Limping in Dogs and Cats

Ask the Vet
Lindsay Butzer, DVM
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
Dr. Lindsay Butzer
Back to results
Enter Your Information All fields are required

While efforts are made to answer all questions as quickly as possible, if an immediate answer is required or if your pet is in need of urgent or emergency care, contact your pet's veterinarian immediately.

*Please note: Questions submitted and the answers will appear on our website as a benefit to all pet owners. Please make sure not to include any personal information in the box where you enter your question.

Ask the Vet
Lindsay Butzer, DVM
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
Dr. Lindsay Butzer
Thank you! Your question has been submitted.

You will receive an answer from Dr. Lindsay and our vet/tech team as soon as possible, usually the same day.

All answers are provided for informational or educational purposes only, and are intended to be a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise and professional judgment of your pet's veterinarian.

It may be necessary to consult your pet's veterinarian regarding the applicability of any opinions or recommendations with respect to your pet's symptoms or medical condition.

Close
Ask the Vet
Lindsay Butzer, DVM
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
Dr. Lindsay Butzer
Oops! Your question has not been submitted.

An error has occurred, please reload the page and try again.

Close
Ask the Vet
Got questions? Ask Our Vet Team:

While efforts are made to answer all questions as quickly as possible, if an immediate answer is required or if your pet is in need of urgent or emergency care, contact your pet's veterinarian immediately.

Do these answer your question?
Showing of | See All
Have another question, or can’t find your answer?
Submit your question
We're Sorry!

There is no answer related to your question

Can’t find your answer?
Submit your question
Category
Back

What can cause limping in dogs & cats

Limping in our companion animals can be caused by many different things. Trauma and overexertion are probably involved in the vast majority of cases. The possibility of genetic diseases including knee ligament tears, patella knee ligament luxation, as well as hip dysplasia need to be evaluated by a veterinarian. With foreleg lameness, genetic conditions of the elbow, shoulder and long bones may be involved in puppies under 18 months of age. However, in certain older pets, degenerative joint disease, autoimmune arthritis, and infectious arthritis such as those carried by ticks (i.e lyme, ehrlichia, rocky mountain spotted fever) may play a role. Traumatic fractures will also lead to clinical signs of limping. Pets with spinal cord disease, especially disc disease anywhere along the spine, may show signs of leg lameness, stiffness, or weakness. In middle aged and older pets, especially in large breeds, bone cancer also needs to be ruled out in those cases of chronic lameness.

Key facts about limping in dogs and cats

  • Limping may be due to many causes such as soft tissue injury, orthopedic bone issues, and occasionally spinal cord disease.
  • A complete veterinary medical assessment is recommended to determine the underlying cause of limping in pets.
  • Treatment of limping will vary depending on the results of a thorough veterinary workup.
Recommended pain medications for limping pets:
Recommended supplements for limping pets:

How does limping affect my pet's body?
Limping may cause varying degrees of pain, as well as fever in severe cases. Pets with infectious causes of limping, such as tick-borne diseases, may suffer from various blood disorders and problems in the bone marrow, including low red blood cell counts and low platelet counts. This may result in bleeding, weakness and shock. Lyme disease may lead to problems in the brain, heart or kidneys. One-sided limping may result in problems in other limbs as a result of a shift in weight bearing, as well as problems with the spinal cord.

Tip

T-Relief Tablets have been recommended by physicians for over 50 years as a safe alternative to NSAIDs

We'll contact your Vet to verify.
3.8 out of 5 Customer Rating
Star symbol Star symbol Star symbol Star symbol Star symbol
Prescription Item
Save 15% on dog items.
Use code TREATS15
$60.98
Shop now
We'll contact your Vet to verify.
3.1 out of 5 Customer Rating
Star symbol Star symbol Star symbol Star symbol Star symbol
Prescription Item
Save 15% on dog items.
Use code TREATS15
$17.80
Shop now
We'll contact your Vet to verify.
3.9 out of 5 Customer Rating
Star symbol Star symbol Star symbol Star symbol Star symbol
Prescription Item
Save 15% on dog items.
Use code TREATS15
$26.99
Shop now
We'll contact your Vet to verify.
3.4 out of 5 Customer Rating
Star symbol Star symbol Star symbol Star symbol Star symbol
Prescription Item
Save 15% on dog items.
Use code TREATS15
$29.92
Shop now
We'll contact your Vet to verify.
3.2 out of 5 Customer Rating
Star symbol Star symbol Star symbol Star symbol Star symbol
Prescription Item
Save 15% on dog items.
Use code TREATS15
$141.99
Shop now
We'll contact your Vet to verify.
4.2 out of 5 Customer Rating
Star symbol Star symbol Star symbol Star symbol Star symbol
Prescription Item
$0.89
Shop now
We'll contact your Vet to verify.
3.8 out of 5 Customer Rating
Star symbol Star symbol Star symbol Star symbol Star symbol
Save 15% on dog items.
Use code TREATS15
$44.99
Shop now
We'll contact your Vet to verify.
5 out of 5 Customer Rating
Star symbol Star symbol Star symbol Star symbol Star symbol
Save 15% on dog items.
Use code TREATS15
$53.99
Shop now
We'll contact your Vet to verify.
4.2 out of 5 Customer Rating
Star symbol Star symbol Star symbol Star symbol Star symbol
Save 15% on dog items.
Use code TREATS15
$9.99
Shop now