Why does the dog limp?
Did the dog start limping? Unfortunately, this happens often. Sometimes the cause is on the surface: an injury, a splinter in the foot, or a recent injection. And sometimes the owner throws up his hands in bewilderment: there are no visible injuries, and the pet suddenly stopped leaning on the paw! Why is this happening? What to do in such cases?
The dog is limping: causes and prevention
Lameness can occur due to a huge number of reasons. They can be divided into two main groups: external and internal.
External causes include mechanical damage: cuts, abrasions, injuries (dislocations, fractures, bruises, etc.), cracks on the paw pads, splinters, injections, insect bites.
Internal causes are inflammation of the muscles, joints and ligaments, which, by the way, can occur due to injury or hypothermia. As well as: dysplasia of the knee or hip joints, osteomyelitis, circulatory disorders, education (malignant or benign) and other ailments.
Many situations are impossible to predict and, as much as we would like, you can not insure dogs from all the dangers. But proper pet care will reduce the risk of lameness and other diseases in General.
Try to protect the dog from injuries and hypothermia: do not let it sleep on cold hard surfaces, reduce the time of walking in freezing and wet weather, avoid ice. Always monitor the dog’s diet. It should be nutritious and balanced, and most importantly, be suitable specifically for your pet. From a lack of vitamins and minerals, the entire dog’s body suffers, including the musculoskeletal system.
The dog is limping
What should I do if the dog is lame?
If the dog starts to limp, the first thing to do is to conduct an inspection. You may be able to identify the cause and fix it right at home.
Carefully examine the pet’s paws. Often the cause of lameness is damage to the paw pads. This can be a splinter, an abrasion, an insect bite, or, for example, a reaction to a reagent. A dog may limp due to a cut or bite from another dog. If the dog is injured and the wound is shallow, you can treat it yourself.
Sometimes the dog begins to limp after the injection. Some injections are quite painful, and the drug resolves for a long time. This provokes pain and discomfort when walking.
In any case, it is better to contact a veterinary specialist for diagnosis. This is all the more necessary if the cause of the lameness is unclear. Perhaps the problem indicates an inflammation of the joints or an internal disease that the dog’s owner did not even suspect. Don’t worry: there is no reason to panic. At the initial stages, most diseases are easily treated and eliminated without consequences for the body.
Be vigilant and do not delay the trip to the vet clinic. Only a veterinary specialist can prescribe treatment after he has made a diagnosis. Depending on the problem and its severity, treatment is always different, there is no single scheme for all cases. Do not risk the health of your Pets and do not self-medicate. They trust us.
