Limping in pets indicates moderate to extreme hopping when your pet walks or runs. Dragging a leg or favoring one or more legs over the others is seen in both cats and dogs. Discover what your dog’s or cat´s problem might be by determining which leg is hurting. What your pet was doing before it got injured? Could it be Arthritis? There are no home remedies for a limping dog or cat because human pain relieving aids can be toxic to pets. A pet limping for more than a day or two needs to see the veterinarian.
How to Recognize
While there will most likely be no visible sign of damage, your pet’s limbs may appear to hang at an odd angle if they are dislocated or fractured. Limping is often accompanied by swelling in the joints.
Causes of Limping
Limping is most frequently caused by trauma. However, hereditary diseases and old age can also cause limping. The degeneration of a joint or disc, Hip Dysplasia, Osteochondritis dissecans, and several other diseases may be the cause.
Diagnosis
Your veterinarian will perform a physical exam on your pet and look for any injury or trauma that may have caused your pet to limp. Pay attention to if the onset of your pet’s limping was gradual or immediate. Your veterinarian may take X-rays of the affected limbs/joints. After ruling out trauma, your veterinarian will take a blood sample and a urine sample to perform a series of standard tests that include a blood profile and a blood count. Your veterinarian will most likely find the cause through process of elimination after considering skeletal, muscular, and neurological causes.
Treatment for Limping
If your pet’s limping is caused by a broken bone, your veterinarian will set the bone in a cast. Treatments vary depending on the disease your pet suffers from. Be sure to listen to your veterinarian’s advice and regularly get check ups so your veterinarian can keep track of your pet’s progress.
Pet Insurance
When adding a dog or cat to your family you want to make sure your pet is happy, healthy and protected. During its lifetime your pet is exposed to many illnesses and diseases and some breeds are affected by a congenital disease which is a condition existing at birth. At these moments when your pet is ill or maybe needs surgery, you want to be protected for the unexpected and high veterinarian costs.
