My senior dog has leg pain, won't eat, and squeals. What's wrong?

Unfortunately these are very general signs of being unwell and it is not possible to tell you what might be wrong with your dog. However, the reluctance to walk and the fact that Ryder is nearly 13 years old, is a good indication that he may be suffering from serious arthritis which now is paining him so much that he cannot hide the pain anymore. This, of course, may also be the cause for not eating. You should make an appointment with your vet for an exam of his hips and legs, a small NSAIDs panel (blood work) and pain medication.

The fact that JR won't put any pressure on his leg tells me he is in a lot of pain. Unfortunately there are no OTC pain medications you can give him, as many are toxic to dogs and can be fatal if given. I'd take him into a vet today to get this diagnosed and treated.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Lameness can be an indication of an orthopedic condition. This can be due to conditions such as a soft tissue injury, ligament conditions, a fracture and even a tumor. For this reason, I recommend that you have Jo evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. A veterinarian should be able to perform an examination and localize where the pain is so that further diagnostics like radiographs can be performed. Treatment will be highly dependent on what is causing the lameness. At the very least your veterinarian can start Jo on pain control medications to provide comfort. In the meantime, keep Jo's activity level to a minimum avoiding any jumping, running or rough playing. I hope you find this information useful in helping Jo. Wishing Jo a speedy recovery!

This sounds like he’s in pain. It can be from arthritis, a knee ligament injury or pain from his back. Arthritis should show up on x rays, and he would be lame on one leg if it’s a cruciate ligament injury. Back pain can be caused by a bulging intervertebral disc and can me difficult to see on x rays. It can cause trouble walking with incoordination. Regardless I would try Tom on pain medication to see if that helps and keep him quiet. No running or jumping and lots of short slow leash walks. Once the pain is controlled he should eat better. If there is no improvement I recommend a rcheck or an exam with a veterinary specialist. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Tom.

Since he’s still eating this is most likely from pain not an internal organ problem. There is a good chance he over did it and he has arthritis pain. I recommend giving him a gentle massage, and getting him up for several short walks during the day. Once he’s up and moving a little he should feel better. Bring him in Monday for an exam and a senior work up if he hasn’t had one lately. They may do X-rays to check his joints. They can then tell you whether it’s arthritis or a more serious medical problem. There is prescription medication for his pain and he should be back to his old self in a few days. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Milo.

I am so sorry to hear about Wrangler! It sounds like he definitely needs to visit a vet for an examination. There are some conditions we see in young dogs that can cause pain, such as panosteitis, hypertrophic osteodystrophy, and osteochondrosis dissecans http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=3238 . We maight also worry about things like infections of the joints or tick borne disease which can cause joint pain and overall malaise. The vet can do a thorough physical examination and may recommend testing such as x-ray or bloodwork based on their exam findings. Best of luck to you and Wrangler!

Poor Luna! It sounds like she needs to be examined by a vet to determine the cause of her lameness. She could have a strain/sprain, dislocation, or a fracture and your vet can take an x-ray to help diagnose and then determine the best way to treat. She might need an anti-inflammatory, splint, or possibly surgery to treat the problem. Hope she feels better soon!