grovercentervetDog Limping: Causes, Symptoms, and When to Call Grove Center Vet
If you’ve seen your dog favoring one leg, hesitating before jumping or walking with an off gait, you’re having a problem with dog limping and one of the most common reasons pet owners bring their dogs to the vet. Limp problems in dogs can be as simple as a small cut on the paw pad that will heal in a few days, or they can be as serious as a torn ligament or arthritis. We strive to educate dog owners on the meaning of dog limping and how to interpret it, the possible causes, and when to call for an appointment at Grove Center Vet.
So, What is Dog Limping?
Dog limping is any abnormal gait when a dog favors one leg over the other to avoid placing weight on that leg. It can occur rapidly, after a fall or injury, or slowly over weeks to months as with joint disease or wear and tear. Depending on the cause of the problem, dog limping may be seen in front legs, rear legs or even back and forth between the front and rear.
Limping may be either weight-bearing (dog puts some weight on the affected leg) or non-weight-bearing (dog doesn’t touch the leg to the ground). If your dog is limping without putting weight on it, it is more concerning and typically a more serious injury.
Common Reasons for Dog Lameness
Learning about the causes of dog limping can assist dog owners to take appropriate action and know when to seek veterinary attention. Some of the most common causes include:
- Overexertion, or a bad landing, can cause soft tissue injuries and result in dog limping.
- One of the most common reasons for sudden dog sitting up on his hind legs is a torn cranial cruciate ligament (CCL); like an ACL in humans.
- Arthritis: Inflammatory joint disease is a common condition in older dogs and leads to a dog that starts to lameness and becomes worse over time.
- Sudden dog limping from cut, burns or foreign objects in paw such as thorns or glass.
- Fractures: Broken bones caused by trauma, accident or falls are a serious problem and call for prompt treatment.
- Hip dysplasia: This is a genetic disorder in larger breeds which causes the hip joints to become unsteady and results in the dog lameness, especially in the rear legs.
- Luxating Patella: A dislocated kneecap that affects small breeds, and causes intermittent dog limping, particularly in times of activity.
- Abscesses or infections: Bacterial infections of the soft tissue or joint will cause swelling, pain, and dog limping.
Signs and Symptoms to Look For
If your dog is limping, the following symptoms may be seen alongside the condition, which can assist you and your veterinarian in identifying the condition’s cause. Some symptoms to look out for are:
- Loping one leg: The most noticeable symptom of dog limping, usually seen during a walk or after resting.
- Lameness (dogs with joint pain will tend to avoid activities that place stress on the affected limb)
- Soreness or heat at a joint: Common symptoms of dog limping due to injury or arthritis.
- Wounds or foreign bodies in the paw that can be seen: Sometimes a quick examination of the dog’s paws can uncover the cause of the dog limping right away.
- Yelps or whines when leg is touched: Indicates pain and possible injury.
- Muscle atrophy: thinning of a muscle in a limb that has been favored for a prolonged period: often occurs in chronic dog limping.
- Rigidity following rest: This is particularly frequent in arthritic dogs which may limp more after waking up or lying for extended periods of time.
Painful dog limping may be accompanied by changes in behavior, such as lethargy, loss of appetite or inability to play.
If dog limping persists for more than a day or two, or if your dog is non-weight-bearing, it’s important to schedule a veterinary evaluation right away.
How Grove Center Vet Diagnoses Dog Limping
The first step to diagnosing the cause of dog limping is a detailed history (when did the dog start limping) and a thorough physical exam. Based on the results, our veterinarians may suggest:
- Orthopedic exam: Moving the joints and limbs can reveal pain, instability, or swelling, which may be a symptom of dog limping.
- X-rays: Imaging is an important tool in determining if the dog has a fracture, hip dysplasia, arthritis, or other bone problem that may cause a dog lameness.
- Joint fluid analysis: If an infection or immune-mediated disorder is suspected, a joint fluid analysis can be used to confirm the diagnosis.
- Bloodwork: To exclude generalized diseases which may be causing dog limping.
- Advanced imaging (MRI or CT): More detailed imaging is used in cases that are more complicated or persistent to detect injuries to soft tissues that not be seen on X-rays.
There are several different conditions that can lead to lameness in dogs, and a thorough diagnostic process is used to determine the best course of action for your dog’s lameness.
