bearing dogs.
1) Inspect the limb
If your dog just began limping, as an attentive and caring owner, you may want to start by carefully inspecting the affected limb. You want look for any evident injuries such as cuts, splinters,insect bites, foreign objects stuck between the toes, torn toenails and abnormal swellings. If you see something is stuck in the paw pad you want to get some tweezers and go to a well lit area and try to carefully remove it. If you suspect something is stuck, like a thorn, but is seems to be deep under the skin you can immerse the foot in Epsom Salts and see if that helps the foreign object to work its way out.
2) Palpate the limb
You want to gently palpate the affected limb and look at the dog for cues of pain. This will help find the source. Each dog has its own way of manifesting pain, some may startle, others may whimper and others may growl. Refrain from doing so if you own an aggressive dog or one that tends to bite when in pain. Obviously, refrain from palpating the limb if there are obvious signs of fractures with swelling, disfiguring of the limb or protruding bones.
3) Monitor or seek Veterinary advice
At this point, you should try to address your findings. If there is a thorn, you must try to remove it, if there is a cut you want to medicate it and keep it from getting infected. If the source is not easy to identify it is best to seek veterinary advice for x-rays. Sometimes, it is not a particular area to be affected but a whole muscle area or bone area. In some cease, the cause may be a systemic disease with the limping only being an evident symptom of something originating somewhere else.
Accident Related Limping
Having ruled out evident cuts, foreign objects, torn nails, there are still a long list of causes. We can go over some of the most common causes of limping. One of the most common causes are accidents. Your dog may have injured itself jumping off your car or playing in the yard. If you witnessed the injury then the cause of limping is obvious. If you were away and you come home to a limping dog, the cause may need investigated.
- Sprains
Dogs get muscle sprains just as humans do. It can be the dog made a sudden movement while playing that cause the muscle to sprain and become painful. Most non serious sprains usually resolve within 48 hours. However, if the dog is in evident pain and appears uncomfortable, you should consult with the vet. He will identify the cause and may prescribe anti-inflammatories to give some pain relief. Rest is key to a faster recovery.
- Fractures
Fractures are usually pretty obvious, the leg is not bearing weight, the dog will be in obvious pain most of the time and the leg will appear deformed, swollen and sometimes the bones may be seen protruding out. In some cases, there may extensive bleeding that will need to stopped. It is obvious the dog needs prompt veterinary attention. If possible the dog should be refrained from moving as much as possible. It is helpful to carry the dog.
Growth Related Limping
Large young dogs are prone to problems as they grow. These cases often have a genetic basis. Large breed puppies develop limping often because they grow too fast putting extra strain on the growth plates. These issue may take place between 2 months old to 2 years old. Too many calories, protein levels and incorrect proportions of calcium/phosphorus ratios may be the culprit. Here are some common growth-related causes of limping:
- Pano
Typically this condition shows up in dogs that are around 6-9 months of age, although in some cases, it may be found in dogs up to 18 months old. What this condition really simply consists of is growing pains. The dog's diseased fatty bone marrow found in the long bones is the culprit. Typically the dog presents with sudden limping without no known injuries but is able to put weight on the leg however, will show obvious pain. Palpating the limb by putting pressure on the middle of the shaft of the long bone or squeezing it usually elicits a pain response from the dog. The lameness may show up sporadically and may shift from leg to leg. Treatment consists mainly of pain management and diet change. While Pano may last 2 to 5 months, with time, the dog comes to a full recovery.
- HOD
Hypertrophic osteodystrophy occurs mainly in puppies between the age of 2-8 months. It is the inflammation of the growth plates. Typically the dog will exhibit pain upon palpating or squeezing the distal end of the long bone (joints). The dog will appear lame, almost as if it walked on egg shells and will also be lethargic, have a fever and lose weight. Upon palpating the joints they may feel hot and they may appear swollen.
- OCD Osteochondrosis Dissecans
This painful condition is caused by a defect in the cartilage surface found on joints. It may commonly affect the shoulder but may affect other parts of the limb such as elbow, knee, hocks and stifle. In some cases, some cartilage will break free and float around the joint. The condition resolves best with surgery focused on replacing the defective cartilage.
Vet Explains How to Check Your Dog For Rear Leg Limping
Other Causes of Limping
While limping in a puppy or young dog may be likely related to growth, in older dogs there may be different causes. Following are some non-growth related causes of limping in dogs.
Limping Affecting Only Front Legs
- Elbow dysplasia
In this case the top of the ulna is not properly fused to the rear point of the elbow. The dog will appear lame and will respond to pain when their elbow is extended.
Limping Affecting only Rear Legs
- Hip Displaysia
The hip joint is a typical ball and socket joint. In Hip Displaysia, because of structural defects, the ball doesnot fit properly in the socket causing relavent symptoms. Hip Displasia is a genetic disorder and all breeding dogs should be screened before mating. Affected dogs will have trouble walking and in particul may have a hard time geting up from lying down. You can read more about hip dysplasia here:
Signs and Symptoms of Hip Dysplasia in Dogs
- Ruptured Anterior Cruciate Ligament
This is often seen when the dog accidentally twists on his hind leg causing the ligament to tear. This occurs on slippery surfaces or when a dog is hit by a car. Breeds predisposed to this problem are Newfoundland, Labrador Retriever, Rottweiler,and, St. Bernard. Affected dogs will typically appear lame, holding the affected rear leg off the ground. The knee may become swollen.
- Luxating Patella
When your dog exhibits pain in the stifle or knee cap area, you may be looking at a luxating patella, a problem often seen in small breed dogs such as Yorkies, toy poodles, dachshunds. An affected dog will luxating patella may skip when it runs
Other Causes of Limping.
- Bone tumors
Large breed dogs are prone to bone tumors. Affected dogs may develop severe lameness and unexplainable fractures occurring from minimal trauma. Bone cancer is a serious condition in dogs often resulting in amputation of the leg to prevent the cancer from spreading.
- Arthritis
As dogs age, the continuous friction of the joints can cause inflammation and arthritis. Affected dogs are usually middle aged to senior and will be reluctant to jump off the car or climb up the stairs. They may walk more slowly and have more pain in the mornings. Anti-inflammatory drugs may work very well. Pet Home Remedies for dog arthritis are available at this pet home remedies website.
- Lyme disease
This disease is carried by ticks. Affected dogs will usually develop an unexplainable limp a few months after the tick exposure. Commonly, the limp will be barely noticeable at first but then will progress up to a point where the dog may be unable to walk. Many dogs affected by Lyme disease are literally carried by the owner into the vet's office. Accompanying symptoms may be fever and lethargy. The disease is treated with antibiotics such as Doxycycline or Cephalexin.
Other Causes
There may be several other causes of limping in dogs. Valley fever, a disease found in the desert South-West may cause a cough accompanied by limping. Neurological disorders may cause the rear legs to give out such as a slipped disc where the out of place disc put pressure of the spinal cord nerves cutting off the messages from the brain to the legs that allow proper movement. The only wat to know for sure is to have a dog seen by a veterinarian and possibly undergo some x-rays or further tests.
Disclaimer: this article is not supposed to be used as a substitute foe veterinary advice. If your puppy or dog is limping, please see your veterinarian for proper assessment and treatment. By reading this article you accept this disclaimer.
© Alexadry all rights reserved
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Very informative! My dog has Arthritis and sometimes she has a hard time walking. Thanks for the hub!
Nice coverage of why dogs limp. I find the information here really useful.
that was really hopeful information. thanks
I've been looking all over for just any REAL information and found it here! Thanks so much!!
im not sure what my dog has but he was the runt and he has been growimg like crazy...im pretty sure that ot is pano, but i have found 2 ticks on him, so im afraid that he may have lyme disease...I'm getting him looked at by a vet next wed but its been like this for 2 months and its starting to get worse
Consider that the incubation time for dog lyme disease to strike is generally a few months (generally 2 to 5) so if you saw these ticks on him just a few days ago, it may not be lyme, however, he may have had ticks months ago, even if it wasn't really full tick season yet. If this is a large breed dog growing fast Pano may likely be the cause, see what the vet says, keep me posted if you wish!
Noticed my dog a two-year old Rottie starting to limp. He's just recovering from a bout of Hotspot contacted about two months ago. He shows no signs of pain and runs without discomfort, which is baffling?. I have pretty much exhausted my funds on him, as less than a year ago he had an operation on his eye, which cost a fortune 9and is still not right), so I am at my wits end both financially and mentally. I have checked for any lumps or bumps, but cannot locate anything, though he constantly licks the hock, indicating or seems to be where the problem may lie? also when checking he showns no sign of pain whatsoever, but I'm not sure if he's in pain or just naturally showing a very low pain threshold. Any ideas?
Do you happen to live near the desert? Valley fever often causes limping. I own rottweilers as well, and can tell they are very stoic when it comes to pain.. they hide it very well. Licking however is often a sign of discomfort. Since its the hock bothering him you may be dealing with a case of ACL something rotties are prone to read below for more info:
I have a Pomeranian that is going to turn 4 this November. He started limping about a week ago. It is usually right after he gets up from lying down. The second I let him into the yard he sprints and plays normally. He also runs up and down the stairs normally and plays often. He doesn't have a fever and he doesn't show any sign of pain when I put pressure on his leg. I am out of the state and want to wait a while so I can take him to his normal vet. Suggestions? Do you think it could be developing arthritis?
