My dog's leg is swollen and limping after dog park. Is a vet needed?

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Charlie. Limping means he is in pain. That paw pad does look a bit swollen. 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. I hope this helps!

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! From the pictures I don’t see anything abnormal. But if it has been 3 days and he is still limping then he is painful somewhere. In a younger dog it could be from growing but they could still have small fractures without swelling. I recommend taking Goliath to a vet where they can do a full physical exam and check for pain in the bones or joints. There could be an issue higher up in the limb or even in the neck causing the limp. The vet may need xrays to look at the bones and joints. If anything, they can prescribe Goliath some medications to alleviate his pain and get him comfortable again. I wouldn’t give anything over the counter as there isn’t anything safe for dogs. And until you can get him to the vet I wouldn’t encourage any running or jumping. Good luck and kisses to Goliath!

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sorry to see that Riley is having some problems. These look like fairly significant areas of bruising and you didn't mention any witnessed trauma that may have occurred. I would immediately get him to your local veterinarian. Your vet can gather a detailed history and perform a thorough examination. Once those are done, they can discuss a diagnostic/preliminary treatment plan with you. My biggest concern right now if trauma did not occur would be blood clotting. Is there something going on with Riley's ability to clot?? Your vet will most likely want to perform some blood tests, clotting tests, tick disease tests, and possibly some imaging studies such as x-rays/ultrasound to figure out what is going on. Once a diagnosis is made/suspected, a treatment plan can be put into action. I wish you the best of luck with Riley and I hope he recovers soon.

Oh no! I am sorry Duke is hurt! Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. What you are describing could be due to a soft tissue or a bone problem in the paw. You should take him to a veterinarian for an examination. They may likely recommend doing x-rays of the area. If there is a serious injury, they may recommend placing a splint or cast on it. Less serious injuries may heal with just rest. They may also prescribe medications for pain and discomfort.

Hello and thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. If Henry is weight-bearing on that leg, his energy level is high and he has good appetite you can try and rest him for a few days. Walk him on leash only and do not let him jump or run the stairs. If the swelling and pain is only due to muscle inflammation or mild sprain, everything should be back to normal in a few days time. However, if Henry looks in pain, doesn't want to eat or play, you should get him checked by your local vets sooner.

Poor Lina! If they aren't able to take her to see a vet, then I'm afraid the options are very limited. They can restrict her exercise (short leash walks to potty only, no running or jumping, crate rest the rest of the time) for the next 10 days to see if the swelling and lameness resolve. If there is no improvement with this plan, or if Lina seems excessively painful, then there is really no other option but to see the vet for an exam and x-rays.

Thanks for visiting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Oh no. Poor guy. This type of injury where you have vocalization, limping, and swelling definitely needs to be looked at by your veterinarian. A thorough physical exam of the area and potentially radiographs of the bones are needed here to provide the care that Stormy needs after an injury to this degree. I would highly recommend taking him in to be seen as soon as you can. You are not going to be able to care for an injury like this at home. For tonight, its best to just keep Stormy quiet in an isolated room without any other pets to disturb him and apply a cold compress to the swollen area, if tolerated, for about 3-5 mins. Using a bag of peas will suffice. I do hope that you are able to get Stormy some medical attention soon. Best of luck and take care.