My large dog is limping but his paw looks fine. What's wrong?

Harley is so cute! It could be that he injured himself while outside, and he's clearly in pain at the moment. I recommend resting him for the next 48 hours. No running, jumping, or playing. Take him out to toilet on a lead only, 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. If over the next 48 hours you are very concerned about his level of pain (i.e. he's still refusing to put any weight on his leg), it's absolutely fine to take him into a vet sooner. Good luck, I hope this helps!

If he is not using the foot at all, then this would be most suspicious of a fractured bone. However, broken bones tend to be very painful and swollen. Another possibility is that he has a damaged nerve. This can make them limp and would not be painful to the touch. Either way, if he's not using the leg, then he should be evaluated and treated by a veterinarian. If he is using the leg, then it may be a torn muscle, tendon, or ligament. It's best to keep him rested for now. Don't let him jump or run. If he is not showing signs of improvement after three days, then he should go to the vet. I hope that helps and Koga gets better soon.

Since Sami can't talk, only a physical exam will be able to determine the source of the lameness. Just like people, the pain/limping can be related to many causes including a ligament tears, soft tissue injury, a developmental abnormality or even a spinal issue. You may try strict rest for a few days (no walks, running, jumping or stairs). If Sami does not improve or if he gets worse, have him examined by the veterinarian. Pets who exhibit toe touching lameness on the hing legs are a concern for a tear of the cranial cruciate ligament which is serious. He may need radiographs and the doctor will determine this based on the exam. I hope he starts feeling better quickly.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Bruno! Possible causes of Bruno's limp are: strain or a sprain from being stepped on, if he is older it could have aggravated arthritis, a toe or a bone could be broken, or it could be something unrelated like Lyme disease. Since Bruno can hardly walk on the leg that indicates pain. I recommend having Bruno seen by your Vet for an exam. If there is concern for the paw then they may want to take X-rays, otherwise they may just prescribe anti-inflammatories and rest. I hope this helps and I wish Bruno a speedy recovery!

Poor Dexter. I'm glad to hear he isn't painful when you manipulate and palpate his leg. He likely has a soft tissue injury like a sprain. These will usually heal on their own with rest. I would recommend to rest him for a couple of days and if he isn't improved by Monday or Tuesday then I would let your vet do an exam and potentially some X-rays to ensure there is nothing more serious going on. Also, they will be able to prescribe him some pain meds. I do not recommend to give him any human pain meds as these are usually toxic to dogs.

If you can't find the stone or a visible wound, I would keep Naija on kennel rest with leashed potty walks only for a few days to see if it helps resolve the limp. However if she is acting as if she is in pain, licking at the paw, won't bear weight on it at all, the limp doesn't resolve, or there is a wound visible, it is best to seek out veterinary care ASAP. It is possible the object caused a cut deeper than you can see, has worked its way under the skin of the toes, or caused another injury that requires care.

I would be worried that something is hurt enough to be causing a significant amount of pain in the leg. It may not be the paw that is affected, but could be something like the knee or hip that is hurting. It's worth taking him for an exam by a vet in the next day or two. They can locate where the pain is and can let you know how serious it is. For now, it's best to let champ rest and don't let him do any strenuous exercise (i.e. running/jumping). Below is a link to an article with more information about limping. https://www.petcoach.co/article/limping-causes-of-lameness-in-dogs/ I hope that helps and Champ gets better soon.