In March, we did a post about various issues to answer the question “why is my dog limping.” You can read that article here
We often get the question “Why is my dog limping?” And pet parents are rightfully vey concerned! So it’s worth posting another blog to get all of your questions about limping in dogs answered!
Imagine this scenario: You’re at the dog park, letting your pup get out some energy, but suddenly you notice something is wrong. Your dog, typically full of energy, is limping! This is when you started to wonder, “Why is my dog limping?”
Imagine a second scenario: You wake up on a Saturday morning to take your dog for a walk. When your best friend gets out of bed to greet you, you notice that he/she is limping and you think “What gives?”
Read on to find out!
The sight of your fur-baby limping is heart-wrenching, filling you with fear, uncertainty, a deep desire to provide the best possible care, AND get to to bottom or the problem to fix this limping!
Recognizing the Signs of Dog Limping
Let’s first start by explaining how to recognize limping in dogs. Some times it’s obvious and your dog is picking up a front or back leg, unwilling to put weight on the limb. Sometimes it is more subtle. You can tell something just isn’t quite right with how your dog is walking and you wonder “is my dog limping?” and then “Why is my dog limping all of a sudden?”
Limping is one of the most unmistakable signs that something isn’t quite right with your canine companion. And, unfortunately, many pet parents don’t know that limping is a sign that your dog IS in pain. Dog’s are very stoic creatures and don’t show the usual signs of pain like we do. However, limping IS a sign of pain!
10 Subtle Warning signs that your dog is in pain:
- Limping on a front or back leg
- Picking up a limb and unwilling to put weight on it
- Avoiding activities that they used to enjoy like running, playing, jumping in/out of the car or up on to the couch/bed
- Being grumpy about a body part being touched or when other pets get too close to them
- Hiding and not hanging out with the family like they usually do
- Not eating or drinking
- Unwilling or resisting going on walks
- Excessive panting when they are not hot or tired from exercise
- Sleeping more than normal
- Restlessness at night
If your dog is crying out in pain, they are likely in SEVERE pain and this is now an emergency!
Common Causes of Dog Limping
Initially, we often consider the obvious culprits: injuries, sprains, and strains. Just like humans, there are a few common injuries and problems that we will discuss briefly in this blog. To learn about these problems (and what to do about them) in more detail, see are blog from March (click here).
If your dog is playing or they jump up/down from any surface, suddenly cry out, and start limping or lifting up a back leg, your dog may have torn his/her CCL. This is the same ligament that humans have, called an ACL. This is not something you want to wait to see if it gets better on it’s own. Your pup is in pain and does need to see the vet sooner rather than later. If you want to learn more about prevention and treatment CCL tears in dogs, click here.
If your dog limps first thing in the morning after getting up, or after resting for a period of time (this can be on the front OR back leg) AND the limping gets better as they move more, this is likely arthritis. Your dog may also limp in the front or back leg after intense exercise and this can be contributed to arthritis. This is not an emergency, however it is good to schedule a vet visit to get your dog on supplements that can help alleviate the stiffness and pain caused by arthritis.
If you notice that your dog is limping and/or skipping on a back leg on and off during a walk and you think to yourself “Why is my dog limping and then not?” This might be a patella luxation. Dogs have knee caps (patellas) just like humans do. Sometimes for a variety of reasons, the knee cap can slip in and out of the joint and this can be painful. This is not an emergency, however it is better to get this addressed by your vet sooner rather than later because this condition CAN progress to needing surgery if you wait too long.
If you have a puppy and they limp on a back leg after resting, after exercise/playing, OR if they are unwilling to do things like jump in/out of the car, jump up/down from the bed/couch, or unwilling to go upstairs, this may be your first signs of hip dysplasia. Hip dysplasia in dogs often gets better through middle age but as they get older, you will see the same signs as arthritis. This is not an emergency, but you should get this addressed by your vet sooner rather than later to make sure your puppy develops and matures in a healthy way and avoids problems in the future. If you want to learn more about the prevention and treatment of hip dysplasia in dogs, visit our blog.
If you notice that your dog (typically an older dog, but not always) is scuffing a front or back leg, slightly dragging the limb, or walking like they are drunk, these can be signs of a neurologic problem. These types of problems vary greatly in severity and type and can sometimes be an emergency. If you are anything like me, I want to get to the root of the problem as soon as possible, so I take my dogs to the vet at the first sign of possible trouble.
Of course if your dog starts limping on a front leg after activity, they may have a muscle strain or ligament sprain and it is best to get this addressed as soon as possible.
So far, we’ve covered how to tell if your dog is limping, the signs of pain in dogs, and the most common causes of limping in dogs. All of these help you to answer the question “Why is my dog limping?”
The bad news is that it is super scary to see your companion in pain! You feel helpless and just WISH that they could tell you what was wrong so that you can try to help. And let’s not mention the fear that goes along with this: what could this possibly be, am I going to lose my best friend, and how much is this going to cost?
The good news is that all of the conditions mentioned ARE treatable! How good would it feel to get your dog evaluated by your veterinarian and you walk out of the clinic knowing EXACTLY what’s wrong and how you can help your dog?! There is nothing better than having that clarity and peace of mind to help your best friend!
How to Help My Limping Dog:
Hopefully this blog has answered your question “Why is my dog limping” and we have given you plenty of information to know if this is an emergency or not. Now, let’s get into the general treatment options for your limping dog.
Each condition is treated different based on what exactly is going on with your pup. If your pet is in pain, it is likely that your vet will give you pain medications. Because it is often difficult to tell if your pet is in pain or not, it is better to ere on the side of caution and give the prescription for the full length of time the vet prescribed.
There are many other options in addition to pain medicine that can help your pup. For example, neurologic conditions and arthritis respond very well to acupuncture (to decrease pain and improve nerve function to set the stage for your dog WANTING to move more) and rehabilitation (to improve joint range of motion, strength, muscle function to get your dog moving better!).
Supplements are also very useful in helping conditions such as arthritis, hip dysplasia, CCL tears, and patella luxations.
At In Pawsuit Rehab & Wellness, we offer both rehab an acupuncture services. Our rehab therapists guide you with exercises to do at home with your dog to get your dog feeling and moving better, they also perform cold laser therapy and massage. Our acupuncture therapist guides you with weight loss, supplementation, and appropriate medications to get your pup feeling his or her best, so your pup can move his best.
So, the next time you find yourself thinking, “Why is my dog limping?” remember that you’re not alone. Limping can arise from various reasons, some apparent and others concealed. At In Pawsuit Rehab & Wellness, we help to guide you and your dog down the best and fastest route of recovery so that your pup can get back to living his/her best doggy life as soon as possible!
If your furry friend is experiencing limping or any mobility issues, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. Our dedicated team is here to make sure you have ALL of the information so that you can decide on the best route of treatment for YOUR pup!
Interested in hearing more about how we can help YOUR pup?? If so, please click the link below. We can’t wait to hear from you and your pup!