When an otherwise active dog begins to limp on a hindleg, several common issues might be at play. Here’s a closer look at five potential causes:

1. Cruciate Disease - Cruciate disease involves damage to the cranial cruciate ligament (a key ligament) in the knee joint of the hindlimb. Whilst some pets can completely snap their cruciate ligament in one go due to a significant trauma, many dogs will suffer from chronic cruciate disease, where their ligament gradually tears and deteriorates over time (usually over months). Chronic cruciate disease leads to periods of intermittent hindlimb lameness from which the pet appears to recover until the ligament eventually tears completely.

2. Patella Luxation - Patella luxation is prevalent in smaller breed dogs and involves abnormal looseness of one or both kneecaps. In less severe cases, the kneecap may occasionally pop out of place, causing the pet to suddenly “skip” on the affected hind leg until the kneecap pops back into place. Occasionally, this can happen traumatically, but it is often secondary to the dog's conformation.

3. Broken Nail - It’s not uncommon for active pets to break one of their nails when racing around in pursuit of a toy, which can be very painful if the raw nail bed becomes exposed and may become infected. Usually, broken nails will bleed, and the pet will lick at their paw frequently. If your pet frequently breaks nails, discuss options for diagnosis and management with your veterinarian as sometimes there are deficiencies that can make the nail brittle or abnormal.

4. Hip Dysplasia - Hip dysplasia is a developmental condition involving abnormal looseness and improper formation of the hip joint. Unfortunately, this makes affected pets more likely to develop arthritis in their hip joints at a relatively young age. Arthritis in the hip joint may cause flare-ups of hindlimb pain, particularly after vigorous exercise. Screening is an important part of the pre-breeding work up for affected breeds, and hip x-rays can be performed to best make breeding decisions to reduce the incidence in affected breeds.

5. Soft Tissue Injury - Soft tissue injuries can be a risk for pets having outdoor adventures. Common injuries include bee stings, paw injuries (such as cuts from scrap metal or embedded glass pieces), or simple joint strains due to over-exuberant playing.

If your dog exhibits signs of lameness, with no improvement after 24-48 hours, consulting with your veterinarian is crucial for an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment. Call us at Parkes Vet today to book a consultation with our team to help keep your pet happy and healthy.