My dog limps inside but not outside. Does he need to see a vet now?

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.

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.

Since your pup 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 knee cap out of place or even a hairline fracture. Since she is not bearing any weight on the leg, I recommend to have her examined today. She may need radiographs and the doctor will determine this based on the exam. She needs STRICT rest until she is examined. I hope she starts feeling better quickly.

Did the limping start today? I wonder if Pawl injured a muscle when he got hurt. It sounds like if the limping is intermittent that it might be ok to wait a short while, but I always worry about fractures and if delaying the exam would cause delayed healing as well. However, many soft tissue injuries will heal in their own with a few weeks of strict rear and possibly anti inflammatory medications if he needs them. I would encourage you to have him evaluated by your veterinarian, but as long as the limping is improving then you may be able to wait until next week. As far as the scratch goes, keep it clean and keep her from Licking it. Best of luck and thank you for using Pet Coach.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I'm sorry to hear that Snots has been lame. Most mild causes of lameness resolve within 24-48 hours with some rest. Since it seems to have gone on longer than this, I would recommend that he sees his veterinarian. He will likely need some x-rays of the affected bone or joint and some prescription pain medication. In the meantime, keep him quiet (no running, jumping, playing). He should avoid stairs as much as possible and go out on a leash to go potty. Do not give him any over-the-counter medications. I hope this information helps!

It sounds like he needs to be examined by a vet to determine the cause. He could have an infection (Lyme disease, etc.), immune mediated polyarthritis, panosteitis , etc. Your vet can run lab-work and take an x-ray to help diagnose. You could try to find a mobile vet to come to your house or call your vet and see if he/she could prescribe a sedative to make the visit easier. You definitely want to make the experience positive to try and change his aggressive behavior. He will need medical care throughout his life and it makes it very difficult for both the dog and vet. Hope he feels better soon and the visit goes smoothly!

Dogs limp because it is painful to bear weight on the leg. Pekingese tend to have problems with their knee caps which can cause lameness off and on. I dont think he is doing it for attention, I think he hurts some days and not others. I would encourage you to have him evaluated by your veterinarian soon. Best of luck and thank you for using Pet Coach.