My dog is limping and not putting weight on her leg, but shows no pain. What should I do?

I am very sorry to hear that Gab is having trouble with her leg and 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. She may be licking at the paw because it hurts, or there is something inside of it such as a migrating grass seed. Signs of infection in a paw would include redness, swelling, and discharge. Gab would also likely have a fever. Here is an article to help you check if she has a fever; https://www.petcoach.co/article/6-common-signs-your-pet-has-a-fever In order to determine the precise cause of Gab's limb pain it would be best to take her in for an examination by a veterinarian. A veterinarian will also be able to make Gab comfortable by providing pain relief medication. The vet may also perform an orthopaedic exam and an X-ray. If Gab 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, Gab needs to see a veterinarian immediately. If none of the above are occurring, and due to the high frequency of injury or trauma cases in limping dogs, you can try conservative management at home for 24 hours to see if Gab improves. Keep Gab as comfortable as possible, and strict rest with as little movement as can be managed When moving handle with care Do not give Gab 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 Gab to see a veterinarian. I hope this was a helpful answer and more importantly that Gab feels better soon. Warmest regards and best of luck to you both.

Since Sami 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. You may try strict rest for a few days (no walks, running, jumping or stairs). If Sami does not improve or if he gets worse, have him examined by the veterinarian. Pets who exhibit toe touching lameness on the hing legs are a concern for a tear of the cranial cruciate ligament which is serious. He may need radiographs and the doctor will determine this based on the exam. I hope he starts feeling better quickly.

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.

I am very sorry to hear that Kiki 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. In order to determine the precise cause of Kiki’s limping it would be best to take her in for an examination by a veterinarian. A veterinarian will also be able to make Kiki comfortable by providing pain relief medication. The vet may also perform an orthopaedic exam and an X-ray. If Kiki 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, Kiki needs to see a veterinarian immediately. Because Kiki is limping on both front legs I would advise taking her to see her vet as soon as you can. In the meantime you can try to the following at home; Keep Kiki as comfortable as possible, and strict rest with as little movement as can be managed- you may find using an orthopedic pad more comfortable for her to be moved on, and to help her travel to the vet; http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=22929 When moving handle with care Do no give Kiki 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 Kiki to see a veterinarian. I hope this was a helpful answer and more importantly that Kiki feels better soon. Warmest regards and best of luck to you both.

You are correct that limping can be an indication of pain, and Millie sound like she is in a lot of pain, so please make an appointment to have Millie seen by a veterinarian. Causes of the limping could be infection (such as an abscess) trauma, a muscular or nerve injury, a fractured bone, a tumour/mass, or a foreign body embedded in the leg. Some infectious diseases such as Lyme disease and joint diseases such as arthritis or joint infection can cause limping as well. Please make an appointment to have Millie seen by a vet as soon as possible to determine the cause of her signs and guide treatment. Pain medications meant for humans can be very dangerous (and even deadly) for dogs, so I do not recommend giving any to Millie without consulting with your vet.

Hello. At this point I would ensure that Spirit rests that leg as much as possible. You do not indicate if it is a front or hind leg, but the most common areas to be injured are the wrist & shoulder area of the front leg & the knee or hip area on the hind. I would start using a warming compress concentrating on the shoulder, knee or hip, depending on leg, applying the warmth for 10 minutes 2-3 times a day. I am sure she is uncomfortable, so make sure she is well padded while lying & assist her as best you can. See your vet as soon as possible if she is not improved. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Poor Lily. When a pet isn't showing a pain response but limping on their back leg, it could indicate that they have either torn a ligament in the joint or have a severe muscle sprain. Also if you don't notice any obvious swelling, then a fracture is likely not the cause. Rest her, no running, jumping playing and leash walk only for the next couple of weeks. You can also do cold compresses on the limb 1-2 times a day. if there is no improvement within 3-4 days, then it's best to get her seen by your veterinarian for a full exam and pet friendly pain medication. She may also need x-rays of the leg to determine the underlying injury (cause). Do not give her people pain meds however because these can be quite toxic to pets and cause major liver and/or kidney damage. It's better to get all pain and anti-inflammatory meds from your vet. Even though she isn't crying out, there is presumed inflammation at the very least, so she can benefit from medication at any time. I hope your puppy gets well soon. Best wishes.