My dog was hit by a door, now limping and hunched. What's wrong?

It can be difficult to tell for sure if your dog is in pain, however I'd have to say given the recent events (the door slamming on him) and his inability to settle (wandering the house) it's likely that he is. Hopefully he sustained just a bit of muscular trauma that's leading to soreness, but if he isn't completely back to normal at this point (i.e. he's comfortable and you can easily pick him up and interact with him without him showing signs of pain) then I would for sure take him in to see his vet, as he could have broken a rib, and that injury can have serious consequences, such as puncturing lung tissue.

If your dog is consistently limping when he walks I would be concerned about some permanent damage he sustained after being hit. He may have had something like a pelvic fracture that did not heal properly. This could cause issues in the long run because it will put increased stress and strain on his other hip. The likelihood of him developing arthritis in this injured hip is much more likely as well. I would recommend taking Duke to see your vet and have X-rays performed. To get very good X-rays he may need to be sedated. Your vet can determine from the X-rays if there is anything that can be done to help allieviate the problem. It would be wise to get Duke started on a joint supplement and to keep him at a good, healthy and trim weight since excess weight can cause more joint problems. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. It is possible that he has a fractured bone that is causing him discomfort and lameness. I would recommend having a veterinarian examine him so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. I would recommend having x-rays taken of this leg to rule out any bone fractures as the cause. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

Hello there, It's difficult to advise without a physical exam, as a swelling could be anything from a bruise to a serious hernia. I would recommend keeping a close eye on him for ability to walk, urinate, and defecate. Inability to do these things could indicate spinal cord trauma. I would recommend a trip to his regular vet in the morning to have the swelling examined and perhaps some pain medications. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

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.

Hi there. Limping could be caused by a number of different things, so it's hard to say what might be wrong without being able to examine your dog and run some tests. He may have an orthopedic problem like hip dysplasia or a torn cruciate ligament in his knee, a soft tissue injury like a sprain or pulled muscle, or some type of neurologic problem. I would recommend taking him to the vet to have this checked. He/she can do a complete orthopedic exam and may also take x-rays if needed to help diagnose the problem.

This sounds suspicious of arthritis. In a younge dog this often indicates a defect in cartilage or other soft tissue. These injuries are often difficult to detect, but can be narrowed-down with an exam and possibly x-rays. Considering this has been going on for a month, it's best to have a vet evaluate him sometime soon. Once the cause of this is identified, the appropriate treatment can be recommended. For now, it's best to restrict his exercise and keep him from running and jumping until he is seen by a vet. I hope that helps and Rio gets better.