My dog is limping on his hind leg and losing muscle. What's wrong?

It's possible that it could be a conditioning or strengthening issue, depending what kind of exercise your dog is doing and what the [limp](https://www.petcoach.co/article/why-is-my-dog-limping) looks like - sport dogs, such as competitive agility or frisbee dogs, often have issues like this that can be improved with specific types of exercises - if you think this could be the problem with your dog, I would recommend making an appointment with a vet who specializes in sports medicine to evaluate your dog and develop a specific exercise regimen for her to help improve the issue. Other [possible causes](https://www.petcoach.co/article/5-common-orthopedic-conditions-in-dogs) of chronic limping after exercise would include [arthritis](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/arthritis-1/), or a chronic soft tissue injury such as a muscle tear or ligament injury that is aggravated by exercise. A good sports medicine vet or orthopedic surgeon could tell you more after examining your dog and watching her move.

If your dog hasn't been using his legs as much due to recovery from the amputation it is possible he has lost some muscle tone. it is best to get into contact with your vet to see if it is now safe to start a rehab or exercise program to help get him back in shape. Some illnesses can also cause muscle wasting or loss of muscle tone, so if you are seeing other symptoms in addition to this, or if it is happening very rapidly it is best to schedule a vet appointment for a complete exam, especially if he seems painful.

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

Hello, and thank you for your question. Causes of limping include a soft tissue injury (i.e. strain/sprain), a fracture, or a dislocation. I would recommend restricting his exercise for the next few days - no running, jumping, or rough play. If it is a sprain, it should gradually improve with time. If it does not, I would recommend taking Mugz to the vet. They can evaluate for any pain or swelling, and can recommend x-rays if necessary. I hope this helps, and that Mugz is feeling better soon!

Pumpkin's nails need to be cut, and she should see a vet if one of her nails is loose. I would take her into the vet first thing in the morning to have her nails cuts and her limping examined. While it's likely that the limping is related to her nails being too long, it could also be caused by something else such as arthritis, which can be diagnosed by the vet.

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.

Hello, I am sorry to hear about Pablo. Limping can be caused by many different things in dogs. It can be something such as a strained or sore muscle from rough playing; or could be a sign of a torn ligament/tendon or broken bone. Sometimes infections can also make dogs limp. If you feel that Pablo is in pain I would recommend having him evaluated by a veterinarian so that they can examine his leg and prescribe pain medications. Depending on their findings they may also suggest taking x rays of his leg. In the meantime I would recommend rest for Pablo, no running/jumping or playing off leash, to prevent further aggravation of the injury. Hope this helps!