Why is my border collie limping, paw swollen, not eating or drinking?

I'm sorry to hear that Diamond isn't doing well. There are many potential reasons for lameness and lethargy. The first thing that comes to mind would be a tick-related illness such as Lyme disease. Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses can cause significant joint inflammation, fever and general malaise. I would ensure that Diamond has easy access to food and water and that you offer him some yummy options such as low-sodium chicken broth to drink and boiled chicken to eat. You can also try applying a cool compress to his swollen paw. If these ministrations are not successful and Diamond continues to be lethargic and inappetant, I would strongly recommend that you have him seen by a veterinarian. Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses are relatively easy to diagnose and are treatable. Other potential causes for his symptoms would be an injury, infection or cancer. Your veterinarian will be able to determine what is going on.

Without being able to give your dog a hands-on exam it is not possible to determine the cause of the pain. Theoretically this could be from the old injury, however it is more likely a new problem, such as possibly a sprain, or ligament/tendon damage. Your dog will need to be seen by a vet for an exam. Check your dog's pads and toes for a foreign body, or injury. Rest your dog over the weekend, no jumping, no running, leash walking only to eliminate. If the pain does not subside by Monday, Arlo will need to be seen by your vet for an exam.

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Charlie. Limping means he is in pain. That paw pad does look a bit swollen. I recommend resting him for the next 48 hours. No running, jumping, or playing. Take him out to toilet on a leash, and bring him right back in when he's done. If he still appears painful after this time, then I would take him into the vet for an exam. The vet can diagnose where the pain is coming from, and can dictate a treatment plan for it. He may also benefit from some pain medications, which the vet can prescribe. Please do not give him any human pain medications, as many are toxic to dogs and can be fatal if given. I hope this helps!

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center to address your concern. Based on your description, I would recommend having a veterinarian examine her and also have x-rays taken of her legs / hips and see if there are any developmental abnormalities. Just the other day, I had a 6 month old dog with such severe hip dysplasia, one hip was dislocated and the other was on the verge due to the severe dysplastic nature of the hip joints. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Sophie. It could be she injured herself, and it may be sore and painful when she first starts walking. As she walks more, it doesn't hurt as much, making the limp go away. 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!

I suspect this could be related to pain and possibly an infection with the description of the swollen toe. I recommend to have him examined today. If there is an infection, this could get worse quickly. He may get antibiotics, as well as pain relievers. Wookiee should also be wearing an Elizabethan collar at all times to prevent him from licking the toe and making it worse. Best of luck.

I am sorry to hear about Cinnamon! If this has been going on for several days I think it is time to take her in for an exam at the vet. She is in pain and it seems to be affecting her day to day activity. We could have a variety of causes including a small fracture in a toe, or a foreign body (like a splinter or grass awn) buried deep in the skin causing inflammation and pain. The vet may recommend an x-ray or may shave some of the fur away to check for wounds that can be difficult to see on hairy skin.