Limping in a dog indicates pain. Whether your dog recently suffered an injury or he is limping as a result of arthritis, he is in pain. Determining the cause of the limping is the first step in alleviating your dog's discomfort. Because the pain may originate in the dog's paw or higher, it may take some keen observation on your part to determine the cause.
Instructions
Make a mental note of when you first noticed your dog limping and whether you heard him yelp or if the symptom came on gradually and worsened. Try to pinpoint any activity your dog may have participated in when the limping occurred.
Examine your dog's stance. When the cause of the limp is not immediately apparent, your dog's posture may offer important clues. If he can stand comfortably, look at his hips from the back. Is one higher than the other? Is he holding his neck stiffly or hunching his back?
Perform a hands-on exam next. Gently rub your hands down your dog's spine, starting at his neck and continuing all the way to his tail. Next, feel his shoulders and hips, paying attention to any lump, bump or abnormality.
Observe any swelling in the paw your dog is favoring. If you've examined his body and have found no reason for his limping, the answer may lie in an injury to the paw or the bones and ligaments in the lower leg. Swelling on the bottom of the paw may indicate an imbedded object, such as a thorn or a splinter. Swelling on top of the paw may indicate an injury from twisting the paw or being stepped on.
Feel for warmth. Your dog's body will naturally raise the temperature of the sore area and if you're observant, you may feel warmth in the affected area, especially if an infection is present.
Visit your veterinarian if your dog is in so much pain that he can't get around or that he snaps at you when you try to examine him. Do not punish a dog that snaps when he's in pain, it is his natural tendency to protect himself from more injury.