My dog is limping but not crying. When should I take him to the vet?

Limping can mean a lot of different things, including a muscle sprain or a ligament injury. It also depends on which leg is affected and exactly where the injury is on the limb. It is best to get your pet evaluated by a vet who can do a lameness exam to localize where the problem is on the leg. They will be able to recommend the appropriate treatment, whether it is just anti-inflammatory medication or potential surgery if the injury is involving the ligament. Many dogs will appear to act completely normal with a knee ligament injury.

Try and keep her exercise restricted today (no running/jumping). Also, check her toe nails on that paw to make sure she didn’t break or tear a nail. If she is still painful tomorrow or you notice a broken toe nail, take her to see a veterinarian for an exam and some pain meds/anti inflammatory drugs. If her toe nail is broken, she may need antibiotics as well. If you think she would benefit from pain meds today, go ahead and take her to see a veterinarian. No need to ice it.

Poor Lily! There are many different possibilities in this case. It may be that she has simply bruised herself or damaged a muscle or ligament. However she may have a more serious injury such as a fracture or ligament rupture. If she seems to be comfortable and nothing looks out of place you could let her rest 24 hours then if she is no better or getting worse head to the vet.

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.

Aww poor guy. He may have a muscle sprain. You can apply a cold compress onto the areas that appear sore for 5-10 minute intervals twice a day for next few days. Also limit his activity, don't encourage active play, and leash walk him only outside. If this is just a muscle sprain then he should improve over the next 48-72 hrs. However keep in mind that he should be able to at least move the limb somewhat, there shouldn't be a significant amount of noticeable swelling, and it shouldn't appear to be dangling (possible fracture). These are all signs that you shouldn't wait and should take him in right away. I do not recommend giving him any over the counter human pain medication, because these are not safe for pets due to high risk of acute liver and kidney damage. If he is still limping after that time frame, or getting any worse, then it is best to have your vet take a look at him to make sure he doesn't have more serious internal injuries (ligament injury, hairline bone fracture, dislocation).

You can give her about a week. Make sure she rests, and only leash walking to eliminate. If she still limps in a week, or of the limping gets worse, she will need to see a vet for an exam, x-ray and pain medicine and other treatments depending on the diagnosis.

Limping is a sign of pain in dogs, so Aires is feeling pain from jumping off. She could have strained a ligament jumping off the bed, possibly torn her cruciate ligament, done meniscal damage to her knee, or may have fractured a bone. I would try resting her for 48 hours to see if that helps. No running, jumping, or playing. Take her out to toilet on a lead only, and bring her right back in when she is done. Keep her as quiet as possible. If she is still limping at 48 hours, or if in that time she stops putting weight on it at all, I would take her into the vet right away for an exam. Do not give her any human pain medications, many are toxic to dogs and can be fatal if given. The vet can prescribe safe pain medications for her, and can decide the best course of treatment based on the diagnosis of her limping. For example, cruciate ligament rupture and meniscal damage requires surgery to fix.