Our Bernese Mountain Dog, Hogan, had a very noticeable limp in his front right leg this past Saturday. We felt his paw and leg all over and he didn’t cry or even really flinch when we touched him. Sunday morning, it was totally gone.

Sara
Alexandria, VA

Limping is one of the most common problems I am asked to assess. There are many causes of limping in dogs.

Soft tissue trauma–strains, sprains, and pulled muscles–is the most common cause of limping in dogs and cats in my experience. Limping due to these sorts of mild injuries usually resolves with a few days of rest.

Young (less than two years old), large dogs are subject to a syndrome called panosteitis, or growing pains. Panosteitis causes intermittent limping that often shifts from one leg to another. Panosteitis generally resolves over time. Many dogs with growing pains require no treatment. Others need anti-inflammatory medications or other types of pain killers.

Bernese Mountain dogs are predisposed to certain hereditary conditions that can cause limping. Elbow dysplasia can lead to early arthritis and limping on the front legs. Wobbler syndrome, in which the spinal column develops improperly, can lead to limping especially in the rear legs.

Older dogs are at risk of degenerative joint disease, also known as arthritis. Arthritis can lead to chronic or intermittent limping on multiple legs.

If Hogan’s limping has resolved and not returned, you probably have nothing to worry about. However, chronic or recurrent limping is a solid reason to see the vet.

Read more about limping at my website:

http://drbarchas.com/limping

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Lately when I take my three-year-old dog Riley for a
bike ride, he is limping on one of his front legs
the next day. We took him to the vet and she gave
him some pain medicine.

Lydia
North East Texas

Your situation sounds familiar to that of the three-year-old lab whose mother wrote to me on June 30. The symptoms are slightly different. However, the problem seems to be essentially the same: you have a young dog who is suffering from chronic pain after exercise.

I decided to answer your question because I strongly feel that you should not simply stop taking Riley for bike rides. I suspect that Riley has a problem, such as elbow dysplasia, panosteitis, Osteochondritis Dissecans or early-onset arthritis that is interfering with his ability to run.

Although the syndromes I have listed may sound intimidating, many of them are treatable. I would hate for Riley’s lifestyle to be curtailed permanently if it is not necessary.

I recommend that you go back to the vet. Consider taking Riley for a bike ride before the visit (but talk to your vet about this first), so that he will be limping. This may make it easier for the vet to identify the joint, bone, or muscle that is causing the problem. The next step will be to take an X-ray of the problem area.

If you are able to determine exactly what is causing the problem, you may be able to fix it. And then you and Riley could enjoy the lifestyle together that you would like.

A note about the image: yes, it is a human humerus, and I realize that I have used human images two days in a row. But it is remarkably difficult to find non-copyrighted images of canine body parts!

Share this entry with your pawple anywhere:

• What Causes Transient Limping in Dogs?
• What Exercises Help Hip Dysplasia?
• Why do Dogs Limp Years After Hip Surgery?
• What are the Treatments for Hip Dysplasia?
• What Causes Chronic Limping in Young Dogs?