Why Is My Dog Limping? 9 Possible Reasons
A dog that starts limping suddenly usually has an injury: something in the paw, a torn or broken nail, a sprain, or, in the back leg, a torn cruciate ligament (the dog version of an ACL tear). A limp that comes on slowly is more often caused by joint problems such as arthritis or hip or elbow dysplasia. If your dog will not put any weight on the leg, is in obvious pain, or the limp lasts more than a day or two, see your vet.
Limping (lameness) is common in dogs, and it is always a sign of pain or a mechanical problem. Here are the most common causes, how to check your dog at home, which signs are an emergency, and what you can do while they heal.
Sudden Limping vs. Gradual Limping
- Sudden limping usually points to an injury: a cut paw pad, a thorn, an insect sting, a broken nail, a sprain, a ligament tear, a dislocation or a fracture.
- Gradual or on-and-off limping is more often caused by a long-term condition such as arthritis, dysplasia, a slipping kneecap, or, less often, a bone tumor or tick-borne disease.
How to Check Your Dog's Leg at Home
- Figure out which leg. Watch your dog walk slowly on a flat surface. With a front-leg limp, the head bobs up when the sore leg hits the ground. With a back-leg limp, the hip on the sore side rises.
- Start at the paw. Check the pads and between the toes for cuts, thorns, splinters, burrs, swelling or stings. Check every nail for cracks or tears.
- Work your way up. Gently feel the leg for swelling, heat or a spot that makes your dog pull away.
- Be careful. A dog in pain may snap, even a gentle one. Stop if your dog is very sore, and let your vet do the exam.
A quick note on food: for your dog, the goal is high protein with fewer calories, and a reduced-fat recipe makes that easy.
KEEP IT LEAN WITH BULLY MAX 25/11 REDUCED FAT FOOD
Chicken-free lamb recipe with 25% protein, 45% less fat, and 415 calories per cup for dogs that need a lighter bowl.
Reason 1: Paw Injuries
Paw problems are among the most common causes of sudden limping. Look for cut pads, thorns or glass, insect stings, burns from hot pavement, a torn nail or an infected nail bed. Overgrown nails can also change how a dog walks. Our guide on how to cut your dog's nails covers safe trimming.
Reason 2: Sprains, Strains and Other Injuries
Rough play, a bad landing or a slip can sprain a joint or strain a muscle. More serious injuries include dislocations and fractures. You will often notice the dog guarding the leg, and with severe injuries they may not put any weight on it at all.
If your dog is limping and yelping after an injury, help them settle in a quiet, comfortable spot and limit movement. If they still will not use the leg, keep crying out, or the leg looks swollen or out of position, contact your vet.
Reason 3: Torn Cruciate Ligament (CCL)
A torn cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) is one of the most common reasons a dog suddenly starts limping on a back leg. The CCL stabilizes the knee. It can tear suddenly during a sprint, jump or quick turn, or wear out gradually and then give way.
Signs include sudden lameness in one back leg, toe-touching or holding the leg up, sitting with the leg sticking out to the side, and stiffness after rest. Large, muscular and athletic dogs, including pit bulls, American Bullies and Rottweilers, are commonly affected, and carrying extra weight raises the risk. Many dogs with a full tear need surgery, so have your vet examine any back-leg limp that does not improve within a few days.
Reason 4: Arthritis
Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease in which the cartilage in the joint slowly wears down, causing pain, stiffness and limping. It is most common in older dogs, large breeds and dogs with past joint injuries or dysplasia, but it can happen to any dog. Dogs with arthritis are often stiffest when they first get up and loosen up as they move. Read more about dog breeds at risk of arthritis.
Reason 5: Hip or Elbow Dysplasia
Hip and elbow dysplasia are inherited conditions in which the joint does not form properly, causing looseness, pain and eventually arthritis. Large breeds are most at risk, including Rottweilers, German Shepherds, Great Danes, Cane Corsos and many bully breeds. Hip dysplasia affects the back legs; elbow dysplasia affects the front legs.
Signs can show up in young dogs or later in life and include a bunny-hopping gait, trouble getting up, reluctance to climb stairs and limping after exercise. Keeping your dog lean is one of the most helpful things you can do, because extra weight puts more load on painful joints. Our dog weight chart can help you find your dog's ideal weight.
Keeping a large dog lean helps take extra load off the joints. A lower-fat recipe can make weight control easier for less active dogs.
TRY BULLY MAX 25/11 REDUCED FAT DOG FOOD
Chicken-free lamb recipe with 25% protein, 45% less fat, and 415 calories per cup for dogs that need a lighter bowl.
