My Yorkie fell. Why is his back leg hurting and he's yelping?

Poor Max! Max could have a soft tissue injury such as a sprain or muscle strain, or it's also possible he could have fractured something. Max should be seen by a vet to determine the source of the injury. For now, keep Max as quiet and calm as possible. Don't let him jump on/off furniture, and keep his walking to a minimum. If he's not using that leg normally within the next day or two, he needs to be seen by the vet. Do *NOT* give him anything for pain. There are no human pain meds that are safe and effective for dogs, and anything you give him could conflict with a more effective medication that the vet prescribes. Hope this helps and he feels better soon!

Without examining Rolo, it is difficult to determine the exact causing of his limping. However, since you report that this limping has occurred in the past and resolved without intervention after a few hours, my main suspicion is that he may have a luxating patella. This condition is essentially a "loose" kneecap that can pop in and out of position. In most pets, the patella moves back into position without intervention, but in more severe cases, surgical intervention can be required to keep the patella in position. Other possible causes of Rolo's limping include acute soft tissue injury or fractures. Since Rolo has been experiencing a worsening lameness for several days, he should be examined by his vet and may need to have x-rays taken.

Chronic pain in a three year old Yorkie should definitely be investigated more closely by your primary care vet. Back issues are quite common in small breed dogs, usually related to disk disease in the spinal column. This can be verified with an x-ray. Your vet will also be able to perform a thorough orthopedic exam to try and see if the pain is arising from elsewhere. Pain and be treated with various medications, including anti-inflammatories, opioids, and muscle relaxants. Sometimes, the best thing you can do for dogs in these cases is rest them. This means no more jumping, no more running, and no more rough housing for a couple of weeks to allow for any healing that might be needed. I realize this might be frustrating for both Lou and you, but it potentially might be for the best. Let me know if I was helpful and if there is anything else I can do for you.

Sweet Pea may have injured her leg or she may have arthritis or a joint abnormality that has flared up. Tick borne diseases can also occasionally cause limping and joint pain. Even though she does not seem to want to extend her leg the pain could be anywhere along the leg and not necessarily the paw or hock (ankle joint). Since she has continued to limp for a few days I would recommend seeing your veterinarian - they would hopefully be able to localize the pain and can recommend tests such as an x-ray and also prescribe pain medication. Limping is nearly always a sign of pain.

There is a very common problem in Yorkies called a luxating patella that often causes these symptoms. Basically, the knee cap pops out of place and causes her to hold the leg up intermittently. This is the first thing your vet will probably check for - it can usually be diagnosed during the exam. If this isn't the problem, then she may have some other type of injury to her leg, such as a torn knee ligament, or something more minor such as a sprain or pulled muscle. I would recommend keeping her calm and quiet for the rest of the night. If she is still holding her leg up in the morning, then she should see a vet to find out what's wrong.

Poor Hamish! I'm encouraged to hear that he is bearing some weight on the injured leg, as this makes a fracture seem a bit less likely. Instead, it sounds as though he may have a soft tissue (muscle, ligament, tendon) injury. Keep Hamish restricted to a crate or very small room to prevent him from running, jumping or playing over the next few days. Try to limit his activity to short leash walks strictly to eliminate. If he is still favoring the injured leg in the morning, Hamish should be examined by his vet for further evaluation and possible anti-inflammatory pain medications. Do not give any human pain medications, as none are safe for dogs. I hope that he feels better soon!

Thank you for posting a picture of Titan. He is adorable! You didn't mention his age, so I would presume that he is an adult. Puppies can have a different list of possibilities. In an adult dog with a sudden lameness after a fall, we worry about an injury to the hip joint, the knee joint (including the cruciate ligament), or the knee cap (patella) luxating most commonly. However, we can also see injuries to the back or pelvis, the bones of the legs, the ankle joint or the toes. Unfortunately, it could be any of those things and the only way to determine what is going on is to have your veterinarian examine Titan. Some injuries are just soft tissue and just require pain medication and rest, but some injuries are more severe. I would recommend having your veterinarian examine Titan, then decide if anything else needs to be done. Good luck! I hope that was helpful and that Titan feels better soon. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.