Dog Limping: Causes, Assessment and When to Worry

A limping dog is one of the most common reasons owners call the vet — and the causes range from a pebble stuck in a paw pad to a torn cruciate ligament. Knowing how to assess the limp at home helps you decide whether to go to the emergency clinic tonight or wait for a morning appointment.

First: Assess the Limp

Before calling, gather this information:

• Which leg? Front or rear, left or right.
• Sudden or gradual onset? Sudden = trauma, foreign body; gradual = arthritis, dysplasia.
• Is the dog bearing any weight? Non-weight-bearing = more urgent.
• Worse after rest or after exercise? Arthritis: stiff after resting, improves with movement. Acute injury: worsens with use.
• Any visible swelling, heat, or wound?

Common Causes by Leg Position

Front Leg

• Foreign body in the paw pad — thorn, glass, gravel — very common and often self-evident
• Shoulder or elbow luxation / OCD — large breeds, often young dogs
• Paw pad injury — hot pavement burns, cuts, abrasions
• Bicipital tendinopathy — chronic onset in working or sporting dogs

Rear Leg

• Cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) rupture — most common cause of sudden, severe rear limb lameness in dogs. Dog won't bear weight; may improve with rest but recurs.
• Patellar luxation — common in small breeds (Yorkshire Terrier, Chihuahua, Maltese). Intermittent "skipping" gait where the dog holds the leg up momentarily.
• Hip dysplasia — progressive, often bilateral, worse in cold weather; large and giant breeds.
• Arthritis — senior dogs, stiff after rest, bilateral.

Any Leg

• Fracture — direct trauma; no weight-bearing, possible deformity
• Abscess or infection — localized heat, swelling, possible drainage
• Intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) — back pain with hind leg weakness; paralysis is a neurological emergency
• Bone tumour (osteosarcoma) — progressive, very painful lameness; middle-aged large breeds
• Panosteitis — "growing pains" in large breed puppies; migrates between legs

Emergency Signs — Go Now

• Dog is completely non-weight-bearing on the limb
• Yelping or crying when the area is touched
• Visible deformity or abnormal angle
• Significant swelling with heat
• Weakness or paralysis in the hindquarters
• Sudden onset after a known trauma

When You Can Wait Until Morning

• Mild limp, dog is still putting some weight on the leg
• No trauma, no visible wound
• Dog is alert, eating, and not in obvious distress

But if there's no improvement in 24–48 hours, book that appointment regardless.

What Not to Do

• Never give human painkillers (ibuprofen, paracetamol/acetaminophen are toxic to dogs)
• Don't let a limping dog exercise off-lead — a partial CCL tear can progress to a full rupture
• Don't ignore a limp that's lasted more than 3 days

Preparing for the Vet Visit

A short video of your dog walking (ideally on a non-slip floor) is invaluable for the vet. Log the onset date, which leg, and any relevant history in Purzi so you have everything organized before the appointment.