Dog limping on hind leg after running, but seems fine. Why?

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, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Baby! I am assuming Baby is limping? Causes of limping really depends on whether it is a front or hind leg. It could be just a strain or sprain but it could also be Lyme disease, ACL tear and many other things. If he is acting lethargic and not eating he should see a Vet today. If he is otherwise fine then rest him and see how he is by Monday. If by Monday he is still limping then he should be seen by your Vet. I do not recommend giving Baby any human medications. I hope this helps and I wish Baby the best!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Poor Coal! It could be a strain or a sprain from being overly active yesterday. If he is weight bearing I doubt it is broken. Other causes for limping are tick borne illness like lyme disease. If it a back leg it could be a torn ACL or a luxated knee cap which is common in small breeds. If he is eating and drinking and otherwise acting normal set up an appointment monday if he is still limping. Good luck!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Bruno! Possible causes of Bruno's limp are: strain or a sprain from being stepped on, if he is older it could have aggravated arthritis, a toe or a bone could be broken, or it could be something unrelated like Lyme disease. Since Bruno can hardly walk on the leg that indicates pain. I recommend having Bruno seen by your Vet for an exam. If there is concern for the paw then they may want to take X-rays, otherwise they may just prescribe anti-inflammatories and rest. I hope this helps and I wish Bruno a speedy recovery!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Limping is a sign of pain. It sounds as though it is likely a strain or a sprain. The best thing to do it limit his activity because continued use will not allow a strain or sprain to heal. So no running, jumping, no stairs or jumping on/off the furniture and leash walks only for at least 7 days. If the limp doesn't improve with in those 7 days Shadow should be seen by a Vet or sooner if it worsens. It is not wrong to have Shadow seen sooner than later as well. Do not give any human pain medications, dogs do not metabolize drugs like people do and they may interfere with medications your Vet may want to prescribe. I hope this helps and I wish Shadow a speedy recovery!

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sorry to hear about Storm. Just by the description an ACL injury (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) would be suspected but there are other causes also including hip or other joint problems (arthritis, degenerative joint disease), trauma, puncture wounds, fractures, soft tissue injuries to tendons/ligaments, muscle injuries, tick transmitted diseases, etc. ACL injuries usually occur when dogs are chasing squirrels, cats, birds, etc across the yard. They are fine and then they return lame, holding up the leg or bearing partial weight. That ligament when examined microscopically is undergoing a degenerative process in almost all of the cases. The strain on the ligament eventually tears or rips it completely. That same process can occur in the other knee and that's why this is so important to diagnose properly. Some dogs tear one ACL, get it fixed and then tear the other one. There are multiple ways to fix an ACL rupture or tear and I would discuss these with your veterinarian. Some of the newer techniques are specialized procedures only certain vets perform and they require that hardware (plates, screws) be put into the area to stabilize the knee joint. One older technique is called the lateral imbrication technique and I still think it works well if an experienced surgeon does it. It is much cheaper also compared to the newer procedures. There are some braces out now also for dogs that are unable to have a surgical repair done but I don't have any experience with those. So I would advise taking Storm to your vet if this condition persists, worsens, or other signs develop. They can evaluate her, gather a history, and then make a diagnostic plan, and eventual treatment plan. A physical exam may include sedation/anesthesia and x-rays to fully assess the knee. Good luck with Storm.

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!