Your dog is limping? Here’s what you need to do

Disclaimer: This article, its content and related references do not constitute veterinary advice and should not be considered a substitute for veterinary care. If your pet is showing any symptoms that could indicate a medical emergency, please seek immediate emergency care.

Limping is a very common symptom in dogs with many potential causes that range in severity. Even seemingly minor limping warrants veterinary care to get a definitive diagnosis, rule out dangerous conditions, and provide proper treatment. It’s important for dog owners to be able to recognize limping and to seek veterinary attention. Read on to learn:

• What limping in dogs can look like
• What to do if your dog is limping
• Causes of limping in dogs
• How limping may be treated by a vet

Limping can be caused by injuries (such as broken bones or ligament tears), infectious diseases, arthritis, inflammatory conditions, and many other health conditions. Treatment depends on the cause of the limping and ranges widely, from simple rest to surgery or cancer treatment. It’s important to get a proper diagnosis before attempting to treat a dog’s lameness at home.

Limping, or lameness, describes an abnormal manner of walking. A limping dog’s gait is uneven, and it may appear that they have difficulty walking. Limping in dogs can vary in appearance depending on which limb is affected, how many limbs are affected, and how much weight the dog can put on the affected limb. It may look like:

• A subtle shift in gait
• Holding up a paw or leg while walking
• Not putting their entire weight on a leg
• Completely refusing to bear weight on one or more legs
• Walking with exaggerated or jerky head or body movements

An abnormal gait may:

• Have a sudden or gradual onset
• Affect one or more limb
• Become better or worse after exercise or rest
• Be inconsistent depending on the type of flooring and exercise

Dogs have a tendency to hide signs of pain, so it’s important to reach out to a vet when signs like limping occur.

Dogs who are limping may or may not have other symptoms. Limping can be caused by a wide array of health issues. Depending on the underlying condition, other signs may be apparent, such as:

• Cuts, scrapes, wounds, bruising, swelling, or other signs of injury on a leg, joint, or paw
• Stiffness in the limbs
• Difficulty or reluctance to stand, climb stairs, exercise, or play
• Being less active or whimpering or whining when the affected leg is moved or touched

A limping dog may have no other signs of pain. However, this doesn’t mean they’re not in pain. Limping in dogs is almost always a sign of discomfort or pain. “Most of the time the reason behind a dog’s limping is either pain or instability. Interpreting pain in dogs is not always straightforward,” explains Dr. Jo Myers, a veterinarian on the Vetster platform. “It’s unreliable to rule pain in or out based on the presence or absence of a single symptom. Don’t assume a dog isn’t in pain just because they’re still eating fine or don’t cry out when the leg is touched.”

If you notice your dog is limping, examining the leg, looking for other symptoms, and gathering information about how your dog is otherwise doing can help the vet better understand what’s going on. Other signs of illness or injury can help make some causes of limping more or less likely than others. It’s best to have a dog’s limp examined by a veterinarian, even if it seems minor. It’s always best to know why your dog is limping so you can determine the best way to help.

Examine for signs of injury

A sudden limp can indicate an injury on the leg, joint, or paw. Pet parents can examine for:

• Cuts or scrapes
• Bruising or swelling
• Foreign objects stuck in a paw pad or between toes

Clear signs that emergency care is needed include:

• Severe bleeding (puddling or squirting, not just a few drops)
• A limb hanging at an unnatural angle
• Multiple injuries elsewhere on the body
• Pale gums
• Rapid or labored breathing
• Severe swelling of a limb
• Collapse

If there are no other signs of a severe injury and you’re uncertain if your dog needs emergency veterinary care, it’s always best to speak with a veterinarian right away. For signs of minor injuries, an online vet can review common first-aid tips and provide the information you need to take the next steps.

Make note of when limping began and which leg is affected

Making a note of which limb is affected and when the limping began may help your veterinarian with the diagnostic process. Let your vet know if the limping is worse before or after rest or exercise or on different floor surfaces. Taking a video to show your vet may be helpful, especially if your dog hides their limp, is unwilling to walk, or is not limping as badly in the vet’s office.

Seek veterinary care

Limping, even seemingly minor limping, warrants veterinary attention, especially if it lasts for more than a day, seems to be getting worse, or is accompanied by other symptoms. A change in a dog’s normal gait is usually a sign of pain and can indicate an injury, infection, or other common condition.

