Do overweight dogs limp

Dog Limping: Possible Causes and Solutions from a Vet

Key points

• Dogs can limp due to damage from injuries to their soft tissues, like ligaments, muscles, and tendons.
• Soft tissue injuries sometimes settle with a period of rest and anti-inflammatory medication.
• If your dog isnt putting any weight on their leg, this can signify a fracture or other serious injury.
• If your dog is in pain, not weight-bearing, or if they dont improve with 24 hours rest, you should take them to a veterinarian for an examination.
• Your veterinarian may need to take x-rays to make a diagnosis.

Common in:

Any dog is susceptible to an injury that causes them to limp. However, certain conditions are more common in particular groups, including young puppies, older dogs, certain breeds, or overweight dogs.

Symptoms and types:

• Soft tissue injuries are quite common in dogs and are the equivalent of sprains, strains, and pulled muscles in people. Soft tissue injuries can involve any tissue that isnt bone or cartilage, including tendons, ligaments, and muscles. If your dog has a soft tissue injury, they will still be able to put some weight on their leg most of the time. You may find that they improve with rest at home, but they might also need a course of anti-inflammatory medication.

• Bone, cartilage, and joint damage will often cause your dog to hold their leg up and hop rather than bearing any weight. You might also notice that part of the leg is swollen or get the sense that part of the leg is dangling and unstable. Dogs with fractures or other serious injuries can be in a great deal of pain, so they may lash out if you try to touch them.

• Other causes can lead to different symptoms. If there is an infection, you might notice your dog is acting unwell and off their food. You might also see a wound, heat, or swelling of the leg. If your dog has arthritis, you might notice they gradually become stiff or lame, and it might be worse in colder weather, after a lie-down, or after a long walk.

If your dog is limping a little but still putting weight on their leg, you can try resting them for 24 hours to see if the limp improves.

Understanding the diagnostics

To find out what is causing your dog to limp, a member of our veterinary team will need to examine the leg. They will check each joint for flexibility, stability, and smooth motion. Theyll also check the entire leg for any wounds, swelling, heat, or signs of pain. They might also check your dogs temperature to rule out an infection.

If the veterinarian cant find anything wrong on examination or only mild discomfort, they may diagnose a soft tissue injury without needing any more tests. However, if your dog looks pretty sore, or if their leg doesnt feel quite right, they will recommend an x-ray to check for a fracture and assess the health of the joints and surrounding tissues. In some cases, a more detailed scan like a CT or MRI scan might be needed.

Learning about the causes

Your dog might limp for a variety of reasons.

• If they have been particularly active or had a fall or other mishap, the trauma can cause an injury to their bone, joints, or soft tissue. The most severe of these injuries include joint dislocations, bone fractures, and ligament rupture. The most common ligament rupture is to the Cruciate Ligament in the knee joint.

• Arthritis can also cause your dog to limp. This is most common in older dogs, those who have had previous injuries, or those who have conditions like hip or elbow dysplasia. Arthritis is caused by wear and tear on the joints and cartilage, and this can happen more quickly if your dog is overweight.

• Young dogs and puppies can sometimes limp if their bone growth or development is abnormal. They are also prone to fractures or damage to their growth plates, the weakest part of their young bones.

• Dogs might also limp if they have an infection from a wound or splinter or if they have a reaction to an insect bite or sting. Injuries to their nails and pads can also cause limping, so keeping their nails short is essential.

If your dog is acting unwell, wont put any weight on their leg, or seems in a lot of pain, you should take them to the veterinary clinic without delay.

Best treatment options

Most soft tissue injuries can be treated with a period of rest and a course of anti-inflammatory medication. Often, five to seven days of treatment is enough to heal the damage. At this point, you can gradually build up their exercise again.

Certain bone fractures, ligament, and tendon injuries can be fixed with a splint or cast, just like in humans. However, surgery is often needed to place screws, plates, pins, or wires to anchor the bones in place. Dislocated joints need to be replaced under anesthetic, and sometimes surgery is required to stop the dislocation from happening again.

Infections, minor wounds, insect bites, and stings can be treated medically with pain relief, antibiotics, or antihistamines. But more significant wounds may need stitches to help the skin heal faster.

Home remedies and their effectiveness

If your dog is limping a little but still putting weight on their leg, you can try resting them for 24 hours to see if the limp improves. However, if they are acting unwell, have any wounds, or have a severe limp, it is not safe to try this first. You should never give any medication to your dog without checking with one of our veterinarians first.

If your dog is overweight and regularly has bouts of limping, you should consider helping them shed a few pounds. Extra weight through the joints can cause wear and tear damage and can worsen conditions like arthritis.

