My dog is limping on multiple legs. When to get X-rays & pain relief?

I would recommend taking Jax to a veterinarian. The veterinarian will perform a physical examination and then they may take an xray depending on what they feel and see. If they do not find anything they can provide Jax with a good anti-inflammatory to help with the pain. I hope Jax feels better soon and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

I'm sorry to hear that Axel has been having so much trouble with his hind legs lately. Stumbling and falling can occur as a result of worsening arthritis issues or neurologic deficits. Stumbling and difficulty standing up can be signs of pain, even though he is still eating and not crying out. It sounds as though it is worth taking a trip to the vet to evaluate Axel's neurologic status, as well as to discuss additional options for pain management. X-rays may be beneficial to track any changes in his arthritis, but you can also ask your vet if it is possible to try treating conservatively with medications for a period of time first. In addition, fish oil supplements can be helpful to decrease inflammation in joints for the long term. Until his vet appointment, you can use a large towel as a "sling" to help Axel to stand up, or this type of product: https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/dog/dog-health-and-wellness/dog-lifts/solvit-carelift-rear-dog-lifting-aid. I hope that all goes well for Axel!

I personally believe it is always necessary to do an x-ray. Unfortunately, they are expensive but they are the best way to determine what is causing the pain in his leg. X-rays can help to rule out fractures, dysplasia, or soft tissue injury. A cruciate ligament injury is also a possibility, so your veterinarian may want to perform an orthopedic test to see if there is any laxity in the knee. There is no guarantee the problem will heal with rest and prolonging an accurate diagnosis may just make the problem worse.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Odin. It is common for dog to be more sore after x-rays are taken. The patient needs to be placed in specific positions for the x-rays to be diagnostic. For example, the rear.legs are pulled very straight to take an x-ray of the pelvis. This can make the dog more sore afterwards due to the underlying lameness. Hopefully your veterinarian has prescribed pain medications for him. I would give them as directed. Do not give any over-the-counter pain medications as these can be toxic to dogs. I hope this information helps!

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Levi definitely could have hurt himself while hunting - he could have caused some soft tissue damage (damage to the muscles or ligaments) or a fracture (broken bone). X-rays would be able to determine if a bone is broken or if there is damage to a joint. He is a little bit young to have arthritis, but it is still possible. It is definitely concerning that the carprofen did not help him, as it is a great pain reliever for dogs, especially for bone/joint pain. A few other things that could be going on are a tumor of the bone or a disease transmitted by a tick. Because Levi was hunting, it is very possible that he was bitten by a tick (he does not necessarily have to have a tick on him at the moment). Ticks can transmit many diseases, including Lyme disease, which can cause limping. A quick blood test could rule this out. In the meantime, I recommend keeping Levi as quiet as possible - definitely no hunting until the cause of his limp is diagnosed. I hope this helps!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Hanz. Yes, I do recommend that he sees his veterinarian again. X-rays are warranted at this point. If possible, he may benefit from a pain and anti-inflammatory medication such as Rimadyl. This can help to not only control pain, but soft tissue inflammation. It will aid in cases of arthritis as well. In the meantime, keep him as quiet as possible and do not give any over-the-counter pain medications as these can be toxic to dogs. I hope this information helps!

Hi and thank you for reaching out about Chase. We are an online service and do not provide xrays, we provide online consulting for your pets. Given the history for Chase, I absolutely agree that xrays will be important for an accurate diagnosis for his lameness. I would recommend to schedule an appointment with his regular veterinarian for these as well as get him on some medications to provide pain relief for his discomfort. Best of luck with Chase. He is a cute dog!