What is wrong with Buster?

Question

Buster is an Eskimo Spitz. He is about 7. I got him when he was a puppy. He is limping on one of his back legs. I don't know if it is in his hip or leg. He has not been hit by a car because he can't get in the road. I examined his foot and didn't see any cut places & nothing in the foot as a brier. And I didn't see any broken toes. What could it be?

Answer 1

It could be nearly anything.

If there is no touch sensitivity or yelping with pain, I usually give 24 hours of crate rest and if there is no improvement, I bring the dog in to the vet.

If I see improvement but subsequent exercise brings the symptoms on again, I bring the dog in to the vet.

Answer 2

Well, if it persists more than a couple days I would take him to the vet. They will take x-rays.

First, ask yourself how long it's been...if it is a something that can be cured on it's own you should see it start improving gradually over the days.

To answer your question - it could be anything as simple as he jumped off of the couch and landed on his foot wrong. It could be that he ran and hit himself and caused brushing. He could have also, hopefully not, injured his spine (but that usually occurs mostly in dashunds and when they are dragging BOTH hind legs).

Some signs of a more serious problem:

1) Pet does not want to put ANY weight on leg.
2) Pet does not react to touch in that part of his leg. (Ex: you squeeze in between his toes and no reaction that is a big red flag for big expensive fracture).

Either way...good luck! And get him/her to a VET if it's been more than 2 days with NO improvement or if there is improvement but not sufficient in about 3 days. That means he is in PAIN and needs some PAIN meds (note, pain meds do not cure a fracture...xrays are recommenced)

Answer 3

The NUMBER ONE most common rear leg injury in dogs is a cruciate ligament rupture (equivalent to an ACL tear in a person, like in athletes).

Have your dog examined by your veterinarian, this is a very common injury in overweight, active, overly 'jumpy', and straight-rear-legged dogs. Your vet will require short anesthesia to palpate (feel) the knees while the dog is completely relaxed, and also to take some preliminary x-rays to make sure there is no injury or misplacement of the bones of the knee and hip.

The surgery is fairly straight-forward, but does require an extended period of enforced cage rest, and is usually fairly costly (anywhere from $700 to $2500, depending on the extent of the injury, and how much your vet values his or her quality of work). This injury, if left untreated, will cause your pet considerable pain the rest of its life, and the only true treatment is surgery.

Answer 4

I wouldn't worry. He probably just pulled a muscle. Since this just started, and its only one of his legs, it sounds a lot like that. Wait a day or two and see if he stops limping. If it doesn't, you may want to take him to the vet.

If it looks like its bothering him, try keeping him warm. Lay him down on a heating pad.

Our dogs injure themselves a lot, but we live in the woods. One out of three gets hurt, usually mildly, at least once a month. Dogs will be dogs, you know?

Answer 5

It could be so many things and only a vet with an examination can tell you what is wrong with Buster.
You may not see any breaks but there still can be a break or possibley a fracture

Answer 6

Take him to the vet instead of letting him suffer while you try to figure it out!

Answer 7

OLD AGE COULD HAVE ARTHRITIS. NOT TO SCARE YOU BUT IT ONLY GETS WORSE AND OVER TIME BUSTER MAY STOP WALKING ON BACK LEGS ALLTOGETHER. ASK VET FOR SUGGESTIONS ON THE SUBJECT

Answer 8

ARTHRITIS.