My dog is limping and tired after his first swim. Should I worry?

Oh no! Brut does sound quite uncomfortable and in pain! He could have developed a soft tissue injury while swimming and needs anti-inflammatories/pain medication. It could be related to neck, back, or even tail pain if you are not seeing him limp on one particular leg. Neck and back pain is incredibly painful and often requires aggressive pain treatment. I would recommend you take him in to your vet for an exam to try to pin point the source of pain. He likely needs medication to help alleviate his pain and inflammation and get him back to his normal self. I do not recommend over the counter human medication as most can be quite toxic to dogs. Good luck with Brut! I hope he feels better and is swimming again soon!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Louie. If he is still experiencing the symptoms you have described, then I recommend seeking emergency veterinary care this evening. He may have just been exhausted from the swim. In that case though, his symptoms would resolve rapidly with rest. Otherwise I worry there is something more serious going on with him. Poisonings are a common cause of a rapid onset of the sign you have described. Good luck!

You need to limit her movement as much as you can, keep her calm in the house, on her bed if possible, the less she moves the less she will feel the pain. if the tail is limp a fracture is one possibility, she might need an xray to rule it out.

Poor Dexter. I'm glad to hear he isn't painful when you manipulate and palpate his leg. He likely has a soft tissue injury like a sprain. These will usually heal on their own with rest. I would recommend to rest him for a couple of days and if he isn't improved by Monday or Tuesday then I would let your vet do an exam and potentially some X-rays to ensure there is nothing more serious going on. Also, they will be able to prescribe him some pain meds. I do not recommend to give him any human pain meds as these are usually toxic to dogs.

If he was behaving normally otherwise, then watching him at home would have been recommended, but since he is lethargic as well, he really should be seen. It could be anything from a strain or pull to orthopedics injury to infection. A physical exam, xrays and a screening for tick borne diseases would be recommended. Treatment will depend on the diagnosis. In the meantime, restrict activity to just leash walks for elimination and avoid excessive running, jumping or rough play until he sees the doctor.

Restrict activity for the next 24 hours. Monitor for lethargy, swelling, bruising or increasing lameness. If the lameness persists beyond 24 hours, have her physically examined by your veterinarian. X-rays may be indicated after the exam.

It's unlikely that the bath burned him if it was a temperature that a human was comfortable with. However, he could have pulled something in a leg or his neck. Since it's been going on for 2 days at this point, I'd recommend a general check up to try to determine what is going on.