Numerous issues can cause your dog to favor a limb, some more serious than others. Our WestVets Emergency Veterinary Clinic team knows you don’t want your precious pup to be in pain, and we provide valuable information you need to understand if your dog is limping. 

Dog limping causes

Dog limping causes are innumerable. However, the following conditions commonly cause dogs to limp:

  • Arthritis — Arthritis is a progressive disease that causes cartilage degeneration, leading to joint pain and inflammation. The condition can affect dogs of any age but senior dogs most commonly develop this disease.
  • Nail injury — A nail injury can be terribly painful for your dog, especially if the quick is exposed. In addition, overgrown nails can cause your four-legged friend discomfort.
  • Paw pad injury — Your dog’s paw pads are vulnerable to injuries, such as lacerations, puncture wounds, and burns, and an injured paw pad can make walking extremely difficult for your furry pal.
  • Cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) tear — A CCL tear is one of dogs’ most common hind limb lameness causes. This injury can occur in young, athletic dogs, but is most often a progressive, degenerative condition that affects large-breed canines, occurring over months or years. 
  • Orthopedic developmental disease — Orthopedic developmental diseases, such as hip and elbow dysplasia and luxating patella, frequently lead to arthritis, resulting in joint pain.
  • Fracture — Trauma from being hit by a car, falling from an elevated surface, or other similar events can cause bone fractures. These injuries typically result in limping, but the limp intensity depends on the bone affected and the fracture severity.
  • Tick-borne illness — Tick-borne illnesses, such as Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever, can cause joint inflammation and pain.
  • Cancer — Osteosarcoma and other cancers that affect the long bones and surrounding tissue can cause a dog to limp.
  • Intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) — Pressure on your dog’s spinal cord can lead to gait abnormalities.

Dog limping assessment

If your dog is favoring a limb, you can perform an assessment before you call your veterinarian. To help determine the cause of your dog’s limp, follow these tips:

  • Determining the limb that is affected — When a dog has a front limb lameness, their head elevates when the painful limb is on the ground. With a hind limb lameness, their hips elevate when the affected limb is on the ground. In cases where multiple limbs are affected, your pet may walk stiffly or with an odd gait.
  • Practicing safety — If your dog is in pain, they may lash out if you inadvertently hurt them when evaluating their limb. Have someone help you restrain your dog if possible, and use a muzzle to prevent a bite wound.
  • Assessing your dog’s paws — Evaluate your dog’s nails to determine if they are too long or if one is torn. Also, look at their paw pads for injuries.
  • Palpating your dog’s limbs — Palpate your dog’s limbs, looking for swelling, pain, or any obvious wound.
  • Noticing your dog’s reaction — When assessing your dog’s limbs, look for reactions that indicate discomfort. Examples include a slight muscle twitch, whimpering or whining, a head turn, and jerking the limb away.

Dog limping emergencies

In many cases, your dog’s limp can wait to be evaluated during a regularly scheduled veterinary appointment. However, limping is an emergency if your dog has:

  • Obvious fracture or dislocation
  • Significant trauma (e.g., hit by a car)
  • Significant swelling
  • Limping progressing to weakness or paralysis
  • An open wound 
  • Obvious pain or discomfort (e.g., whining, vocalizing, refusing to move)
  • Other present signs (e.g., decreased appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, fever)

Dog limping home care

If your dog’s limp does not require emergency care, you can help them recover at home before their scheduled veterinary appointment. To provide your dog with limping care at home, follow these tips:

  • Limit your dog’s activity — In some cases, rest can resolve the issue, and in other cases, restricted movement is necessary to prevent further injury. Keep your dog confined to their crate or a small room without furniture and only take them for short leashed walks for bathroom breaks.
  • Trim your dog’s nails — If your dog’s nails are overgrown, trim them so they don’t extend past their paw pads’ edges.
  • Ice the affected area — If you know which of your dog’s limbs is painful, ice the area. Place a towel between the ice pack and their limb and apply the pack for 20 minutes. Keep the ice pack off for 40 minutes before icing their limb again. Applying ice helps decrease inflammation, swelling, and pain.
  • Don’t administer medication — Many over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription medications for people are dangerous for pets. Never give your pet medication without first consulting your veterinarian.

Dog limping treatment

Your dog’s professional veterinary treatment will depend on their limp’s cause. Potential treatment strategies include:

  • Pain medications — Your veterinarian may prescribe nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) or other medications to help relieve your dog’s pain and reduce the affected limb’s inflammation.
  • Rehabilitation exercises — In some cases, rehabilitation exercises are helpful to improve muscle strength and increase limb function.
  • Weight management — If your dog has a condition, such as arthritis, hip and elbow dysplasia, or CCL injury, your veterinarian may recommend a weight loss program to relieve your pet’s joint strain.
  • Surgery — In some cases, surgery is necessary to alleviate a dog’s limp.

If your dog’s limp requires emergency veterinary attention, contact our WestVets Emergency Veterinary Clinic team to ensure your furry pal receives immediate and comprehensive care.