Puppy slipped and limping but not in pain. Is it an emergency?

It's possible that he just sprained or jammed something. I'd let him rest for a bit but if he continues to be painful or won't use it then get him seen. He may have a fracture or dislocation if he hit hard enough. If he's crate trained out him to rest in there for a bit to see if he settles. Do not give otc medicines for pain!

I am sorry to hear about your pup! If you can locate the sensitive area you can try to do some ice packs (being sure to wrap the ice or frozen veggies in a towel so not directly on the skin) for 10 to 15 minutes every couple hours to help with discomfort. If he is able to rest comfortably and you are not seeing significant swelling or bruising develop, then it is likely safe to wait until tomorrow when your vet opens to have him be seen.

There’s not much to do other than monitor Howl (adorable name!) for continued limping. It can be difficult for veterinarians to localize pain so I wouldn’t really bother trying to perform any kind of exam at home. If limping continues for more than 24 hours or if Howl won’t put any weight on the leg you should see your vet. It would be a good idea to restrict activity to short leashed walks only for the next 3-5 days just in case.

It could be a sprain, but given that he is a young puppy, I would recommend having him checked out by a vet. You want to make sure it is just a sprain, instead of something more serious like a fracture of torn ligament which could affect his growth. I would rest him for now, no running, jumping, or playing. Take him out to toilet on a lead only, and bring him right back in when done. Take him into the vet on Monday for an exam to be safe.

Puppies can heal quickly so please feel the leg and as long as it feels normal and he doesn’t cry then you can give him a few days to recover. I’d keep him quiet and take him out for potty breaks only for a day or two. If he’s still lame then you’ll need a veterinary exam to determine the cause. If he’s crying or the bones feel out of place then take him in right away. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Chewie.

Since your pup 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 knee cap out of place or even a hairline fracture. Since she is not bearing any weight on the leg, I recommend to have her examined today. She may need radiographs and the doctor will determine this based on the exam. She needs STRICT rest until she is examined. I hope she starts feeling better quickly.

Did the limping start today? I wonder if Pawl injured a muscle when he got hurt. It sounds like if the limping is intermittent that it might be ok to wait a short while, but I always worry about fractures and if delaying the exam would cause delayed healing as well. However, many soft tissue injuries will heal in their own with a few weeks of strict rear and possibly anti inflammatory medications if he needs them. I would encourage you to have him evaluated by your veterinarian, but as long as the limping is improving then you may be able to wait until next week. As far as the scratch goes, keep it clean and keep her from Licking it. Best of luck and thank you for using Pet Coach.