Why is my dog uncomfortable, licking paw, walking weird after walk?

This sort of gait is very common in terrier types and is often due to issues with the knee cap or the groove in which it sits - often slipping or getting stuck over the groove can cause temporary lameness. If severe and uncomfortable or occurring very frequently, corrective surgery to reallign the knee cap and groove may be required

Place an e-collar on Darby to prevent further kicking and chewing. An Epsom salt foot soak may provide relief from whatever is bothering her. Restrict activity to just leash walks for elimination. Monitor for worsening lameness/sensitivity, swelling, bruising or bleeding. See your veterinarian for an exam if symptoms persist.

Poor Tiny - it sounds like he has a lot of things going on! Licking his paws and scratching could be due to seasonal allergies to grass or pollen (very common this time of year), or some other skin condition such as a bacterial or fungal skin infection, or skin mites (mange). Twitching or flinching when you touch his back can sometimes be associated with itchy skin, but could also indicate pain in this area. His limping may be due to his paws being sore and itchy, or he may have injured himself somehow. I would recommend having him checked by a vet as soon as you are able to - he/she can do an exam and some simple skin testing or x-rays if needed to help determine what's wrong.

He may have stepped on something sharp or hard that pierced or bruised his pad that you can't see. If he is still limping in the morning, I recommend getting him seen by your vet to determine what happened and how best to treat it.

His abnormal gait, or [lameness](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/lameness-1/), may have several causes. There might be something in the paw bothering him, either an infection or a [foreign body](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/grass-seeds-and-awns/). If he will allow, examine the pads and in between the toes for redness or swelling. If you find a grass seed or splinter, this could be the reason for the behavior. Remove it, if possible, and monitor for resolution. If there is something stuck in the pad or if symptoms persist, a visit to your veterinarian would be recommended. Mushu might need to have any infection, injury or other prthopedic condition (such as a[ luxating patella](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/luxating-patella/)) addressed by the doctor. Antibiotics, maybe steroids, may be indicated to treat any infection and calm down the inflammation.

Poor Leo! He could have injured his paw on the walk causing the limping. I recommend resting Leo for the next 48 hours. No running, jumping, or playing. Take him out to toilet on a leash, and bring him right back in when he's done. If he still appears painful after this time, then I would take him into the vet for an exam. The vet can diagnose where the pain is coming from, and can dictate a treatment plan for it. He may also benefit from some pain medications, which the vet can prescribe. Please do not give him any human pain medications, as many are toxic to dogs and can be fatal if given. I hope this helps!

Since Dante can't talk, only a physical exam will be able to determine the source of the lameness. Just like people, the pain/limping can be related to many causes including a ligament tears, soft tissue injury, a developmental abnormality or even a spinal issue. You may try strict rest for a few days (no walks, running, jumping or stairs). If Dante does not improve, have him examined by the veterinarian. He may need radiographs and the doctor will determine this based on the exam. I hope he starts feeling better quickly.