My small dog is limping, unbalanced, and not peeing. What's wrong?

Hi there. Limping could be caused by a number of different things, so it's hard to say what might be wrong without being able to examine your dog and run some tests. He may have an orthopedic problem like hip dysplasia or a torn cruciate ligament in his knee, a soft tissue injury like a sprain or pulled muscle, or some type of neurologic problem. I would recommend taking him to the vet to have this checked. He/she can do a complete orthopedic exam and may also take x-rays if needed to help diagnose the problem.

Poor Ghost! You didn't mention which limbs are affected, so it's a good idea to bring him to your vet if he's having trouble walking at all, or is showing an increase in other symptoms such as the urination issues or other signs like vomiting, diarrhea, inability to pass stool or urine, etc. Until you can get to the vet, keeping him on kennel/bed rest with leashed walks only (or helping him get about with a towel sling under his belly if it's both front or both back limbs) can help reduce further pain or irritation until your vet can figure out what's going on.

It could be Betsie is painful, and may have been laying on his leg causing the pain. 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. Best of luck.

If he is so painful that he is unwilling or unable to walk he really must be seen by a vet for urgent pain relief and full diagnosis of the injury. Please arrange a vet visit for assessment as soon as possible to ease his discomfort and prevent any further complications

The walk may have been too much for Benji. 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.

Limping is a sign of pain and if there legs are uneven then one may be swollen if there was trauma or an injury or one may be small from atrophy from not getting used as much. At that age it may be a soft tissue injury from playing and jumping or it may be a genetic or growth problem such as panostitis or hip dysplasia. The best thing to do for today is rest him and do not let him run and play to make it worse. He does need a check by your vet to evaluate for these problems to see what medicines you can get to help him

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. So if he is limping, he is in pain. Shaking is another sign of pain. The question is how much pain and why? Is it a minor, short-lived pain like when you stub your toe? A sprain? Or did he break a bone? The only way to know is to see an emergency vet and take some x-rays. That being said, in most of these cases, they shake it off and are walking normally within a few hours. If he seems OK to you, it is completely reasonable to let him sleep tonight and if he is not himself by morning, then see the vet first thing. If he is worrying you or any other signs arise, you always have the option of heading to the emergency vet tonight. Under no circumstances do I recommend any human pain medication - most are unsafe in dogs. However, if you want to do something for pain, ice can be a tremendous help. Applying an ice pack (wrapped in a thin kitchen towel or paper towel) to the leg for 5 minutes every 4-8 hours is great for inflammation and pain. Best wishes to you and Uno!