Why is my dog dragging her leg, panting, and drooling after a jump?

What you're describing sounds like pain in Zoey. It could be due to a soft tissue/muscle injury or even a herniated disc in her spine. I recommend you keep her quiet and restrict her activity and if she does not improve take her to a veterinarian's office. Do not give any pain medication as human medication can be very toxic to dogs

Ouch, poor Zoey! She sounds quite painful if she won't put weight on the leg. She could have broken a bone, or torn a ligament in her knee. I would rest her tonight, and have her seen by a vet first thing in the morning. The vet can diagnose what is causing her swelling and pain, and can treat her for it. Please do not give her any human pain medications, as many are toxic to dogs and can be fatal if given. The vet can prescribe safe medications for her.

Thanks for using PetCoach! I'm sorry to hear about Xena. So if the position you describe (with the hurt leg extended) is when she is SITTING, I am most suspicious of a torn ACL. This is especially suspicious if she will walk on 3 legs but not the injured leg. Staffies between the ages of 1 and 5 are textbook for that particular injury. If it is when she is standing, that would be an odd way to carry herself and not typical of the usual injuries. (And I would see your vet). Finally, with this information, I cannot rule out a back injury or disk problem - more likely if she truly cannot stand, even if you help her up and put her back legs under her. You don't list Xena's age but as I mentioned before, if she is young, some sort of soft tissue injury is more likely. If she is older, an arthritis flare up or other problem may be more likely. Long story short, I recommend getting her in as soon as possible for evaluation and some safe pain medication. We as veterinarians have so many wonderful pain medications that are safe for long term or occasional use. As such, I would strongly recommend heading to your vet and NOT giving over the counter pain medication (it is not as effective and can interfere with what we would ideally prescribe). If you are unable/unwilling to go to the vet, probably the “least bad” choice would be aspirin. Be sure to use a product labeled for dogs and use the dosing on the bottle. See the link below for more information about the safe use of aspirin. https://www.petcoach.co/canigive/dog/aspirin/ Hope this helps and best of luck to you and Xena!

Poor Malia! I'm concerned this could be more than bruising. It could be that she has torn a ligament or potentially fractured a bone. She is showing you she is in a lot of pain if she is avoiding jumping on the bed and into the truck. I would take her into the vet this weekend or first thing Monday. The vet can determine was is causing her pain, and can treat that as well as prescribe pain medications. Please do not give her any human pain medications, as many are toxic to dogs and can be fatal if given. Best of luck.

Poor Mischa! It could be that she strained or tore a ligament, or she could be suffering from a condition known as a luxating patella. This is when the kneecap moves out of it's correct anatomical position, and it is common in toy and small breed dogs. I recommend resting Mischa for the next 48 hours. No running, jumping, or playing. Take her out to toilet on a lead only, and bring her right back in when she's done. If she still appears painful after this time, then I would take her into the vet for an exam. The vet can diagnose where the pain is coming from, and can dictate a treatment plan for it. She may also benefit from some pain medications, which the vet can prescribe. Please do not give her any human pain medications, as many are toxic to dogs and can be fatal if given.

First of all, Luna is adorable! I'm sorry to hear that she seems a bit uncomfortable today. Since the focus of her crying and whining seems to center around jumping on or off of the bed, my main concern would be that she developed a back or neck injury. In some cases, dogs can be quite stoic with these injuries until they move or are handled in certain manners. Back injuries can also cause referred pain in the abdomen, which could explain why she pants (this can be a sign of pain) when you pick her up. It can be difficult to precisely determine if back or neck pain are present without a lot of training, and it is often overlooked at home. Since she is intermittently crying and panting, it sounds as though Luna may be relatively painful. I recommend taking her to the vet for an exam to try to determine the source of this pain so that treatment can be started. Until you can get to the vet, keep her restricted to a crate or small room and avoid allowing her to jump on or off of furniture or use the stairs, as this could exacerbate any underlying injury. I hope that Luna feels better soon!

It sounds like your dog has a problem with her back as that is a common sign of back pain. Dogs are usually reluctant to jump because it causes pain. Your vet can check her for back pain and then prescribe medications to help. She may need an anti-inflammatory, muscle relaxer, and/or pain medications to help. Also, it would be a good idea to restrict her activity for a few weeks, no running, jumping, etc. Hope she feels better soon!