Lame dog walk12/3/2023 ![]() ![]() ![]() Lameness can arise during normal everyday activity. For more serious causes (broken bones, slipped discs) orthopaedic or neurological surgery is required.Weight management if your dog is overweight and contributing to the lameness.If the exact cause is not known, a period of exercise reduction together with anti-inflammatories and pain killers may be required to see if the lameness improves.For minor causes of lameness (sprain) restricting your dog’s exercise, or complete rest for a few days is usually adequate.The treatment of the condition will depend on the vet’s diagnosis.įorms of treatment that can be managed at home could involve:. Sometimes they may need to refer your dog onto a specialist vet such as an Orthopaedic vet or a Neurologist. When your vet has looked at the x-rays they will decide on the next course of action. The dog will usually stay with the vet for a few hours and come home that same day depending on the diagnosis. This will allow the vet to move the limb about to get a good view without causing pain or discomfort. If the vet recommends an x-ray, then this will be performed under General Anaesthetic. It will be important for a veterinary professional to know the age of your pet as there are specific complaints that affect puppies and young dogs and older dogs. Your vet may want to perform a few tests, including x-rays or even a blood test. The vet will determine where your dog is most painful and check for any abnormalities of the bones or joints. Your vet will give your dog a thorough examination and take a full history from you. Weight management is very important when it comes to preventing your dog becoming lame and if you think your dog may be overweight you could call the vet nursing team at Vetfone for advice on this or contact your local vet practice and enquire about their weight clinic. One example could be over exercising – the bones and joints in puppies and young dogs don’t properly form until they are passed puberty, so too much exercise can adversely affect their growth! Lameness in younger dogs and puppies can be due to several reasons. ![]() Elderly dogs may benefit from nutritional supplements, anti-inflammatories and complimentary therapies such as hydrotherapy, physiotherapy and acupuncture. This is a very common condition in older dogs and affects the joints, mainly the knee, shoulder and hips. Lameness in older dogs is often due to arthritis setting in. Most reputable breeders now do screening for the conditions to help reduce the chance of it being inherited. Very often there is no cure, so careful management of the condition under the care of a vet can help improve the quality of the dog’s life. Some dogs require surgery such as a hip replacement and some dogs may have to take medicine for the rest of their lives. This causes lameness and pain from a relatively young age. This is a genetic condition that causes the joint to become malformed. Congenital abnormalities (present at birth)Ī common cause of lameness in some breeds such as Labrador Retrievers and German Shepherd Dogs is Hip or Elbow Dysplasia.Trauma to leg, broken bones, torn ligaments, dislocation.Swelling or abnormalities around the joints.Not placing paw on the floor properly (known as knuckling).Loss of muscle mass around affected leg.Difficulty walking up or down the stairs, or jumping into the car.Refusing to place any weight on leg or limping.Symptoms of lameness & common causes of lameness: This guide contains expert advice from qualified and registered veterinary nurses to help you choose the best course of action for your pet and help answer your question why is my dog limping? It can be worse at certain times in the day, first thing in the morning, last thing at night, after exercise or after rest. Lameness can affect just one leg or multiple legs, and can be constant or come and go. Lameness is typically in response to injury or abnormal anatomy and your pet may or may not be in pain. Lameness (or limping) in dogs can be caused by several underlying reasons. ![]()
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