The dog is limping on the front and back legs: reasons and what to do

Lameness in dogs is a change in gait resulting from dysfunction of the musculoskeletal system. She can limp on one leg, or maybe on two at once. This is not difficult to notice; usually the dog tucks its paw and hardly leans on it.

Sometimes the lameness is mild and it is even difficult for the owner to understand which leg his pet is limping on, but the change in gait is immediately noticeable. In this article we will figure out why this happens and what to do?

An important note: lameness does not equal pain. Walking problems are caused by other reasons besides pain.

Types of lameness

There are only four types of lameness. They are distinguished depending on what moment of the step causes pain or discomfort to the dog.

Lameness of a leaning limb . It means that it is painful for the dog to lean on its paw.
Lameness of a hanging limb - pain occurs when the dog lifts its paw and brings it forward. Standing on all four limbs does not cause pain.
Intermittent claudication . When a dog limps on one leg or the other. This usually occurs during light running. During normal walking, the dog walks calmly. When owners notice that their pet is constantly limping on different legs, they think that the dog is faking it. But no, most often such lameness indicates vascular pathology. Namely, thrombosis and embolism of large vessels of the limb, which manifest themselves with rapid heartbeat during a light jog. When the heart rate is restored, the lameness disappears.
Mixed . Mixed lameness indicates that the dog has difficulty both stepping on its paw and lifting and carrying it forward.

Additionally, lameness is also distinguished on the abduction side of the paw during leaning:

Adduction is when a limb is pulled toward the body. Indicates soreness on the inside of the paw.
Abduction - moving the paw to the side (outward from the body) during support.

Lame on one leg

A dog is limping on one leg due to a sprained tendon. A very common type of injury if the dog runs over rough or hilly terrain with significant changes in ground level and during large jumps during training. Pathophysiologically, ruptures occur in the bundles of fibrous tissue that make up the tendons. Accordingly, there is damage to blood vessels too. Small hematomas form at the site of injury, inflammatory fluid accumulates around them, and other signs of tendon inflammation—tendonitis—appear. The limb is painful, the animal begins to limp on the damaged paw

, you can clearly determine the location of the rupture. If the collateral ligaments are stretched, the pain will be reflected in the place of their fixation (punctum fixum) to the bones of the leg.

Degrees of lameness

There are three degrees of lameness depending on how much the limb is affected.

Severe lameness is characterized by the dog's affected leg being unable to function at all. With leaning type lameness, the dog does not lean on it at all. Or with the type of suspended limb, it can only slightly move it forward. In this case, the movements of the diseased paw are limited to the maximum.
With moderate lameness, the dog does not “use” its paw to its full potential. Supports or carries forward (depending on the type of lesion) to a limited extent.
With a slight lameness, it is not always possible for an inexperienced eye to understand which limb is suffering. But it is clearly visible that the length and rhythm of the step have been changed. If the lameness is mild, it does not mean that you do not need to contact a veterinarian. The problem can be serious, despite the fact that it is not clearly expressed.

What are the signs without visible damage?

If the animal is limping on the forelimb, then at the moment the body weight is transferred to it, an upward movement of the head and neck is observed. And also the following signs accompany a violation of the step:

decrease in muscle volume;
change in gait;
changing posture in a sitting and lying position;
the presence of specific cracking in the joints;
change in the shape or size of bones.

Invisible lesions in the paw change the dog's gait.

Dislocations and pathologies

With arthrosis, a dog will experience lameness after sleep.

With a dislocation, swelling may occur . A fracture is characterized by a sharp change in the shape of the paw. The pain is so severe that the dog refuses to walk.
With arthrosis, gait disturbance is observed after sleep . When the animal walks, the lameness disappears.
Pathologies of the spine are characterized by the appearance of a staggering, unstable gait . The paws twitch and the dog gets tired quickly.
The progression of osteosarcoma is indicated by the presence of a small lump the size of a pea or bean.
Perthes disease is characterized by the appearance of “attacks of lameness.” The pelvis dries out, and signs of necrosis of the femoral head appear.

Banal symptoms

Splinter

While walking, or even at home, the dog could “run into something.” A foreign object can become embedded in a paw pad or between toes and cause pain to your pet. In this case, it will be painful for the dog to step on its paw.

Wound

It could be as simple as a scratch, puncture wound, or even a bite from another animal. Sometimes this is a serious injury, in other cases it is a minor damage to the skin. The type of lameness and all associated symptoms will depend on the nature of the wound. Usually, even with small injuries, we see blood, but this is not the main sign of injury, and you should not rely only on it.

The dog is limping after an injection

It's not scary. Perhaps the injected drug itself is very painful, or perhaps if the injection was not done by an experienced veterinarian or the dog twitched during the process, then a nerve was hit. As a rule, such lameness develops already on the second or third day.

