My dog's leg is limp after splint removal. Is it nerve damage?

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Osito. There are many causes of lameness in a dog. Start by checking his paw to ensure there is not something stuck in his fur or a broken toe nail. He would likely be licking the paw in this case. If not, then he could be experiencing arthritis. This is common in the hip and knee joints. Other possibilities are a displaced kneecap, a torn ligament in the knee, a fractured leg, a bone tumor or an autoimmune disease attacking the joints. He will need to see his veterinarian to determine where he is painful. X-rays will likely be recommended. In the meantime, keep him quiet to allow his body to rest. Do not give any over-the-counter pain medications as these can be toxic to dogs. I hope this information helps!

It could be that the ligament is simply weak because Journey hasn't been using that leg for the past six weeks. Given that it's only been one day since the splint has been taken off, it will take time for the muscles and ligaments in her leg to strengthen back up. I would continue to monitor Journey for now, and hopefully she will begin to use the leg better over time. Should she still have issues with it in another week, or she starts limping or stops using the leg, then I would have her seen by a vet.

I would recommend taking her back to the vet right away to be checked out. She could have laid on the leg in the funny way during surgery and have some temporary nerve damage or could have pain from an infection related to the IV that is making her not want to walk on it. In any case, that's not normal and her vet can help figure out what needs to occur next.

Oscar may have injured one of his legs or may have a joint abnormality. It is fairly common for dogs with various joint injuries or arthritis to be more painful when waking and then 'warm out' of the lameness. I would recommend seeing a vet if the limping continues for an exam and potentially some x-rays and/or pain medication.

I am sorry Oka is not feeling well. You are correct dogs can get soft tissue injury from trauma just like people. However I would recommend taking her to the vet to make sure nothing is broken. Oka could have a hair line fracture/broken bone that is also causing pain. The vet can also give you pain medication that will keep Oka comfortable and safe. Hope that helps

Hi! Thanks for entrusting us with Chestnut's care today! This could be related to being under anesthesia in one position which can result in pain in patients with arthritis for example. I think other possibilities for lameness should be considered. Lameness can be a sign of a few things that range from a muscle sprain to even a fracture. I recommend that you have him evaluated by your veterinarian so that this can be further assessed which will likely include radiographs. Treatment will be dependent on findings though at the very least pain control medications can be prescribed. Good luck! Hoping for a speedy recovery!

Usually this means one of two things: 1) The leg is fractured. There is usually a great deal of swelling associated with the fracture. Check to see if that leg is bigger than the other. 2) Nerve damage - Kittens sometimes get their legs caught in things and will damage a major nerve (radial nerve) in their leg when they struggle to get free. Either way, it would be best to have Oscar evaluated by a veterinarian, because both causes need specific treatment in order to get them to heal appropriately. I hope that helps and Oscar gets better soon.