My dog limped briefly, now normal. Could there be a hidden injury?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Limping can be due to many reasons that go from relatively uncomplicated such as soft tissue injuries and osteoarthritis to more complicated and serious injuries such as fractures and even bone tumors. I highly recommend that you have Roxy evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They would be able to localize her pain and decide what the next diagnostic step which will likely be radiographs. At the very least, they can start her on pain control medications. Good luck and have a good day!

I am sorry to hear about Boomer! It is not unusual for a dog to limp but then run around as if there is no problem. Dogs are great at hiding their pain and often a young dog will get excited and forget they are hurting or just ignore the discomfort for awhile. If the limping has been going on for more than a few days, I would recommend an exam by your vet. If there is any bruising or swelling a vet exam is recommended. Check all the toenails and be sure none are split or torn and look on the underside of the paw and between the paw pads to check for wounds. If you find nothing, then I would recommend activity restriction for Boomer for several days. He should be crated or confined to a small area and only go outside on a leash to go to the bathroom- we want him to rest his foot. If after several days you aren't seeing any improvement then a visit to his vet is recommended. Best of luck to you and Boomer!

There’s not much to do other than monitor Howl (adorable name!) for continued limping. It can be difficult for veterinarians to localize pain so I wouldn’t really bother trying to perform any kind of exam at home. If limping continues for more than 24 hours or if Howl won’t put any weight on the leg you should see your vet. It would be a good idea to restrict activity to short leashed walks only for the next 3-5 days just in case.

Limping can mean a lot of different things, including a muscle sprain or a ligament injury. It also depends on which leg is affected and exactly where the injury is on the limb. It is best to get your pet evaluated by a vet who can do a lameness exam to localize where the problem is on the leg. They will be able to recommend the appropriate treatment, whether it is just anti-inflammatory medication or potential surgery if the injury is involving the ligament. Many dogs will appear to act completely normal with a knee ligament injury.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! From the pictures I don’t see anything abnormal. But if it has been 3 days and he is still limping then he is painful somewhere. In a younger dog it could be from growing but they could still have small fractures without swelling. I recommend taking Goliath to a vet where they can do a full physical exam and check for pain in the bones or joints. There could be an issue higher up in the limb or even in the neck causing the limp. The vet may need xrays to look at the bones and joints. If anything, they can prescribe Goliath some medications to alleviate his pain and get him comfortable again. I wouldn’t give anything over the counter as there isn’t anything safe for dogs. And until you can get him to the vet I wouldn’t encourage any running or jumping. Good luck and kisses to Goliath!

Restrict activity for the next 24 hours. Monitor for lethargy, swelling, bruising or increasing lameness. If the lameness persists beyond 24 hours, have her physically examined by your veterinarian. X-rays may be indicated after the exam.

Hello. I would recommend trying to rest your pet for the next few days to make sure all is OK. If she continues to act like everything is fine, then a visit is probably un-necessary. She may have just had a minor sprain or mild injury that just worked its self out. If the lameness returns, then go see the vet for an evaluation. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.