Sorry the answer came a bit late.. I have been out of town as well. It sounds a bit unlikely to me to be arthritis because he is such a young dog and is also of a small size. Arthritis is much likely in older dogs of large breeds. Has your dog visited any South west regions? I usually recommend a vet visit if the limping last more than 48 hours and immediately if the dog cannot put weight on the leg.
my friend has a 6 week old bassethound pup that was fine up til a week ago, it cannot put any weight on its fron legs..it can move its front legs, but cannot bare weight so it scoots around.
its so hard to watch!
Hi,
I have a 7 months old pitbull 52 lbs, very healthy and she doesn't look to fat or anything, just a normal dog. The other day she's was playing and suddenly she was limping. Two days went by and no sign of recovery so I took her to the vet, he said that she was suffering from growing pains. He said change nothing the pain will go away in a couple of weeks or months, also he said that she will grow to be around 100 lbs which is not likely both parent were around 75lbs and pits not supposed to be big. I feed her EVO she loves it but, is it too high in protein 42%, could this be the reason of her growing pains? What else could you suggest?
Thank you so much.
Hi,
My lab is 6 years old, normal weight and otherwise very healthy, except for limping on the same rear leg after strenuous activity. She will run, swim for an hour with no sign of discomfort but within a short time after will start to limp with no or partial weight. Aspirin helps, we give her glucosamine but it seems different from the dogs i've seen with hip problems. Could this be muscular, like a damaged tendon or something? Vet was not very helpful, just shrugged and said she must have a hip problem but she is ok otherwise, this seems different. Any clues? Thanks
Our pom began limping and we took him to the vet where we live and again at my mom's when visiting. They could find no break or where the pain came from. He just went into the vet and was going to need an insignificant procedure and they took normal blood tests that came back with low white & red blood cells and platelets. Further tests show Ehrlichia from a tick bite and he isn't expected to make it bc he is now in the chronic stage. Had it been caught when we first noticed the limping which is a symptom of Ehrlichia too (arthritis like symptoms) the outcome might be different. I feel this was preventable and we are sad beyond words. So if there is a limp but no apparent cause take a blood test to rule out tick bites.
i have an older pekinese. He started the week with diahrea which cleared after 3 days. But, at the same time he started a severe allergic reaction with hives all over the stomach. Went to the vet which gave him pregnasone and benadryl. The allergy clears about 2 day later then started to limp with a lame front right leg. Back to the vet again. No fever, still eating and drinking, normal biological functions. Seem to be slower and weaker though. Doctor spend much time with him and could not determine the cause. If it continues will see a neurologist. Any clue the cause ?
My 11 year old Catahoula mix has valley fever. She has only been on fluconazole for 2 weeks but I don't see any difference in her front (very) swollen leg. Has any one else had this problem with their dog? If so how long until I see some improvement? She puts no weight at all on her leg, just drags it. She is still eating VERY well. She is also on pain meds, but she has a very soft cry most of the day.......any suggestions anyone, please?
She is also on an anti-inflamatory drug.
My dog had valley fever. Here is my link with his story: http://hubpages.com/hub/Dog-valley-fever
I can also tell you where to buy cheaper flucanazole if interested.
Thank you SO much for the info. I know because of her age this will probably take longer for her, but it is just so sad to see an otherwise healthy dog having such a hard time. I do live in Arizona, have always lived here as has my dog. I will be buying fluconazola at Costco the next time she needs it, right now I have only a 21 days supply and it cost $27.00. But I am ALWAYS interested in finding a better price. We have been treating her for some time for what we thought was arthritis, so this disease has a real head start. Thank you so much for your input! I really appreciate it.
You are very welcome. My dog is free of this disease right now but it took him more than a year before his blood test showed him being clear. His limping though got better after a few days. The price you are paying for the fluconazole is very reasonable compared to the price my vet wanted to charge me. I then used to get a 90 day supply from Pet Health Pharmacy shipped to my home, I think it was about $53.00 but almost a couple of years ago. Here is their website if you need to shop around. Best wishes!
hi,i have a 4year old g.s.d she started limping 4 days ago on her front leg.think she sprained it running like a looney with her brother.i live on my own,and they NEED exercise as they tend to take it out on the house other wise.cant leave 1 without the other,so my question is is it ok to lead walk her?any advice would be appreciated,many thanks
I really cannot answer this without knowing exactly what has caused the limping in the first place. If this was a sprain as you think it may be, she needs some rest and you can walk her on a leash to take her out to potty. Putting her in a crate or in a separate room from her brother should encourage her to rest. Her brother must stay separated as he will instigate her to play which will make the sprain worse and recovery longer. Do not worry about the whining, it will eventually stop. If you allow her to rest, expect a little bit of improvement in 48 hours. If she does not put weight on her front leg a vet visit is in order. Best wishes!
I agree with alexadry. thanks for your contribution
Hello
Can you please explain to me why the vet insists that my dog be put on a diet for yet another month before she can have an x ray. She is about 5kg overweight, but can only walk about 20 yards at most without crying and then we return home (by car) we can't pavement walk her because her front paws get very sore and bleed and her back legs are really bad, really stiff. We are to buy another bulk load of diet food and virtually starve her for a month then have her weighed again before they will consider xraying her, but if they are only xraying her legs why can't they do it now? it is terrible to see her in pain, she is nearly 4 years old and a rescue rottweiler.
That does not make sense to me. If your dog is in pain I cannot see why they refuse doing an x-ray. Yes, being overweight can put more strain on the legs, but I cannot see why put her on a diet before an x-ray to clarify the cause of this. Usually, an x-ray is done first and then diet recommendations should be given later after coming with a diagnosis. Did they provide any explanations? Is your dog upper in age and they feared anesthetic risks? I would seek the opinion of another vet immediately. How old is this dog?
My dog Saya is a boxer mix shes one, she has been limping on and off sense she was 5 months old. some days it is worse than most. I have no idea what it could be she has not hurt herself by playing or anything. i was walking her tonight and it looks like it might be getting worse. i dont feel anything in her leg. and she doesnt act like shes in any pain other than the fact shes limping. im taking her to the vet i hope its nothing serious. do you have any idea?
she was also draging her leg tonight and ive not seen her to that befor.
It can be anything from growing pains, to sprains etc. If she is dragging the leg it means she is in pain. Usually, sprains get better within 48 hours if the dog is allowed to rest.
Nice informative piece.
hi - my 10 month old springer spaniel bitch started limpimng about a month ago.
i,ve rested her and she seemed to recover , a few days ago she started to limp again.
i cant find any cause for this , she will happily run round like a mad dog , then suddenly start limping and drags her back foot a little not wanting to put weight on it.
with in a few hours shes ok again till the next time.
i,ve been told that some dogs are prone to unexplained limping especially springer spaniels.
is there any truth in this.
thank you
Hi,
I got home from work today and found my lab x reteriver was limping on his back right leg. He could hardly put any pressure onto it... He has only just turned 3 and this is the first time we have seen him limp... Do you think it could be something serious and do you think a trip to the vet would be best just incase??
Thanks
I really wished I could help, if dealing with a sprain it will get better within 48 hours usually. If the dog is not bearing weight on that leg a vet visit is imperative. We used to ask this when giving priority to appointments, those not able to keep the leg down were given priority. Those still able to put weight on the leg were given later appointments.
Darren, I am not aware of limping typical in springer spaniels but they may be prone to pano as well.
I have a rottweiler and on his first throw of the ball at the dog park today he came back pimping on his front leg. I left soon after and examined it when we got home. Nothing in his paws in between, I felt his leg up and down and his elbow putting a little pressure as I was moving up and down in between muscles. When I got to what I think chould be a ligament a little above his front paw I would say practically directly behind where his wrist is. If I touch it, even softly, he pulls away. its just a small area if I move alone what I think may be the same ligament just an inch higher on the leg there is no reaction. I cant find anything on it online but maybe im jsut not serching right.What do you think this could be. Thank you for any help at all.
Is he putting weight at all on that limb? Did he jump high trying to catch the ball? Here are some helpful links I have found:
Carpal hyper-extension this is quite severe though, perhaps a bit unlikely!
http://www.petplace.com/dogs/carpal-hyperextension
or more likely it can be an ordinary sprain
http://www.petplace.com/dogs/sprains-in-dogs/page1
Only a vet can tell what happened for sure. For now you can help out applying ice and resting the leg for at least 48 hours, or take him to a vet if he appears to be in pain and not bearing weight on the leg.
Here is a guide;
http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-treat
Best wishes! Gotta love those Rotties! I have two!
I have a 4 yr. old male Weimaraner who started limping a few days ago on left front leg. Nothing in pad/no cuts/etc...Seems fever-ish. Is still eating normally & going outside. Now his left back leg is swollen around joints & he is favoring it. Left front leg is better now?? What is going on? I cannot afford a vet visit right now. I have started him on Rimadyl & a baby aspirin. Please help. Thanks!!
From Florida...haven't seen any ticks.
Thank you for the informative post.
