Dogs have a different language from humans. For instance, if they’re suddenly limping, you won’t readily know the exact reason behind it because they can’t utter it in words. Your best option is to go to one of the best vets in Chippenham.

In this article, we’re giving you more details on what to do when your dog limps.

Two Categories of Limping

vets in Calne generally categorise dog lameness or limping into two: gradual onset limping and sudden limping.

As its name implies, the former is a case that develops over time. Experts recommend taking your pet to the vet as soon as you notice early signs to prevent it from worsening. The latter, on the other hand, is a kind of limping that happens instantaneously.

Common Causes

A dog’s lameness can be caused by:

Injury and trauma. These include superficial injuries such as those obtained from stepping on sharp objects and running on hot pavement. In other instances, the limping can be attributed to deeper trauma like jumping from heights, being attacked by another animal, and getting hit by a car.

Bone disease. Many diseases can impact your dog’s bones, such as panosteitis and hypertrophic osteodystrophy. Certain types of cancer (e.g., osteosarcoma) can also affect your pet’s skeletal system.

Joint disease. Damages to your dog’s joints are another cause of limping. These joint diseases include osteoarthritis, patellar luxation, ligament disease, and osteochondritis dissecans.

Other reasons. Tick-borne diseases, when not addressed, can impair your dog’s mobility. In some cases, dog lameness can be rooted in developmental and autoimmune disorders. It can also be a sign of an underlying illness that affects your pet’s nervous system.

Assessing Your Dog’s Case

Vets in Chippenham recommend dog owners to take their pets to the clinic if the limping lasts for more than a few minutes. If the limping is accompanied by other symptoms such as trembling, vocalisation, and behavioural changes (e.g., aggression, hiding), your dog requires immediate professional attention. Other signs to watch out for are:

Dislocation

Limb dragging

Swelling

Bleeding

High fever

Breathing difficulties

Vomiting

Disorientation

How Dog Limping Is Treated

For vets in Calne to be able to give the right treatment for your dog, proper diagnosis should be done first. Your vet may ask about your pet’s health history and other pertinent questions: How long has the limping been around? Do you suspect a particular event that might have caused it? Is the limping present all the time? What are the changes you’ve observed after your dog started to limp?

Afterwards, expert your vet to undergo your dog to physical, neurological, and orthopedic tests. To be sure of the cause of the lameness, x-ray, bloodwork, CT scan, and other lab analyses are needed.

Typically, mild cases can be treated through non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory medicines. Your vet may also recommend nutritional supplements if the limping is caused by joint pain.

Whenever needed, vets may apply bandages, casts, and braces. Surgery is due for more serious cases. To help them regain their mobility, vets also perform physical therapy.