Our beloved pets can’t talk to us, which is why it’s important to know the signs of pain in dogs. If your dog is limping or experiencing behavioral changes, it’s time to think about early signs of leg pain in dogs. If caught early, some common leg issues in dogs can be treated with dog leg braces and other therapeutic measures, potentially preventing surgery and immediately decreasing your dog’s discomfort.
Causes of Leg Pain in Dogs
Leg pain in dogs can occur for multiple reasons, so it’s important to get your furry friend to the vet as soon as possible to narrow down the cause of any leg pain. Dogs can experience and demonstrate signs of leg pain due to acute injuries, ligament and tendon tears, joint diseases such as osteoarthritis, and developmental disorders. Dogs can also experience cancer, fungal infections, tick-borne diseases, and bacterial infections that can affect their legs or their gait.
Without closer examination from a veterinarian, it’s difficult to tell what the cause is unless there is something obvious present, like an external laceration. However, if your dog shows any change in behavior or favors a leg, it’s time for a veterinary exam.
Signs of Early Leg Pain in Dogs
Dogs who have leg pain don’t always express it in obvious ways during early occurrence. That’s why slight changes in gait and stance are important to look out for. Imagine having soreness in your own leg; it might not cause you to go to the hospital, but you might shift your weight a little or seek over-the-counter medication for some pain relief. Just because it isn’t advanced, permanent, or an emergency, doesn’t mean it shouldn’t require treatment once observed. Many dog leg pain issues can advance into something chronic or debilitating without intervention.
- A sudden change in a dog’s stance is often one of the first indications of an issue with a dog’s leg. This can look like putting more weight on the front legs than usual, causing it to look abnormal when the dog is standing. A common indication of hip dysplasia in rear legs, it’s something subtle that many pet parents will notice.
- With this may come an aversion to walking on floors and other slippery surfaces. While dogs generally avoid surfaces that make them feel unstable, a sudden aversion could indicate a leg pain issue in dogs. This may mean they’re having trouble using their legs to stabilize.
- As with humans, muscular issues and pain can cause a limb to feel and appear stiff. If your dog’s leg is stiff, this could indicate arthritis or a minor injury. Stiffness can look like holding a leg rigid above the ground or keeping it stuck straight out when normally they lay down with legs curled. If it happens after a dog is at rest, there could be an injury or arthritis present.
- Especially in younger dogs, if a dog suddenly stops wanting to use stairs or jump on furniture or in greeting, it could indicate a leg problem. This could mean that it’s painful to move the leg in that fashion.
- Your dog might generally slow down rapidly, on walks and in the home. This is typically accompanied by an unusual gait, meaning your dog’s ‘walk’ looks differently in motion than it normally does.
- An injured dog may experience swelling in the leg or a part of the leg, be protective of the leg, and lick or soothe a certain spot more than other areas of the body.
If you notice any of these symptoms, especially accompanied by behavioral changes such as unwillingness to eat or uncharacteristic aggression towards humans or other animals, your pet is likely in pain and it’s time to head to the vet. Remember: dogs can’t talk, and they may try to conceal their pain, so by the time you notice something is wrong, they are in discomfort. Don’t prolong it!
Early Identification of Dog Leg Pain
Dog leg pain is generally easier and less expensive to treat when caught early. More advanced injuries, tendon and ligament strains, cancers, and infections are more difficult to fight and detrimental to the dog. That’s why it’s important to get treatment ASAP when a dog shows signs of leg pain.
Before you do head to the vet, there is some information you can write down about the leg issue that can make your vet’s job easier:
- When did this start?
- Has it been a sudden onset, or on and off?
- Describe the dog’s gait: is it a stumble? Is there stiffness?
- Have there been any behavioral changes, and if so, what?
- Does this worsen during certain times of the day?
- Did the dog experience any trauma that you know about?
Generally, dogs will not walk on a leg that is broken, has a dislocated joint, or a ligament that is torn, known as a CCL, or cranial cruciate ligament. If your dog growls or shows signs of protectiveness or aggression, do not attempt to examine the animal yourself.
If you’re able to take a look, you can check for obvious injuries, such as splinters, foxtails, cuts, or burns. Checking out the dog’s feet, between their toes, is a great place to start if the dog will allow it, and a common source of causes for limping. Check for abscesses or swelling, foreign objects, or discoloration (which may not be possible depending on your dog’s fur coverage and color). Dogs can also experience cracked nails, which can be incredibly painful.
Treatments for Leg Pain in Dogs
The treatments for leg pain are as various as the causes. If the dog has a foreign body in its paw, object removal and antibiotics may be the course of action recommended by your pet’s veterinarian. If there’s a hip issue, surgery may be recommended for younger dogs. Ligament and knee issues may be treated with physical therapy and dog leg braces for stability and support. Surgery, rehabilitation, or acute treatment are all options that help dogs experience pain relief.
If you notice these early signs of leg pain in dogs, make an appointment with your veterinarian right away. Isolate your dog from other pets (crating may be best if the dog is crate trained) and ensure the dog does not encounter new humans or children, as their behavior may be abnormal as the result of pain or injury.