My 18-month old Boxer, Chief, has been limping off and on again for close to a month and I'm not sure why. It appears to be his back right leg. Sometimes he has a very slight limp (usually when he moves after a period of rest) and other times, you'd never know there was anything wrong. I've checked his entire leg and foot over as I thought he had initially done something to his foot, but there are no signs of trauma. I've taken him to the vet twice for assessment. During the first visit, the vet thought it may be the tissue around his knee, but Chief doesn't react when you manipulate the leg, so I'm a bit baffled. The vet couldn't detect anything wrong with his right hip, foot, or the actual knee joint. He said there was no popping or grinding when he manipulated the leg and mentioned something about the knee joint not producing any heat which I understand is a good thing. He wasn't overly concerned and thought he had possibly tore or pulled a muscle. At times, he will stand with his right leg slightly more outstretched to the side than the left. Sometimes he'll point his right toe like he doesn't want to put much weight on the rear of the foot and it seems like he's putting more weight on the left side. He doesn't whine like he's in pain. I've tried to limit his activity, but with another Boxer in the house to keep Chief company, it's next to impossible to keep two knuckleheads from wrestling! If it weren't for the slight limp from time to time, you'd never know there was anything wrong. I should also note that I asked the vet about lyme disease (even though I've never found a tick on Chief), but ticks aren't a problem in my immediate geographic location and the vet tells me that Chief's limping wouldn't be localized to one leg if he did have lyme disease.
During our second visit to the vet, Chief was sedated so that a series of x-rays could be taken. The x-rays came back normal and the cause of his lameness is still unknown. A drawer test was performed while Chief was sedated and was negative indicating that his knee joint is healthy and all is well, so an acl or ccl tear is not the issue (thankfully!). The vet tells me that Chief's ligaments, tendons, and cartilage surrounding his knee are perfectly normal. There are no signs of arthritis on any of Chief's x-rays (his hips, right leg, and spine were x-rayed). The vet also told me that two different vets performed an ortolani test on Chief's hips while he was sedated and the test was negative which, from what I understand, means that he does not have hip dysplasia (again, thankfully!).
I was told that Chief pulled a muscle and would take plenty of rest and about 3 weeks to heal. That was close to a month ago and while he hasn't gotten any worse, he isn't any better either. From my description, does this sound like it might be pano? I'm taking Chief for foot x-rays tomorrow and we're seeing an animal Chiropractor on Jan. 6th. If you have any advice or can provide me with additional insight, I would be most grateful. Many thanks and happy holidays.
i have a 6month female rotti... and i just noticed her limping on her fount foot. i hope for her and my sake that its just growing pains
Great hub! If your dog is in pain take it to the vet stop being cheap. If you were in pain you would get it looked at.
I have a 2 year old 110 lb rescued German Shepherd who had a total hip replacement done approximately 5 months ago. He started limping on his left hind leg 3 weeks ago. Recently, he started limping on his right hind leg as well. Our vet did the drawer test and many x-rays. The THR looks fine. He may have a partially torn CCL (left knee). Our vet is unsure since the knee seems tight. However, the x-ray showed a cloudy appearance around the left knee. He stands with his right leg slightly bent and his paw turned outward. At times, he leans towards his left side. I found 2 ticks on him in November. He gets the lyme vaccine. Any clue why he is limping? Any help would be deeply appreciated.
I have an 11 wk old great Dane. And I took her out yesterday morning and she was walking fine well when I went back a couple hours later to get her out of her kennel she had a swollen leg and her paw pad is extremely inflamed. I took her to the vet and he said it wasrnt broke but he didn't know what was wrong with it. She will put weight on it but very very little. Today is the 2nd day its been like this. Any ideas on whatnot possibly could be?
Could be her paw pad and leg got stuck somewhere in the kennel in an attempt to get out? What did the vet do? x-rays? I would think it may take perhaps a little closer to 4-5 days to get better if the leg was swollen and she can't put weight on it. Keep an eye on the leg and report to your vet if it doesn't get better. Also check her behavior when she is in the kennel and you are not around. Try to make a video tape of what she does in your absence. Sometimes things dogs do may be surprising!
My 5 year old dog is randomly limping, usually in the mornings or after she has been running outside, she is a rescue dog so we are not sure of her breed. She looks like a Black Mouth Cur. When she was a puppy she was hit by a car backing out of the driveway. We took her to the vet and she had no serious injuries and healed quickly after wrapping her leg andlots of rest. It is the same leg that was hurt that she now limps on. It is not all of the time that she limps but I am a little concerned. Do you think her limp could be related to her accident or just a coincidence? Should I take her to the vet?
It's hard to say. Did you ever have x-rays done? This is the only way to have an idea of what may be going on. Most of the time, they can be done without anesthesia. I think this would be the best approach, best wishes!
I have a 1 and a half year old stray mixed with german shepard and something else that me and the wife cant figure out. She shows a limp in back left leg but also had dried blood near where the leg meets the torse. no cuts were found and no pain exhibited by dog wen limb was manually inspected. I have read both hubs on dogs in heat and limps but cant find something that fits both. We also have a male pug who has not shown any signs that the female dog is in heat. Im just lookin for some information on wat it could possibly be before i go and take her to the vets for xray and bloodwork.
Don't forget to look for Split toenails, this made our dog limp with no weight.
I have a 3 yr Saint Bernard.
She started limping. I am not super certain when. It ALMOST seemed gradual. It was not that bad at first and wot worse over the next few days.
There is no pain to the palpation. I actually thought she had a split nail.
I took her to the vet and he determined there was clicking in her elbow.
He told me rest and ice.
She is also worse her first few steps when she gets up.
It has been a week or so and it has not gotten better. It has not bottom worse either. But short of X-rays and surgery, what else can I do?
He thought it was possible soft tissue.
How long does this last? I know a person might be lame for months with soft tissue injuries, and I don't mind waititng, but I also don't want to be negligent and have her sit around when there is a piece Of cartilage needing surgery. Any way to tell??
A useful article for those who have pets at their home. First i felt that limping is caused in them only due to fractures or sprains.
Did they have x-rays done? Usually, this is the best way to assess the limping and its causes. A week is a little bit more than the time frame you would expect with a normal sprain healing. Usually, the average sprain takes about 48 to start getting better. If there are no signs of it getting better despite rest, I think you should have her seen again to have a more in depth evaluation of what may be going on. Do you live in the southwest, like Arizona, Texas or California? Exposure to ticks?
Ticks: yes definitely. I inspect her often and have found a few( none since last winter)
Maybe I need to bring her back in. It's just so expensive :(
Thanks.
I know, it can be very expensive, after spending 1000 for my male Rottie I have pet insurance which pays 80% of office visits. I am wondering if they ruled out elbow displaysia.
I believe elbow disPlaysia was ruled out for two reasons. Her age as well as physical exam did not show any pain or sensitivity reaction when extended.
My vet did call.
Because of the thread I asked about lymes. He did not rule it out, but says it's a bit off season.
He will prescribe ( if I want) medicine for two weeks as a treatment just in case.
He is also wanting to give ( by way of free samples) a non-steroid medicine.
I will tell you, nothing as good as a damn good vet/).
Thank you.
I also learned how to splint and comPletely isolate her shoulder, I will be showing him a picture and see if I should do this to force complete non movement-usage for a week or so.
( thanks for giving me a language to talk to him with.)
I'll let you know.
I have a 17 week old Rottie named Bob. We took him in at 8 weeks because his previous owner was to be deployed suddenly. Anyway, for the last 2 weeks, he has had a limp that is really starting to alarm me. It started 2 days after his final 5-way vaccine. i thought at first it was pain associated with the shot. At first it seemed like pain originating in his shoulder (front rt leg) and i'd notice an occasional spell or two where he would actually flip his paw over and keep it that way for a bit. Not right at all, a dog should right his foot immediately. I kept him crated most of the time, hoping that rest would help. As time has gone on, i now see joint stiffness and some bony swelling in the ankle joint, and more and more of the paw flipping over topside down. He plays and acts like a normal pain-free puppy when allowed, but his foot completely gives out from ankle down more than i can stand. He will actually stand (with not much pressure)sometimes with his paw topside to the ground. He doesn't seem to be in pain as he walks, but if you apply pressure to the joint, it is obvious he'd rather you not. Eating and drinking great, no fever or lethargy. If you compare his two front legs, his left foot (from paw to elbow) is practically concave when compared to his right, which looks like it is actually popping forward at the joint, like he can't straighten it all the way. Finances are extremely limited, this is why i am writing to you, to see if you had any input whatsoever. Hope to hear back. Thank you
this did help one bit and its disapointting because i had to put my dog down because i did know what elese to do i guess thats how stupid iam
Randy johnson
Good to know what causes limping in dogs. Very useful article. Thanks for sharing.
Melanie, being a large breed, there are chances of uneven growth patterns in the bone.. this is often due to feeding foods that let puppies grow too fast..whereas the bone plates require time to correctly form..you can read more about this here:
http://www.greatdanelady.com/articles/puppy_feed_p
However, consider that an x-ray is the only way for certain to determine what is going on...best wishes..
I have an 8year old cross staff and boxer. He has been limping on his back right leg you can touch it he is in no pain. Then noticed his right eye had drpped n both where blood shot that seems to have gone now. Could it have been sumfink serious?
