My dog is limping suddenly with no pain. What home care can I give?

Poor girl. Unfortunately there isn't much you can do for a musculoskeletal injury. Over the counter pain meds shouldn't be given to pets b/c of a high risk of liver and/or kidney damage. You can try doing alternating cold and warm compresses on the sore area for 5-10 minutes a day. Also a warm water Epsom salt bath can help with some of the soreness. If she just has a minor injur like a muscle sprain, then letting her rest the leg and the cold and warm compresses should help improve her limping over the next 4-5 days. Also leash walking her only outside and not encouraging jumping and rough play can help the area heal. Here is a website link that also has some financial resources that may be of assistance for getting Princess seen by your vet. It sounds like she may need a radiograph of the leg and appropriate treatment depending on the underlying injury if things don't get better soon. http://m.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/trouble_affording_veterinary_care.html Best wishes and take care.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Gojo! If you have pain and anti-inflammatory medications that are safe for dogs then using those medications and strictly resting him is all you can do. No running, jumping, stairs, on/off furniture and short leash walks only. If the limp isn't improved in 7 days he needs an exam and likely an X-ray to check for a broken bone. I wish Gojo a speedy recovery!

I am very sorry to hear that Amica is limping, I am sure it is worrying for you both. Unfortunately, there are many reasons why a dog may limp, ranging from injury, infection, osteoarthritis, disorders of the growing bones or joints, and even some cancers. Dogs can also be very good at hiding the exact location of the problem. In order to determine the precise cause of Amica's limping it would be best to take her in for an examination by a veterinarian. A veterinarian will also be able to make Amica comfortable by providing pain relief medication. The vet may also perform an orthopaedic exam and an X-ray. If Amica seems very uncomfortable or depressed, you suspect a broken bone, the limb is dangling at an unnatural angle, a limb is being dragged, severe swelling is occurring, the limb is hot, bone is piercing the skin, or nonstop bleeding is occurring, Amica needs to see a veterinarian immediately. If none of the above are occurring, and due to the high frequency of trauma cases which heal on their own, in limping dogs, as well as Amica's young age, you can try conservative management at home for 24 hours to see if Amica improves. Try the following at home; Keep Amica as comfortable as possible Strict rest with as little movement as can be managed When moving handle with care Do not give Amica any medications without a veterinarian’s approval Apply a cold compress for first 24 hours Switch to a warm compress after 24 hours If pain or limping continues after 24 hours then take Amica to see a veterinarian. I hope this was a helpful answer and more importantly that Amica feels better soon. Warmest regards and best of luck to you both.

Hello and thank you for your questions. I hate to hear that Bandit is injured. Since Bandit can't talk, only a physical exam will be able to determine the source of the lameness. Just like people, the pain/limping can be related to many causes including a ligament tears, soft tissue injury, a developmental abnormality or even a spinal issue. A pulled muscle will result in limping but this sounds different based upon your description. If the leg is not appearing to move like it should, I am more suspicious of nerve damage, a broken ligament or (less likely) a broken bone. Since you are noticing that something doesn't seem right when he walks, I recommend to have him examined since this appears more involved than just a normal limp. Some of these causes need to be addressed quickly for best long term results. At home, you can apply a cool (not cold) compress to the area you suspect is the problem every hour for 10 minutes. A gentle massage twice a day can also help. Until Bandit is examined, I recommend STRICT rest until he is given the clear by the veterinarian. That means no walks, running, jumping or stairs. He should also be crated anytime you are not watching him. Not resting your pet can allow this to get worse. Any limping pet who is not improving within 3 days of strict rest, needs to be examined by the veterinarian. Bandit may need radiographs and the doctor will determine this based on the exam. I hope your pup starts feeling better quickly.

Poor guy. If he can bear weight on the limb at all, then it is ok to give him 24-72 hrs with strict activity restrictions (leash walk only, no jumping, running, etc), rest, and cold compresses on the seemingly painful area (the hip), and then taking him in to the vet if not improved. However if he is not bearinng any weight on the leg, it is best to take him in asap because a more serious injury has occurred that needs to be determined via x-ray and treated right away.

Well as long as she isn't painful then a vet visit can be scheduled when you get back if she is still having problems. It may not be enough time to get her seen before you go on vacation. And she may just have a muscle sprain, in which case it will improve and resolve on its own within a few days to a few weeks. There are no safe over the counter pain mess to give pets so I would not recommend that. However you can do a warm compress on the painful areas twice daily for 5-10 minutes and do light massage of her leg daily. Have whoever is watching her to monitor her closely and have her on strict limited activity and leash walk her only when she goes outside. I hope Lily has a full and speedy recovery. Best wishes and take care.

Poor Ozzie! There are many reasons Ozzie could be limping and it could be anything from a sprained toe to arthritis to a hair line fracture. If Ozzie is not wanting to use the leg at all, I recommend to have him examined tomorrow. When pets will not use the leg at all, that is much more concerning for a more severe injury or for more severe pain. If Ozzie will use the leg, he should definitely see the vet if he is still limping on Monday. I recommend STRICT rest until he is given the clear by the veterinarian. That means no walks, running, jumping or stairs. He should also be crated anytime you are not watching him. Not resting your pet can allow this to get worse. I hope this helps. You can apply a cool (not cold) compress the the area you suspect is painful every 2 hours for 10 minutes. A gentle massage a few times a day can also help. I hope this helps and that Ozzie starts feeling better quickly. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.