Limping Dog on a Rear Leg: Things to Consider

[andreaoldham]

My 70 pound pit mix dog was diagnosed with a cruciate ligament tear, but there was no "drawer" movement in her knees. The vet wasn't very clear about the x-rays, but said there could me a mild to moderate tear in both knees. She only limps after sleeping and riding for a long period of time and when she is active, but I've tried to limit that and she is on a diet. Can there be another diagnosis? I've taken her to 3 different vets and 2 didn't even look at the x-rays. Thank you.

[DrGregDVM]

@andreaoldham Pitts commonly injure their ACL ligaments but other causes of pain in the hindquarters could be from the lower back or the hips. These other causes should be visible on the x rays or feeling when the pain comes from. If the stifles are extended and they hurt,that's where the problem is.Be thankful that the pain is mild. Make sure she gets glucosamine chondroitin daily 1 cap or a chicken wing 2-3x weekly(Dog Dish Diet) Fish oil caps 1-2 daily also help

[panbazo007]

The radiograph also help to visualize the bone stucture for tumors, infections hair line fractures.

[DrGregDVM]

@panbazo007 Thanks for the additional diagnostic rule outs. For the lay public I often don't make it too complicated. But for students, techs, and vets watching I should include everything!

[TheAM2333]

help my dog is like swollen in the front leg there's like a bump in the middle part of the leg what should I do

[DrGregDVM]

@TheAM2333 If it is really painful and wobbly get it checked. Could be a bite sting or break. Aspirin or benadryl may help. Check free home remedies dogdishdietcom

[TheAM2333]

@DrGregDVM help again this time my dogs leg just spieled blood from his leg and now his paw is swollen too help!

[DrGregDVM]

@TheAM2333 check for wounds and clean them up. Get him checked if big cuts, bumps, pain, or infection.

[ninjafreak11]

My 3 year old brittany Spaniel was running and energetic today, and tonight he is limping but walking in a bad way. Any suggestions?

[DrGregDVM]

@ninjafreak11 Try one adult aspirin twice daily and if it is a sprain, it will improve. If not then get it checked out. I can't tell what walking in a bad way means...could be a back strain, which aspirin can help. Could be lots of things.If he's sick get him checked out

[bigcloud950]

@DrGregDVM Dear Dr.Greg are you saying i can actually give my dog with a broke leg asprin like asprin for me and you?

[DrGregDVM]

@bigcloud950 I adult aspirin per thirty pounds twice daily helps a bunch!

[bigcloud950]

@DrGregDVM would that be like over dosing? b/c my dog weights like 75 pounds

[DrGregDVM]

@bigcloud950 A 75 pound dog could get 1-2 aspirin twice daily for a few days

[bigcloud950]

@DrGregDVM oh ok thanks doc but like my dog cant come in b/c we have steps that lead to the front door and she cant come up do you know any tips on how to get her in -Bigcloud950

[DrGregDVM]

@bigcloud950 Couple people and lift

[DialgaPalkiaLover]

I have A Bichon Frise that's 2 years old. Today in the afternoon she was playful and happy an energetic. Then in the evening my younger brother spotted her with one of her hind legs up. When she sits down she can move it, and sometimes she will put little pressure. But whenever she walks, she puts the hind leg up. What do you think happened?

[DrGregDVM]

@DialgaPalkiaLover They often pull muscles or strain the leg during play. Sometimes the kneecap or patella is a bit sore. Try a baby aspirin twice daily for three days. If it gets worse , get it checked out

[DrGregDVM]

She may have a muscle pull or joint strain. It usually takes a few days to a week to heal. if it gets worse, it should be checked

[Skeletonwitharaygun]

And she's walking normally again today.

Jumping off and of couches and beds etc

I gently squeezed her leg from the toes up to the thigh.

She had little reaction.

Any idea what might be wrong?

[Skeletonwitharaygun]

Hello Dr.Greg.I see you get a ton of questions.

And it probably gets annoying after awhile.

But Ive got one that Id really like help with.

My dog(Chihuahua) was playing with another one of my dogs yesterday on my couch.

She jumped really far OFF the couch.

As soon as she hit the ground she screamed.And whined for about two minutes.

But eventually stopped and started walking like nothing happend.

But hours later just before bed.

She was just walking and suddenly acted as she was in a lot of pain.

[DrGregDVM]

@Ax2SG Probably strained or pulled a muscle and should be fine in a few days

[DaniJones14]

what can you give a dog for pain relief? I can't afford the vet bill, but my dashund jumped off the bed and hurt his back hip

[DrGregDVM]

@DaniJones14 I baby aspirin per ten pounds twice daily.

