Signs That Your Pet’s Limp Requires Urgent Attention

Most of the time, your pet’s limp can wait until the next work day before seeing a vet. But if your pet is lame or sick in other ways, you need to get them to the nearest emergency veterinary hospital immediately.

Signs of lameness in pets that need medical care

If your pet shows any of the following symptoms, you should take them to the emergency room:

Dragging a limb

Not bearing weight on a limb

Extreme lethargy

Uncontrollable bleeding

Excessive swelling

Excessive vocalization

Abrupt worsening of a limp

If your pet has a small limp and other worrying symptoms like throwing up or diarrhea, they may need emergency care for the real problem, not just the limp.

Causes of lameness in pets that need urgent care

Pets can go lame for many different reasons, and some of them need treatment right away. Even if you have a sprain or strain, you don’t need to go to the emergency room immediately. But some situations do need immediate care, such as:

A fractured limb

Paresis or paralysis of one or more limbs

A deep or large wound that will not stop bleeding

A venomous insect or snake bite

A car accident

A dog fight

Some of these things might not look like they hurt much, but they could cause internal problems that need to be treated. For example, you might think it’s fine if your pet was hit by a car and only has some road rash on its legs and a slight limp. However, a thorough exam could show damage to the liver, spleen, kidneys, or bladder, which could require a long stay in the hospital.

A pet that another pet has bitten is another common thing that needs medical care. Punctures only make small holes, but the wounds get sick very fast. Also, a pet that grabs and shakes your pet can damage the tissues underneath, which can quickly become a big problem.

It can be hard to tell if your four-legged friend, who now only has three legs, needs medical care. So, call our team to talk about your pet’s health, and we’ll let you know if they need emergency care.