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My puppy fell down stairs and is limping. What should I do right away?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | West Highland White Terrier | Male | unneutered | 3 months and 18 days old

My 3.5 month old west highlander puppy Hamish fell/stumbled down a few stairs onto his right shoulder/leg. It was not a large fall at all and he had stumbled down them before however when he got up he whimpered and fell. 2 hours since the fall and he is limping still. He is putting some weight on the leg and running around however not keeping his balance 100%. he is not upset and still allows me to touch the whole leg and move it no problem. what should I do? Thank you

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

Lauren Jones VMD

Answered By Lauren Jones VMD

Veterinarian

Published on April 23rd, 2017

Poor Hamish! I'm encouraged to hear that he is bearing some weight on the injured leg, as this makes a fracture seem a bit less likely. Instead, it sounds as though he may have a soft tissue (muscle, ligament, tendon) injury. Keep Hamish restricted to a crate or very small room to prevent him from running, jumping or playing over the next few days. Try to limit his activity to short leash walks strictly to eliminate. If he is still favoring the injured leg in the morning, Hamish should be examined by his vet for further evaluation and possible anti-inflammatory pain medications. Do not give any human pain medications, as none are safe for dogs. I hope that he feels better soon!
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