It is hard to say, I think in this case a vet visit is a must to play it safe. It could be a touch of arthritis but with the eye problem I would want to see a vet. A geriatric check up in any case is recommended twice a year for pet over the age of 6.
I HAVE A 7 MONTH POM HER REAR LEG JERKS AND SHE CRY WHEN SHE TRY TO SLEEP..I DID TOOK HER TO A VET AND SPECIALIST IN VANCOUVER AND SPEND 5000 DOLLAR AND THEY CAN FIND A THING..PLEASE SOMEONE HELP
Hi thanks for the info. My puppy is a Golden/ Collie X and is the apple of my eye. She was fine and with the last hour or so she can barely put any weight on her right paw. I gave her some baby aspirin (she is 11 years old and sometimes has a little stiffness when getting up! But 2 days ago she was prancing and jumping around the yard. I try to get close to her and she gets up and moves away or goes deep into her kennel. She was eating a some today and I did give her water and she drank it. So I am waiting till tomorrow to see if it gets better...anything else anyone has to say I would love advice.
Hi all,
This information has been extremely helpful, however, most solutions or causes have already been tested negative or non applicable for my dog. I have a 3 year old 80 pound yellow lab who has been limping, his front left leg, for about 6 weeks. He limps maybe 20% of the time, especially after he gets up from a nap or we get back from a walk. My vet advised he lose 5 to 7 pounds and we are working on that right now, however, in the mean time, I can't seem to get him to be comfortable. He is not crying or whining in pain, but you can tell some is there. At the advice and direction of my vet, these steps have been take thus far: Heartworm/Lyme/Ehrlichia test = negative, x-ray of front left shoulder and front left elbow (1 xray of each area) negative for lesions, arthritis, breaks, fractures or dysplasia, we completed the first of two separate 2-week treatments of the anti-inflammatory/pain pill Rimadyl and are in the middle of the second 2 week treatment with no progress made. I even took him and his x-rays to an orthopaedic surgeon who found nothing wrong with him and reaffirmed the 5-7 pounds of weightloss he should have. They don't believe his weight has anyting to do with his limp, but it it always beneficial for them not to carry any extra weight no matter how big or small. I hve shipoped him to my parents house to get the rest and calmness the vet recommended (Gramma and Bumpa couldn't be happier to have their grand-dog!) we live with a very active boxer (my roommates) and it was recommended he not play, run around the yard, jump on or off furniture or having the other dog jumping on him as well for added pressure and it seemed to be the best solution, however, I am not seeing any improvement at all. He still limps when he awakes from his naps, he still can't go for walks, he still holds his paw up every once in-awhile in a non-weight bearing fashion, but never once has he made a peep about being in pain. If given the opportunity, he would walk our 5 mile walk every day and he would fetch in the yard and run like a crazy man with the boxer, and he wouldn't flinch or take a break , but after he sits for a few minutes, he is immediately sore/stiff..... Please, I am desparately searching for answers and I am not sure what other conservative measures I can take. I prefer not doing any exploratory surgery when absolutely nothing was found by the vet or the surgeon and I don't want the risk of his being put out for that and have any adverse effects to it when it doesn't seem to be a solid option. I will check back to see if anyone can offer me any help and since there are many feeds going on right now, please address to to Champ!
thanks so much in advance!
to Champ: sounds like a medical mystery and it also sounds like you already did a lot of testing. Has your dog by any chance been in any regions of the Southwest, even just vacation? Valley fever is often not recognized, but I would think its lesions would have showed up in an x-ray..
Sometimes, it is easier to try to treat than diagnose..I am surprised the Rimadyl is not working since it is one of the strongest pain relievers and anti-inflammatory for dogs with joint/bone/muscle problems..
Other options that come to mind but you must ask your vet, is adding the supplements glucosamine and chondroitin or trying a prescription diet for joint problems like Hills' J/D.
You can read about them here:
http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=2+1448&a
http://www.hillspet.com/products/pd-canine-jd-cani
On potential causes, a torn ACL comes to mind, which is common in the breed and obesity may play a role,the symptoms also seem to match. This can be difficult to diagnose if the dog is tense or in pain. I will supply you with a link:
http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=2+2084&a
Hope this helps a bit, best wishes!
Hi, my 7 year old lab cross had an accident about 2 month ago where she jumped over a wall whilst chasing a squirrel, the wall was 3ft on one side but had a 6ft drop on the other. When she landed she helped in pain and obviously limped towards me. Vets gave her painkiller to make her comfortable but said to rest her and she should make a recovery in a week or so. We went back to vets 4 weeks after and she's still limping but the vets don't think it's of any concern. 2 months on she is still limping and walking with her front leg (injured leg) very straight, with no bend in it, limping and with the paw outwards. She is no less active and still plays and chases the other dog I have but she doesn't seem to be gettin any better??? Any ideas anyone??? Vets say my next step would be an X-ray but I don't really want to put her through this if it's unnecessary.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Michelle & Molly
An x-ray I believe is your best bet as it will give your vet the best input on what may be going on. Another problem may be if your dog was supposed to rest and instead was allowed to run and act hyper. It is often hard to give a dog complete rest after an injury. Have you crated your dog and kept her on a leash when going out to potty the week after the injury? Some injuries seem to never heal simply because some dogs are too hyper!
. .hello, i need an advice. i have a siberian puppy. nearly 2 months old. he can walk but would always fall and he is hardened up on walking. comparing to his siblings who now can run and play. he still has a good apetite. when i move his legs he doesn't howl or show any sign of pain.. What's the problem with my puppy?? please help......
I have a 6-year old Akita who is 97 Lbs (and has been for the past 3 years). Lately, he has developed a fear and unwillingness to jump off the bed at times. A few times he really hesitated to come off the bed, trying to slowly step off one foot at a time. But when he touched the floor, he cried a little whimper.Yet when I take him out he walks fine. When I take him to the park for a good walk, 2 miles or so, he sometimes comes home and favors his left front leg. Usually he is fine by the next morning, back to leaping up on the bed and jumping off again. My wife seems to suspect arthritis in his shoulders, because he tends to hunch his neck and shoulders after fearing to climb off the bed. He is not over weight. Any ideas?
If this limping has been going on for more than 48 hours without improving, it could be you are dealing with arthritis. It does not hurt to see a vet, there are always those slim chances it could be osteosarcoma, a cancer of the bones, that you may want to rule out for safety's sake. Arthritis can improve with glucosamine and chondroitin supplements or prescriptions NSAID'S. Some dogs have also improved with prescription Hill's food J/D. Having some x-rays done is the best way to have a glimpse of what may be going on. Best wishes!
Hello, we have a 7 year old lab. Almost two years ago, he started limping on his left front leg. He was still using it at that time however. Gradually, it got worse and worse. He has been to multiple vets. They have done X-Rays, and still don't know what is wrong with him. They thought it was bone cancer, but the results of the biopsy turned out to be negative. Ever since his biopsy though, he started licking the spot where they sampled from. If we are not home to watch him, he has a cone on full time or else he will lick until he bleeds. He bears absolutely no pressure on his leg and it has deteriorated tremendously. It has no muscle in it whatsoever. On a possibly unrelated note- his left eye droops (and it never used to before his leg problem) and he gets ear infections like no other. It's really sad to watch him (though he is as happy as ever), and I was wondering if anybody has any possible ideas as to what happened since the vets seem to be clueless. I doubt he will ever use his leg again, and I fear if he did, it would snap since it is literally just skin and bone. We don't know what else to do for him!
We have 8 week old lab puppies who got their vaccinations on Tuesday (today is Saturday) A black female pup who is our brightest and has been perfect until now has been having trouble with her rear left leg. It started out being just irritated seeming but is now to the point where she doesn't want to put any weight on it ( but can ). Were worried that she may end up dying from a reaction to the shots as this keeps worsening? Any ideas
Your vet is the best source for discussing this, what vaccination did she get? The rabies vaccine is the one most commonly given in the right rear leg but this is usually given at 12 weeks at age. I doubt she would die if the symptoms are localized only to the rear leg. Severe vaccine reactions causing anaphylactic death generally involve vomiting, trouble breathing, facial swelling etc and generally take place immediately or within a day or two at the most. Call your vet as soon as you can and ask if you can give some aspirin. Applying some ice wrapped up in cloth to the area may be helpful. My best wishes.
Here is a link about aspirin which must be given with food:http://www.petplace.com/drug-library/acetylsalicyl
my great dane dexter 4 yrs. old is limping. IT looks like top leg muscle pulled up to his back. is this serious he puts minimal weight on.enough to get around i have been messageing it not better should i worry
Generally, at the vet's office I worked at, we told clients to have a dog seen if the dog did not put any weight on the leg, or if the limping did not improve within 48 hours.
My 1 year old beagle mix has been limping for 2 weeks(right front). It started on the way home from the dog park. I rested her for a few days, but it came back when we went to the park. She can put weight on it and shows no pain. I have tried examining, moving and sqeezing but she dosen't respond. It is only noticable because of the change in her gate. It comes and goes with exercise, but has become more frequent. Is there a serious concern like bone cancer?
