Why is my dog's paw twitching, not playful, but shows no pain?

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Crash. If he comes inside licking the paw, I worry about an insect bite or sting or something stuck in his paw such as a piece of plant material like you mentioned. If he is just holding the leg up, the pain could be from higher up in the limb. He could have been excited at the veterinary appointment which allows the adrenaline to over ride the pain he is likely experiencing at home. Is it always the same leg? Some puppies will experience lameness that shifts legs as they grow. If no pain was found in his leg, he could be experiencing neck pain. This can radiate down the leg causes referred pain. If it continues, he should be re-evaluated and may need x-rays to determine the cause of his pain. I hope this information helps!

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. Without examining Brutus it is difficult to say but he may have developed soft tissue trauma from an injury or injured his bone / carpal joint. If the limping persists for the next 3 days, I would recommend having a veterinarian take a look at him and take x-rays of the leg to help rule out some causes of the lameness. For the next 3 days I would recommend exercise restriction and keeping him on a leash whenever he is outdoors and discouraging him from jumping up or down on any furniture to allow this injury to heal. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

If you’ve checked her paw and it’s normal she may be holding her foot up because she has injured her knee and doesn’t want weight on the leg. Knee injuries are common and when first injured dogs hold it up like you are describing. If it’s a knee injury it can heal with rest if the cruciate ligament isn’t fully torn, if it is torn then she may need surgery to repair it. I recommend leash walks only for potty breaks for a week. If she isn’t using the leg normally after that time then please bring her in for and exam and diagnosis. If she’s currently painful then certainly bring her in right away so they can find the problem and get her on pin medication. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Pup.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Rocco! Yes it could just be sore soft tissue. I’d rest him for 1-2 days and see if there is improvement. But if there is no improvement he should see your Vet. He is young and if there is a fracture we want to know that sooner than later. He could have a fractured toe, a fractured bone in his wrist or a fracture a long the growth plate. I wish Rocco a speedy recovery!

It could be that Lester has injured his paw, or he has a foreign body in it such as a foxtail or grass seed causing him to hold it up when sitting or resting. I recommend resting Lester for the next 48 hours. No running, jumping, or playing. Take him out to toilet on a lead only, and bring him right back in when he's done. If he still appears painful after this time (holding up his paw is a sign of pain), 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.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Ivy. If she walks with her paw up (ie not using it), this indicates that she is still painful. It worries me that she is still displaying this behavior (even if it is improved) several weeks after the incident. I recommend that she shees her veterinarian. She may need some anti-inflammatory pain medication to eliminate residual inflammation from a muscle strain. She also may need x-rays to ensure that there is not a bone or joint problem. In the meantime, keep her as quiet as possible to allow her body to rest. Do not give any over-the-counter pain medications as these can be toxic to dogs. I hope this information helps!

Poor Sam! I would be concerned in that he is clearly showing you he is in pain if he's limping and doesn't like his paw touching the ground. I recommend resting him for the next 48 hours. No running, jumping, or playing. Take him out to toilet on a lead only, 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, I hope this helps!