Some medical issues that affect a dog’s gait can be severe and require prompt medical attention, such as a spinal cord disorder or cancer. A veterinarian can diagnose the underlying problem and recommend an effective treatment plan. In addition, online vets can help by assessing the situation and ensuring you have all the information you need to decide the best next steps to take, including if your dog needs emergency care.

Do not attempt to treat your dog’s limp without veterinary guidance. If your dog’s symptoms are bad enough to consider giving pain medication or other at-home treatment, veterinary attention is warranted. Applying a splint or bandage can make some conditions worse, and many human pain relievers are toxic to dogs.

Limping can be caused by injury, infection, or other disease in a dog’s leg, joint, or paw. Change or difficulty in mobility may also be caused by a neurologic issue outside of the affected limb. Common causes of limping in dogs include:

• Injuries, such as broken bones, joint dislocations, and muscle strains or sprains
• Arthritis, including osteoarthritis, septic arthritis, and immune-mediated arthritis
• Torn ligaments in the knee (cranial cruciate ligament disease)
• Luxating patellae
• Elbow or hip dysplasia
• Injuries or disorders in the paw, paw pad, or claw
• Lyme disease and other bacterial, fungal, and viral infections
• Certain types of cancer, such as osteosarcoma
• Neurologic disorders, such as intervertebral disc disease or vestibular syndrome

Limping can have different appearances depending on the underlying cause. Various conditions that cause limping have different prognoses and levels of severity.

When a dog presents with lameness, a veterinarian will likely perform a thorough physical examination. Some conditions can be diagnosed after an exam, while others will require additional diagnostic tests, such as:

• X-rays or ultrasound
• Blood tests
• Advanced imaging, such as CT and MRI scans
• Joint fluid analysis
• Biopsy

Treatment options vary depending on the diagnosis and may involve:

• Removing foreign items from the paw or other forms of wound management
• Exercise modification or restriction
• Heat or ice packs
• Anti-inflammatory, antibiotic, or pain-relief medication
• Setting and splinting fractures
• Surgery
• Chemotherapy or radiation therapy

Some minor injuries, such as a broken toenail, will not require much treatment. Others may only require exercise restrictions and rest. Some types of joint injury heal slowly and need exercise to be restricted for several weeks to months. Severe injuries and conditions may require the help of a board-certified surgeon or neurologist for proper treatment and may require lifelong management strategies, such as physical therapy and medication.

Limping on its own without other obvious symptoms is usually not an emergency, but prompt veterinary attention is recommended. If limping lasts for more than a day, rapidly gets worse, or is accompanied by other symptoms, it’s even more important to get it checked out quickly. Getting veterinary help sooner rather than later is the best way to keep the situation from getting worse, requiring more extensive treatment or leading to a worse prognosis. If you’re worried your dog may have a broken leg, it’s best to get care quickly. Signs of an emergency include severe bleeding, multiple injuries, trouble breathing, pale gums, or the limb dragging on the ground or appearing paralyzed. Other emergency symptoms, such as collapse, weakness, or wobbly, uncoordinated walking (ataxia), can sometimes be confused with a limp.

If you’re unsure if your dog’s limping is an emergency, veterinary professionals are available through online virtual care appointments to triage and give you the information you need to decide what to do next.

Why is my dog limping but has no swelling or pain?

Many joint diseases and limb injuries can cause limping without any obvious swelling. Limping itself is usually a sign of pain, even if the dog appears fine otherwise. It’s best to seek veterinary care if a dog is limping to relieve pain and treat the underlying cause.

When should I take my dog to the vet for limping?

It’s best to seek prompt veterinary attention for limping, even if it seems minor. Limping is a bigger concern when it lasts for more than a day, is getting worse, or is accompanied by other symptoms. Dogs have a tendency to mask pain, and limping can be a symptom of a serious underlying condition. Waiting to see a vet may result in more extensive treatment or a worse prognosis.

What should I do if my dog has a sudden limp?

A sudden onset of limping in dogs can be caused by many issues. If you can do so safely, first, examine the affected limb, including the leg, paw pads, and between the toes. If there’s a minor injury, such as a broken nail or a foreign object stuck between the toes, reach out to a vet to have your dog assessed and learn what to do next. If there’s evidence of a more severe injury or if there’s no obvious reason for the limping, get prompt veterinary attention to determine the issue and to receive proper treatment.