My dog is dragging back paws, limping, and shaking. Is it urgent?

It sounds like Simba was painful if he was favoring one leg. I recommend resting him for the next 48 hours. No running, jumping, or playing. Take him out to toilet on a leash, 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.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. So if he is limping, he is in pain. Shaking is another sign of pain. The question is how much pain and why? Is it a minor, short-lived pain like when you stub your toe? A sprain? Or did he break a bone? The only way to know is to see an emergency vet and take some x-rays. That being said, in most of these cases, they shake it off and are walking normally within a few hours. If he seems OK to you, it is completely reasonable to let him sleep tonight and if he is not himself by morning, then see the vet first thing. If he is worrying you or any other signs arise, you always have the option of heading to the emergency vet tonight. Under no circumstances do I recommend any human pain medication - most are unsafe in dogs. However, if you want to do something for pain, ice can be a tremendous help. Applying an ice pack (wrapped in a thin kitchen towel or paper towel) to the leg for 5 minutes every 4-8 hours is great for inflammation and pain. Best wishes to you and Uno!

Poor girl. She is likely in pain from the leg and that is why she was shaking. As long as she isn't screaming out in pain, having a seizure, or having severe lethargy, you should be able to wait until morning to get her seen by your regular vet. Until you can get her in, just let her rest in a cozy quiet area of the house and leash her whenerever she goes outside to keep her from causing further injury to the leg. The vet will likely do an x-ray of her leg or bloodwork if the issue seems to be neurologic in nature. I hope that Sasha's injuries get resolved soon! Best of luck and take care.

Did the limping start today? I wonder if Pawl injured a muscle when he got hurt. It sounds like if the limping is intermittent that it might be ok to wait a short while, but I always worry about fractures and if delaying the exam would cause delayed healing as well. However, many soft tissue injuries will heal in their own with a few weeks of strict rear and possibly anti inflammatory medications if he needs them. I would encourage you to have him evaluated by your veterinarian, but as long as the limping is improving then you may be able to wait until next week. As far as the scratch goes, keep it clean and keep her from Licking it. Best of luck and thank you for using Pet Coach.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding your dog. I recommend that he sees his veterinarian. It is worrisome that he is dragging his paws. This can be indicative of a neurological problem. He may have damaged his neck or back during the fight. He may need x-rays as well as medication to decrease inflammation around his spinal cord, muscle relaxants and pain medications. Do not give any over-the-counter pain medications as these can be toxic to dogs and interfere with ones prescribed by his veterinarian. I hope this information helps!

You will need to take Belly back to your vets today. Dragging a leg is a very concerning signs, it could be due to leg fracture, pelvic fracture or hip dislocation. It also could be a sign of spinal cord compression (from diseased intervertebral disc) or a small clot that is causing spinal cord problems. Please, do not give any anti-inflammatory medications before you see your vets as they may want to give him a stronger anti-inflammatory drug today.

He needs to be examined by a vet to determine the extent of the injury. Your vet can take an x-ray to help diagnose and then determine the best way to treat. He may need a splint, rest, and an anti-inflammatory to treat. It is impossible to know the best way to treat without an x-ray.