Dog Limping: Possible Causes and Solutions from a Vet

Key points

• Dogs can limp due to damage from injuries to their soft tissues, like ligaments, muscles, and tendons.
• Soft tissue injuries sometimes settle with a period of rest and anti-inflammatory medication.
• If your dog isn’t putting any weight on their leg, this can signify a fracture or other serious injury.
• If your dog is in pain, not weight-bearing, or if they don’t improve with 24 hours’ rest, you should take them to a veterinarian for an examination.
• Your veterinarian may need to take x-rays to make a diagnosis.

Common in:

Any dog is susceptible to an injury that causes them to limp. However, certain conditions are more common in particular groups, including young puppies, older dogs, certain breeds, or overweight dogs.

Symptoms and types:

• Soft tissue injuries are quite common in dogs and are the equivalent of sprains, strains, and pulled muscles in people. Soft tissue injuries can involve any tissue that isn’t bone or cartilage, including tendons, ligaments, and muscles. If your dog has a soft tissue injury, they will still be able to put some weight on their leg most of the time. You may find that they improve with rest at home, but they might also need a course of anti-inflammatory medication.

• Bone, cartilage, and joint damage will often cause your dog to hold their leg up and hop rather than bearing any weight. You might also notice that part of the leg is swollen or get the sense that part of the leg is dangling and unstable. Dogs with fractures or other serious injuries can be in a great deal of pain, so they may lash out if you try to touch them.

• Other causes can lead to different symptoms. If there is an infection, you might notice your dog is acting unwell and off their food. You might also see a wound, heat, or swelling of the leg. If your dog has arthritis, you might notice they gradually become stiff or lame, and it might be worse in colder weather, after a lie-down, or after a long walk.

If your dog is limping a little but still putting weight on their leg, you can try resting them for 24 hours to see if the limp improves.

Understanding the diagnostics

To find out what is causing your dog to limp, a member of our veterinary team will need to examine the leg. They will check each joint for flexibility, stability, and smooth motion. They’ll also check the entire leg for any wounds, swelling, heat, or signs of pain. They might also check your dog’s temperature to rule out an infection.

If the veterinarian can’t find anything wrong on examination or only mild discomfort, they may diagnose a soft tissue injury without needing any more tests. However, if your dog looks pretty sore, or if their leg doesn’t feel quite right, they will recommend an x-ray to check for a fracture and assess the health of the joints and surrounding tissues. In some cases, a more detailed scan like a CT or MRI scan might be needed.

Learning about the causes

Your dog might limp for a variety of reasons. 

• If they have been particularly active or had a fall or other mishap, the trauma can cause an injury to their bone, joints, or soft tissue. The most severe of these injuries include joint dislocations, bone fractures, and ligament rupture. The most common ligament rupture is to the Cruciate Ligament in the knee joint.

• Arthritis can also cause your dog to limp. This is most common in older dogs, those who have had previous injuries, or those who have conditions like hip or elbow dysplasia. Arthritis is caused by wear and tear on the joints and cartilage, and this can happen more quickly if your dog is overweight.

• Young dogs and puppies can sometimes limp if their bone growth or development is abnormal. They are also prone to fractures or damage to their growth plates, the weakest part of their young bones.

• Dogs might also limp if they have an infection from a wound or splinter or if they have a reaction to an insect bite or sting. Injuries to their nails and pads can also cause limping, so keeping their nails short is essential.

If your dog is acting unwell, won’t put any weight on their leg, or seems in a lot of pain, you should take them to the veterinary clinic without delay.

Best treatment options

Most soft tissue injuries can be treated with a period of rest and a course of anti-inflammatory medication. Often, five to seven days of treatment is enough to heal the damage. At this point, you can gradually build up their exercise again. 

Certain bone fractures, ligament, and tendon injuries can be fixed with a splint or cast, just like in humans. However, surgery is often needed to place screws, plates, pins, or wires to anchor the bones in place. Dislocated joints need to be replaced under anesthetic, and sometimes surgery is required to stop the dislocation from happening again.

Infections, minor wounds, insect bites, and stings can be treated medically with pain relief, antibiotics, or antihistamines. But more significant wounds may need stitches to help the skin heal faster.

Home remedies and their effectiveness

If your dog is limping a little but still putting weight on their leg, you can try resting them for 24 hours to see if the limp improves. However, if they are acting unwell, have any wounds, or have a severe limp, it is not safe to try this first. You should never give any medication to your dog without checking with one of our veterinarians first.

If your dog is overweight and regularly has bouts of limping, you should consider helping them shed a few pounds. Extra weight through the joints can cause wear and tear damage and can worsen conditions like arthritis.

When to see a vet

If your dog is acting unwell, won’t put any weight on their leg, or seems in a lot of pain, you should take them to the veterinary clinic without delay. If the limp is less severe and they are well otherwise, you can try resting them for 24 hours. However, if there is no improvement at this time, you should make an appointment with one of our veterinarians. They will be able to provide pain relief and check that the injury isn’t too serious.