My dog is limping and licking her leg. When should I see a vet?

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Dexter! Since it has been going on for 3 weeks already I think it is time to have him seen by your Vet. Common causes of hing leg lameness are: hip dysplasia, cruciate (ACL tears), Lyme or other tick borne disease, immune polyarthropathy, HOD, panoseitis, or simply a strain or a sprain. If you haven't strictly rested him (leash walks, no running or jumping) for a week you can try that first. But if he is still having problems he should be seen. I hope this helps and I wish Dexter the very best!

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Goose. Poor boy. I'm concerned hr leg is in pain causing her to lick it a lot and leading her to limp. Limping means she is in pain. I recommend resting her for the next 48 hours. No running, jumping, or playing. Take her out to toilet on a leash, and bring her right back in when she's done. If she still appears painful after this time, then I would take her into the vet for an exam. The vet can diagnose where the pain is coming from, and can dictate a treatment plan for it. She may also benefit from some pain medications, which the vet can prescribe. Please do not give her any human pain medications, as many are toxic to dogs and can be fatal if given. I hope this helps!

Good Evening...thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I am sorry that Luna is experience some trouble with her left front leg. Since the lameness seems to be reoccurring, I would recommend you bring her into a veterinarian for an examination. Young dogs can often experience many conditions that can cause lameness. These can range from conditions such as panosteitis (growing pains) to congenital conditions such as elbow dysplasia, or OCD lesion of either the shoulder or elbow. Certainly a soft tissue injury (muscle strain or sprain) may also be the culprit. Regardless, it may be nice to see if the veterinarian can determine her "pain point" and localize where her lameness is coming from. They will also be able to give you prescription medications that ma help to ease her discomfort. I hope this information helps, good luck and I hope Luna gets some relief soon! :-)

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I'm sorry to hear that Snots has been lame. Most mild causes of lameness resolve within 24-48 hours with some rest. Since it seems to have gone on longer than this, I would recommend that he sees his veterinarian. He will likely need some x-rays of the affected bone or joint and some prescription pain medication. In the meantime, keep him quiet (no running, jumping, playing). He should avoid stairs as much as possible and go out on a leash to go potty. Do not give him any over-the-counter medications. I hope this information helps!

Yes, I do think it would be a good idea to have Grundy seen by a vet for this. He could have strained or torn a ligament causing this limping, and because it has been going on for a couple of days, having him seen by a vet today or tomorrow is best. The vet can diagnose what is causing his pain, and can give him pain medication as well as treat the underlying cause.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sunny may be licking his paw due to trauma or a wound that is painful - dogs can sometimes have pieces of grass or small twigs stuck between the toes. Infections or allergic reactions can also occur on the feet, either to a cleaning agent or certain foods. I recommend having Sunny seen by a vet as soon as possible to determine exactly what is going on, especially because he seems uncomfortable. His vet may recommend topical or oral antibiotics, foot soaks, or a diet change. I hope all is well!

I would talk to your veterinarian about a possible knee cap luxation. This can happen in dogs and they will limp for a few minutes/seconds and then be fine. Nothing is typically done with them unless they are causing an issue. It is something that I would have an examination done on her although it isn't an emergency and you can wait until your regular veterinarian opens tomorrow morning. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.