What does limping or stiffness look like in dogs?
Not all limping looks the same in every dog, but changes in movement are often how they show something is wrong. Many dogs don’t cry out or whine when they’re in pain, so paying attention to how they walk, move, and get up can help you spot when something is not right.
Signs your dog may be sore or stiff include:
- Favoring one or more legs
- Holding up a leg or shifting weight to one side
- Walking slower than usual
- Hesitation to jump or climb stairs
- Running with the back legs close together (sometimes bunny-hopping)
- Difficulty getting up after lying down
- Stiffness after exercise or play
If your dog is moving differently, it’s a good idea to contact your vet. They can help find the cause of your dog’s discomfort and recommend treatments to help them feel better.
What causes dogs to limp or seem stiff?
Dogs can have trouble getting around for many reasons. Limping can be a sign that your dog injured themselves. Dogs can get hurt while playing or training, or in an accident like a fall. If your dog’s limp comes on suddenly, it may be due to an injury.
In other cases, stiffness or difficulty walking is caused by an illness or disease, such as arthritis. Limping due to a medical condition may develop more gradually, but some causes can lead to sudden limping.
Common causes of limping and stiffness in dogs include:
- Sprains and strains: Stretched or torn muscles, ligaments (which connect bones to other bones), or tendons (which connect muscles to bones) can be painful.
- Sore muscles: Dogs can become sore after exercise.
- Paw injuries: Cuts, scrapes, and broken nails commonly cause foot pain.
- Bone injuries: Broken or dislocated bones can cause severe pain and obvious limping.
- Spinal injuries: Dogs who have short legs and long backs, such as dachshunds and corgis, are especially prone to back problems, though any dog can have spinal issues.
- Joint problems: Joint diseases, such as hip dysplasia, where the hip joint doesn’t fit together correctly, commonly cause limping and stiffness.
- Growing pains: Like children, young dogs may experience pain from time to time if their bones grow quickly.
- Arthritis: Arthritis is common in older dogs and develops as the joints wear down over time.
- Infections: Some diseases spread by ticks cause joint pain. The joints themselves can also become infected.
- Immune system diseases: Some diseases that affect the immune system may cause joint inflammation, swelling, and stiffness.
- Cancer: Cancer that develops in the bones or near joints can cause a dog to limp.
Because there is such a range of things that can cause limping and stiffness, it's always a good idea to partner with your vet. That way, they can diagnose the issue and develop a clear plan for your dog's recovery and overall well-being. And that can help relieve your worries too.
What should I do if my dog is limping or seems sore?
If your dog seems sore, your veterinarian may recommend limiting their activity for a few days to see if they get better, depending on their symptoms and history. Other things you could do at home include:
- Checking their paws and legs to make sure there are no cuts or areas that are swollen, red, or warmer than normal
- Looking out for signs of illness, like vomiting or not eating
- Avoiding medications made for people, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen, as these are not safe for dogs.
Call your vet if you think your dog remains in pain, their limp doesn’t improve or worsens, or if it comes back after a few days of rest. They may give you instructions on how to treat your dog’s limp at home or ask you to bring your dog in. Don’t give any medications without checking in with your vet first.
When is limping an emergency?
Limping from muscle soreness or a minor injury may improve quickly.
However, you should see your vet the same day or head to the local emergency veterinary practice if your dog shows any of the following signs:
- Other signs of pain, such as crying, shaking, or not letting you touch certain areas
- Refusing to walk or put any weight on their leg
- Swelling or bleeding
- An open wound or a possible broken bone
- Signs of illness, such as low energy, not eating, or vomiting
- Dragging or holding their leg up
- Limping after an accident, like a fall or getting hit by a car
Seeing your dog experience these symptoms can be scary, but getting help right away is the best way to relieve their pain and help them recover.
What will a vet do to find out why my dog is limping?
To find the reason for your dog’s discomfort, your vet will start with a full physical exam. They might also recommend testing to learn more about the problem. The most common tests used for limping are:
- X-rays to look for broken bones, dislocated joints, or arthritis
- Blood tests to check for infections and overall health. In some cases, your dog many need additional tests, such as:
- Joint fluid testing to diagnose an infection or inflammation
- Ultrasound to look for muscle or tendon injuries
- Advanced imaging (CT or MRI scans) to check for spinal problems, tumors, or other abnormalities
Treatments for limping and stiffness depend on the cause of your dog’s problem. For example, if the cause is a cut or broken nail, your vet may prescribe antibiotics or a minor procedure to treat the injury. If your dog’s limp is caused by an illness, they may need medication or referral to a specialist. Only give your dog medication prescribed by your vet.
Many dogs with minor injuries feel better after a few days of rest and anti-inflammatory or pain medications prescribed by a vet. If the issue is more serious or longer lasting, your vet might recommend physical therapy or surgery to help your dog heal.
Final thoughts
Whether your active dog strains a muscle or your senior develops arthritis, limping is a sign of discomfort. Knowing your dog is in pain can be stressful, but by working closely with your vet, you can get to the bottom of the issue. Once you have all the facts, you will be prepared to make the best decision to help your dog recover and feel as frisky as they can.
Most of the time, dogs limp because they are in pain. In rare cases, dogs with nerve injuries or diseases might limp without feeling pain. If your dog is limping, it’s safest to assume they are uncomfortable and get in touch with your vet to get to the bottom of the problem.
Some dogs keep playing even when they're sore. Excitement can mask pain, especially in young or active dogs. Some conditions, like arthritis or tendonitis, hurt less the more a dog moves around.
Limping almost always means that your dog has a problem that needs attention. While dogs can learn behaviors that get attention, true "faking" is very rare.
Possibly. Osteoarthritis is common and usually develops in older dogs. It often starts slowly and gradually worsens over time. Dogs with osteoarthritis tend to limp most when they first get up and may improve as they move around. They may also have trouble going up and down stairs, getting into the car, or jumping onto furniture. The best way to know if your dog has osteoarthritisis to make an appointment with your vet.
Never give your dog any medication without consulting your vet. Human pain medications and anti-inflammatories are not safe for dogs. Some drugs, like ibuprofen or naproxen, are toxic at any dose. Others, like aspirin, are only safe in specific doses and should only be administered under vet supervision.
