My dog fell down stairs, limped, has bruising. Should I call the vet?

If Eleanor is limping she is in some degree of pain. I would definitely think out going to your veterinarian because clumsy puppies are prone to breaking bones. She may just have a soft tissue injury but it's always better to err on the side of caution. I would also suggest you keep her crated or confined until you can get her to a vet to keep her from injuring herself further. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I hope it's just a mild injury!

Hello. I would recommend trying to rest your pet for the next few days to make sure all is OK. If she continues to act like everything is fine, then a visit is probably un-necessary. She may have just had a minor sprain or mild injury that just worked its self out. If the lameness returns, then go see the vet for an evaluation. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hello, sorry to hear about Nova. If he is still not using his leg and several days have passed, I would recommend having him re-evaluated by a veterinarian to confirm that he does not have any more severe injury. He may need x-rays and a full orthopedic exam to ensure he does not have joint instability or a small fracture. Regardless, for any orthopedic injury, he should still be rested for at least 10-14 days. If within this time, he is not improving or back to his normal self, he likely has a more severe injury. Hope this helps and best of luck.

That is usually a good thing that she is not limping or acting like it is bothering her. The photo has a lot of hair in the way and I can’t get a clear view of the wound, but the area looks bigger than I was expecting. A healthy dog like Wendy can often heal most superficial wounds. If the wound was deep, meaning you could see that the skin was cut all the way through, then she should see her veterinarian. If the wound was more like a scrape, then she can likely heal it on her own. You will need to make sure that Wendy does not lick at the area as that can make it get infected. Have Wendy wear an Elizabethan collar at all times. This will prevent the licking. If the area around the wound looks swollen or you see any discharge, or pain when you press on it, have her see the veterinarian as well. If you have any other questions or can post a photo with the hair pushed out-of-the-way, please feel free to post again.

If the bruising is accompanied by lethargy, swelling and lameness, then Chomps should be seen by your veterinarian or at the nearest veterinary ER. X-rays may be indicated to diagnose or rule out fractures. A "simple" bruise with no other symptoms may resolve on it's own within a few weeks. Restrict activity to just leash walks for elimination in the meantime.

If she isn't feeling well and just laying on you then I would take her in. If she is comfortable and otherwise ok you can wait until tomorrow but if she won't walk, very lethargic or seems painful I would take her now. A veterinarian can see if x-rays are needed and provide medication to make Rosie feel better. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Poor Lily! There are many different possibilities in this case. It may be that she has simply bruised herself or damaged a muscle or ligament. However she may have a more serious injury such as a fracture or ligament rupture. If she seems to be comfortable and nothing looks out of place you could let her rest 24 hours then if she is no better or getting worse head to the vet.