When to see a vet

If your dog is acting unwell, wont put any weight on their leg, or seems in a lot of pain, you should take them to the veterinary clinic without delay. If the limp is less severe and they are well otherwise, you can try resting them for 24 hours. However, if there is no improvement at this time, you should make an appointment with one of our veterinarians. They will be able to provide pain relief and check that the injury isnt too serious.

8 Ways to Help Your Overweight Dog

Most of the time, its a joy to share things with our dogs. Unfortunately, we share bad habits, too. It turns out our dogs are just as prone to one of our most common health problems obesity.

A few extra pounds on your pup can have serious health implications, putting your dog at risk of experiencing a wide range of diseases and conditions, including a reduced life expectancy. Added weight can also impact your dogs quality of life by affecting their mobility, energy for play, and overall mood.

As in humans, we now recognize obesity as the most important medical disease that affects our companion animals, says Dr. Alex German of the University of Liverpool/Royal Canin Weight Management Clinic.

Talk to your veterinarian for information and guidance when it comes to your dogs diet and potential weight-loss plan. In the meantime, here are eight ways you can start to help your overweight dog.

1. Know Your Dogs Healthy Weight

Different breeds and ages have different healthy weight ranges. Check what the AKC breed standard says about the ideal weight for your breed. If your dog is beyond that range, consult your vet. Its best to get a professionals help as you assess your pets accurate weight, body condition, and diet, determine if the dog would benefit from a weight-loss plan, and set a target weight to work toward.

Note that some dogs may be shorter or taller than their breed standard requirements, so the ideal weight would be within those dogs breed standard height descriptions.

2. Keep Your Dog Active

Just like humans, exercise is crucial when it comes to helping your overweight dog get healthy. Increasing your dogs activity helps burn off energy (and calories consumed).

Dont panic! Exercising your pet doesnt have to mean running marathons or going for long hikes. Regular walks and the chance to run and play in a safe off-leash environment are good forms of exercise for your dog. Participating in AKC FIT DOG is a great way for you to get moving with your pet.

Even creating a stimulating indoor environment that gets your dog moving can help. Remember, different breeds need different amounts of exercise, so consult your vet, breeder, or your dogs breed standard for guidance on how much activity is recommended.

3. Know the Difference Between Begging and Hunger

Begging is not always about wanting more to eat. In fact, its often a ploy to get more attention. (And, when its rewarded, you reinforce and encourage the behavior to continue.) If your dog begs, dont assume that theyre hungry. Trust your instincts and keep track of when the last mealtime was.

If your dog is prone to begging and youre prone to giving in to those puppy dog eyes, talk to your vet about a high-protein diet with a blend of fibers to help manage your dogs appetite and reduce their voluntary food intake. That way, you can feed your dog while knowing that they will feel fuller and stay satisfied longer.

4. Limit Treats and Table Scraps

Even when our dogs dont beg, many of us volunteer too many treats and table scraps. Dogs dont need to share everything we eat. Think of treats and scraps for your pet as you would candy for children to help you keep them to a minimum.

If you use treats for training, look for low-calorie, low-fat options and limit the amount. As an alternative, remember that clickers work great for reinforcement, and theyve got zero calories! After all, a few extra pounds can make a huge difference for dogs, who are much smaller than we are. (Even those large breeds!) So, concentrate on a healthy diet, and curb the urge to treat them with more.

5. Measure and Monitor

Once your vet has designed a weight-management plan, you should have a clear idea of how much your dog should eat at each meal. Be vigilant. Dont free-feed or eyeball how much you scoop out. Instead, use an appropriate measuring device to ensure youre managing portion control.

6. Customize Your Dogs Diet

Not all weight-loss foods are created equal, so its important to match your dog with a nutrition plan that directly addresses their specific needs. Look for a brand that offers dog food designed for your pets own issues, whether its weight management, sensitive stomachs, or something else entirely.

7. Dont Go Cold Turkey

No, this isnt about feeding your dog leftovers. Its important to ease your dog into a new diet, rather than abruptly changing what they eat. Always consult with your vet before starting your dog on a new regimen. A good guideline is to plan for at least a seven-day transition when starting a new type of food. Heres what that could look like:

• On the first two days, feed your dog 75% of their old food and 25% of the new food.
• On the third and fourth days, increase the percentage of new food to 50%, with the other 50% being the old food.
• On the fifth and sixth days, feed your dog 75% of the new food, and 25% of the old food.
• By the seventh day, you should be up to 100% of the new food.

8. Stick With It

Like human, like pet! Studies have shown that after successfully losing weight, approximately half of all dogs regained weight. The good news is that researchers also found that rebound weight gain was significantly reduced by keeping dogs on a weight-loss diet, even after achieving their target weight. So, now that youve done the hard work and transitioned to a new formula thats working, stick with it! As with so many things in our dogs worlds, consistency is the key.

Why does my dog limp?

