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Why is my dog limping on different legs but shows no signs of pain?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My dog started limping in one leg for no reason and now she switched legs . She doesn't wimper or make noises like she's hurt . What could cause this

4 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Dr. Emily, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on March 3rd, 2015

This depends on the age of your dog. In older dogs, this is a classic sign of hip dysplasia. In young patients with hip dysplasia, the hip joint is often "lax" or loose. The ball of the hip does not fit well into the socket. The actual formation of the ball of the hip joint may be improperly formed at the neck or head. Young patients often have the appearance of "bunny hopping" when running as this more evenly distributes weight across both back legs. They can also be intermittently lame, like your dog. They may have trouble rising or you may hear a click when he does or walks. We also see the weight being held more on the front limbs than the rear (leaning forward) when standing.

In an older dog, shifting leg lameness is a sign of arthritis.

Without further information, I cannot tell you what is causing this in your dog. Depending on the cause, medication can be useful to help the signs improve but a veterinary exam would be needed.

14Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Sara Farmer, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on August 9th, 2017
Most serious injuries to the leg would cause more consistent limping. It's possible that he has a luxating patella - a condition where the knee cap pops in and out of the joint. This does not cause pain because could cause the leg to 'give out' occasionally and then go back to normal. Your veterinarian would be able to diagnose a luxating patella during a physical exam.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Dr. Davis
Veterinarian
Published on August 20th, 2017
Cyprus is handsome! Him being a German Shepard and having a bunny hopping gait I'm concerned he may have hip dysplasia. That is poor hip conformation with joint laxity that will cause painful arthritis over time. Often dogs with hip dysplasia have one rear leg that is worse causing a lameness, and they often shift weight to the front legs that can cause them to be sore too. This can be diagnosed with an examination of his hips and X-rays. Dogs that are uncomfortable respond well to dog pain medication and steady daily exercise is good to keep up the rear leg muscles. It's best to limit running, jumping and rough housing with the other dogs so he doesn't get sore. Keeping him on the thin side so he's not carrying excess weight will help reduce his joint pain. There are also many joint supplements for joint health that your veterinarian will recommend. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Cyprus.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Dr. Massimo Orioles, DVM, Cert AVP, MRCVS
Veterinarian
Published on November 7th, 2019
Usually signs are noticeable starting from 4-6months of age but can be subtle at first.
Decreased activity, decreased range of motion, difficulty or reluctance rising, jumping, running, or climbing stairs, lameness in the hind end, looseness in the joint, narrow stance, swaying, “bunny hopping” gait, grating in the joint during movement, loss of thigh muscle mass, noticeable enlargement of the shoulder muscles as they compensate for the hind end, pain, stiffness are all possible signs.
2Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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Health & Wellness

My dog's limp moved to another leg. What causes shifting lameness?

Thank you for submitting your question regarding your dog. Her age and breed will make certain causes more likely. For example, young large breed dogs are prone to a shifting leg lameness caused by a disease known as eosinophilic panosteitis. Older dogs are more likely to have arthritis. In the meantime, keep her as quiet as possible to allow her body to rest. Do not give any over-the-counter pain medications as these can be toxic to dogs. I hope this information helps!

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My puppy limps on its back leg, then walks fine. Should I worry?

Some causes of hindlimb lameness in growing dogs that are less than 12 months of age include: Hip dysplasia, Avascular necrosis of the femoral head - Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease, where the ball of the thighbone in the hip doesn't get enough blood, causing the bone to die Osteochondritis of stifle - fragments of cartilage or bone have become loose within the knee joint Patella luxation - medial or lateral disorder, in which the kneecap dislocates or moves out of its normal location Osteochondritis of the hock - fragments of cartilage or bone have become loose within the hock, the joint of the hind leg Panosteitis – inflammation of the bones Hypertrophic osteodystrophy - a disease characterized by decreased blood flow to the part of the bone adjacent to the joint Trauma to the soft tissue, bone, or joint Infection – may be local, or generalized (systemic) Nutritional imbalances Congenital abnormalities (present at birth) If the lameness persists, even if she seems better afterward, I recommend getting her seen by your vet as soon as possible to check for one of these conditions and get her started on treatment if need be.

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Why is my dog limping on different legs? What's causing this shifting?

I would recommend seeing a veterinarian. At 8 months of age this may be something like a luxating patella (where the knee cap pops in and out). They can limp or not put weight on the hind limb if the knee cap is out of place. Which could explain why one day she seemed hurt in one leg and now hurt in another. It could also be that she just hurt her leg like a soft tissue injury. This can be either a sprain or a ligament injury. If Hazel is dragging her leg (which is does not look like she is) it may be her back. Your veterinarian will perform a physical examination and see if the knee caps are in place and if Hazel has any discomfort or swelling in any joints or parts of her leg. They may recommend X-rays depending on the physical examination if your veterinarian thinks there is a bone injury. Dogs can also get tick diseases that cause shifting leg lameness (where they are lame on one leg and then the next day lame on another). Although these diseases are not common in your part of the country it is not something to completely rule out since we do see them sometimes. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

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Why is my young dog limping and hopping on three legs sometimes?

The most common reasons for young dogs to have issues with mobility include congenital bony abnormalities, juvenile onset arthritis, or a traumatic injury. If this is a relatively chronic issue, I would definitely recommend a physical exam by your veterinarian to see if a specific problem can be identified. Depending on the vet's findings, x-rays might be advisable to further investigate the matter. Snowy's breed and size will likely play into the likelihood of one condition over another. Hope this helps!

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My dog is limping and one back leg looks smaller. What's wrong?

Limping is a sign of pain and if there legs are uneven then one may be swollen if there was trauma or an injury or one may be small from atrophy from not getting used as much. At that age it may be a soft tissue injury from playing and jumping or it may be a genetic or growth problem such as panostitis or hip dysplasia. The best thing to do for today is rest him and do not let him run and play to make it worse. He does need a check by your vet to evaluate for these problems to see what medicines you can get to help him

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Health & Wellness

Why does my dog limp on his back leg after walks, but shows no pain?

Poor Alfie! It sounds like he has a chronic problem. This could be related to an abnormality within the bone structure of his lower back, or hips. Sometimes an issue like hip dysplasia or a pinched nerve can show up like this. It would be less common, but an injury to his cruciate ligaments could also present this way. The only way to know will be to have Alfie visit his veterinarian. The doctor will palpate all his legs to determine the cause. The doctor may also need radiographs to look for changes to the bone. Until you get him into the veterinarian, he needs strict rest, so no walks, no running, no playing and try to keep stairs to a minimum. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.

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My dog yelps and limps briefly. What causes this intermittent pain?

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Depending on his age and breed, DJ may have arthritis in one of his joints or an ongoing infection. Certain conditions such as Lyme disease and autoimmune conditions can cause occasional limping, as you described. Your vet can perform x-rays and blood work to rule out the conditions above. I hope this helps and am happy to answer any other questions you may have!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

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