There are many possible causes why dogs limp, and the seriousness and the extent of the injury is something that can only be accurately determined by a qualified and experienced veterinarian. Some injuries are just minor and pass by in a few days whereas some have the potential to cause permanent damage to dog health. Either way, it is crucial to get it looked at by a medical professional as soon as possible, so as to avoid any complications in the future.

The reasons for limping depend on a lot of things like the breed, its age, its levels of physical activity, its diet and other daily routines of care. The combination of all these factors contribute towards a specific injury and how it affects a certain animal, and an inexperienced owner is certainly not the best judge about the cause and severity of the problem.

Possible Causes

Limping in dogs can be caused by some deformity in the skeletal structure, damage sustained to some tendon or ligament or muscle, or an inherent problem in the nervous system. Not all cases are caused by external trauma, and there are many reported cases of it but not in pain as well. Scrutiny of the most obvious symptoms can point to the real cause, and suffice to say, it must be appropriately treated immediately.

The age of the dog is another crucial factor in this regard, as younger and older ones are more susceptible to limping. If the pup is younger than twelve months, then a growth deficiency or development disorder is very likely to be the cause of this problem in front leg. Either of these conditions can be the cause on hind leg as well. Younger dogs are more prone to nutritional deficiencies than adults, and this can lead to some serious growth deficiencies down the line. For this reason a proper nutritional regime must be followed since the younger days of the pet, and the owner must also ensure that it gets a healthy dose of exercise on a daily basis. One must also be on the lookout for arthritis.

Older dogs, on the other hand, are very prone to be affected by bone cancer. This can cause a major problem, but there have been some cases of puppies contracting bone cancer as well. Limping on back leg or front leg in old pets could possibly be caused by damaged muscles, torn tendons or ligaments, or deterioration of joints. Certain trauma to the bone can end up causing this discomfort, but some pain killers can be administered for relief. This kind of injury though, can heal over a period of time with proper rest and rehabilitation. Limping can also occasionally be caused by the tearing of the animals nail while running around, so to avoid such a scenario, one must regularly cut the nails of their pet.

As a dog owner you need to observe the movements and the basic behavior of your pet. Look out for signs after laying down as this is the time that an injured animal would limp the most. As the day progresses further, limping reduces considerably as they become more active. The stiffness of the joints and hence the extent of the damage, is most apparent right after they wake up. The paws are also very sensitive so they could be a potential cause of this problem. Examine them to check, if there is no serious damage on the paws, as this can greatly hamper the movement and mobility of a pet. Cuts and swelling are common sights here as dogs are very active creatures by nature.

Lameness is a very real and potent danger, so one needs to be aware and alert at all times. You need to understand the signs and get to the cause as soon as possible. The sooner you get round to doing this, the faster your pet will be able to heal.