My Labrador has swollen legs. What causes this and what should I do?

It is concerning that Breda's had continued swelling with that joint. Since it's been ongoing for a couple of months, even if it was broken, the original break would be healed by now, but I would be concerned about arthritis in the joint. She is an older dog (based on the age you put in her pet info), and arthritis is common in older dogs. Rest certainly would be indicated with swelling, but I would also recommend a vet visit to get this area x-rayed to look for signs of arthritis to confirm if that is what is causing the problem. Pain medication may also be indicated for her as well, which the vet can prescribe. Please do not give her any human pain medication, as many are toxic to dogs and can be fatal if given. I'd give her vet a call now to make her an appointment, and start resting her. I hope this helps.

Rapid swelling like this is due to some sort of fluid. This could be blood, serum or joint fluid at this location and is often associated with some sort of trauma/injury. If he is also limping, then I reccomend having him seen by a vet soon. If he is not limping, then the swelling should slowly go down in the next two to three weeks. To determine the exact cause of this, a vet would need to take a sample and analyze it - this is normally quickly done and not too expensive. I hope that helps and all is well with Zak.

Bruno should get checked out by a vet. The vet will probably want to do x-rays of the foot to see if the swelling is caused by a bony issue or if it is joint swelling. Blood work may also be helpful in determining the cause of the swelling (may be infectious or autoimmune.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Unfortunately I would ask for a blood test that checks the albumin level as if that is low it can cause edema in the legs. He also should have his urine tested and be tested for tick borne disease. He has a mild increase in a liver enzyme that is likely from the phenobarbital. I’m not worried about anything else. But they have not found out WHY he has a swollen leg. I’d request the above. I wish you the best

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.

A number of medical conditions can cause limping. Labrador Retrievers are prone to several joint problems that can cause pain and thus limping, including elbow dysplasia and patellar luxation. But there are a host of other problems that can cause limping, and in very simple terms it's just a response to pain, so the source of the pain must be determined first, using physical examination and x-rays, in order to determine what's causing the pain, and how to treat it. For more facts and characteristics about Labradors, visit PetCoach's breed page: www.petcoach.co/breed/labrador-retriever

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Loki. I recommend that she sees an emergency veterinarian today if possible. If not, then she must be seen first thing in the morning. While the swelling is not common, it may be due a complication of Lyme disease knowns as vasculitis. Blood vessels can become leaky due to inflammation and cause swelling of the limbs. Continue her medications as directed. Encourage her to eat and drink normally. I hope this information helps!