A bite of an insect

These crawling babies can overtake a dog both on the street and at home. If the dog suddenly limps, take a closer look, maybe he stepped on a wasp or a gadfly? This is usually not a big deal, but to avoid an allergic reaction, it is better to play it safe and take your pet to the vet.

Sticky snow

Of course, this is only relevant in the cold season, but one cannot help but say this. During a walk in winter, owners of especially fluffy dogs may notice that their pet is limping and generally does not run actively. There could be many other reasons, but examine the dog. It is quite possible that snowballs have stuck and rolled onto the fur that grows between the pads on the paws, making it difficult to walk normally. The solution is simple - cut off this excess hair.

Long claws

Not all dogs wear down their nails on their own; this usually applies to dwarf breeds. Such dogs need to periodically trim their claws on their own (with a special device - a nail clipper) or at an appointment with a veterinarian. If you start this process, the dog may begin to limp. And in severely advanced cases, the claw can grow into the pad of the finger. Then you cannot do without the help of a specialist.

First harbingers

The first warning sign is abnormal movements of the pet, tremors, uncertainty appear in its legs, and sometimes there is lameness..

The second manifestation is pain. This can manifest itself in different ways: the pet can whine, hide, demand the owner’s attention, while the dog becomes lethargic and inactive.

A little later, weakness appears in the limbs and only then paralysis occurs.

It can take several days to several weeks between the appearance of the first symptoms and complete limb failure.

Orthopedic pathologies

This is a separate large section of veterinary medicine, so we cannot reflect all aspects in the article. We have identified several main orthopedic pathologies that are most often found in dogs.

Hip dysplasia

A disease in which the hip joint is improperly formed and develops pathologically. The disease is most often caused by a genetic factor, but a predisposing factor can also be: unbalanced diet, environmental conditions, insufficient or, conversely, excessive physical activity.

As a rule, dogs of large and giant breeds, especially German shepherds, are susceptible to THD.

Also, there is a disease - dysplasia of the elbow joint, but most often there are lesions of a different kind. It is logical that when the hind limbs are affected with symptoms of lameness, fatigue and a general depressed state, the first thing we suspect is THD.

Bursitis

This is inflammation of the synovial bursa followed by accumulation of exudate in its cavity. The bursa itself is a “pocket” of connective tissue filled with fluid. It is located in places of special friction of the tendons, between the skin and the protruding part of the bone.

With bursitis, we observe a dense swelling that often encircles the limb in the joint area. If you touch this swelling, the dog will clearly experience pain, and you will also notice that the bursa is hotter than the rest of the pet’s body. It is painful and difficult for the dog to bend the affected paw, so it will limit its movements as much as possible.

Arthritis

This is an inflammatory process in the joint. It can develop due to many reasons, ranging from weakened immunity to age-related changes in the musculoskeletal system.

As with bursitis, we see swelling in the joint area, but not so obvious. In addition, a joint that is not lying “on the surface” can become inflamed, then the swelling will not be noticeable.

The owner must understand that the dog will not say that something hurts, and the pain with arthritis is very severe. Therefore, it is important to pay attention to the dog’s activity and its general condition.

Various types of deformations

This includes congenital pathologies of the structure of the musculoskeletal system, so-called congenital anomalies. They usually do not cause pain to the dog, but cause mechanical lameness.

Patella luxation

It sounds very unpleasant, but it is a common occurrence in small breed dogs. Moreover, this process often does not even cause pain to the pet. But this does not mean that the problem can be ignored!

You can suspect a luxated kneecap even when the dog is just standing. You need to pay attention to the placement of the limbs. With such a dislocation, the hind leg (or both) will resemble a crescent moon.

Anterior cruciate ligament rupture of the knee joint

The ligament mechanism is one of the most important components of a healthy joint. When the ligaments rupture, the integrity of the entire joint is compromised, which in the future can lead to irreversible destruction of the cartilage, and consequently the bone will be “exposed.”

This cannot be allowed. If you notice symptoms of a torn anterior cruciate ligament in your knee, see a specialist as soon as possible. Symptoms: the dog keeps its paw bent and suspended; when moving, it can sometimes step on it, but in a calm position it does not lean.

Osteosarcoma

This is the most terrible cause of lameness. Osteosarcoma is a new bone formation. To put it bluntly, bone cancer. With timely diagnosis, all necessary measures can be taken to prolong the life of the pet. But we must understand that often the end of this story is very sad. Usually there will be no other symptoms other than lameness at first.

Causes of the condition

To determine why your dog suddenly stopped running and walking normally, you need to know the main causes of lameness. After all, the inability to fully walk and run causes serious discomfort to the dog.

Injuries of varying severity

A dog can become lame as a result of mechanical injury, which often occurs during normal walking.

An insect bite can cause illness

Common types of injuries in dogs:

puncture wounds;
cuts;
splinters;
dislocation;
fracture;
joint bruises;
sprain.

