My dog fell and is limping. Should I ice her leg or visit the vet?

Cold or ice therapy is most effective in the first 3 days and only when applied over the exact site of injury (be careful not to damage the skin - ensure ice pack is wrapped prior to application. Pain relief, rest, physiotherpay and chiropractic care can all be very helpful in such cases

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.

I am very sorry to hear that Amica is limping, I am sure it is worrying for you both. Unfortunately, there are many reasons why a dog may limp, ranging from injury, infection, osteoarthritis, disorders of the growing bones or joints, and even some cancers. Dogs can also be very good at hiding the exact location of the problem. In order to determine the precise cause of Amica's limping it would be best to take her in for an examination by a veterinarian. A veterinarian will also be able to make Amica comfortable by providing pain relief medication. The vet may also perform an orthopaedic exam and an X-ray. If Amica seems very uncomfortable or depressed, you suspect a broken bone, the limb is dangling at an unnatural angle, a limb is being dragged, severe swelling is occurring, the limb is hot, bone is piercing the skin, or nonstop bleeding is occurring, Amica needs to see a veterinarian immediately. If none of the above are occurring, and due to the high frequency of trauma cases which heal on their own, in limping dogs, as well as Amica's young age, you can try conservative management at home for 24 hours to see if Amica improves. Try the following at home; Keep Amica as comfortable as possible Strict rest with as little movement as can be managed When moving handle with care Do not give Amica any medications without a veterinarian’s approval Apply a cold compress for first 24 hours Switch to a warm compress after 24 hours If pain or limping continues after 24 hours then take Amica to see a veterinarian. I hope this was a helpful answer and more importantly that Amica feels better soon. Warmest regards and best of luck to you both.

Good Evening...thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I am sorry that Luna is experience some trouble with her left front leg. Since the lameness seems to be reoccurring, I would recommend you bring her into a veterinarian for an examination. Young dogs can often experience many conditions that can cause lameness. These can range from conditions such as panosteitis (growing pains) to congenital conditions such as elbow dysplasia, or OCD lesion of either the shoulder or elbow. Certainly a soft tissue injury (muscle strain or sprain) may also be the culprit. Regardless, it may be nice to see if the veterinarian can determine her "pain point" and localize where her lameness is coming from. They will also be able to give you prescription medications that ma help to ease her discomfort. I hope this information helps, good luck and I hope Luna gets some relief soon! :-)

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!

Hello, and thank you for your question. Meg is a beautiful girl! I would recommend resting her for the next 24 hours (no running, jumping, or rough housing). If her limping does not improve by then, then I would recommend taking her to the vet to rule out a possible sprain/strain, dislocation, or fracture. They may be able to detect this through physical exam alone, or with the help of x-rays as well. I hope this helps, and that Meg feels better soon!

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.