[loveacarrot]

My chihuahua was totally normals one day and the next started limping on one hind leg and then all legs went out , they said was due to brain stem swelling. He regained the use of his legs with an anti inflammatory shot but he was never the same, walked like he was drunk and lived two more years like that before passing. I wish I knew what was wrong with him and if there was anything that could have helped him regain his health.

[DrGregDVM]

@loveacarrot Many chi's are plagued with brain injuries due to inbreeding. Unfortunately breeding for small size and big heads causes problems for some. Chi mixes will be healthier

[MaYHeM12341]

Could Someone Help Me Out Please My 3 Months Old Akita Is Limping And His Foot Got Stuck In Between A Door But The Didnt Fully Close And We Opened Straight It Could Still Walk But Every 1 Min It Lifts It Foot Up What Can I Do ?

[iALcHeMiisTx]

hi doctor, so I have a question. My dog is about to be 8yrs. old and lately he has been experiencing some health issues he has neck pain as well as two bad ear infections but everyday i give him his medication and trying to take care of him since he's in so much pain now I'm starting to notice he is avoiding to put added pressure on his front paw causing him to limp could this be from the ear infections?

[DrGregDVM]

@iALcHeMiisTx Probably not from ear infections. Probably sore from neck arthritis, or arthritis in his elbow or wrist. Is he on chondroitin/glucosamine or pain relievers? Ears infections can be caused by food allergies. Check out dogdishdietcom

[SuperFancycheese]

Hi dr. today i was playing with my dachshund femal and since i live in a apartment we went out for a walk and all of a sudden she slipped coming downstars and got scratched up and when she stood up she started limping ishe didnt yelp or cry? so i picked her up and i messaged her leg and it didnt hurt her she then started running againg acting the same should i take her to the vet?

[DrGregDVM]

@SuperFancycheese It sounds like she is fine. If she starts limping again, have her checked out

[sav0405]

so his left rear paw is in real pain i can't tell if its swollen. he isn't wimpering or anything, just laying in the back of his crate. i'm thinking its just a sprain but i guess it could be broken. should i wait a few days or take him to the vet asap

[sav0405]

hi, my dog jumped off our couch today and when he landed he kinda yelped like when you accidently step on his foot a little. well he freaked out, hurried to his crate, and hasn't come out since. I tried enticing him out with a treat and he struggled to get out of his crate and didn't want to use his left rear paw at all. when he finally put weight on it, he took one step towards the treat, and then limped back into his crate, not even getting the treat. HE LOVES THOSE TREATS.

[DrGregDVM]

@sav0405 Sounds like he hurt it when he jumped out, May have broken something. Try aspirin 1 pill per 30 pounds twice daily for a day and if he is not better take him in to be checked out

[sav0405]

@DrGregDVM ok i will. thank you! you're videos are great btw!

[Claya94]

my dog limps sometimes after shes been laying down for a while, she's a rottweiler( not pure though) shes only three, any ideas?

[DrGregDVM]

@Claya94 Does she limp front or back? Her back or hips may be sore if the back end is stiff or hurt

[Claya94]

@DrGregDVM back leg, sometimes it happens randomly, do you recommend an xray?

[DrGregDVM]

@Claya94 An xray of the back and hips would be real helpful in case she had hip dysplasia.

[DrGregDVM]

@Claya94 My own lab randomly limps on occasion and I xrayed everything. Turns out it's just him. You might not find anything in the xrays

[SSRedBaron1]

He is an Akita/ German Shepard mix and he is a little over a year old, he is a big active dog about 85 pounds. Yes I looked and nothing wrong with the pads of his feet and could not really tell about the swelling.

[DrGregDVM]

@SSRedBaron1 If he is growing fast, he could have painful joints that will get better in a few weeks. Give two aspirins twice daily for discomfort for a week to see if that helps. He could have pulled or strained a muscle. Get the leg checked out if it gets worse.

[SSRedBaron1]

Hi my dog has been limping for four days now. It's his hind left leg, in which he does not apply any pressure on whatsoever. And he is to fidgety to even let you really check things out, very protective of it. Do you have any ideas on what it could be?

[DrGregDVM]

@SSRedBaron1 What kind of dog? How old? Did you check the nails, pads, and leg for swelling?

[elibeth121]

worried about my small dog who is very bowl legged front and back. I am worried about arthritis.

[DrGregDVM]

@elibeth121 I have seen many bowlegged dogs do just fine. No reason to worry too much if the way he or she gets around seems ok and not painful

[mybeautifulbailey]

Thank you. Sorry about the spelling at times...it's my new iPad...still getting used to it. I am in the Central Valley...not too terribly far from you. Thanks again for your help :)

[DrGregDVM]

@mybeautifulbailey You are welcome glad to help

[mybeautifulbailey]

On the sx leg 2 weeks ago, she is holding it up at intermittent times, and not for log. Do you think it's just part of the healing process?

