Why is my dog limping, and should I see a vet?
Limping can be caused by a wide range of factors, including strains, cruciate ligament injuries, arthritis, nail or paw injuries, fractures, and grass seeds. Whether urgent vet care is required depends on several factors.
Firstly, how has the lameness been caused? If there is an obvious cause such as trauma (eg. hit by car), urgent vet attention should be sought. If the limb is showing signs of deformity (such as an extra “bend”, strange movement, or lumps), there are wounds visible, or the dog is young (less than 12 months of age) we would also recommend propt veterinary advice.
Secondly, the severity of the lameness should also be assessed. If the dog is not using the leg at all, or the dog seems in severe pain (yelping, being very protective of the leg, panting in pain, etc.), we would recommend seeing your vet as soon as possible. Remember, dogs limp because the leg is painful, not for attention or sympathy. If a dog is limping, the leg is sore.
How do we diagnose the reason for limping?
When we see a limping dog, the first thing we do is discuss what is happening with the dog, then watch the dog walk. We will quite often be able to localise the lameness to a particular joint or area before we even touch the dog. For example, if the dog has a sore carpal (wrist) joint, they will extend the leg forwards while walking but will be reluctant to bring the leg all the way back when walking. If a dog has ruptured a cruciate ligament they will often sit with the knee bent at 90 degrees, and may tuck it under their body when sitting or stick it out to the side.
Once we have identified the most likely region for the problem, we will then perform a physical examination. This will normally include feeling the bones and joints (it can be very useful to feel both sides at once so we can compare any differences), examine paws, flex and extend joints, and check for any laxity or abnormal movement in the joints. At this point we will have a short list of likely diagnoses, and will determine the next appropriate step.
If a soft tissue injury strain is suspected, we may trial some anti-inflamatory pain medications and rest. For suspect arthritis we may trail pain killers, or we may recommend radiographs (xrays) to confirm the diagnosis. For other conditions we may recommend ultrasounds, CT scans, radiographs, joint taps (to get a sample of joint fluid for analysis), or surgical exploration. All of these procedures can be done at our clinic.
What can we do to help your dog?
We are very lucky to have a Specialist Surgeon working at the Eaton Vet Clinic (https://bunburyvets.com.au/specialist-surgery/), plus Dr Joc Bunny at our Bunbury Vet Clinic has her Memberships in Surgery. This means we are able to perform a wide range or orthopaedic and soft tissue procedures, including TPLO sugery for cruciate ligament rupture, fracture repairs, arthroscopic surgery, and many other advanced and specialised surgeries.
If you are concerned about your pet limping, please give us a call at the Bunbury Vet Clinic on 97215999, or Eaton Vet Clinic on 97250399, and we can help make them comfortable and mobile again.
