Causes of Limping in Dogs

Limping in dogs may appear suddenly out of the blue such as following an unnoticed injury or gradually, over time such as the onset of arthritis. While the causes of limping in dogs may be various, the underlying cause needs addressed as there may chances the limping may mean more than a simple sprain.

Having worked at a veterinary hospital, and often responsible for major decision making known is hospitals as "triage" I have learned that the most worrisome cases of limping are those where the dog refuses to put any weight on the affected limb. We therefore, used to give precedence on scheduling apppointments and reserved same day appointment slots for no weight bearing dogs.

1) Inspect the limb

If your dog just began limping, as an attentive and caring owner, you may want to start by carefully inspecting the affected limb. You want look for any evident injuries such as cuts, splinters,insect bites, foreign objects stuck between the toes, torn toenails and abnormal swellings. If you see something is stuck in the paw pad you want to get some tweezers and go to a well lit area and try to carefully remove it. If you suspect something is stuck, like a thorn, but is seems to be deep under the skin you can immerse the foot in Epsom Salts and see if that helps the foreign object to work its way out.

2) Palpate the limb

You want to gently palpate the affected limb and look at the dog for cues of pain. This will help find the source. Each dog has its own way of manifesting pain, some may startle, others may whimper and others may growl. Refrain from doing so if you own an aggressive dog or one that tends to bite when in pain. Obviously, refrain from palpating the limb if there are obvious signs of fractures with swelling, disfiguring of the limb or protruding bones.

3) Monitor or seek Veterinary advice

At this point, you should try to address your findings. If there is a thorn you must try to remove it, if there is a cut you want to medicate it and keep it from getting infected. If the source is not easy to identify it is best to seek veterinary advice for x-rays. Sometimes it is not a particular area to be affected but a whole muscle area or bone area. In some cease, the cause may be a systemic disease with the limping only being an evident symptom of something originating somewhere else.

Causes of limping

Having ruled out evident cuts, foreign objects, torn nails, there are still a long list of causes. We can go over some of the most common causes of limping.

Accident Related Limping

Your dog may have injured itself jumping off your car or playing in the yard. If you witnessed the injury then the cause of limping is obvious. If you were away and you come home to a limping dog, the cause may need investigated.

-Sprains

Dogs get muscle sprains just as humans do. It can be the dog made a sudden movement while playing that cause the muscle to sprain and become painful. Most non serious sprains usually resolve within 48 hours. However, if the dog is in evident pain and appears uncomfortable you should consult with the vet. He will identify the cause and may prescribe anti-inflammatories such as Rimadyl of Aspirin to give some pain relief. Rest is key to a faster recovery.

-Fractures

Fractures are usually pretty obvious, the leg is not bearing weight, the dog will be in obvious pain most of the time and the leg will appear deformed, swollen and sometimes the bones may be seen protruding out. In some cases, there may extensive bleeding that will need to stopped. It is obvious the dog needs prompt veterinary attention. If possible the dog should be refrained from moving as much as possible. It is helpful to carry the dog.

Growth Related Limping

Large young dogs are prone to problems as they grow. These cases often have a genetic basis. Large puppies develop limping often because they grow too fast putting extra strain on the growth plates. These issue may take place between 2 months old to 2 years old. Calories, protein levels and correct proportions of calcium/phosphorus ratios may be helpful. Here are some common growth related causes of limping:

Growth Related Limping Affected Front and Rear Legs

-Pano

Typically this condition shows up in dogs that are around 6-9 months of age, although in some cases, it may be found in dogs up to 18 months old. What this condition really simply consists of is growing pains. The dog's diseased fatty bone marrow found in the long bones is the culprit. Typically the dog presents with sudden limping without no known injuries but is able to put weight on the leg however, will show obvious pain. Palpating the limb by putting pressure on the middle of the shaft of the long bone or squeezing it usually elicits a pain response from the dog. The lameness may show up sporadically and may shift from leg to leg. Treatment consists mainly of pain management and diet change. While Pano may last 2 to 5 months, with time, the dog comes to a full recovery.

-HOD

Hypertrophic osteodystrophy occurs mainly in puppies between the age of 2-8 months. It is the inflammation of the growth plates. Typically the dog will exhibit pain upon palpating or squeezing the distal end of the long bone (joints). The dog will appear lame, almost as if it walked on egg shells and will also be lethargic, have a fever and lose weight. Upon palpating the joints they may feel hot and they may appear swollen.

-OCD

Osteochondrosis Dissecans

This painful condition is caused by a defect in the cartilage surface found on joints. It may commonly affect the shoulder but may affect other parts of the limb such as elbow, knee, hocks and stifle. In some cases, some cartilage will break free and float around the joint. The condition resolves best with surgery focused on replacing the defective cartilage.

Growth Related Limping Affecting Only Front Legs

-Elbow dysplasia

In this case the top of the ulna is not properly fused to the rear point of the elbow. The dog will appear lame and they will respond to pain when their elbow is extended.

Growth Related Limping Affecting only Rear Legs

Hip Displaysia

The hip joint is a typical ball and socket joint. In Hip Displaysia, because of structural defects, the ball doesnot fit properly in the socket causing relavent symptoms. Hip Displasia is a genetic disorder and all breeding dogs should be screened before mating. Affected dogs will have trouble walking and in particul may have a hard time geting up from lying down.

Non Growth Related Limping

-Bone tumors

Large breed dogs are prone to bone tumors. Affected dogs may develop severe lameness and unexplainable fractures occurring from minimal trauma. Bone cancer is a serious condition in dogs often resulting in amputation of the leg to prevent the cancer from spreading.

-Arthritis

As dogs age the continuous friction of the joints can cause inflammation and arthritis. Affected dogs are usually middle aged to senior and will be reluctant to jump off the car or climb up the stairs. They may walk more slowly and have more pain in the mornings. Anti-inflammatory drugs may work very well. Pet Home Remedies for dog arthritis are available at this pet home remedies website.

-Lyme disease

This disease is carried by ticks. Affected dogs will usually develop an unexplainable limp a few months after the tick exposure. Commonly, the limp will be barely noticeable at first but then will progress up to a point where the dog may be unable to walk. Many dogs affected by Lyme disease are literally carried by the owner into the vet's office. Accompanying symptoms may be fever and lethargy. The disease is treated with antibiotics such as Doxycycline or Cephalexin.

Other Causes

There may be several other causes of limping in dogs. Valley fever, a disease found in the desert South-West may cause a cough accompanied by limping. Neurological disorders may cause the rear legs to give out such as a slipped disc where the out of place disc put pressure of the spinal cord nerves cutting off the messages from the brain to the legs that allow proper movement. The only wat to know for sure is to have a dog seen by a veterinarian and possibly undergo some x-rays or further tests.