My dog is limping. Is this an emergency?

Sep 28

5 min read

You’ve noticed your dog suddenly limping on one of their legs. Maybe they’ve come in from the garden holding it up, started limping after a walk, or you’ve noticed they’re just not quite moving normally.

So, do you need to call the vet for an emergency appointment?

The short answer is: probably not.

The majority of mild limps do not warrant an emergency assessment. A mild limp in an otherwise bright, comfortable dog with no history of significant trauma, may be reasonable to monitor for a short period. But a dog who is very painful, unable to use the leg, has suffered significant trauma or is unwell in themselves should be assessed more urgently.

When should I contact a vet urgently?

I’d recommend contacting your vet straight away if:

your dog cannot put any weight on the leg at all
they are in significant pain, distressed or unable to settle
the leg looks swollen, deformed or sits at an unusual angle
there is a wound, significant bleeding or you can see bone that suggests a fracture/break
they have been hit by a car, fallen from a height or had another significant accident
they are dragging the leg, knuckling the paw over or seem unable to use it normally
they suddenly can't stand or walk properly
they seem unwell as well as lame or example, very quiet, weak or collapsed.

Fractures commonly cause severe lameness, pain and swelling with a history of an accident or trauma, although it is important to know that some dogs with a fracture can still put some weight on the leg. Open fractures, where there is a wound communicating with the broken bone, are particularly urgent because of the risk of contamination and infection.

And if the limp followed something like a road traffic accident, the leg may not actually be the most important problem. Significant trauma can also cause injuries to the chest or abdomen that aren't immediately obvious from the outside.

What if my dog is still walking on it?

This is where things become a little less black and white.

If your dog is:

still comfortably weight-bearing
bright and behaving normally
eating and drinking
not showing obvious signs of significant pain
and there hasn't been any major trauma

then it may be reasonable to rest them and monitor them initially where you can assess if things get better, or worse. If the limping continues then your dog may require some pain relief and anti inflammatory prescribed by a vet at the very least.

What can cause a limp?

There are lots of possibilities, and the age, breed, history and way your dog is limping all help us narrow them down.

Some of the more common things I think about include:

- Something in the paw - A torn nail, cut pad, thorn, grass seed or something stuck between the toes can all make a dog suddenly lame. Often dogs will chew verociously at their feet in this instance.

- A muscle or soft-tissue injury - Dogs can strain muscles and other soft tissues just as we can, particularly after running, jumping or slipping.

- Cranial cruciate ligament disease - This is a very common cause of back-leg lameness. Contrary to what owners sometimes expect, it isn't always caused by one dramatic accident. In many dogs the ligament has been gradually degenerating before it eventually partially or completely tears.

- A luxating patella. This is where the kneecap moves out of its normal groove. Some dogs suddenly hold a back leg up for a few steps, almost like a skip, before carrying on normally again. We commonly see this in breeds with short bendy legs!

- Arthritis or another joint problem. These dogs may be particularly stiff after resting, slower to get up or less willing to jump, climb stairs or exercise.

- A fracture or dislocation. These are particularly important following trauma and would be impossible to miss considering how painful they’d be, Hip dislocation, for example, is painful and usually causes a marked change in how the dog carries or uses the leg. A fracture will result in significant pain too and most of the time, the inability to use the leg all together.

- Other - Occasionally what looks like a leg problem isn't actually coming from the leg itself. Problems affecting the skin can cause limping eg dermatitis/allergies. Damage to the spine or nerves in the neck or back can alter how a dog walks and uses a limb, which is why things such as dragging or knuckling the paw deserve veterinary attention.

Should I rest my dog whilst waiting for an appointment?

Yes. Until you know why your dog is lame, I would avoid the temptation to take them for another walk to “see if they loosen up” Keep exercise controlled:

short lead trips for toileting
no running
no ball chasing
avoid jumping on and off furniture
avoid stairs where practical.

How long can I monitor a mild limp?

If the limp is genuinely mild, your dog is otherwise completely well and there are none of the red flags above, a short period of rest and observation can be reasonable.

But I wouldn't ignore a limp that persists, repeatedly comes back or is getting worse.

Lameness is a sign of discomfort, even in dogs who aren't crying or obviously showing pain. This is particularly relevant with conditions such as cruciate disease, where dogs can continue to function despite an ongoing painful knee problem.

If you're unsure, ring your veterinary practice. Telling them:

when the limp started
whether your dog can put weight on the leg
whether there was an accident or injury
whether there is swelling or a wound
and whether your dog is otherwise well

This will help them decide how quickly your dog needs to be seen.

What will my vet do?

The first step is usually watching your dog walk and carrying out an orthopaedic examination checking the way the legs feel and move.

We often work systematically down the limb, feeling the bones and joints, checking movement and looking for pain, swelling, instability or differences in the amount of muscle. We will check the skin too. Sometimes the source of the lameness is quite obvious from the examination alone.

Depending on what we find, the next step might include advising rest and pain relief. We also advise X-rays under sedation or anaesthesia if limping is severe and.or isn’t improving. Some knee problems, including cruciate ligament disease and patellar luxation, can often be suspected or diagnosed during a hands-on examination, although imaging after some sedation may be needed to assess the joint further or plan treatment.

Louisa's bottom line

Most of the time a limping dog does not classify as an emergency. if they're still comfortably using the leg, otherwise completely well and there has been no significant trauma, a short period of rest and monitoring may be appropriate.

If they can't use the leg, are very painful, have obvious swelling, deformity or a fracture, have suffered significant trauma, are dragging the leg or are unwell in themselves, contact your vet promptly.

And if that mild limp isn't settling, keeps coming back or is getting worse, it deserves investigating too.

When in doubt, call your vet. We'd much rather help you decide whether something needs seeing than have you sitting at home worrying about it.