My dog fell and is limping. What can I do at home for her paw?

Since she's been lame for a week, an exam with your veterinarian would be recommended. X-rays to diagnose fractures may be indicated after a physical exam. There are very few OTC medications you can give a dog for pain at home. Most are toxic or easy to overdose. Do not medicate Diamond without the advice of your veterinarian.

Hello. At this point I would ensure that Spirit rests that leg as much as possible. You do not indicate if it is a front or hind leg, but the most common areas to be injured are the wrist & shoulder area of the front leg & the knee or hip area on the hind. I would start using a warming compress concentrating on the shoulder, knee or hip, depending on leg, applying the warmth for 10 minutes 2-3 times a day. I am sure she is uncomfortable, so make sure she is well padded while lying & assist her as best you can. See your vet as soon as possible if she is not improved. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hi! Thanks for entrusting us with Nala's care today! Lameness can be a sign of a few things that range from a muscle sprain to even a fracture. Unfortunately, without further diagnostics, it is not possible to know for sure what this may be. Anti-inflammatory medications may help. I recommend that you have her reevaluated by your veterinarian so that this can be further assessed which will likely include radiographs. Treatment will be dependent on findings though at the very least pain control medications can be prescribed. Good luck! Hoping for a speedy recovery!

Poor Layla! If she is still limping I would make an appointment to have her seen by your vet. She may have injured her nail(s) as you described, or she may even have some soft tissue swelling/ irritation or a fracture. If there is a stick/ splinter/ other foreign object in her paw the vet can help remove it and treat it to help prevent infection. Pain medications meant for humans can be very dangerous (and even deadly) for dogs, so I do not recommend giving any to Layla without consulting with your vet. I recommend keeping her in a crate or in a room where she can't run/ jump on anything and only taking her out for very short bathroom breaks until she is no longer limping. Make sure she's on a leash so she can't run and make things worse.

That swelling may indicate something stuck under the skin and causing severe inflammation (like a piece of glass or a grass seed) or something like a broken toe. Less common would be something like a sprain. At home you need to restrict Olivia's activity so no walks, running or jumping. You also need to prevent any licking by having her wear an elizabethan collar. Unfortunately, there may not be much else you can do at home. You can apply a cool (not cold, just cool) compress 3 times a day for 5-10 minutes. If there is an infection or a break, this requires medical care. I recommend to play it safe and have Olivia examined by the veterinarian. Certainly, if she is continuing to limp after 2 days of rest or if she is getting worse, it's time to have her examined. This is the best course of action to accurately diagnose, treat and to make her feel better. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Gojo! If you have pain and anti-inflammatory medications that are safe for dogs then using those medications and strictly resting him is all you can do. No running, jumping, stairs, on/off furniture and short leash walks only. If the limp isn't improved in 7 days he needs an exam and likely an X-ray to check for a broken bone. I wish Gojo a speedy recovery!

Hi! Thanks for entrusting us with Zeus's care today! Lameness can be a sign of a few things that range from a muscle sprain to even a fracture. I recommend that you have him evaluated by your veterinarian so that this can be further assessed which will likely include radiographs. Treatment will be dependent on findings though at the very least pain control medications can be prescribed. Good luck! Hoping for a speedy recovery!