Why does my dog briefly lift his back leg when he stands up?

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

Dogs limp because it is painful to bear weight on the leg. Pekingese tend to have problems with their knee caps which can cause lameness off and on. I dont think he is doing it for attention, I think he hurts some days and not others. I would encourage you to have him evaluated by your veterinarian soon. Best of luck and thank you for using Pet Coach.

Hello and thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Intermittent, painful lameness in dogs of her breed is often related to slipping patella, hip problems (for the hind leg) and sometimes elbow dysplasia (for the front leg lameness). A visit at your local vets is recommended. Full clinical examination should allow making the diagnosis and starting treatment, if required.

Hi there and thank you for using Pet Coach! Many things can cause lameness in dogs. For a young active dog, the most common injury is of soft tissue in origin. Soft tissue can be anything from a strain / sprain, bruising, pulled muscle or a ligament / tendon injury. Bone trauma is another possibility with fracture and dislocation as possibilities. If she is bearing full weight on the leg after a while, then I would likely suspect this to be a soft tissue injury in nature. I would suggest resting Angel for the next 7-10 days. A strict exercise restriction should be in place to prevent Angel from worsening the injury. This means no jumping or running, only leash guided walks that are short and controlled. If no improvement occurs within 7-10 days, I would have a veterinarian examine the leg to help determine what is going on. Please feel free to contact me with any further questions or concerns. I am also available via consultation if needed.

Unfortunately, if Milo is non -weight bearing on a hind limb, there is a chance that he has a full or partial tear of a cruciate ligament. Bringing Milo to your vet or veterinary ER ASAP is recommended to have a full orthopedic examination performed (possibly sedated) to determine if there is a cruciate tear and may require surgery. Activity restriction, pain medication such as a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory and a natural anti-inflammatory such as VetriScience Mobility Flex or Dasuquin would likely be recommended by your vet even if he/she determines it to be a soft tissue injury such as a sprain. Good luck!

He could have a torn the ligament in his knee, have back pain, or an arthritis flare up causing these symptoms assuming you didn’t see him get injured. I’m glad you’re taking him in soon. They will feel his hips, back and legs and may recommend x-rays. They will most likely put him on pain medication since he's probably not getting up due to discomfort. Many orthopedic problems can be managed with medications so hopefully with treatment he’ll recover quickly. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care Cooper.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Dexter! Since it has been going on for 3 weeks already I think it is time to have him seen by your Vet. Common causes of hing leg lameness are: hip dysplasia, cruciate (ACL tears), Lyme or other tick borne disease, immune polyarthropathy, HOD, panoseitis, or simply a strain or a sprain. If you haven't strictly rested him (leash walks, no running or jumping) for a week you can try that first. But if he is still having problems he should be seen. I hope this helps and I wish Dexter the very best!