My dog has sudden muscle swelling and pain. Can I wait to see the vet?

I'm not sure how old Daisy is, but she could be suffering from arthritis, may have degenerative joint disease, or could have injured herself. It is concerning that she is having trouble walking, and that indicates she could be in a lot of pain. Given those symptoms, I feel it's best to have her seen by a vet today. The vet can diagnose what is causing her trouble walking, and can treat it while also giving her some pain medications. Please do not give Daisy any human pain medications, as many are toxic to dogs and can be fatal if given.

Poor Maggie. I'm wondering if she injured herself running outside. You can wait until Monday to have her seen. Until then, rest her. No running, jumping, or playing. Take her out to toilet on a leash, and bring hr right back in when she's done. Take her into the vet first thing Monday. 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. I hope this helps!

I'm sorry to hear that Diamond isn't doing well. There are many potential reasons for lameness and lethargy. The first thing that comes to mind would be a tick-related illness such as Lyme disease. Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses can cause significant joint inflammation, fever and general malaise. I would ensure that Diamond has easy access to food and water and that you offer him some yummy options such as low-sodium chicken broth to drink and boiled chicken to eat. You can also try applying a cool compress to his swollen paw. If these ministrations are not successful and Diamond continues to be lethargic and inappetant, I would strongly recommend that you have him seen by a veterinarian. Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses are relatively easy to diagnose and are treatable. Other potential causes for his symptoms would be an injury, infection or cancer. Your veterinarian will be able to determine what is going on.

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!

The swelling appears to be near the joint, but it's difficult to tell from these pictures. Swollen joints on two sides can indicate an infection, so it is best to have her seen by a vet as soon as possible. It's not an emergency unless she is also not eating, drinking, or acting normal. Otherwise, it would be best to see if she could be seen sooner by your regular daytime vet. Without knowing exactly what it is causing this, it's best to leave it alone until the vet can have a look. Sometimes, you can make things worse by applying medication or bandaging. I hope that helps and Pizza gets better soon.

Poor girl. This sounds very serious indeed. Black discoloration is a sign of possible necrosis (dying off of healthy tissue) and the swelling is likely cutting off circulation of proper blood flow to the leg. I would recommend taking her in to your vet immediately. Here is a website link with financial resources that may be able to assist you. http://m.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/trouble_affording_veterinary_care.html If you can’t get her in right away, then try soaking the leg in a warm water bath of Epsom salt (can reduce some swelling and discomfort) and flushing any outward wounds with Betadine diluted 50:50 with warm water for a good antiseptic cleanse. Do not give over the counter human pain meds as these can cause acute kidney or liver failure in dogs. It’s best to only treat her with pain meds and additional treatment through your vet. I hope that your pet is able to make a full and speedy recovery. Best wishes and take care.

I can see the swelling from the pictures you posted. It appears the swelling goes form the foot all the way to the knee. I see that you live in an area where snake bite is possible. I would check thoroughly for any punctures along the entire leg and see if Diamond is painful in any particular area. If not, other causes of swelling like this could include infection, allergic reaction, trauma, cancer, among others. Sometimes swelling in an entire limb can be caused by decreased lymphatic flow - this can be caused by damage to lymph nodes or a structure under the skin or inside the body that is impinging on the lymph flow. I have also seen swelling like this with a flare-up of a mast cell tumor elsewhere on the body. I agree with your vet; if the medications prescribed to not make a difference, additional diagnostics are warranted. They may include bloodwork, abdominal x-rays, tick testing, or sampling of any small masses found.