Why is my 8-year-old Shih Tzu limping on his front leg suddenly?

Poor Mischa! It could be that she strained or tore a ligament, or she could be suffering from a condition known as a luxating patella. This is when the kneecap moves out of it's correct anatomical position, and it is common in toy and small breed dogs. I recommend resting Mischa for the next 48 hours. No running, jumping, or playing. Take her out to toilet on a lead only, 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.

Poor girl. She is likely in pain from the leg and that is why she was shaking. As long as she isn't screaming out in pain, having a seizure, or having severe lethargy, you should be able to wait until morning to get her seen by your regular vet. Until you can get her in, just let her rest in a cozy quiet area of the house and leash her whenerever she goes outside to keep her from causing further injury to the leg. The vet will likely do an x-ray of her leg or bloodwork if the issue seems to be neurologic in nature. I hope that Sasha's injuries get resolved soon! Best of luck and take care.

Sweet Pea may have injured her leg or she may have arthritis or a joint abnormality that has flared up. Tick borne diseases can also occasionally cause limping and joint pain. Even though she does not seem to want to extend her leg the pain could be anywhere along the leg and not necessarily the paw or hock (ankle joint). Since she has continued to limp for a few days I would recommend seeing your veterinarian - they would hopefully be able to localize the pain and can recommend tests such as an x-ray and also prescribe pain medication. Limping is nearly always a sign of pain.

Poor Lily! There are many different possibilities in this case. It may be that she has simply bruised herself or damaged a muscle or ligament. However she may have a more serious injury such as a fracture or ligament rupture. If she seems to be comfortable and nothing looks out of place you could let her rest 24 hours then if she is no better or getting worse head to the vet.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Osito. There are many causes of lameness in a dog. Start by checking his paw to ensure there is not something stuck in his fur or a broken toe nail. He would likely be licking the paw in this case. If not, then he could be experiencing arthritis. This is common in the hip and knee joints. Other possibilities are a displaced kneecap, a torn ligament in the knee, a fractured leg, a bone tumor or an autoimmune disease attacking the joints. He will need to see his veterinarian to determine where he is painful. X-rays will likely be recommended. In the meantime, keep him quiet to allow his body to rest. Do not give any over-the-counter pain medications as these can be toxic to dogs. I hope this information helps!

It could be that Loui has strained or torn a ligament, or it could be that he strained a muscle. There's also a possibility that he could have broken a bone. The only way to know for sure is to have him seen by a vet. I would call the vet in the morning to make an appointment for him. I hope this helps!

He may have stepped on something sharp or hard that pierced or bruised his pad that you can't see. If he is still limping in the morning, I recommend getting him seen by your vet to determine what happened and how best to treat it.