My dog won't put her back foot down, but she doesn't seem hurt.

Hello. Mopsy is definitely in pain, otherwise she would be using the paw. She may have somehow sprained her foot/leg. or she may have torn a nail close to the quick. It may be best to have Mopsy examined by your vet so that the origin of her pain & discomfort can be found. Usually these things are pretty simple, but do require some investigating to find the source of the pain. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Ivy. If she walks with her paw up (ie not using it), this indicates that she is still painful. It worries me that she is still displaying this behavior (even if it is improved) several weeks after the incident. I recommend that she shees her veterinarian. She may need some anti-inflammatory pain medication to eliminate residual inflammation from a muscle strain. She also may need x-rays to ensure that there is not a bone or joint problem. In the meantime, keep her as quiet as possible to allow her body to rest. Do not give any over-the-counter pain medications as these can be toxic to dogs. I hope this information helps!

It sounds like Diamond has a very sore back leg if she hasn't beared significant weight on it in 3 days. It is unlikely that it is related to her heat cycle. Start by checking her paw on the affected limb to make sure there isn't something stuck in between or under her toes (thorn, plant and, etc). If there isn't something that can be easily removed, then she should see her veterinarian. In the meantime, give her strict rest (no running, jumping or playing and limit stairs). She will likely need an x- ray of the painful area on that leg. In the hind limb, knee or hip pain are most common, but some dogs will experience lower back pain. Good luck and I hope Diamond is feeling better soon!

It sounds like Hannah may have injured her paw. This could be due to a foreign body like a grass seed or foxtail, she may have stepped on something sharp, or she could have a strained ligament. I would rest her for the next 48 hours. No running or jumping, take her out to toilet on a lead only and bring her right back in when she's done. Keep her as quiet as possible. If she is still in pain after 48 hours or the pain seems to get worse, then I would take her into a vet for an exam. Do not give her any human pain medications, many are toxic to dogs and can be fatal if given. The vet can prescribe her pain medications if needed.

Thanks for using PetCoach! I'm sorry to hear about Xena. So if the position you describe (with the hurt leg extended) is when she is SITTING, I am most suspicious of a torn ACL. This is especially suspicious if she will walk on 3 legs but not the injured leg. Staffies between the ages of 1 and 5 are textbook for that particular injury. If it is when she is standing, that would be an odd way to carry herself and not typical of the usual injuries. (And I would see your vet). Finally, with this information, I cannot rule out a back injury or disk problem - more likely if she truly cannot stand, even if you help her up and put her back legs under her. You don't list Xena's age but as I mentioned before, if she is young, some sort of soft tissue injury is more likely. If she is older, an arthritis flare up or other problem may be more likely. Long story short, I recommend getting her in as soon as possible for evaluation and some safe pain medication. We as veterinarians have so many wonderful pain medications that are safe for long term or occasional use. As such, I would strongly recommend heading to your vet and NOT giving over the counter pain medication (it is not as effective and can interfere with what we would ideally prescribe). If you are unable/unwilling to go to the vet, probably the “least bad” choice would be aspirin. Be sure to use a product labeled for dogs and use the dosing on the bottle. See the link below for more information about the safe use of aspirin. https://www.petcoach.co/canigive/dog/aspirin/ Hope this helps and best of luck to you and Xena!

I recommend to have Coco examined. When a pet is holding up the hind leg and won’t put weight on it, there is a concern that they have torn their cranial cruciate ligament or that the kneecap is out of place. The doctor will determine the cause based upon a physical exam and may recommend further diagnostics. I hope this helps and that Coco gets back to normal quickly. Please feel free to post any additional questions.

Poor Callie! It sounds like she was injured when your larger dog stepped on her, and she's in pain if she is holding her paw up all day. I would avoid touching it for now since she clearly doesn't like it. I recommend resting her 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. Good luck, I hope this helps!