It sounds unlikely that this may be cancer, due to the dog's young age, even though cancer can virtually affect a dog of any age..Only way to see what may be going on for sure is to have x-rays done. Any ticks in your area? Lyme disease is known for causing limping..
I have a 9 mo. old German Shepherd. 2 weeks ago, he was hospitalized for a bad reaction to a steroid. An I.V. was placed in his leg, & fluids were administered for a 24 hours. The dog has been limping on that leg intermittently, since that I.V. was placed. The leg is not draining, swollen, red, or hot to the touch. He is going back to the vet tomorrow for a re-check. How long does soreness from an I.V. take to heal? I'm also concerned it may be phlebitis, which the vet with either confirm or deny. Any suggestions?
I have a german shep. who is exhibiting some troubling symptoms. It started out with me coming home from work to find her whimpering and crying, and unable (or at least unwilling) to walk on her left hind-leg. She cried all night and early the next morning my father and I managed to carry her to the car and then to the vet. Xrays were taken, but nothing definitive was said. My father feels good about the fact that she is kinda walking around again,and while this is a vast improvement from screaming at the slightest move, I remain unconvinced. And worried. I moved her leg around in depth and got no reaction, hip, paw- all of it! Doesn't make sense for how painful moving was for her. I am up much later at night and have noticed a few things. She still cries as night, just not as loudly. Also, she breathes and pants faster and faster, and then eventually slows down and gets back to her normal sleep-breathing, the sound of which is so familiar. Minutes later, full speed again. Her stomach also makes noises. This could mean nothing, as she eats something she shouldn't have just about no-monthly and gets sick, ensuing fast, etc. She drinks a lot of water but still has a lacking appetite. She has always had what is assumed to be bad allergies, and it always very itchy. Years passed without solution, so she takes prednisone and that's that.
Since we live in az, could this be valley fever? Haven't noticed any cough, but when I had it yrs ago, it was certainly painful enuf to justify those howls! The article on renal failure seemed to fit, and she's certainly getting old and gray. And she drinks a ton of water. I'm just worried aboutblosing her and I can't afford more uninformative trips to the vet. Any thoughts would be appreciated. It's heartbreaking to know she's in pain and have no idea what's wrong, let alone how to fix it. Oh btw, she's on tramadol since seeing the vet. Thank you for your time!
I an not sure why the vets were unable to provide -or at least try to provide- an interpretation of the x-rays, were any abnormalities detected? valley fever is a possibility but my vet diagnosed it no problem by seeing an x-ray of my dog's front paw, this condition causes characteristic bone deterioration that is visible on x-rays..he then x-rayed my dog's chest and found confirmation of the disease by looking at lungs..
How old is your dog? are there ticks in your area? did they test her for Lyme disease? if she is older it could be arthritis and many dogs feel better with glucosamine supplements and pain relievers..
Panting is a sign of pain..so if she is in pain her panting will worsen. The fact you could move her leg no problems does not necessarily mean there are no problems, it could just be that some particular bone, muscle or tendon hurts only when she puts weight on it in a certain way which is hard to mimic by handling the leg..
I find it odd though that you say she cries at night..if she is really old it could be a sign of canine cognitive dysfunction which causes night time anxiety, you can read more about it here:
http://willmydoghateme.com/dog-health/canine-cogni
I hope I have not confused you much, there are certainly many possibilities and her excessive drinking may also require tests, perhaps a second opinion from another vet may be a good idea..my very best wishes
Great informative Hub. My collie had a limp that our vet first diagnosed as arthritis and blamed on her breed... but we later realized was related to Lymes. After a couple of months on medication, the limp completely went away. Wish I'd read this hub back then, maybe we could have saved her a few months of pain.
I have a female basset hound who will be ten in september. She has been healthy and happy. Yesterday morning we woke up and she had difficulty walking, just out of the blue. Still today she has been limping on her back legs, shaking, and occasionaly yelping when petting her. We took her to the vet and tested her for lymes disease; the results were negative. The vet believes it to be arthritis....could this severe trouble walking that has suddenly appeared out of the blue really be arthritis?
Dogs are often quite stoic, they may hide their pain for several weeks or even months.. it could be now the pain has become more significant. Did the vet do an x-ray? this should rule out any micro-fractures or other orthopedic problems...
My dog (german shepherd) is limping on his front right paw. He hurt himself previously and was bleeding and I did take him to the vet. However after a couple of months he is still limping. How concerned should I be? Should I take him back to the vet.
Usually a sprain goes away if the leg was allowed to properly rest within a week or so. Are there ticks in your area? the limping may not be correlated to the past injury he sustained. I would have him tested for lyme disease just in case, and possibly, have x-rays done.
My dog, a 5 year old American Foxhound, started limping about 5 days ago. It is his front right leg that is bothering him. He seems to be limping after he gets up from laying down but is putting weight on the leg and is fine when we go walking. I checked both his legs and found nothing. He did give a little cry when I put pressure on his elbow in that leg. I did find a tick on him last week. His is vaccinated for Lyme's Disease. Could he still get it? Should I take him to the vet? Any suggestions would be appreciated!
I do not think it is lyme's disease since it takes an average of 3-4 weeks up to several months for the first symptoms to show. However, if he possibly had a tick on him before, to answer your question, yes, there are still chances a dog vaccinated against lyme may get the disease even if remote. Since this has been going on for 5 days I would see the vet, normally sprains get better within 48 hours, best wishes.
My 13 week old pit puppy babies her hind legs, she was fine when she was born and walked fine! She is the runt of our litter, and very healthy except for her walking, she looks like a baby deer when she does get up. She doesn't act like she is in pain either.
my 11yr old lab who is slim and fit began limping this afternoon.took him to vet but because he gets excited when he goes out he walked fine infront of vet!!!got him home and he is limping again!!!
I have 16 months old rottweiler, since last few days he is limping (favoring his front right leg). I got him checked and vet said it could be the skin infection he has (there are white flaky spots on his elbows). Its been one week since his medication is undergoing but I have not seen any improvement in his limping. He does not limp all the time. While on walk when start running or power walking he starts limping. On slow walks his stance is ok. He shows no sign of pain. Kindly suggest what could be wrong with him.
The vet has prescribed him:
Cephalexin tablets IP (600mg)
A few months ago my 3 year old male boxer' chest and shoulders started to tremor he would tremor while sleeping and when walking or relaxing just about anytime. After about a month or so after a mile or so walk to rough playing with our younger boxer he started to limp on his front legs he would drag his paw so that the tops of his feet scrapped the ground. Now he still tremors but he walks very clumsy with a limp and really drags his front legs. He even stumbles and falls down on his shoulders. Blood work was done initially and nothing was wrong, he was given NSAIDs for a week that didn't help, last week the doctor gave him a shot of cortisone in his lower neck and put him on 20mg of predniose but we have not seen any improvement. When he was 12 weeks old he had many problems - puppy strangles, mange, closed tear ducts he was treated with antibiotics and steriods, he was very sick. The vet attributed his problems to his mother perhaps being breed to soon between pregnancies. We are worried he may developed cancer since his immune system was compromised as a puppy. We are worried what could this be?
We just got a Brittany pup from a pet store a couple of weeks ago she is now 12 weeks old and is increasingly getting clumsier. At first we thought it was the collar since she was always scratching at it, now I wonder if it was the 2-3 weeks she was in a little cage at the store not using her legs, but I just don't know! She doesn't seem to be in pain, but there is something not right about her legs. We also pulled 3 ticks off of her the day we got her 2 weeks tomorrow.
Unfortunately, I can only point out possibilities and they are listed in the article, there is no way I can say what is the problem over the internet and I am not a vet. The only way is to have a vet palpate the leg and get x-rays. Best wishes to all.
We discovered our 5 month old 47 lb GSD limping on front right leg this morning. After reading this great article, I have targeted the area and it appears to be internal, right above her paw on the backside. She walks with a limp and almost as if she is on egg shells when taking a full stride. She is eating/drinking and playful when prompted, but is mostly fatigued. Does this sound like a sprain? She played a ton yesterday, a lot of running and swimming, so I'm thinking/hoping this is what it is...
We discovered our 5 month old 47 lb GSD limping on front right leg this morning. After reading this great article, I have targeted the area and it appears to be internal, right above her paw on the backside. She walks with a limp and almost as if she is on egg shells when taking a full stride. She is eating/drinking and playful when prompted, but is mostly fatigued. Does this sound like a sprain? She played a ton yesterday, a lot of running and swimming, so I'm thinking/hoping this is what it is...
Ellafam, if it is a sprain it generally gets better within 48 hours, hoping that's all it is to it, sending best wishes your way. Have her seen if she does not get better. GSD are prone to pano and other health related issues.
I have a 7 month old Arctic Wolf and i noticed her favoring her back right leg a day ago. So i examined her and never really found a spot with pain but she is still favoring it and its not a limp but u can tell she is putting less pressure on it than her left back leg and she jumps no problem but she still favors it so im wondering if its anything serious or maybe she just strained a muscle playing in the yard.