Reason 6: Luxating Patella (Slipping Kneecap)
A luxating patella is a kneecap that slips out of place. Dogs often skip for a few steps, holding a back leg up, and then go back to walking normally. It is common in small breeds and can also affect bully breeds. Mild cases may only need monitoring; severe cases may need surgery.
Reason 7: Disc Disease
Intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) happens when the cushions between the spinal bones bulge or rupture and press on the spinal cord. It usually affects the back legs. Along with a back-leg limp or wobbly walk, signs include a hunched back, back pain, reluctance to move, and in severe cases weakness, paralysis or loss of bladder control. Sudden weakness or paralysis is an emergency.
Reason 8: Lyme Disease and Other Tick-Borne Illness
Lyme disease is spread by tick bites. It can cause swollen, painful joints and a limp that shifts from leg to leg and comes and goes. Fever, low energy and loss of appetite often come with it. If your dog has recurring or shifting lameness, ask your vet about tick-borne disease testing, and keep your dog on a vet-recommended tick preventive.
Reason 9: Bone Conditions in Puppies and Bone Cancer
Large-breed puppies, usually between about 5 and 18 months old, can develop panosteitis ("growing pains") or hypertrophic osteodystrophy. Both cause painful bone inflammation and limping. Panosteitis often shifts between legs and usually resolves as the puppy matures, but your vet should confirm the diagnosis and manage pain.
In older large and giant breeds, a persistent limp with swelling near a joint can be a sign of bone cancer (osteosarcoma). This is less common than the causes above, but it is one reason a limp that does not go away needs X-rays.
American Bully Back Leg Problems
American Bullies, pit bulls and other muscular bully breeds are powerful, athletic dogs, and their back legs take a lot of force. The back-leg problems owners see most often are:
- CCL tears from jumping, sprinting and sharp turns, especially in heavier or overweight dogs.
- Hip dysplasia, an inherited joint problem.
- Luxating patella, including in some pocket and exotic bullies with shorter, more angled legs.
- Muscle strains from hard play without a warm-up.
To lower the risk, keep your dog lean, build muscle with steady, controlled exercise rather than weekend-warrior bursts, avoid repeated high jumps for young dogs whose growth plates have not closed, and buy from breeders who health-test parents. Our guide to common pitbull health issues covers other conditions to watch for.
When to Call Your Vet
Go to the vet right away if your dog:
- Will not put any weight on the leg, or the leg is dangling or at an odd angle
- Has an obvious fracture, a deep wound or heavy bleeding
- Has a swollen or hot leg or joint
- Shows weakness or paralysis in the back legs, or loses bladder control
- Has a fever, is lethargic, or seems to be in severe pain that does not ease
For a mild limp with no other symptoms, it is reasonable to rest your dog and watch for 24 to 48 hours. If the limp is not clearly improving by then, keeps coming back, or has been there for a while, schedule a vet visit.
Caring for Minor Injuries at Home
For a minor cut or scrape, rinse with clean water and mild soap and keep it clean. If there is a splinter or thorn you can see clearly, you can carefully remove it with tweezers and clean the area. Apply gentle pressure with clean gauze to stop minor bleeding. A cold pack wrapped in a towel for 10 to 15 minutes can help with minor swelling.
Never give your dog human pain relievers such as ibuprofen, naproxen or acetaminophen. They can be toxic to dogs. If your dog needs pain relief, your vet can prescribe a dog-safe medication.
Rest is the most important treatment. Keep walks short and on a leash, and avoid running, jumping and rough play until the limp is completely gone and your vet says it is OK.
Once your vet gives the all-clear, some owners add a daily chew with joint support to their dog's routine.
SUPPORT DAILY HEALTH WITH BULLY MAX 9 IN 1
Easy bacon-flavored soft chews with gut, joint, immune, skin, coat, heart, and brain support in one daily chew.
FAQ
Why is my dog limping but not in pain?
Dogs hide pain well. A limp almost always means some discomfort or a mechanical problem, even if your dog does not cry or seem upset.
Why is my dog limping on a back leg?
Common causes are a CCL tear, hip dysplasia, a slipping kneecap, a paw injury, a strain or arthritis. A sudden back-leg limp in an active, heavy dog is often a CCL injury.
Will a dog's limp go away on its own?
Minor sprains and bruises often improve with a few days of rest. Ligament tears, fractures, dysplasia and arthritis need a vet.
Dogs cannot tell us when something hurts, so a limp is one of the clearest signals we get. Check your dog's leg, rest them, and get help early if it does not improve.
Original article by: Samantha from topdogtips.com. Updated by the Bully Max team.