[DrGregDVM]

@mybeautifulbailey Sounds like part of the healing process. It's great she's putting weight on it.

[mybeautifulbailey]

Hi Dr. Where are you located? My dog just had the traditional lateral suture repair in both knees. One 3 months ago, the other 2 weeks ago. The vet surgeon is 2.5 hours away, and the f/u is a couple of weeks away. I do her a strange sound coming from the surgery leg, 2 weeks ago, I've been told it may be a meniscal click. I am worried about this, how can it be the meniscus? I was checked at the time of sx, and was intact...I don't think a release was done. Ok, hope to hear back. I haven'

[DrGregDVM]

@mybeautifulbailey You didn't say it was painful, so it may be the suture rubbing. Often the stabilizing suture may rub across the side of the joint and make a sound. Once your dog starts walking with more weight on it, it make stop rubbing. It could also be the meniscus, but that usually doesn't make too much noise. My practice is in the garlic capital of the world Gilroy, Ca

[SeanydoggTV]

If I try to check my dogs foot she try's to bite me... Or lick the crap out I my hand... How do I check with out her freaking out or interrupting

[DrGregDVM]

@SeanydoggTV Feed her when you are looking or have someone hold her.

[artistictaurus]

should I exercise my dog's leg, like still take him for a walk?

[DrGregDVM]

@artistictaurus What happened to your dog? If it is putting weight on the leg and comfortable, moving and using the muscles and joints helps with healing. However if there is pain, exercise may cause problems

[firax456]

my shih tzu is kind of old and he started limping on and off about 2 weeks ago. its a mild limp but it only gets worse when he walks alot. i noticed a while back a piece of his toe nail came off, but i checked the limping leg(front) and i didnt find anything wrong with the nails. ill check his leg once again and probably take him to a vet if hes still limping.

[DrGregDVM]

@firax456 Could be arthritis in the hips or back. His patellas may be slipping in and out also. You can use 1 pill glucosamine/chondroitin/msm daily for joint pain and 1 baby aspirin a couple times a day for a few days to see if it helps.

[DrGregDVM]

He may have pulled a muscle, but if it keeps hurting him in a week or two he could have injured his ACL ligament in his knee. Young growing dogs can be painful because they are growing so fast and their growth plates ache. You can use one aspirin per thirty pounds twice daily if he hurts

[MrSainiman]

hi, my 6 month old rottweiler started to limp around after being a bit clumsy and tripping over a ball as he was running at full speed..... it looks like its getting better.... he can jump and he still runs around.... but at random times he lets out a little whine and limps for a few mins and he can still put weight on the leg

[SensualCoconuts07]

my shih is still limping i thought my sister kicked her again but i saw her paws swelling and loosing hair, reddish and dry so its fungal infection ? so i used nizoral anti fungal but her small paw is still swelling i stopped using micocyde coz its no longer working for her i dry her up right away so her paws will not be moist and use vinegar on her paws i hope it will work for her

[DrGregDVM]

@SensualCoconuts07 Shih's are ofter very allergic to grasses and their paws get very red and inflamed. Try some cortisone ointment from the drugstore, That will sometimes help also

[willychavez22]

@DrGregDVM my dog lola is limping:( and we took her to walk when we dont really walk her and she's limping i didnt go to the park but im sooo worried about her shes a poodle 1 year old does she have a pulled muscle or something cuase im so worried for her

[DrGregDVM]

@willychavez22 Poodles have tweaky kneecaps. Google luxating patellas. Not painful...mechanical. She may grow out of it . If not that poodles sometimes have hip problems. Exercise her and if improves, its the kneecap going in and out.

[dwewe622]

they I just wish the other vets weren't so slanderous regarding info shared as such. They make me feel like if I listen to advice posted freely this way I am not doing what is in this best interest for them and that's how the "kind" ones act. Thanks for not caring what they think and posting anyway. Also your videos are very "layman" which is also helpful.

[DrGregDVM]

@dwewe622 There are many common things that everyone can check for. Glad these videos help.Thanks for watching

[dwewe622]

Thanks so much for ALL your info. Most vets hold their info for the very expensive visits only. Your love for animals versus making money is very imperative and comforting in times when our desperate need for info when they are hurt. (cont)

[photofrose25]

Thank you so much for this information! your videos are always a delight to watch and so informative thanks again!

[ibelieveintrees]

I love your video's, thanks so much for posting. :)