Why does my chihuahua limp sometimes but run fine on all four legs?

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Chico. If he is limping, this means that his leg is painful to him. Being a young dog, muscular injury from rough play is likely. He also could have a congenital problem where his kneecaps are loose and slip in and out of place. This can cause lameness as well. If he is eating and drinking and acting normal otherwise, you can give him strict rest for 24 hours. This means no running, jumping, stairs or playing. Carry him as much as possible. If the lameness does not resolve, then he will need to see his veterinarian. Do not give any over-the-counter pain medications as these can be toxic to dogs. I hope this information helps!

Poor Mischa! It could be that she strained or tore a ligament, or she could be suffering from a condition known as a luxating patella. This is when the kneecap moves out of it's correct anatomical position, and it is common in toy and small breed dogs. I recommend resting Mischa for the next 48 hours. No running, jumping, or playing. Take her out to toilet on a lead only, 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.

It could be that Chispa is suffering from a luxating patella, which is when the kneecap comes out of it's correct anatomical position. When this happens, you notice the dog skipping and not using the leg. Because it happens sometimes, that means the kneecap is going back into place. This can be felt with palpation of the knee, so you can take her into another vet for a second opinion. Depending in the severity of the luxation, surgery may be needed to keep her kneecap in place if she does have a luxating patella. Best of luck, I hope this helps!

Some dogs are stoic and do not show obvious signs of pain even when they do hurt. If he is not putting weight on his foot it is probably because his leg hurts. There are a few exceptions: one being a luxating patella where the kneecap becomes displaced and rotates the leg so that it impossible to fully extend it. This is something your veterinarian probably would have found during an examination of the leg. I don't think the flea medication or spider would be related. If he is continuing to limp occasionally I'd recommend rechecking with your veterinarian: sometimes a tendon or ligament injury is more obvious on a sedated exam, and x-rays might be helpful as well.

Typically, grade 1 luxations do not require surgery unless they become a frequent problem, progress or cause pain. Time will tell how your pup does. Yes, dogs can have shellfish allergies but it could also be something else in the supplement just causing her stomach to be upset. The best course of action is to avoid execessive hard exercise (daily jogging and heavy running every day) and to start her on a joint supplement. Try Dasuquin. If she does not tolerate that, try an injectable product like Adequan. An omega 3 fatty acid supplement will also be beneficial. I hope this helps.

Hi there. From what you describe, it certainly sounds like she may have a luxating patella. This is a common problem in toy breed dogs. I would recommend taking her to the vet for an exam to determine if this is the problem. If so, it may be able to be managed with anti-inflammatory medication if it's only causing minor, occasional problems, or surgery may be recommended if the problem is more severe.

It may be. She may have a soft tissue injury or some slight swelling at the knee which is causing the patella to luxate even though it has not been a problem in the past. Your veterinarian can most likely determine if that is the case by a physical exam. If her patella is loose and moving around, it is usually pretty easy to detect.