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Home Why is My Dog Limping?

Why is My Dog Limping?

Dog Limping

Questions

  • Why is my dog limping?
  • When should I go to the vet?
It's every pet parent's worst nightmare: you see your furry friend holding their leg up or favouring one of them while they’re walking. Limping in dogs can be a big cause for concern. The good news is that there are lots of things that we can do to help our pups when they start to show signs of limping. Often these are minor issues that can be easily treated. This article will walk you through the reasons why you may catch your pooch pal limping and discuss management and treatment options.  
Is your canine companion limping or struggling to walk? Read more here. 

Why is my dog limping?

Let's get straight into it, here are the most common reasons you may find your dog hobbling about on three legs:  

  1. Injury to ligaments or tendons 

Common injuries of tendons and ligaments in dogs include Achilles tendon rupture and cranial cruciate ligament rupture.  

  1. Foreign Object

Your pup might have stepped on a piece of glass or a stone. They may have a thorn or grass seed embedded in their paw. Any sort of foreign material that enters the skin will cause a ‘foreign body’ reaction which can include painful inflammation and possibly infection.  

  1. Arthritis 

Dogs can experience inflammation in their joints. This is known as degenerative joint disease or osteoarthritis. When arthritis occurs, joints become stiff and painful, this can cause your dog to limp.   

  1. Paw pad issues 

Your dog may have cut, burnt, or scraped their pad. This is a very sensitive area and even a small injury can cause a great deal of discomfort. 

  1. Broken bones 

Dogs can break the larger bones in their legs or the smaller ones in their paws. Some broken bones are very obvious and others can be really difficult to spot and need X-rays, CT, or MRI scans to identify. 

  1. Muscle Strains 

Often dogs can pull muscles, which can cause limping. It’s commonly seen in more active dogs. 

  1. Wounds 

Any sort of wound from trauma can cause pain and lead to limping. Wounds will have bruising around them and be painful to touch. 

  1. Infections 

Infections cause swelling and inflammation. Any infection in the bones, joints, and soft tissues caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi can be very painful for your dog. They can cause them a lot of grief, leading them to limp. Tick-borne infections can cause lameness too.  

  1. Dislocation of joints 

Sometimes called a joint luxation, this occurs when the bones that usually form a joint are separated. It can be extremely painful.  

  1. Developmental disorders 

This can include elbow dysplasia, osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) of the shoulder joint, hip dysplasia, and patellar luxation. These can all progress to be painful and cause limping.  

  1. Cancer 

Cancer can affect many different parts of your dog's body including bones, soft tissues, and joints.  

  1. Nervous System disease 

Any sort of disease that affects the nervous system can affect movement and coordination resulting in lameness.   

  1. Insect bites or stings  

Curious dogs always having adventures will often get bitten or stung on their legs by insects.  

  1. Autoimmune disorders  

Some diseases such as autoimmune or immune-mediated polyarthritis (IMPA) can cause lameness in your furry friend.  

Dog is resting.

When should I go to the vet?

If you are worried about your doggo and need some advice, your first port of call should always be your vet.  
On some occasions, you may just need advice over the phone, but in many circumstances, your vet will need to examine your dog.  
If you notice your dog limping, you should first try and assess how bad the limp is. If your dog only has a mild limp, and they don't have any other clinical signs, it may be acceptable to rest them for a few days to see if there are any signs of improvement.  
You need to seek veterinary attention immediately if:  

  1. Your dog seems to be in severe pain  

  2. Your dog is not weight-bearing at all on the leg  

  3. Your dog is unwell in any way  

  4. There are signs of a broken bone  

  5. There is a lot of swelling  

You should arrange a non-emergency veterinary appointment if you notice any of the following:  

  1. The limp is getting worse  

  2. The limp is persistent despite your dog being rested 

  3. The limp gets worse after exercise  

  4. Your dog seems uncomfortable at rest  

  5. You can see signs of an injury such as a scratch or cut  

Things to consider before you ring your vet so that you can give them a good idea of what's happening:  

  1. The severity of the limp 

How bad is the limp? Is your dog able to weight bare on the leg, or is it a mild lump that comes and goes?  

  1. Pain  

If your dog is limping in any way, this is always an indication of pain. Just how much pain is your dog in? Can they tolerate being touched or having their leg moved about or will they react even if you try to go near them? 

  1. Location  

It is important to note which leg your dog is limping on. Is it a back leg or a front leg? Is it on the left or right side of their body? 

  1. Other clinical signs 

Have you noticed anything else wrong with your pup? Have they stopped eating? Or are they quieter than usual? Have they got vomiting or diarrhoea? There is no detail too small for your vet!  

Dog on the field.

Do dogs pretend to limp?  

Some parents may be concerned that their dog is faking a limp. Have you ever seen your dog pretending to limp? It is a very rare occurrence as dogs will usually only limp if they are in pain. Some dogs may learn to fake an injury as a learned behaviour in a bid to get attention from their parents. Once they learn they may get more attention and lots of fussing from their owner, they may repeat the behaviour. Bear in mind this is a very rare occurrence. Most dogs will be limping because they are in pain and not trying to trick their owners. 
Limping dogs can be a huge cause for concern for doting dog lovers. There are many different reasons our furry friends may be limping. It’s important to get our poorly pooches the medical attention they need as soon as possible. If you see your dog limping, don't hesitate to consult your vet. They will be able to help you get your furry friend back on track in no time.Â