My puppy woke up with a limp in her leg. What should I do right now?

Limping means Lilah is in pain. I recommend resting her for the next 48 hours. No running, jumping, or playing. Take her out to toilet on a leash, and bring her right back in when she's done. If she still appears painful after this time, then I would take her into the vet for an exam. The vet can diagnose where the pain is coming from, and can dictate a treatment plan for it. She may also benefit from some pain medications, which the vet can prescribe. Please do not give her any human pain medications, as many are toxic to dogs and can be fatal if given.

I'm sorry to hear the Scarlett is limping. I would watch her overnight and keep her confined to an area where she cannot jump up and down and so she will rest. Although she isn't crying when you touch her, limping is a sign of pain. If she is still limping in the morning, I would recommend taking her to your veterinarian for an exam. It may be something minor that can be treated with rest and pain medication or it could require x-rays to determine the extent of the injury. Please do not give her any over-the-counter human pain medications such as aspirin, ibuprofen or Tylenol as these can have serious side effects in animals.

Given her age, she should be physically examined by your veterinarian. X-rays may be indicated to rule out fractures. Restrict her activity to just leash walks for elimination. Avoid excessive running, jumping or rough play. Do not medicate her as many OTC drugs cannot be used in puppies or may be toxic to dogs.

Some causes of hindlimb lameness in growing dogs that are less than 12 months of age include: Hip dysplasia, Avascular necrosis of the femoral head - Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease, where the ball of the thighbone in the hip doesn't get enough blood, causing the bone to die Osteochondritis of stifle - fragments of cartilage or bone have become loose within the knee joint Patella luxation - medial or lateral disorder, in which the kneecap dislocates or moves out of its normal location Osteochondritis of the hock - fragments of cartilage or bone have become loose within the hock, the joint of the hind leg Panosteitis – inflammation of the bones Hypertrophic osteodystrophy - a disease characterized by decreased blood flow to the part of the bone adjacent to the joint Trauma to the soft tissue, bone, or joint Infection – may be local, or generalized (systemic) Nutritional imbalances Congenital abnormalities (present at birth) If the lameness persists, even if she seems better afterward, I recommend getting her seen by your vet as soon as possible to check for one of these conditions and get her started on treatment if need be.

You can try restricting activity to just leash walks for elimination. Prevent any running, jumping or rough play. If the lameness does not begin to improve after 24-48 hours, then Bella should be seen by your veterinarian. If you notice any bruising or swelling, this is also reason for an exam. Do not give her any OTC medications for pain as many are toxic or easily overdosed. Contact your vet to discuss pain management if necessary.

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 Tictac. It sounds like that back leg is really bothering her. If she is otherwise acting normal, I would give her strict rest for 24-48 hours to see if that improves her lameness. This means no running, jumping or playing. Take her outside on a leash to go potty and bring her straight back inside. Allowing her body to rest will resolve most mild causes of lameness. If this does not help, then she will need to see her veterinarian. In the meantime, do not give any over-the-counter pain medication as these can be toxic to dogs. I hope this information helps!