My dog's back paw hurts after play, but vet says he's fine. Why?

Hello. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Sorry to hear this happened to Scrappy. Did you check the bottom of his foot to see if there is a sticker or splinter in his paw? If not, please check that. If you don't see anything there I suggest you just rest him for a few days to see if the symptoms resolve/improve. If not, then get him to your vet for an exam. I am a bit worried based on your description that he may have injured his cruciate ligament in his knee. He wouldn't necessarily show pain when you move the leg. You need your vet to manipulate the knee is a certain fashion to check for this type of injury. There is no harm in giving it a few days to see if it resolves. He could just have a mild sprain/strain. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Ivy. If she walks with her paw up (ie not using it), this indicates that she is still painful. It worries me that she is still displaying this behavior (even if it is improved) several weeks after the incident. I recommend that she shees her veterinarian. She may need some anti-inflammatory pain medication to eliminate residual inflammation from a muscle strain. She also may need x-rays to ensure that there is not a bone or joint problem. In the meantime, keep her as quiet as possible to allow her body to rest. Do not give any over-the-counter pain medications as these can be toxic to dogs. I hope this information helps!

It could be that Lester has injured his paw, or he has a foreign body in it such as a foxtail or grass seed causing him to hold it up when sitting or resting. I recommend resting Lester for the next 48 hours. No running, jumping, or playing. Take him out to toilet on a lead only, and bring him right back in when he's done. If he still appears painful after this time (holding up his paw is a sign of pain), then I would take him into the vet for an exam. The vet can diagnose where the pain is coming from, and can dictate a treatment plan for it. He may also benefit from some pain medications, which the vet can prescribe. Please do not give him any human pain medications, as many are toxic to dogs and can be fatal if given.

It could be that Kiba has a piece of ice pierce his paw when walking outside, and it's a very small wound you can't see, or he could have strained a ligament that causes him pain when he walks on it. I would recommend resting Kiba for the next 48 hours. No running, jumping, or playing. Take him out to toilet on a lead only, and bring him right back in when he's done. Carry him out if needed, and put him on a spot with little to no snow. If he still appears painful after this time, then I would take him into the vet for an exam. The vet can diagnose where the pain is coming from, and can dictate a treatment plan for it. He may also benefit from some pain medications. Please do not give him any human pain medications, as many are toxic to dogs and can be fatal if given.

Since Sami can't talk, only a physical exam will be able to determine the source of the lameness. Just like people, the pain/limping can be related to many causes including a ligament tears, soft tissue injury, a developmental abnormality or even a spinal issue. You may try strict rest for a few days (no walks, running, jumping or stairs). If Sami does not improve or if he gets worse, have him examined by the veterinarian. Pets who exhibit toe touching lameness on the hing legs are a concern for a tear of the cranial cruciate ligament which is serious. He may need radiographs and the doctor will determine this based on the exam. I hope he starts feeling better quickly.

I would be worried that something is hurt enough to be causing a significant amount of pain in the leg. It may not be the paw that is affected, but could be something like the knee or hip that is hurting. It's worth taking him for an exam by a vet in the next day or two. They can locate where the pain is and can let you know how serious it is. For now, it's best to let champ rest and don't let him do any strenuous exercise (i.e. running/jumping). Below is a link to an article with more information about limping. https://www.petcoach.co/article/limping-causes-of-lameness-in-dogs/ I hope that helps and Champ gets better soon.

It could be Buster injured himself yesterday, causing the crying and hesitation to jump. I recommend resting him for the next 48 hours. No running, jumping, or playing. Take him out to toilet on a lead only, and bring him right back in when he's done. If he still appears painful after this time, then I would take him into the vet for an exam. The vet can diagnose where the pain is coming from, and can dictate a treatment plan for it. He may also benefit from some pain medications, which the vet can prescribe. Please do not give him any human pain medications, as many are toxic to dogs and can be fatal if given. Best of luck, I hope this helps!