My senior Jack Russell limps after resting. Is it arthritis or injury?

Arthritis is very likely, sometimes it is exacerbated by another injury. It could also be a ligament sprain or muscle strain. There is also the less likely possibility of a hairline fracture or something more sinister like a bone tumour.

The most common reason for lameness of a back leg in a small breed dog is a luxating patella - a knee cap that does not stay in place. Without examining him myself this is my best guess. I believe this would be the most likely issue and should be easy for your vet to diagnose. If it is getting worse then he probably needs surgery to correct it. The photos do not show anything outwardly abnormal. ( https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/luxating-patella-in-dogs )

Hi, in my opinion it sounds like Frankie could have potentially injured her cruciate ligaments. This would be a potential diagnosis provided the lameness seem to affect just one of her legs. If both legs should be affected, and she should be hopping like a bunny it could be that she is suffering with hip dysplasia. I would recommend to have Frankie rechecked. I hope this helps and that all goes well !

In an old dog, my primary suspicion is that he is suffering from arthritis. It is quite common for old dogs to get varying degrees of arthritis. This can be helped with medication and some physical therapy. In order to get the best treatment you would have to take Jack to a veterinarian. The veterinarian will ensure that Jack doesn't have any other injuries or conditions causing him to limp. Considering he seems to have a significant decrease in activity, it's best to take him to the vet within the next day or two. Decreased activity can also indicate other, more serious problems like heart disease or anemia, so it's best to get him evaluated by a vet as soon as possible to ensure it's nothing serious. I hope that helps and Jack gets better soon.

What you're describing sounds like a condition called a luxating patella. This is when the knee cap slides in and out of its groove. This condition overtime can lead to arthritis and potential he predispose a dog to tearing a ligament in the knee. Your veterinarian maybe to do an orthopedic exam and tell you if this is the case.

One of the most common reasons we will see a dog limp after they get up from resting is arthrits in a joint. Since Maggie is 9 years old, that is certainly a possibility. A complete cruciate tear will result in an unstable joint and will have lameness that occurs at a walk or run, but a partial cruciate tear is not unstable and can result in a lameness that is worse after resting. I would recommend having your veterinarian examine Maggie to see what they find on exam, then see what their recommendation is for treatment. A joint supplement may be enough for Maggie or she may need a prescription medication. It really depends on her examination. I am including more information about treatment for arthritis below. https://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=587 Good luck! I hope that was helpful and answered your question. Thanks for using PetCoach.

Arthritis is definitely a possibility. You could start him on a joint supplement, like Dasuquin and see if that helps. Your vet could also take an x-ray to evaluate for arthritis and then start him on a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory, like Deramaxx, Previcox, Rimadyl, etc. NSAIDs help relieve the discomfort associated with arthritis.