My puppy is about 6 months old. I believe she has retriever in her. She was a stray when we found her, just a baby. A few weeks ago she began to show discomfort in her hind end. It has gotten so that now she has trouble getting up. Although, she can still summon up enough energy to play with the other dogs, but it is only in short bursts, and she is in a bit of pain afterwards. She wimpers even when she sleeps. I have had to carry her to bed sometimes. When Ipick her up she wimpers when I handler her hind end. When she walks, it is as if she is pigeon-toed in her back legs. I feel so bad for her. We have been giving her childrens motrin and that seeems to help. Do you have any suggestions as to what the cause may be or what we should/could do to help her more?
Hi there I have a mixed bullmastiff bulldog and we noticed her limping a week ago. We went to bed she was fine and when we woke up she was limping. It gets better sometimes and it seems ok when she's playing with her brother who is a lab but worse after shes been resting or laying down for a while. She's only a year and a half so I don't think it is due to age but she is fairly husky/ thick. Ive given her some glucosamine but I don't know if that's helping. Also on the same side as her back leg that is limping she has a little bump. I noticed it a month ago shortly after she got her yearly vaccine and I called the vet and they said it could just be a reaction to the vaccine. But now since she's limping im worried they are related. Do you have any ideas? I'm very worried and I guess I'll just take her in but I really dont want bad news. So anyway the little bump is still there near her back right hip and now she is limping. Called the vet about the limp too and they said monitor it but I think it's time to take her in. I've examined it and there's nothing there other then the bump. Any ideas or help would be appreciated. Thanks
As a general rule of thumb, if dogs are limping and not getting better in 48 hours they should be seen by a vet. Dogs not putting weight on the leg at all and with visible swellings and considerable pain should also be seen immediately.
Tiffany, you should not be giving Motrin to a dog! The only over the counter medication for pain that is safe for dogs under the guidance of a vet is aspirin. You can read about the dangers of Ibuprofen to dogs here;
Hi!
We have a 50 days old Pomeranian puppy. Yesterday evening he fell down from one & half feet high furniture. He cried after falling down but later he stopped. I think his back right leg got hurt. He is limping and sometimes he can walk with right leg also but not good as earlier. I palpitrated his leg. Their is no sign of pain from him. His leg is also not swollen, but he is limping slightly. I am unable to understand whether it is a sprain or any other. Please help me. Please suggest me. We don't have a Vet in near by area. We live in India.
I have forgotten to say above that my puppy is able to scratch itself with its back right leg as earlier.
please advise me as earlier as possible
If he is limping when walking he likely feels pain when he puts weight on the leg. This may explain why you do not get a pain response upon palpating the leg. Usually sprains like this get better within 48 hours. Cold ice applied (not directly, keep a towel in between leg and ice) may help reduce any swelling. If he cannot put weight on the leg, keeps it lifted and whines from pain have him seen immediately. Same if the area swells. Best wishes!
hi
i have a 8yr old malamute who cant put any weight on his left back leg and drags it. i taken 2 vet they gave pills that didnt really help.the pain is getting worse because now he will move a lttle b4 lying down
I have a 1 year old pomeranian named Bear and this morning when i woke up he was on the ground in a ball ( unusual because he sleeps right next to mw. when i called him he unsteadily stood up and just stood there and cried. i went and picked him up and noticed he wouldnt hardly bare weight on his hind leg, but it alternates which leg he holds up. there is no swelling but he is in obvious pain when you pick him up or try to stand him up. i was able to palpate his leg earlier this morning with no yelping now i cant touch it. because hes alternating legs im scared its a hip or back injury and not just a sprain in his leg. because its sunday night i would have to wait til tomorrow to get a vet appt. anyways so i was wondering what you think
My 8yr old pug suddenly started limping and not eating.he wobbles like a duck and has a hard time getting up and down.was fine this morning and of course the vet is closed.what can I do till vet opens he also had some small bumps on skin thatwent away and are now dry patches one spot is perfectly round and open and red.any relation???
hello, its a little urgent can u please help.my dog cannot get up, there is something wrong with his front right paw, he was ok till morning he went for a walk with me, but then when i came back in the afternoon he was lying down and is crying, he is dragging himself but cannot get up. ...
We have a 5 month old cocker spaniel who has developed a limp. She runs around fine when we have walked her and plays with other dogs but then we bring her home and after about 30-60 minutes after getting home she can barely put any weight on her back right leg. I did find and remove a tick from her eye but from memory this was less than 2 months ago. She does seem to be very lethargic of late. Can some one help? What shall I do? Take her to the vets? Which I would rather avoid because of cost? But will do it if needs be. She is insured. Any suggestions or help would be great?!?
On a walk last night, the dog sort of collapsed in on the right side when smelling a yard. She started walking again but was favoring a side. This morning she wouldn't put her left paw down. She will occasionally because she can't limp well on the hard floor. Inspected her paw and saw no problem. Moved and felt her leg bones and joints. She expressed no discomfort. She did yelp when her left shoulder area was rubbed so I am thinking a sprain. Am I on the right track?
i am really worried about my dog he has two sore back legs and he isn't play full any more .
I have a mixed breed rescue dog that we think is german shep and possibly Dane or even possibly a Rodisian (sp?) Ridgeback. Last year about this same time (October) he started limping and not putting any pressure on his right back leg (he was licking his hock a lot too). We took him to the vet and they did x-rays, painkillers, etc... nothing, and he was fine an hour after going to the vet. - he's doing it again this year and I can't afford to go through all that we went through last year for it to be nothing again. Any advice? Could it be a weather shift thing and/or do dogs exaggerate these things for some extra attention? Thanks for anything you can come up with!!!
Hi I have a 7 week old poodle puppy and well she fell off the bed and started acting weird. She was walking around like shes drunk and she cant move her limbs right, she is limp most of the time when I pick her up sometimes. Her eyes are red which could mean brain trauma but she responds well when I talk to her. She did get bitten by a bunch of ants and when I took her to the vet they told me that there was probably something toxic in her system causing her to act drunk. I don't know what to do, everything happened right after she fell off the bed, but she had had the ant bites for maybe 2 days before that...
I have a 8 week old pitbull puppy his left foot looks deformed an its been so for 2 weeks he doesn't show any pain an Stil plays what can i do wil his paw stay that way its my first puppy
I would suggest having it x-rayed. Do you happen to live in the southwest? valley fever may cause paw deformations.
Sir i hv a white pomeralian dog hving completd 11 yrs recently.A few months ago there was a sudden swelling just below her right eye..dat burst out aftr 2-3 days wid pus n blood..
We wipd it off wid dettol n luke warm water thinking it wud heal now..aftr healing swelling appeared again aftr few weeks n d process continued til nw..we went 2 d pet doctor 2..and applied d cream n pills recomended by him..but its not healing at all..we r helples nw n cant see hr pain dis way..pls help us sir gving d reasn n remedy of dis wound..
It could the infection has a strain of bacteria resistant to a certain type of antibiotics and another type may be necessary. Another possibility is that there is an underlying cause for the infection that needs treated, for instance, many times abscesses under the eye may be tooth related. Has the vet checked your dog for tooth root abscesses? At this age teeth problem are very common. Ask the vet to check the teeth.
Here is an article that may interest you, scroll down to see Cindy's case:
we have a lab and he just started like laying around all the time lately he wont get up run aroun nothing he barely moves but when we get him up to go outside he seems fine will walk poop pee all normall we can not fig out what is going on wthhim hes not his happy jumpy self it gos from his back legs to his left front then right front we are very concerned and the vets want a small fortune hes only 1 so we werent thinking arthrites but we cat seem to fig it out wasnt sure if it is his dieat something he ate our what? he wont really move much not even to eat our drink either but when we take him out he acts normal but there is deff something wrong he just lyes in the sam spot al day u used to jump up bark when someone came to the door now he justlyesthere he wont even jumpon the couch our anything we though maybe pano but were notsure anyinsite would be awsome thank you very much!!!!!1
The possibilities are many, but this does not sound normal at all. Can it be Lyme disease? Are there ticks in your area? Pano can be painful but it should not be as debilitating as what you describe. Look for a low cost clinic in your area, a healthy lab should not be acting this way, this warrants a vet visit. Best wishes.
I have a 14 month old golden retriever he started limping a couple days ago on his right front leg. I can touch his paw and leg and he does not cry its getting worse he will not put it on the ground at all could it be from a cracked nail?
It is hard to say. You can inspect the nails for cracks. However, the fact he does not show pain upon palpating does not exclude other types of pain such as the pain deriving from putting weight on the leg. If he is putting little weight I recommend a vet visit and possibly x-rays.
Hi
our cocker/springer spaniel is a great dog whos struggles going upstairs bu can gallop down. any ideas ?
Different muscles and ligaments are used to climb upstairs and come back down. If you say he ''gallops'' down stairs he may be able to lift slightly his back legs when coming down to have less strain. If he is an older dog I would think he may have arthritis, anyhow I would recommend a vet visit to see what the problem exactly is.
Great article!
We seem to often forget that if we work them like atheletes, we have to treat them like atheletes!
