My dog's limping, won't use his back leg. Is it broken or sprained?

I would watch Rukis for 24 hours. If you notice any swelling or if he is still limping tomorrow, it is a good idea to get him seen by the vet. I have seen dogs not act painful with broken legs. It could also be muscle sprain or a torn ligament causing him to limp. Try to keep him confined for at least 24 hours so that he can rest whatever it is that is causing the limp. If you find a sore spot, you can use an ice pack wrapped in a towel for 15 minutes at a time, and use gently massage on the area as he will allow. Unfortunately no human OTC medications are safe for use in dogs.

Hi there. So sorry to hear this happened to Zeus. It could be just a sprain/strain or he could have just "stunned" his leg. Give it some time overnight and see how he is tomorrow. If he is still limping tomorrow and it is the same as he is tonight or worse, then I suggest you get him to your vet for an exam. If his limping is better but he still isn't 100% you could give it a couple more days to see how he progresses. It is possible that he could have torn a tendon/ligament or he may have a fractured bone (they don't always swell up) or have a dislocation. DO NOT give him any medications. If he needs medications you need to get them from your vet. Just keep him calm and quiet tonight and check to see how he is in the morning. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Aww poor guy. He may have a muscle sprain. You can apply a cold compress onto the areas that appear sore for 5-10 minute intervals twice a day for next few days. Also limit his activity, don't encourage active play, and leash walk him only outside. If this is just a muscle sprain then he should improve over the next 48-72 hrs. However keep in mind that he should be able to at least move the limb somewhat, there shouldn't be a significant amount of noticeable swelling, and it shouldn't appear to be dangling (possible fracture). These are all signs that you shouldn't wait and should take him in right away. I do not recommend giving him any over the counter human pain medication, because these are not safe for pets due to high risk of acute liver and kidney damage. If he is still limping after that time frame, or getting any worse, then it is best to have your vet take a look at him to make sure he doesn't have more serious internal injuries (ligament injury, hairline bone fracture, dislocation).

Poor Theo. Unfortunately I cannot tell you if he broke or sprained his wrist without an x-ray. I would recommend taking him to a veterinarian for an x-ray. Sometimes the bones do not feel broken but a hairline fracture exist and is only seen on x-ray. Please restrict his activity until he is seen.

It sounds like the leg is injured, possibly a sprain or tear, or a broken bone. It would be best to bring Dozer to your vet to have the leg examined and X-rayed to check for this, especially if he won't put any weight on it at all. Until you can get to your vet, keeping him on kennel rest with leash-only walks to go potty is best to avoid further irritation to the injury.

Hello and thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Cold compresses every few hours and strict rest (short walks on a leash only) will be the best way to allow healing after this trauma. However, if in 2-3 days Athena is not back to normal, a visit at your local vets will be recommended. Intermittent lameness like this can be related to a pulled muscle or mild inflammation within knee or hip joint but it could be also due more serious problems, like a torn ligament in the knee, slipped patella and more. If there is no improvement to the cold compresses and rest, your vet will likely recommend x-rays of the leg to make the definite diagnosis and to recommend best treatment for Athena.

Hi! Thanks for entrusting us with Zeus's care today! 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!