Treatment for Dog Limping
The treatment for dog limping will depend on the cause of the problem, though some general treatment tips are:
- Rest and activity restriction: by reducing activity, minor sprains and strains are able to heal, and often mild dog limping will be resolved within days.
- Pain management and anti-inflammatories: Pain and anti-inflammatory medications can help decrease the pain and swelling caused by dog limping.
- Physical therapy: therapies can help strengthen muscles and increase mobility, especially for dogs that have undergone surgery or are experiencing chronic joint problems.
- Surgery: If the ligaments have been torn, or the fracture is particularly severe, or luxating patellas, the long term problem of dog limping may require surgery to correct the condition.
- Joint supplements: Glucosamine and chondroitin are two supplements that can help maintain a dog’s joint health over the long term, which may help prevent arthritis-related limping.
- Weight management: A loss of excess pounds will relieve some of the pressure on joints and make a significant difference in the lameness of an arthritic or hip dysplastic dog.
In the beginning, the treatment for dog limping has a higher chance of success and can stop the problem from escalating into a recurring movement trouble.
Preventing Dog Limping
However, although it isn’t possible to prevent all cases, there are things owners can do to lower the risk of their dog limping:
- Keep a healthy weight to decrease stress on joints and ligaments.
- Exercise regularly, moderately to maintain strength of muscles and joints.
- Inspect paws for cuts, foreign objects or irritation frequently.
- Warm up for vigorous exercise, particularly for dogs that are active or working.
- Make regular veterinary visits to detect arthritis or joint disease in its early stages.
- Don’t encourage your dog to jump repeatedly from elevated surfaces as this can cause damage to its joints over time.
Prevention is the best way to minimize the occurrence and impact of dog limping with age, and joint health is a prime example of when to be proactive.
For pets in need of care, please call Grove Center Vet at 937-462-7766.
If your dog is limping and it is not getting better in 24-48 hours or if you see swelling or a visible injury or if your dog is unable to put any weight on the leg, it’s time to schedule your visit. Sometimes, a dog’s lameness may be a sign of serious disease and should be treated as soon as possible to avoid complications. Our team at Grove Center Vet is here to get your dog comfortably moving again and determine the cause of your dog’s limping.
Conclusion
Limping in dogs is a common issue can be caused by a variety of factors such as a minor injury to the paw to more severe problems such as torn ligaments or arthritis. Early detection and timely treatment can have a huge impact on your dog’s comfort and recovery. Most dogs will return to normal activity and mobility with the proper diagnosis and treatment. If your dog is limping and you’re not sure of the cause, don’t wait, and don’t hesitate to make an appointment with Grove Center Vet to help your dog keep moving pain-free and comfortably.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Dog’s Limp: Why is my dog limping all of a sudden?
An injury, sprain or foreign object in the paw pad is likely to be the cause of sudden dog limping. If it lasts for more than 1 day, a veterinary examination is recommended.
2. Will my dog ever eat if it’s licking its wound?
Yes, even if appetite is normal, if they are limping for long periods of time it can be a sign of a problem which requires medical assessment.
3. Will dog limping resolve itself?
A minor strain might result in mild limping that gets better with rest, but if a dog has been limping for more than a day or two, he should be seen by a veterinarian.
4. What does it mean if my dog is limping on a back leg?
In larger breeds, torn ligaments, hip dysplasia and arthritis are common causes of hind-leg limping.
5. Does a dog’s lameness always mean it is in pain?
In most cases, yes. A dog will generally limp to prevent placing any weight on the painful/injured limb.
6. Can arthritis cause an intermittent dog limp?
Yes, arthritis can be the cause of an intermittent dog limp. Yes, arthritis can make horses go limp at times, getting worse after periods of rest or on cold days and better when they move around.
7. What makes a dog’s lameness an emergency?
If your dog is non-weight bearing, has visible swelling or seems to be in extreme pain you should seek immediate veterinary treatment.
8. Is the likelihood of having a dog that lopes higher in small breeds than large breeds?
Small breeds tend to get luxating patella (intermittent limping) and large breeds are more likely to develop hip dysplasia and ligament injuries.
9. Can diet affect dog limping due to arthritis?
Yes, diet can be a factor in dog limping due to arthritis. Yes, weight loss and supplementation with joints can greatly minimize arthritis-induced limping in the long run.
10. How should I expect the vet to treat my dog if he does not feel he has the right treatment method?
Call immediately if the lameness does not improve after 24 to 48 hours, gets worse or if the leg becomes swollen or shows injury.