Note! Snow that has accumulated between your pet's toes can also cause injury to a limb.

Diseases

Not only people, but also dogs suffer from diseases of the joints and bones. Malaise can occur not only due to age-related changes, but also in puppies. Most often, this is caused by injuries acquired long ago, increased physical activity, and an unbalanced diet.

Common musculoskeletal diseases in dogs:

arthritis;
osteoarthritis;
dysplasia.

Interdigital cyst

The reason for the development of cysts in dogs has not yet been fully studied. According to veterinarians, the appearance of nodules between the fingers can be caused by violations of the integrity of the subcutaneous tissue, hair follicles or sebaceous glands.

The cause is sometimes mechanical, chemical or thermal effects, as well as parasitic and infectious damage.

Chemical or thermal burns

A dog can damage its paw when exposed to high or low temperatures. Burns occur upon contact with aggressive agents such as alkali, fuel oil, acid, gasoline. A pet can burn a limb with boiling water or jump onto a hot metal sheet.

On a note! Lameness also appears after walking in winter, since during this period the paths are sprinkled with special reagents that irritate the skin.

Mixed lameness

This is when the dog clearly has neurological problems, but at the same time it feels pain, may even yelp periodically, and tucks its paws. Licking and biting a limb is also a clear sign of pain.

Nerve root tenderness or pinched nerve

May lead to paralysis of limbs. Most often, lameness appears on the hind leg, and when pressure is applied to the back, the dog experiences pain. Sometimes the dog has difficulty bending and straightening all its limbs.

Cauda equina syndrome

With this syndrome, the function of both hind limbs is impaired. Lameness is expressed on both hind legs and is caused by pain in the lower back. Another peculiarity is that the process of urination and defecation is disrupted.

The dog is limping on its hind leg

The next lameness disease is tendon tear. A problem that occurs when overcoming high barriers or jumping from significant heights. The final rupture does not occur, but most of the fibrous fibers are damaged, and, consequently, the vessels and nerves that supply them are also damaged. It is almost impossible to localize the location of the tear, since the pain spreads throughout the entire length of the tendon. The animal protects its paw and does not stand on it, keeping it suspended. At the site of injury, a classic inflammatory reaction begins with fever, redness, pain, swelling and loss of function. If treatment is not started immediately, the process can develop into a chronic disease, since inflammatory mediators stimulate the growth and division of fibroblasts, and they in turn induce sedimentation of blood fibrin and scar formation.

This tendon loses its elastic properties and may rupture again. After a while, when the swelling subsides, you can palpate a small thickening at the site of the tendon tear; this is the scar. Since the limb is immobilized for a long time, and the dog protects it from tension, contractures can form (the predominance of the flexor muscles over the extensors).

Rottweiler dog

Risk group. Predisposition

There are several groups of dogs that have a predisposition to lameness (or rather, pathologies that cause lameness):

small breed dogs have a genetic disease - Legg-Calvé-Perthess disease, which is not typical for large breeds;
In dogs of large breeds, hip dysplasia is not uncommon, while in small dogs this disease does not occur;
Also, large breed dogs between the ages of 4 and 8 years often experience rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament;
Specifically, in Rottweilers, fragmentation of the sesamoid bones is more common than others;
Large breed puppies may have weak wrist syndrome during active growth. This happens when the muscles and ligaments “do not keep up” with the growth of bones, as a result - the wrist is constantly in a strongly bent or straightened state;
dogs approaching their old age always have a risk of cancer;
Obese animals are also at risk.

When to call the vet

In general, it's usually better to play it safe and schedule an appointment with your veterinarian for lameness that lasts more than a few minutes, but as with humans, dogs seem to have a capacity for injury outside of normal business hours.

So how do you know when to wait until the next morning and when to go to the emergency room immediately?

Gradual lameness or sudden lameness that doesn't seem to bother your dog too much can usually wait a few hours, and in some cases may even resolve on its own within the waiting period. However, in other cases, your dog cannot wait.

Broken bones or dislocated joints require immediate attention, and nerve damage may be a sign of a more serious neurological condition or spinal injury.

You need to take your dog to a veterinarian's office or veterinary emergency room if your dog shows any of the following signs of an emergency:

Dangling limb (dislocation)
Swelling
Hot limb
Obvious gap or unnatural angle

Diagnostics

If possible, it is better to immediately contact a well-equipped veterinary clinic, where you can immediately conduct an orthopedic and neurological examination.

When you take your dog to the vet, the first thing that comes up is questions for you. It is necessary that you give the doctor complete information about the life of your pet.

Then the veterinarian must verify for himself which leg the dog is limping on. To do this, you will need to walk the animal along the corridor, sometimes you even need to do a little training if the dog begins to limp only after jogging.

