My Shih Tzu briefly shook and limped. Should I worry or wait?

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 sounds like Simba was painful if he was favoring one leg. 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.

Sasha is so cute, but I'm sorry she's doing poorly! If she is limping, she is breathing heavily, trembling, and panting a lot, this can be a sign she is in pain. This would explain why she couldn't even go up the the stairs. If she's finally laying down and isn't showing any of this signs you described in your post, I would keep an eye on her for now and make an appointment for her with the vet in the morning. Now if these symptoms you are describing are continuing, then I think having her seen by a vet now would be best. In this case, please take her into an ER vet clinic; if there isn't one in your area, there will be a vet on call for emergencies. The information to reach that vet is found on a clinic's answering machine or website. Best of luck, I hope this helps!

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!

Hello, sorry to hear about Lucky. He could be limping for multiple reasons and may be difficult to determine this without a physical examination. Lucky may have something stuck in between his toes or could have sprained a joint. Without any history of trauma (falling, being stepped on, being hit) its unlikely he could have a significant injury such a broken bone, but he could still have a soft tissue injury. If Lucky's lameness does not improve in the next 2-3 days, then you should have him evaluated by his veterinarian immediately. Hope this helps and best of luck.

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.

Poor Pepper! The slight shaking can be a sign of pain, and if the leg looks swollen and she's lethargic, I would be concerned that she is in pain. The swollen leg can indicate an injury or an infection. I know it's Sunday in New Zealand, but there are vet clinics who are open for regular hours today here. I would take her into a vet today to have her leg examined and treated. Please do not give her any human pain medications, as many are toxic to dogs and can be fatal if given. If you absolutely cannot find an open vet clinic today, rest her. No running, jumping, or playing. Take her out to toilet on a lead only, and bring her right back in when she's done. Then take her into the vet first thing Monday. Find an ER vet if her leg becomes very swollen, she becomes very lethargic, and/or she stops eating. Good luck, I hope this helps!