Just like humans, dogs can start limping for a variety of reasons. Your dog may be suffering from a chronic condition thats causing them pain. Or perhaps your pup was running or jumping too enthusiastically and now theyve injured themselves? In order to help your dog heal and return to full health, first its important to understand the root cause of the limping.

Is your dog limping all of a sudden? Or did it happen gradually?

Knowing the answer to this question will really help your vet know how to approach the problem. If the limping developed gradually, your dog may be suffering from a chronic issue, like osteoarthritis or hip dysplasia. Over time, these degenerative conditions can lead to your dog limping - as their joint health slowly deteriorates and your dog starts to feel pain, they begin to adjust the way they walk to compensate.

However, if the limping appeared suddenly, its more likely to be an acute injury of some kind, like a strain, sprain or fracture. Dogs are curious and mischievous, they love to run and jump - sometimes all it takes is one wrong step or a collision, and suddenly theyve injured themselves.

The best lifetime dog insurance

Common reasons why your dog is limping, and how to help them recover

• Arthritis: Similar to humans, arthritis can affect dogs as they get older, causing joint pain and stiffness. You can help your dog feel more comfortable by keeping their weight under control, giving them joint supplements and helping them exercise appropriately.
• Cancer: Some breeds are more predisposed to bone cancer (or osteosarcoma). It is worth knowing if your breed is more likely to be at risk of this disease, and checking with your vet if you see them limping for a prolonged amount of time.
• Corns: Some breeds, like Greyhounds, are prone to corns which grow on the pads and make walking uncomfortable or painful. Iif you see anything unusual it is worth checking with your vet to make sure they get the right treatment.
• Injuries: Dogs can strain or sprain themselves through overexertion, or sudden trauma can lead to bruises or fractures. Inspect your dog carefully to see if theyre feeling tender, swollen or in pain. If the injury appears mild, they may simply need to rest and take it easy. More severe cases will require a vet visit, just in case your pet needs surgery or medications.
• Infections: Limping can be caused by infections, particularly those affecting the joints or paws. Check your dog for swelling, discharge or redness. The sooner infections are treated, the better, so be sure to contact your vet.
• Foreign objects: Check your dogs paws carefully to make sure they havent stepped on a foreign object, like a splinter or a shard of broken glass. You may need help from your vet to remove the object safely.
• Ticks: Ticks carry diseases with them, like Lyme disease, which can cause joint pain and limping in dogs. Make sure your dog is checked regularly for ticks and if you live in an area where ticks are common, make sure your dog is protected with a preventative treatment. Tick bites can be very serious for dogs, so contact your vet if you think your dog has been bitten.

Should I try to examine my limping dog myself?

If your dog is limping, its natural to want to take a closer look yourself. Be sure to approach with caution. If your dog will allow you, gently examine your dogs legs, joints and paws. Look for any signs of injury, swelling or tenderness. Try not to move the limb too much, just in case you cause further injury.

If your dog is distressed, or if their limping looks severe, contact your vet so your dog can be examined thoroughly.

When should I be worried about my dog limping?

While a mild strain or a bit of discomfort isnt necessarily cause for alarm, there are some symptoms that require a trip to the vet.

• Your dog is limping persistently: If the limping continues for more than 2 days, its important to visit your vet, so you can rule out or correctly treat any underlying health issues.
• Your dog is behaving differently: If your dog is moody, lethargic or unwilling to move, they may be in pain. Its essential to visit your vet to identify the underlying cause.
• Your dog has a sudden, severe limp: If your pup is unable to put any weight on their limb, or theyre in pain, they may have a serious injury, like a fracture. Its essential that theyre seen by a vet to avoid further complications.
• Your dogs limb looks visibly swollen or deformed: This could be a sign of a serious injury, like a dislocation or a fracture. Your vet will ensure the injury is treated properly and that your pet is given pain relief and potentially surgery.

How should I help my limping dog recover?

Once you know whats causing your dog to limp, you can come up with a recovery plan to help get your dog back to full mobility. This plan may involve any or all of these steps:

• Rest and restricted movement: If your pet has a mild sprain or injury, they may just need to rest for a day or so, and let nature take its course. Keep them confined to a small area so they cant do themselves further damage.
• Contact your vet: If your dog is still limping, or if they seem to be getting worse, visit your vet. Theyll be able to examine them thoroughly, which may involve diagnostic tests or x-rays.
• Medication: If your dog is in pain or if theres swelling, they may need pain relief and anti-inflammatories to keep them comfortable.
• Surgery: Depending on the severity of your dogs condition, they may need surgery to repair a fracture, remove a foreign object or address problems in the joints.
• Physical therapy: Your dog may need physical therapy to help with their mobility, or to help them recover from surgery.

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Think your dog may be affected?

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We are not a veterinary organisation and so we can't give veterinary advice, but if you're worried about any of the issues raised in this article, please contact your local vet practice for further information