My older dog limps after exercise. How to prevent joint pain?

I am very sorry to hear that Mickey is 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. Since you noticed it occurred right after playing fetch I believe it is most likely that he sprained something while playing. I would suggest smaller intervals of fetch more often. Rather then long sessions, in the future. In order to determine the precise cause of Mickey's limping it would be best to take him in for an examination by a veterinarian. A veterinarian will also be able to make Mickey comfortable by providing pain relief medication. The vet may also perform an orthopaedic exam and an X-ray. If Mickey 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, Mickey needs to see a veterinarian immediately. If none of the above are occurring, and due to the high frequency of trauma/ sprain/ injury cases in limping dogs, you can try conservative management at home for 24 hours to see if Mickey improves. Keep Mickey as comfortable as possible, and strict rest with as little movement as can be managed When moving handle with care Do not give Buddy 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 Mickey to see a veterinarian. I hope this was a helpful answer and more importantly that Mickey feels better soon. Warmest regards and best of luck to you both.

Handsome boy! Those are good products for joint health and inflammation. I recommend a veterinary exam to diagnosis the lameness. It is common for large breeds to have a cruciate ligament injury in the knee. He also may have hip dysplasia. Knowing the reason for the lameness will help you decide the treatment that is best to have him recover from the lameness. Please don't run him again until the lameness resolves or it could become worse. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Lugosi.

It's possible that it could be a conditioning or strengthening issue, depending what kind of exercise your dog is doing and what the [limp](https://www.petcoach.co/article/why-is-my-dog-limping) looks like - sport dogs, such as competitive agility or frisbee dogs, often have issues like this that can be improved with specific types of exercises - if you think this could be the problem with your dog, I would recommend making an appointment with a vet who specializes in sports medicine to evaluate your dog and develop a specific exercise regimen for her to help improve the issue. Other [possible causes](https://www.petcoach.co/article/5-common-orthopedic-conditions-in-dogs) of chronic limping after exercise would include [arthritis](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/arthritis-1/), or a chronic soft tissue injury such as a muscle tear or ligament injury that is aggravated by exercise. A good sports medicine vet or orthopedic surgeon could tell you more after examining your dog and watching her move.

Arthritis is definitely a possibility. You could start him on a joint supplement, like Dasuquin and see if that helps. Your vet could also take an x-ray to evaluate for arthritis and then start him on a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory, like Deramaxx, Previcox, Rimadyl, etc. NSAIDs help relieve the discomfort associated with arthritis.

Poor Rocco! There are many treatment options for managing hip dysplasia in dogs. I'm not sure what kind of medication he's currently taking, but many dogs with this problem benefit from a combination of a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) like Rimadyl or Previcox along with a pain medication like tramadol and/or gabapentin. Glucosamine/chondroitin and omega-3 fatty acid supplements have also been shown to be helpful in many cases, and can safely be given with all of the above medications. Finally, adjunct treatment options like laser therapy and acupuncture can also be very helpful for some dogs with hip dysplasia. I would recommend talking with your vet about these options to see what they would suggest as the next step for Rocco.

It could be that Buddy is suffering from arthritis, and that's causing him to limp in pain. Arthritis is common in older dogs. I would take Buddy into the vet for an exam. The vet can diagnose if he is suffering from arthritis, and can give him some pain meds for it. Rimadyl (an NSAID) is a good drug to give to help with the symptoms of arthritis. I also recommend giving him glucosamine or chondroitin sulfate supplements. They provide the necessary nutrients for cartilage repair and function. Use of them helps relieve some of the symptoms of arthritis, and you can use it in conjuction with Rimadyl to help maximize relief from his symptoms.

Joint supplements as well as additional fish oils can help. I would definitely recommend a repeat orthopedic exam and x-rays since it's been so long. It's very possible you'll see something this time that wasn't visible before. Make sure he's been checked for lyme disease as well. There are also people who do physical rehabilitation for dogs who might be able to help him use the leg better even if no cause can be found. Finally, if your local vet isn't finding, you could schedule a consultation with a orthopedic specialist. Sometimes they can see something us general vets don't. Wishing you and Milo the best of luck. He's such a handsome guy.