My puppy hurt his leg playing, swollen and limping. Is a vet needed?

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.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. If you can see an an obvious swelling, I recommend taking Trigger to the vet. Many times with mild limping we don't see any swelling at all. So I worry that Trigger may have torn a muscle or have an abscess or other injury that may cause worse problems if left alone. Until he is seen, I recommend keeping him confined (as possible with a pup). If he is crate trained, then keep him crated and leash walks only until he is evaluated to prevent furhter injury. I hope he's back to normal quickly!

Because this appears to be a recurring problem in Booker, meaning that this swelling and stiffness occurs after playing or walking, I would recommend have a physical exam, lameness exam, and x-rays done. It could be that he has a strained or torn ligament that is repeatedly aggravated, and he may need anti-inflammatories and pain medications along with rest to help it heal, which the vet can prescribe. I would have Booker seen by a vet today or tomorrow to have his leg examined, and rest him until he is able to see the vet. No running, jumping, or playing. Take him out to toilet on a lead only, and bring him right back in when he's done.

Thanks for visiting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Oh no. Poor guy. This type of injury where you have vocalization, limping, and swelling definitely needs to be looked at by your veterinarian. A thorough physical exam of the area and potentially radiographs of the bones are needed here to provide the care that Stormy needs after an injury to this degree. I would highly recommend taking him in to be seen as soon as you can. You are not going to be able to care for an injury like this at home. For tonight, its best to just keep Stormy quiet in an isolated room without any other pets to disturb him and apply a cold compress to the swollen area, if tolerated, for about 3-5 mins. Using a bag of peas will suffice. I do hope that you are able to get Stormy some medical attention soon. Best of luck and take care.

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Charlie. Limping means he is in pain. That paw pad does look a bit swollen. I recommend resting him for the next 48 hours. No running, jumping, or playing. Take him out to toilet on a leash, and bring him right back in when he's done. If he still appears painful after this time, then I would take him into the vet for an exam. The vet can diagnose where the pain is coming from, and can dictate a treatment plan for it. He may also benefit from some pain medications, which the vet can prescribe. Please do not give him any human pain medications, as many are toxic to dogs and can be fatal if given. I hope this helps!

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!

Hi there. So sorry to hear this happened to Zeus. It could be just a sprain/strain or he could have just "stunned" his leg. Give it some time overnight and see how he is tomorrow. If he is still limping tomorrow and it is the same as he is tonight or worse, then I suggest you get him to your vet for an exam. If his limping is better but he still isn't 100% you could give it a couple more days to see how he progresses. It is possible that he could have torn a tendon/ligament or he may have a fractured bone (they don't always swell up) or have a dislocation. DO NOT give him any medications. If he needs medications you need to get them from your vet. Just keep him calm and quiet tonight and check to see how he is in the morning. Hope this helps. Best wishes.