I accidentally hit my dog's ribs, he cried and limped. Is he okay?

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.

Hi and thanks for posting. She may have endured an injury during the fall. If she cries out again or appears to limp, having trouble walking, pants excessively, becomes lethargic, or has a decrease in appetite, then I would recommend she see her veterinarian as soon as possible. Your vet will do a hands on exam and may recommend x-rays to help determine if there is any damage to the bone structure or internal organs.

Poor Pipi!! I wonder if he may have injured his ribs or even injured his spine around his chest area. Poodles can have fine ribs, so if he fell he may have fractured one. Jumping on or off furniture or stairs can also strain the muscles that run along the spine (epaxial muscles) causing a very sore back. It is also important to check there are no injuries to his skin - an insect bite or sting may cause sudden pain. Given the severity of his crying, I would suggest you take him to the nearest emergency vet for an exam, so that they can identify the location and cause of his pain. Please do not give Pipi any human pain medicines, as many can be toxic to dogs even in small amounts. I hope he recovers very soon.

Poor Ryleigh! If all of these symptoms are new since he was accidently hit by the door, then I would strongly recommend to have a vet look at him. They can take x-rays if needed to ensure there isn't any bones broken. With him being older, I would also worry about arthritis. Your vet will be able to determine what meds would help him feel better. If you don't already, I would also put him on some joint supplements. I really liked dasuquin, flexadin with UC-II, and even duralactin. I hope this helps and he starts to feel better really soon!

Roopy could have been experiencing pain but it has already worn off. I would continue to monitor Roopy for the next couple days. I would take him to a vet if he starts limping again, if you notice a swelling, if he is lethargic, panting, or not eating like normal as these are signs of pain. If he becomes painful, a vet can do a thorough exam, may do some x-rays, and can prescribe appropriate pain medications to keep Roopy comfortable while he heals.

It sounds like Bruno just banged his arm on something. While it is certainly possible he suffered an injury that requires attention, I think you should wait and see how he reacts over the next 24 hours. If he is not currently showing any symptoms of pain, it is likely that he simply injured himself in the equivalent way that maybe you or I would experience when we stub our toe or hit our funny bone. Dogs are a lot tougher than people. Lets give Bruno a chance and see how he does.

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question. Poor boy. He should see a vet for it. You need an x-ray done to make sure the rib isn't broken. A broken rib could potentially puncture a lung. In addition, he needs pain medication. Unfortunately there are no human pain medications you can give him, as many are toxic to dogs and can be fatal if given. Even if the rib isn't broken and rest is all that is needed, he should still get pain medication to make him comfortable. I'd take him into a vet now. I hope this helps!