Tomorrow im bringing my dog to another vet. at first she would whimper but could walk fine. i took her three days after her noticeable symptoms, because she would lay in her bed and shake. it hurt her to get up. We walked into the vet and she was acting okay and they sent me home with an antiinflammetory and said to have her on bed rest. It has been over a week and she is just at an all time low. She cant go to the restroom, she can hardly walk, then stops and falls crying. When she turns she makes a huge uturn to turn around because her back left leg seems like it cant move at all. She is okay laying down but once she moves or trys to get up she crys and falls down.
will this be very expensive to fix?
she isnt a special breed she is a mutt and found her and had her for over two years.
check for lymes full blood panel just to be safe
Greatly detailed Hub! Thanks for the information!
Thanks so much for this info, helped me out alot.
My 13 week old puppy began limping 2 days ago and he will walk on his limp let (back right) but when jw stands jw looks sick skinny but he has not dropped any weight. But we have to force feed him he acts as if its to much work to eat he also is getting rash under his arm pits but I think that's from laying around. Please help I love my little guy
Skiee, it sounds like your dog should see the vet, especially since you mention he looks sick and is skinny and you have to force feed him.
Not skinny just how he is standing he stands like sideways he can now go up and down stairs its just that right back leg really bothering him I gave him asprin and the next day after it was worn off he whined
Hi I have a 5 year old golden retriever and she runs and walks normally but when she has been resting and sleeping for a long period of time she gets up with a limp she does not have any pain on the affected leg when I touch it any ideas of what it could be??
Hi there, I have a senario. I have a 15 month old Dane who I brought home when he was a puppy last October. In the winter (live in Ontario) after playing in a orchard I found bullseye type marks on his belly. I took him to a local vet who said it looks like a bug bite but it's impossible in the winter. He gave me a cortisone cream and send me home. The spots cleared up the next day. In the sping I found a tick on my dane, it was on his leg NOT under the skin. A month or so later I took my Dane to a holistic vet as I noticed a behaviour change ( he was being destructive in the house). Note he was 8 months. The vet believed he had lymes disease. She told be if I went for a second opinion it would be negative on blood work. She gave us a prescription for doxy. After a few weeks of taking the doxy my Dane seemed not well from the doxy and I took him for a second opinion. Blood work was normal and vet urged me to take my Dane of the doxy as the holistic vet is know for diagnosing every dog with lymes. Months past with no notable issues. Now at around 5 months post lymes diagnosis from holistic vet my Dane is having on and off difficultly with transitioning from sitting to standing. It seems to be his rear end nothing him, so went to see a few vets who aren't sure of the issue. It's seems to get better for a day or two with rest and natural anti-inflammatories, but back to square one after exercise. His parents and bloodlines are all hip/ elbow cert, never any hip dysplagia. They are waiting to see if this improves before they do x-rays as he has recently been under twice (neuter, front pad repair from a cut). Could this be lymes? His most recent blood work was normal, alittle low on the white blood cell count an anemia ( which I was told in young male dogs). I asked if it could be pano the vet said no he's not reacting to deep touch in his long bones of rear legs. All I seem to go back to is maybe its the lymes. I just don't want to make the mistake of not treating it ASAP if it could be that. We see a physio/ vet tomorrow for acupuncture/ laser treatment. Any advise or I sight would be beyond appreciated
Did your vet ever run an IDEXX “Snap-3 Dx test” or “Snap-4 Dx test?
Im not sure, the vet said she specifically tested for lymes. She said it was a very sensitive test and if he had lymes it would show. I'm going to call today to try and find out
If it was lymes would the symptoms get better? He seems to have good and bad days with mobility. It does seem to switch between legs, it's so hard to tell. He was lame and not eating, now he's eating and wants to play. Would lymes present so up and down?
Sheila, lyme disease tends to cause pain from one leg to another, indeed, for this reason it is often referred to as ''“shifting-leg lameness,” however if it was lyme it should have gotten better when on the doxy, generally within 48 hours. Pano also has the shifting leg characteristic, but there are many other possible conditions that can be confirmed or ruled out through diagnostic tests. To learn more about orthopedic diseases Great Danes are prone to, the GreatDaneLady may be a good resource:
Thanks for your suggestions. Hopefully the vets can figure it out. So far they have ruled out pano and lymes but after reading much literature including the great Dane ladys articles I have to wonder why! Thank u again
I own a pitbull shes about a year and a half old yesterday my husband and I took her to our neighborhood park and afte r playing she began limping when we got home. She licks her paw but she also walks on it if the mood strikes her but she doesnt apply alot of her weight and then her paw goes right back up..could this just be a sprain
My pom Pryncess is limping again. We live in Atlanta.
A cpl months ago, when i was coming in from a night club in my dark apartment, she was right there waiting for me. Bc the light wasnt on, i stepped on her paw with my 6inch heels. She yelped and cried sooooo loud and it scared me so bad. I took off my shoes, got the light switch then turned it on. There was blood on the floor and coming from her paw. I was in tears bc I hurt my baby.. I picked her up, went to the sink, washed her paw, put peroxide on it and kept her right up under me the next few days. I barely let her walk or do anything bc she wld limp. After two weeks of staying off of her paw, she cld finally walk again with no pain or limping. I looked at her paw and it seems I had stepped on her toenail which was healing really well. Last night, Pryncess started limping again out of no where but only after she jumped off my bed. I inspected her paw and it seems she yelps when u touch the same toenail I had stepped on a few months back. I'm worried but cannot afford a Vet appt. I now carry her to and from the bathroom and dont let her do anything but lay in bed. Is there something more I can do?
Tammy, this sounds like a sprain especially since it happened after romping at the dog park, if so, it should get better within 48 hours. Of course, there is no way to know for sure though.
Ebony, it is hard to say if the new limping you are seeing is correlated with the stepping on the toenail episode or if it is a whole new injury from jumping off the bed. If it is a sprain generally, it would get better within 48 hours.If she appears to be in pain from touching that toenail perhaps it may help to soak her paw in a mix of betadine (one spoon) and Epsom salts with warm water. Soak the troubled paw for 15 minutes in the solution. Then you can apply some neosporin cream and wrap the paw with some gauze and bandage tape, not too tight, but enough to keep it in place and allow the neosporin to be absorbed. This will prevent her from licking the paw and possibly getting it further injured from jumping off the bed. Let the paw get some air though when she is likely to stay inactive. Split or cracked toenails are very painful to dogs. Best wishes!
Good news well kind of my puppy broke his growth plate its common in larger breed puppies I guess but my vet said no need for a splint or cast? Isn't that a little odd
My German Shepherd -golden retriever mix dog is 15 months old. He injured his front left leg about 3 months ago while climbing on to the fence. He started limping. I took him to the vet and as there was no visible injury or swelling , he prescribed a mild dose of aspirin for a few days. His limping reduced and he was fine. But again in the last 3 weeks he has started limping, he doesn't apply weight on his left front paw, when sometimes bends the paw. I have taken him more than 3 times to the vet and he seems to think it should go away with rest. But it hasn't. The dog does not have any pain. He still jumps, runs around, climbs stairs, etc. He only limps when we take him out for a walk. I have to keep him tied to give him rest
Chitra, it is hard for some dogs to recover especially when they are active. If your dog jumps, runs and all the like, it could be that paw was never allowed to rest, prolonging recovery times. A crate may be helpful for a few days, however, it may be worth it to do some x-rays just to rule other things out.
My germn Shepard had puppies two weeks ago. Three dys ago I noticed her not putting weight on her back leg. Now it is swollen and feverish and she is not eating. I know this can't be good for the puppies and I also noticed she regurgitated what little food I got her to ear this morning. My husband just lost his job and I cannot afford an expensive vet visit. Please help!
Shanks, There is not much I can do than hope for some of your friends and relatives to be generous enough to help out and loan some money. If she is feverish and limping this may be a sign of eclampsia, which requires IMMEDIATE CARE, please take her ASAP to the vet, when you come home you can read more about this here:
since today morning my 2 year old labrador is not able to stand or move even. he is having trouble in sitting too. its the left hind limb that is causing trouble. what shoul i do now??
So we took beau to the vet he said beau dislocated his growth plate in the knee... And he was to be bed riddin until today well know he is limping on other leg and has been bed riddin could it just possibly be him growing he is a lab/pit mix
Yes, this type of injury is related to growing. Growth plates are softer than other regions of the bones, and therefore are more prone to injury.
1st I want to say to Alexadry how awesome you are for doing your best to answer so many peoples questions. I haven't even asked my question but I just want to extend a thanks to you for doing what you are doing. I have a toy poodle, limping on one of her back legs. I looked between her toes and at her pads and nothing. Gave them a little squeeze and nothing. Bend her leg, put a little pressure on it all and she doesn't wince, growl or whine. The limping started 4 days ago. I'm guessing based on your article that it's possibly a sprain. She really doesn't show any sign of discomfort, just doesn't really put much weight on it. Sometimes she does and sometimes she doesn't. Just looking for some thoughts, thanks again.
Rob, it could be a sprain but generally you should see it getting better with rest. If she is up in her years, it may be the beginning of arthritis, especially if you see it more upon getting up in the morning. Worth checking by a vet's diagnosis so you can start her on glucosamine supplements. I hope she gets better, but if there are no signs of getting better an x-ray may be your best bet. Best wishes!