It is better to film the dog’s gait, so by viewing slow motion it will be possible to better assess deviations from the norm.

The veterinarian then performs a general examination.

Inspection of the limbs must begin from the bottom up:

The position of the fingers (if they are “spread”, this may indicate a tendon injury).
Feel the phalanges of the fingers.
Assess the symmetry of the limbs.
Is there pain?
Trembling paws?
Position of paws at rest.

One of the diagnostic tests is to place the paw in an unnatural position (on the outside).

In the room, the dog must immediately return its paw to its natural position. If this does not happen and the pet leaves the paw in this position, this is a clear sign of a neurological disorder.

It is almost always necessary to take an x-ray of the limb.

We must not forget that a dog can simultaneously have an orthopedic and neurological problem.

Important! Only a veterinarian can carry out a complete and high-quality diagnosis. Don't try to diagnose yourself.

Prevention

If there are congenital pathologies, lameness is difficult to prevent. As for external factors, the owner is able to protect his four-legged friend from them.

It is enough to follow the basic rules:

choose suitable places for walking with minimal risk of bites and injuries;
do not overload the dog with physical activity during exercise, selecting exercises that are feasible for the animal;
Carry out daily examinations of your pet to promptly identify injury or disease.

A balanced diet plays an important role in a dog’s health. The mineral components included in the feed strengthen bones and blood vessels and make muscle tissue elastic. This helps prevent the animal from developing problems with its limbs.

conclusions

The animal's physical activity decreases during treatment. If the dog was training on a special area, then training should be stopped . But the pet is also prescribed a diet that reduces the amount of fat.

During the treatment period, physical activity for the dog should be reduced.

If the cause of the step disorder was oncology, then motor activity decreases forever. The animal must be registered with a veterinarian and undergo regular tests. A dog with osteosarcoma is prescribed a special diet. It must be adhered to completely, since the life of the pet depends on it.

Briefly about the main thing

Lameness is a gait disorder.
There are four types of lameness: suspended limb, supported limb, mixed and intermittent.
Depending on the degree of damage, three levels of lameness are distinguished - weak, moderate and severe.
There can be a lot of reasons. From minor injuries, sprains to serious irreversible diseases. Therefore, it is very important to always find out the causes of lameness.
At risk are older dogs, obese pets and some breeds.
Diagnosis must be carried out in a specially equipped clinic by a qualified specialist.
Treatment is prescribed only after diagnosis. Do not try to do this yourself at home.

How to treat

Even a slight bruise of the paw should not be ignored, hastening to provide all possible assistance to the pet. Treatment of lameness is carried out after clarifying the cause that caused it.

Factor	Recommendations
Minor damage	Cuts or wounds on the paw pads are treated with hydrogen peroxide
Splinters	If there is deep damage to soft tissue, you will need medical alcohol. They moisten a cotton swab and apply it to the wound after the foreign object is removed from the paw.
Insect bites	At home, help is provided to the pet if the swelling is minor. The bite site is treated with a solution of soda (in a ratio of 1:10). When the dog is stung by a bee, the injured area is smeared with garlic juice. But if the animal has an allergic reaction to the bite, it is immediately sent to a veterinary clinic. An emergency visit to the doctor should also occur in case of a tarantula bite
Ticks	The problem occurs in the spring and summer. If the tick is not removed in time, the dog may die from encephalitis. To prevent this from happening, the pet is periodically examined to identify the attached insect. The detected pest must be removed, adhering to the following rules: the parasite is carefully grabbed with tweezers as close to the skin as possible; performing rotational movements, pull the tick towards you; if the head remains inside, it must be removed with a needle or immediately take the dog to a hospital, not forgetting to treat the injured area with alcohol If you don’t have tweezers at hand, you can use a thick thread. But this requires skill
Dislocations and sprains	In this situation, the joint must be secured with a tight bandage and the pet taken to the doctor. Painful symptoms can be relieved by applying ice to the injured paw.
Fractures	You should not take the initiative here, because the slightest touch to the limb will cause severe pain in the dog. As a result, the animal can involuntarily injure its owner. All necessary assistance will be provided to the pet under anesthesia in the hospital.

Minor lameness without damage quickly disappears if the dog is not stressed for a while. After the animal lies quietly for several days, it will be able to move actively again.

If there are no apparent reasons: owner actions

When, upon examining the pet, the owner is convinced that there are no visible injuries, he should not ignore the dog's lameness, even if the animal does not feel severe pain.

Such a problem does not arise because of trifles.

After observing the symptoms, the owner provides the pet with peace and, if necessary, provides all possible assistance. You should immediately call a veterinarian to your home so that he can assess the extent of the problem.

In situations where there is no time to wait for a specialist to arrive, the owner independently transports the dog to the hospital.

A dog is limping on a front or back leg: what to do if there are no visible injuries, proper treatment