My 4 month old puppy is limping?

Question

Last night she was running around the couch and let out a little yelp and started limping (her right hind led). Nothing in her paws and no cracked nails. She lets me touch her leg with no nipping at me but she flinches a little. This morning the joint that pokes out toward her back side looks like it could be swollen, but I can't tell and it doesn't feel feverish. She doesn't whine at all and is wagging her little tail and eating normal, but just doesn't want to put weight on her little leg. Any thoughts as to what it might be? And how long would you personally wait to see if it goes away on it's own before taking her to the vet? I called the vet to ask and they said they can't tell me when, it's up to me. She's a mini doxie.

Answer 1

That's a bit rubbish of the vets, they can always advise how long you should wait before you come in. Maybe they're too afraid of getting sued if they tell people to come in and it turns out to be nothing!

I wouldn't wait as long as a week - if she's still sore by then, the likliehood is that whatever the problem is will be worse by then. I'd take her in if there's no improvement within 48 hours. Don't let her walk around on 3 legs for longer than this, dachshunds have fragile spines and it won't help that if she's not walking properly.

That joint that pokes out the back is called the hock by the way :-) and is the equivalent of our heel. If it's swollen, this indicates injury to the joint, not the muscle.

Chalice

Answer 2

Puppy Limping

Answer 3

It's either broken or a soft tissue damage. I have a very clutzy weimaraner, she's broken her toe twice, both times she wouldn't put weight on it, but she still tried to play, she ate normally and behaved as if nothing was wrong, only she wouldn't put weight on her foot. I took her to the vet the very next day and found out it was broken.

The next incident was a tumble at the dog park, this time it was her hind leg, I iced it and gave her Bayer aspirin, after three days of no improvement I took her to the vet, it was a soft tissue injury. They prescribed pain killers and no activity for 4 weeks.

I would confine your dog so she cannot run around, crate her if necessary, you don't want her injuring it further. I'd give it a couple of days, if no improvement or you see quite a bit of swelling take her in. With a dog that small they really can't do much except tell you to keep her confined and give pain killers.

If you think her leg is not looking right (out of place) you might not want to wait and make sure she hasn't done serious damage that might require surgery. Little dogs have delicate bones she may or may not have broken it, only an x-ray will tell.

Good Luck hope your dog is fine.

Answer 4

I would check and make sure their isn't anything in his foot first. See if you can't get him to rest for a while then let him walk again later and see if he still has a limp in that leg, then if he does you know to go ahead and take him to the vet when you get your car back or until someone can take you. He could've landed on it wrong or could've played a little to rough or something. If he's not showing you any pain dogs are good at hiding pain really good so rub it gently but she what kind of reaction he gives you.

Answer 5

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RE:
My 4 month old puppy is limping?
Last night she was running around the couch and let out a little yelp and started limping (her right hind led). Nothing in her paws and no cracked nails. She lets me touch her leg with no nipping at me but she flinches a little. This morning the joint that pokes out toward her back side looks...

Answer 6

Just like people, dogs can twist, strain, and sprain knees and ankles. Most likely, this is what happened - especially if she was running fast in circles. Because she's not acting like she is in extreme pain, you can be pretty confident that she didn't break anything. However, sprains and strains do hurt - hence the flinching. You should probably take her to the vet just to have her checked out. The vet will not do X-rays unless he/she has reason to suspect a fracture. If your puppy sprained her knee or ankle, the vet may bandage or splint the leg and prescribe a pain reliever or anti-inflammatory.

All the best to your and your little girl! :-)

Answer 7

Your pup may have just strained a muscle. Rub it gently when you can. I'd probably wait no more than 2-3 days, and if the limping still occurs, I'd consider the vet clinic.

Answer 8

Same thing happened to my pup... we waited 2 days to see the vet because they thought it was only a sprain it turned out to be a broken growth plate in the knee which ended up costing $4000, and it cost an extra $1000 because we waited 2 days. I suggest you take you puppy to the vet asap even if it is just to reassure yourself you don't want it to turn out to be something huge like ours was! Good luck though!

Answer 9

good lord folks! puppy's are like kids, they bounce more than break. i have a 19 week old pit, she did the yelp thing and for a week or so when she'd get up she would favor the leg. Same thing, no signs of external injury. but now shes fine, id say a week and a half, more than likely she just sprained or twisted it.

Answer 10

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