My puppy is crying and limping. Why does her right back leg hurt?

Poor Lily. When a pet isn't showing a pain response but limping on their back leg, it could indicate that they have either torn a ligament in the joint or have a severe muscle sprain. Also if you don't notice any obvious swelling, then a fracture is likely not the cause. Rest her, no running, jumping playing and leash walk only for the next couple of weeks. You can also do cold compresses on the limb 1-2 times a day. if there is no improvement within 3-4 days, then it's best to get her seen by your veterinarian for a full exam and pet friendly pain medication. She may also need x-rays of the leg to determine the underlying injury (cause). Do not give her people pain meds however because these can be quite toxic to pets and cause major liver and/or kidney damage. It's better to get all pain and anti-inflammatory meds from your vet. Even though she isn't crying out, there is presumed inflammation at the very least, so she can benefit from medication at any time. I hope your puppy gets well soon. Best wishes.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Poe. I recommend that she sees her veterinarian. She sounds painful based on your description. It is common for small breed dogs to experience back pain which can lead to lameness in the hind end. Joint pain can cause similar signs. Of course, an unknown traumatic event could have occurred as well. Her veterinarian will examine her and determine if pain medications or x-rays are needed. Keep her quiet in the meantime 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!

Poor Peanut! Pain like this can be caused by a fracture, bone or joint infection, or nerve damage. I recommend having Peanut seen by a vet as soon as possible - they may recommend x-rays to determine the cause of the pain. In the meantime, you should keep Peanut as calm as possible to prevent further trauma. I hope all is well with Peanut!

Poor puppy. At this stage Reese needs images taken of his entire leg to pinpoint the problem area and get a good game plan together on how to help improve his mobility. He may have a ligament tear in his knee or even a congenital defect of the bone that wouldn't otherwise be known about if not for radiograph imaging. It's best to schedule an appt with your vet soon to get some solid answers about Reese's leg. I hope things improve soon.

Poor Gemma! It sounds like she is uncomfortable on her front legs. She could be dealing with any number of issues-I would recommend a visit to your regular veterinarian for a checkup. They can do a thorough physical exam to look for any problems, and may recommend X-rays to check for things like fractures, panosteitis or HOD. Elbow dysplasia can also present in young larger breed dogs. Good luck-I hope Gemma feels better soon!

Poor Nymeria! She is adorable! Limping and crying when touched can definitely be an indication of a fracture (broken bone). I recommend having Nymeria seen by a vet right away, as this can be extremely painful. They can localize the trauma with an x-ray and stabilize the leg with a bandage, cast, or surgery if necessary. There are 24 hour emergency clinics in most towns/cities. I hope all is well!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Jewel! I do not see a torn nail. If a dog is limping from an injured nail it is usually hanging off and bleeding. In the pictures everything looks normal. It looks maybe a little red around the nail base of the dewclaw but that is not a weight bearing nail so they usually do not limp if that one is injured, they just lick it a lot. Limping and crying is a sign of pain. Since she is so young I recommend having her seen today by your Vet. It could be a strain or a sprain, growing pains, luxated joint or a fracture. I wish Jewel a speedy recovery!