Lameness in dogs or cats requires veterinary assessment when it is severe, occurs after a fall or blow, prevents the animal from putting weight on a limb, causes obvious pain, or does not improve with rest. It is also advisable to seek advice if the lameness recurs, worsens, is accompanied by swelling, or affects a puppy, a kitten, a senior animal or a pet with a history of joint problems.
Lameness indicates that the animal is altering its gait because it is experiencing pain, weakness or difficulty moving a limb. This may be due to an injury to the paw pad, a broken claw, a muscle spasm, osteoarthritis, a muscle or joint injury, a dislocation, a fracture or a neurological problem.
If your dog or cat is limping and you don’t know the cause, a veterinary practice in Benissa It enables you to assess the severity of the pain, pinpoint the affected area and decide whether you need rest, treatment or diagnostic imaging tests.
Warning signs of lameness
You should seek veterinary care as soon as possible if you notice any of the following signs:
- They do not put weight on their leg or keep it raised all the time.
- The limp developed following a fall, a blow or being hit by a vehicle.
- There is severe pain, crying, trembling or resistance to movement.
- The limb is swollen, misshapen or in an abnormal position.
- There is a wound, bleeding, a torn nail or a foreign object embedded in the skin.
- It drags one or more legs.
- They lose their balance or have difficulty getting up.
- They have a fever, lack of energy or loss of appetite.
- The limp gets worse or recurs frequently.
- It’s a puppy, a kitten or a senior pet.
A sudden, unsupported limp, accompanied by pain, swelling, instability or deformity, may be linked to a fracture, dislocation or other serious injury. In such cases, prevent the animal from walking and seek veterinary advice.
When might a slight limp be noticeable?
If the lameness is mild, your pet is putting weight on the limb, is behaving normally and has not suffered any trauma, you can temporarily restrict its activity and monitor how it progresses over the next few hours.
Avoid running, jumping, rough play and stairs. For dogs, take them out only for short walks on a lead to do their business. For cats, try to keep them in a quiet room, without access to high furniture or places from which they can jump.
Seek a check-up if the lameness does not show clear signs of improvement within 24 hours, if it returns when the animal resumes activity, or if pain, swelling, lethargy or difficulty bearing weight develop. Do not administer ibuprofen, paracetamol, aspirin or other human medicines, as these can be toxic to dogs and cats.
Common causes of lameness in dogs and cats
The causes of lameness vary depending on age, activity level, the affected limb and how it began. Among the most common are:
- Wounds, cuts or foreign objects on the paw pads.
- Broken or overly long nails.
- Bruises, muscle spasms and muscle injuries.
- Sprains and injuries to ligaments or tendons.
- Dislocations and fractures.
- Osteoarthritis and degenerative joint diseases.
- Hip or elbow dysplasia.
- Knee injuries, such as cruciate ligament problems.
- Growth disorders in young animals.
- Neurological or spinal problems.
Where lameness is persistent, recurrent or affects mobility, a specialist assessment of veterinary orthopaedics and traumatology to study bones, joints, muscles, tendons and ligaments.
How to check your pet’s paw without hurting it
If your pet is calm and does not appear to be in severe pain, you can examine the limb without forcing it. Visually check the paw pads, the spaces between the toes and the nails for cuts, thorns, glass, swelling or a broken nail.
Do not try to stretch, bend or reposition a painful joint. An animal in pain may react defensively, even if it is normally docile. If you notice a deformity, a deep wound or an object embedded in the skin, do not touch it and take the animal to the vet.
Recording a video of your dog or cat walking can be helpful during the consultation, as some animals hide their lameness or move differently at the vet’s surgery.
What evidence may be needed?
The vet will observe how the animal walks and carry out an examination to pinpoint the source of the pain. They will assess the bones, joints, muscles, tendons, ligaments, paw pads and claws, as well as checking mobility and, where necessary, the animal’s neurological status.
If a fracture, dislocation, osteoarthritis or bone injury is suspected, a veterinary X-ray to investigate lameness. This test enables the assessment of bones and joints and the detection of changes that are not visible during a physical examination.
In cases of complex injuries, joint problems, spinal trauma or situations requiring detailed surgical planning, a Veterinary CAT scan to obtain cross-sectional images and study the affected area in greater detail.
Depending on the symptoms and medical history, blood tests, an ultrasound scan, a neurological examination or other tests may also be necessary to rule out inflammatory, infectious or systemic conditions.
Pain management and control
Treatment depends on the cause. A minor injury may require rest and veterinary medication, whilst a fracture, dislocation or ligament injury may require immobilisation, rehabilitation or surgery.
Pain should be treated with medication appropriate to the patient’s species, weight, age and state of health. The service veterinary pain management It allows analgesia and monitoring to be tailored to each individual case, particularly in cases of traumatic injuries, osteoarthritis or chronic pain.
Where there is a fracture, a serious joint injury or a condition that cannot be resolved with conservative treatment, an assessment of veterinary orthopaedic and trauma surgery.
When to make an appointment in Benivet Benissa
Book an appointment if your dog or cat is unable to put weight on a limb, is in pain, has swelling, has suffered an injury, is dragging a leg, or has a limp that lasts for more than 24 hours, gets worse or recurs frequently.
At Benivet Benissa, we can carry out a musculoskeletal examination and assess whether your pet needs an X-ray, a CT scan, pain management, orthopaedic treatment or follow-up care. An early check-up helps prevent your pet from compensating for the injury and putting excessive strain on other limbs.
If your dog or cat is limping and you live in Benissa, Calpe or the Marina Alta, you can contact Benivet Benissa to book a veterinary check-up.
Benivet Benissa
Av. del País Valencià, 10, 03720 Benissa
Tel. +34 622 325 271
Email: info@benivetbenissa.com
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 9:30-18:30 - Sat 10:00-13:00
