My puppy was bitten by a tick and is now limping. What should I do?

Tick bite can be a little painful, particularly for a puppy, but I am not used to hearing the actual bite itself causing lameness. However, there are some diseases that the ticks cause which can cause lameness to occur. Depending on when the tick bite occurred, this may or may not be possible. Many tick borne disease require days to weeks, to even months to result in an active disease. If the bite just occurred and the area where the tick was removed is very sensitive, you may want to visit a vet to see if you can obtain some pain medication for Nala. She might be suffering from some pain and inflammation, or even a mild skin infection / inflammation at the site of the bite. The length of time that it takes for a dog to start using a leg again is entirely dependent on the cause of the lameness. If it is from the bite itself, I wouldn't think more than a couple days at most. If it is from a disease process or a traumatic injury, the amount of time can vary tremendously.

You could soak the paw in a warm Epsom salt solution and see if that help it to heal. She may need an antibiotic to prevent an infection so she may need to be examined by a vet, especially if the cut does not heal or you notice any swelling or discharge. If she has ticks than she should be treated with a flea and tick prevention, like NexGard, Frontline, Revolution, etc.

I'm sorry to hear that Kirou has not been feeling well. The swelling on her muzzle is certainly quite prominent. Lameness that shifts between different legs and joints is most commonly caused by tick-borne diseases (such as lyme disease), but could also be due to immune-mediated or other infectious diseases. At this point, Kirou should go back to her vet for a recheck and some diagnostic testing. Blood tests are available to determine if tick borne diseases are present. If extra fluid is palpable in any of her joints, the vet may need to draw out a sample for analysis. Biopsies may also be needed of the lesions on her muzzle. Kirou's clinical signs are a bit unusual and will require some testing to get to the bottom of the issue. I hope that she's on the mend soon!

A puncture wound to the foot would be expected to be uncomfortable for a while but I recommend you monitor closely for any heat, swelling or discomfort in the leg which may indicate infection or some foreign material still remaining. Bathing in warm salted water may help reduce the risk of infection

I am very sorry to hear that Gab is having trouble with her leg and limping, I am sure it is worrying for you both. Unfortunately, there are many reasons why a dog may limp, ranging from injury, infection, osteoarthritis, disorders of the growing bones or joints, and even some cancers. She may be licking at the paw because it hurts, or there is something inside of it such as a migrating grass seed. Signs of infection in a paw would include redness, swelling, and discharge. Gab would also likely have a fever. Here is an article to help you check if she has a fever; https://www.petcoach.co/article/6-common-signs-your-pet-has-a-fever In order to determine the precise cause of Gab's limb pain it would be best to take her in for an examination by a veterinarian. A veterinarian will also be able to make Gab comfortable by providing pain relief medication. The vet may also perform an orthopaedic exam and an X-ray. If Gab seems very uncomfortable or depressed, you suspect a broken bone, the limb is dangling at an unnatural angle, a limb is being dragged, severe swelling is occurring, the limb is hot, bone is piercing the skin, or nonstop bleeding is occurring, Gab needs to see a veterinarian immediately. If none of the above are occurring, and due to the high frequency of injury or trauma cases in limping dogs, you can try conservative management at home for 24 hours to see if Gab improves. Keep Gab as comfortable as possible, and strict rest with as little movement as can be managed When moving handle with care Do not give Gab any medications without a veterinarian’s approval Apply a cold compress for first 24 hours Switch to a warm compress after 24 hours If pain or limping continues after 24 hours then take Gab to see a veterinarian. I hope this was a helpful answer and more importantly that Gab feels better soon. Warmest regards and best of luck to you both.

Hello, and thank you for your question. It looks like she may have a bacterial infection between her foot pads. I'd suggest taking her to the vet within the next 24 hours. They can prescribe antibiotics if it is an infection, and also look for an underlying cause, such as a foreign body that is sticking into her skin, or a soft tissue injury that is causing her to lick her foot due to pain. In the meantime, continuing with the epsom salts may hep to relieve inflammation, and tramadol can also help with pain. If she has been licking, an e-collar should be worn to prevent further damage. I hope this helps, and that Sophie is feeling better soon!

Pipi could have a soft tissue injury, a dislocated bone or even a broken bone. I recommend having your veterinarian do an exam and maybe an X-ray to diagnose her. She may need rest, dog anti inflammatory medication or even a splint. I would not splint it yourself as that could accidentally affect her growth plates and cause long term issues. Do not give any human medication as it can be toxic to dogs.