Broken toe? Paw pad issues? A limping dog could be a sign of many issues | Pet Peeves – The Northwest Florida Daily News

One of the more common complaints that pet owners bring their pet into the veterinarian for is limping. Limping can take on many forms.
Limping is rare in cats because they are so light and agile, so today we will focus on orthopedic problems in dogs.
The first thing a veterinarian will ask the pet owner to do when a pet is brought in for limping is to have it walk around the room. It is important to watch the pet walk and begin to isolate which leg is involved. Once the offending limb is isolated, the next step is to go over the limb and isolate the area that is uncomfortable.
It is rare for the paw to be the source of the pain. But if it is, it tends to be due to a foreign body such as a grass awn or a cut on the paw pad. Sometimes a toe is broken. This can be confirmed with a radiograph.
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Occasionally, the skin between the toes is infected because the pet has allergies and has chewed on its feet so much the skin is raw. Allergic pododermatitis (inflammation of the skin of the feet) can be incredibly painful, especially when a yeast infection is involved.
If a toe is broken, a splint can be applied. If the skin is infected, antibiotics or antifungal medicine can clear it up.
But if the paw is normal, the source of the limp must be higher up. Flexion and extension of each joint of the leg will help localize the pain. When dealing with the back leg, special attention is usually given to the knee and hip.
The knee has a ligament called the cruciate ligament. The cruciate will often tear and cause instability of the joint. This injury is also seen in humans and plagues many basketball and football players.
A cruciate tear will require surgery if the pet is over 30 pounds. If the pet is under 30 pounds there is a good possibility the joint will stabilize with rest, joint supplements and pain medicine.
Surgery is the best option for complete healing.
Evaluation of the hip is important. If there is a problem with the hip, it is often due to hip dysplasia, a condition the pet is born with. Hip dysplasia results in chronic arthritis and will be treated with joint supplements for the health of the joint and pain medicine for inflammation and pain.
Steady walking or swimming helps build the hip muscles to give the affected joint support.
Sometimes the hip becomes dislocated. This usually is caused by a traumatic event. If the hip is dislocated, treatment to pop the hip back into place should be done as soon as possible. The longer the hip is out the less likely it is to stay in when fixed.
If the hip won’t stay in, surgery is needed. 
When the limping is associated with the front leg, in addition to flexing and evaluating the elbow and shoulder, the neck and back are examined closely. A pinched nerve in the neck will cause pain to run down the front leg and cause the pet to limp. Often when this happens the pet is also keeping its head tilted down in a stiff position.
Anti-inflammatory medicine and rest will help this.
With a thorough exam, the source of limping can be determined and get your pet back on the road to recovery.

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