Why is my dog panting and holding her back leg straight after jumping?

Ouch, poor Zoey! She sounds quite painful if she won't put weight on the leg. She could have broken a bone, or torn a ligament in her knee. I would rest her tonight, and have her seen by a vet first thing in the morning. The vet can diagnose what is causing her swelling and pain, and can treat her for it. Please do not give her any human pain medications, as many are toxic to dogs and can be fatal if given. The vet can prescribe safe medications for her.

It sounds like Sophie injured her leg or back when she jumped into the car. If the problem is in her leg she may have luxated her patella (kneecap) or tore her ACL. If it is her back causing the problem she likely has a bulging disc that is putting pressure on the spinal cord and causing pain. Panting and drooling are both signs of pain or discomfort. And she is probably walking abnormally because it is easier and/or less painful for her. She may also be reluctant to eat if she is in pain. Keep her calm and comfortable tonight. If she is still acting painful in the morning I would recommend taking her to the vet. They may want to perform X-rays and they can give her some pain medication to help keep her more comfortable. I hope this helps. Best of luck.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Zoey. I suspect she is sore from her long session of fetch on Tuesday. She may have some underlying arthritis that has been aggravated. I recommend that she sees a veterinarian to determine if this is the case. If so, pain medication can be prescribed to keep her more comfortable. In the meantime, do not give any over-the-counter pain medications as these can be toxic to dogs. I hope this information helps!

It sounds like your dog has a problem with her back as that is a common sign of back pain. Dogs are usually reluctant to jump because it causes pain. Your vet can check her for back pain and then prescribe medications to help. She may need an anti-inflammatory, muscle relaxer, and/or pain medications to help. Also, it would be a good idea to restrict her activity for a few weeks, no running, jumping, etc. Hope she feels better soon!

Yes, it could be Ziggy has pulled a muscle or injured herself. 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 to have trouble with that leg after that time, then I would take her into the vet for an exam. The vet can diagnose what is causing this, 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.

Panting, shivering the tail tucked between her legs, shaking and heavy breathing are all signs of pain. I recommend you take Nugget to an emergency room now as there may another back sprain or even a prolapsed disk. She will need pain medicine and muscle relaxants depending on the diagnosis, as well as possibly an x-ray.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Zellie. I recommend that she sees her veterinarian to investigate this sudden change in behavior. She sounds very sore. She could be experiencing pain in her back or hindlimbs that is limiting her mobility. Her veterinarian will carefully examine her and try to detect any sore areas. If found, x-rays may be recommended. In the meantime, do not give any over-the-counter pain medications as these can be toxic to dogs. I hope this information helps!