Jonaysnote1, I got your message but did not approve it because you posted your e-mail and anybody can see it and use it in a bad way. Did you put her on a resting regimen? It is hard for a dog to recover if it is allowed to romp and continue to jump on beds, etc. She should be kept in a quiet room to recover. If you are already doing this, did your vet prescribe any pain relievers? These may help speed up the recovery. Again, with pain relievers you want to allow rest. Ask your vet if it is ok to give baby aspirin if she seems in a lot of pain, many vets will give you a dosage to give with instructions. In such case, they do not need to see her again. If it does not get better say in another few days, I would consider another visit or another vet's opinion. Best wishes!
Hi. I have a 6 year old Doberman Pinscher who up until last week has been in immaculate health. Last Monday, he had an upset stomach and was quite lethargic with shallow breathing so I took him to the Vet. He had a 104.5 degree temperature and was diagnosed with an infection so he was prescribed antibiotics and given a non-steroid anti-inflammatory to bring the fever down. Once home he was much more like himself and seemed to respond quite well to the antibiotics. I thought we had it figured out but upon waking on Tuesday Yurman cried out when he jumped off the bed. He's never shown any signs of discomfort or achiness before so I assumed he may have just slept on something wrong so I watched him for the remainder of the day with no signs of improvement. I was concerned it could be the beginning of bloat (apparently very common in Dobes) so we took him to the emergency vet who, after extensive examination, could elicit no pain from anywhere on his body. Bloat was ruled out and the vet concluded it may just be gas pains from the digestive upset that came with the infection.
Now I find myself here a week later and while he is totally normal in every other sense (very active, spins and jumps up and down, no lameness, healthy appetite) he still cries out when his front legs hit the ground when jumping off the bed. The vet has made suggestions that it could be laryngeal paralysis or even Wobbler's which frightens me terribly but Yurman shows no discomfort or impairment when he's moving around on all four legs or even when he jumps up on the bed, has no difficulty breathing or trouble eating or drinking. He also shows no signs of any sort of neurological impairment so I am at a loss as to what it could be and I have a hard time believing he has developed a serious condition like the two suggested out of the blue with no other symptoms. Do you have any suggestions as to what I could be dealing with or any plan of action I should take? This dog is everything to me and I would literally die for him. It kills me to see him in discomfort and for me have no way of relieving his pain.
I forgot to add that full blood work was done and everything came back as excellent except for an elevated white blood cell count and elevated levels of protein in his urine, but vet said he saw absolutely nothing that alarmed him.
Try to keep him off the bed for a few days. It could be that his weight upon landing from getting off the bed is what is causing pain. It may be something as simple as a sprain. I do not want to underestimate the issue, but if it happens only upon jumping off the bed a sprain would be the most common issue. However, I am wondering if the vets are suspecting this pain is associated with the fever and other symptoms you observed. In this, case perhaps they are wondering something systemic going on. Did they run a lyme test? Try your best to keep him quiet for a few days and see if he improves. A Lyme test and an x-ray of the paw may be reasonable for a proper diagnosis, best wishes! Here is a link about lymes:
Hi-thank you so much for all the I formation on why dogs limp and I have bookmarked it for my precocious pets, but it really doesn't answer why my Brittany Spainel is limping and quite badly at that! He had been fine all day hs usual prancing self when a few hours later I couldn't find him in the house. This is usually a clue as he is our little accident waiting to happen ie bee stings, broken nails (only when we're showing the house :p), hot sauce in the eye. So of course I went looking and found him unwilling to bear weight on his front left leg after an extensive check of nails, pads, all the way up to his shoulder I see nothing that indicates a reason for this but lo and behold this morning he s still limping really badly we are going to the vet but was wondering if you might have any additional info and we won't be seeing the vet till this afternoon. He is a crate trained dog so he naturally is just hanging in there but you mentioned aspirin or rimadyl both of which we have in the house fr our chocolate lab. What would e the dozing strength fr a Brittany? Thank you again you this fabulous hub and in advance for any wisdom you might be able to share with me before our vet visit!
I have a 19 month old choc lab and he limps after a good romp with a black lab (same age) My lab is a solid lad were the other is a slim fellow and i would of thought he one be the one to limp after play. I then rest my lab for a few days but even then it does not always work. any ideas?
great advice though!!
Natalie, it could be a sprain but I would not give medications without asking your vet first. It is hard to know what may have happened exactly if your dog has been out of your sight. Best to have your vet suggest the best course of action. This hub covers the topic of aspirin and its risks:
http://alexadry.hubpages.com/hub/Giving-aspirin-to
Best wishes!
v, if it does not go away with rest, a vet's attention should be sought as there may be an underlying cause that needs attention.
Can anyone tell me what my 5 1/2 lb 10 month old pomeranian's chances are with Valley Fever? She has been COMPLETELY lethargic for approximately 8 days. I took her to the vet 4 days into this the tests began. Vet sent us home with eye drops and Fluconazole and orbax. I see NO improvement yet. She is eating boiled hamburger w/ground up puppy food and drinking some but she appears to be very weak!
HELP! The vet sent some blood to be tested for VF but I need to know what her prognosis is.....
Oh, and yesterday the sneezing started.... could she have it in her lungs AND the disseminated strain? OMG I've been crying for days now...
Lonni, my male Rottweiler had valley fever, he was limping and coughing, was on fluconazole for almost a year and now is healthy as a horse. Not saying all dogs do the same, but when caught early and treatment is started fast it doesn't mean a death sentence. Keep me updated on the diagnosis, if it is Valley fever, keep in touch and I will tell you where you can purchase cheaper flucanazole. I even wrote a hub about this here it is: best wishes!
Hi alexadry,
My 6 year old Springer Spaniel limped for the first time after his usual (typical for him and most springers) manic lead free run around, catching frisbee, swimming, he was probably out for about 1 hour total. That 1st time, the limp disappeared more or less overnight.
He went out again for a walk yesterday and was noticed limping again. Frisbee was not thrown anymore and he was just left to own devices, no active playing, he also swam a little. Upon return his limp had reduced but within an hour or so had become much worse. He now won't put all his weight on his front right leg. I have touched and squeezed his shoulder, and all down his leg, he is fine with this, except he doesn't like me to touch in-between his two middle toes. No cuts or foreign bodies as far as I can see/feel. Nothing stuck in fur. Nails look ok, although they were trimmed a few days ago - could this be related? Could I have hurt his toe by exerting pressure to cut the nail?
He *will* still walk but seems to dip his head as he does, it looks to me as a novice as though it's a sprain but obviously his toe hurts too. I have bathed the paw in salt solution, he is not licking it, so doubt there is something stuck in it, he usually bites/licks to death any minor cuts.
We were planning on leaving him to rest (just short lead walk to poo - stubborn so and so won't use our garden!) and then taking him to the vet after the weekend if limp is still there - would this be leaving it too late?
Generally, at the vet's hospital we used to recommend clients (who wished to wait) to give up to 48 hours for sprains to get better. Of course, affected dogs had to be put on a rest regimen -I know easier said than done!- Of course, a prompt vet visit is best if this is more than a casual sprain... which is almost impossible to know in many cases! So I really cannot say what the best course of action would be simply because we do not know exactly what the problem is.
Thank you for your help. :) He seems less stiff today, will keep a close watch and try to slow him down!
We found a starving German Shorthaired Pointer on the streets here in Naples, Italy. She is a young dog and she does have some pretty significant pad damage on both front feet. However, the vet thinks she might be a distemper survivor due to a lack of enamel on her teeth and some abnormal plaque build up for a one year old (approx) dog. She frequently will stand on her knees and has a very hard time bearing weight on her front legs. She walks with a very strange gait, and is hesitant to come out of her kennel even when it is feeding time. She likes to be near me so she will walk around the house with me and walk outside...but I am at a loss. Can you help me know what tests might need to be done on her. She is the sweetest dog, very gentle and loving.
Hello, nice to hear you are from Naples, I was in Naples several years ago to visit Pompei and surrounding areas! The symptoms you list sound like distemper, distemper causes hyperkeratosis(thickening of skin) of foot pads and the tooth enamel issues. Your vet should do a urine test or a skin biopsy of the pads to confirm distemper. I am afraid the walking on the knees may be a neurological sign part of the "seizuring part" of this devastating disease..you can read more here:
http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S
Treatment for this is mainly supportive for the pups that survive but recovery may be possible. Thank you for taking care of this pup, I really hope she makes an uneventful recovery, kind regards and best wishes.
We have a rescued Bermese and Some type of cattle dog mix. He is about a year old and a few months ago started limping on a front leg. He is healthy besides this limp. We put him in a crate for a few weeks with limited mobility and had him on asprin. No improvement. He seems worse when is getting up after laying down for a while. We have rubbed all over the leg and no signs at all of pain?? we are at a loss. DO you think this is growing pains?
If rest and medication did not bring relief I would suggest going to the vet and having it x-rayed. Rubbing helps determine if there are painful areas, but the whole weight being put on the leg cannot be mimicked by rubbing. Therefore rubbing is self-limiting when trying to make a diagnosis.
Good Article.
my gsd has been limping but getting better, is this mean it was just a sprain?
Generally, yes.. sprains tend to get better in 48 hours, keep an eye in your dog and have him see the vet if it does not get better or gets worse, best wishes!
Lanieniven 2 years ago
Great Hub, we recently had the first case of HOD in our breed.