What Should You Do If Your Dog Has A Limp?
Apr 18, 2023
What should you do if your dog has a limp?
Movement is life, and healthy feet give you freedom of movement, but sometimes problems can occur, from the smallest to the most severe. Here's what to do if your dog's front or back leg starts limping.
Why is my dog limping?
There are many reasons for your dog's limp, which can be divided into two categories: external effects on the limbs and internal problems in the body.
There are also congenital abnormalities of the joints or spine due to abnormalities in fetal development.
Main causes:
- cuts, punctures, abrasions
- bruises, muscle strains, sprains, fractures or cracks
- muscle inflammation
- avitaminosis
- splinters
- impaired circulation in the limbs
- cracked paw pads
- arthritis, arthrosis, osteomyelitis, periostitis, bursitis, hip or knee dysplasia
- bites from stinging insects or animals
- paw frostbite
- thermal or chemical burns
- painful puncture, medication or needle contact with the neurovascular bundle
- increased musculoskeletal strain due to excess weight
- ligament and joint problems
- benign or malignant neoplasms
- other diseases - neurological, cardiological, endocrinological or infectious
Some drugs injected intramuscularly can be very painful and cause a temporary limp - once the drug is dissolved, the limp disappears.
If there is no visible cause, the problem is internal. The nature of the problem can be deduced from whether your dog limps with the front or the back paw. Now let us look at the most common causes.
Lameness of the front leg can be caused by:
Sprain, dislocation, fracture, dysplasia of the elbow.
Limping on the hind paw indicates the following:
Spinal cord entrapment, sciatic nerve contusion, painful intramuscular injection, hip dysplasia.
The most common cause of sprains and fractures are unfortunate falls and jumps from great heights. There are some breeds that are discouraged from such activities:
- Welsh Corgis, Dachshunds, Sky Terriers and Basset Hounds - because of their high susceptibility to back and paw problems;
- French Bulldogs, Pugs - because of their heavy build and short legs;
- Chihuahuas, Toy Terriers and Chinese Crested Dogs - because of their fragile and thin bones.
What should you do if your dog walks with a limp?
The first thing you should do, of course, examines the limb and make sure your dog is resting. If you find a superficial wound on the pads, you can treat it yourself, but if you find a deep cut, excessive bleeding, or other injuries, you definitely need to see your veterinarian.
If you can't find a visible cause, it's probably an internal injury. Usually, limping is caused by muscle and joint inflammation and musculoskeletal disorders. The earlier you catch the problem, the easier it's to treat, but if it's a chronic condition, it'll be more difficult to treat.
First aid for limping.
If your dog is limping, the most important thing isn't to panic, but to watch for the signs and administer first aid. Here are some basic first-aid measures
1. Sudden limp: Your dog can't lean on one leg, it's straddled, and it's bleeding.
Probable injury: mechanical injury to the paw pad or torn claw.
Measures: Treat the wound with antiseptic, apply wound healing ointment, and cover it with gauze. If the wound is deep or a claw is torn, see your veterinarian.
2. Recurrent limping that occurs after increased exercise and disappears a couple of hours later.
Probable injury: muscle strain
Measures: Stop physical activity for a few days, have a mild recovery massage. If there is no improvement after a few days, you should see a specialist.
3. Limp in one leg on flexion and extension
Probable injury: sprain
Measures: apply cold compresses, apply a pressure dressing. If condition does not improve, contact a veterinarian immediately to prevent arthritis.
4. Limp during or after exercise, also with hypothermia, whimpering, muscle tremors, cramps.
Probable injury: inflammation of the muscle tissue
Measures: Warm the dog with a thermal blanket and massage his paws gently. If his condition worsens, you should consult your specialist.
5. Persistent limping, rapid fatigue, hind limbs straight and wobbly, heavy lifting after resting.
Probable injury: Hip dysplasia.
Measures: Contact your vet immediately.
Remember that with any type of injury, seeing a vet as soon as possible will allow your pet to get back to walking freely and pain free.
How to treat limpness
We all wish we could get rid of the discomfort as quickly as possible and use some miracle pill or drop. As a matter of fact, nowadays there are products available at pet shops that can actually help get rid of the limp. But don't assume that the problem is over, as they only mask the symptoms and might make the situation worse. The fact is that without feeling any pain the dog will mechanically stress the problematic paw, which leads to further trauma and the pain will return with double force.
The use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and painkillers do help. But do not self-medicate and prescribe them uncontrollably, they all have side effects that can lead to bad consequences.
Preventing lameness
Prevention is better than cure, and it pays to know.
- Use a food with a special vitamin-mineral complex for the lifetime of your dog and remember to adjust the food to his breed and age.
- Keep your dog from lying on cold, hard surfaces
- Avoid freezing or injury.
- Inspect his feet regularly for signs of injury.
- If your dog has a chronic musculoskeletal problem, protect his feet in cold and wet weather by wearing an insulated coat.
This article is for information purposes only, and does not constitute a call to action. Only a veterinarian can give you detailed advice on limping when examining your dog in person.
