Seeing your pet in pain and favoring one leg or paw can be alarming. You might wonder why your pet is suddenly limping. There are several causes for why your pet may struggle to put weight on a paw or leg, including injuries and some illnesses. At Sherwood Family Pet Clinic, our doctors can determine what is causing your pet’s lameness and recommend treatment as needed.

What Causes Lameness?

There are many causes for lameness. Some are minor such as a soft tissue injury or pulled muscle. This usually happens with extreme activity. A torn cranial cruciate ligament is also a common injury. Arthritis is seen in many pets, especially as they age. As in humans, arthritis causes joint pain and stiffness. This makes it uncomfortable for pets to move the affected leg. There are also more serious issues including bone cancer that can cause lameness. Minor injuries often heal without problems, but more severe leg or paw injuries require veterinary care. Our veterinary team can examine your pet, determine the cause of lameness, and the treatment needed.  

How Is Lameness Diagnosed?

Our veterinarian will check the affected area, watch your pet walk, and do a range of motion evaluation during a physical exam. This comprehensive evaluation can help us detect swelling, wounds, or other symptoms. We might need to take X-rays, for an accurate diagnosis. These imaging tests help us determine which structures in the joint are affected and how severe the damage is. We may recommend blood tests or other tests to check for underlying diseases. Your pet will have a complete nose to tail exam as well as evaluating the lameness. We can create a treatment plan to help your pet’s lameness once we know the cause of its symptoms.

What Treatments Are Used for Lameness?

After determining the cause of the lameness, our doctor will go over recommended treatments. Minor injuries might heal on their own with the aid of a short-term pain medication and rest. Severe injuries, such as fractures or torn ligaments, might require surgery to heal properly. We have 2 doctors on staff that repair fractures and perform the TPLO surgery to repair torn cranial cruciate ligaments. Your pet might need to be on long term pain medications or joint supplements if the lameness is due to arthritis or joint pain caused by other conditions. Physical therapy may be recommended for certain conditions. Underlying health conditions might require careful management to ease symptoms. Our veterinarian will discuss treatment options for your pet after we have a diagnosis. 

Call Sherwood Family Pet Clinic to Discuss Your Pet’s Lameness Today

Seeing your pet limping around or showing signs of lameness can be a sign of significant injury or illness. Whether you need geriatric pet care or treatment for a younger pet, our veterinary clinic is here to help your pet live a long, healthy life. Call us and schedule an appointment today at (775) 383 6154