Why does my dog limp?

You should take him/her to the vet for a proper diagnosis. Could be a range of things!

Hello. Please never try to diagnose a limp, short of feeling in between the toes for prickles or parasites. If you can't easily figure out what's going on, visit your veterinarian. Limping means pain. You don't want to mess around with a dog who is improperly mobile. Your veterinarian can use diagnostics like neurologic exams, radiographs, and a full musculoskeletal examination to help figure out what's going on.

Dogs may limp for a number of reasons. First, try to determine which limb is the one causing your dog to limp. If your dog will let you, examine the whole limb, starting down at each toe and up to the shoulder. Sometimes, your dog may step on something, like a thorn or rock, that gets stuck in their foot. If so, remove it and your dog should be able to walk normally. See if there is a certain part of the limb that hurts. Be careful though! If you locate a particularly painful spot, leave it alone and stop touching it. At this point, I would take your dog to a vet to have an official exam. Possibly injuries may include a broken bone, torn ligament, dislocated joint, etc. Your vet should also be able to prescribe pain medication to help with any discomfort your dog may be feeling. Also, as a side note, dogs tend to hide pain well. Sometimes you may not think they're in pain when they really are, so just be aware. If you notice him not waiting to eat, not wanting to move, hiding, or acting differently than normal, he could be in pain. If your dog looks ok and doesn't appear painful, you can always try to wait a few hours or overnight to see how your dog is doing in the morning. You can always call you vet either way. If you already have pain medications at home from a previous surgery or injury, always talk to your vet first before giving a dose. One other thing that could cause limping is arthritis. Joint supplements, like glucosamine, can help your dog feel more comfortable. Again, always discuss these kinds of things with your vet and/or get an official diagnosis before starting medications.