My dog is limping on multiple legs, hiding, and not eating. Why?

Lameness, loss of appetite and energy are definitely concerning. This can be caused by tick borne diseases such as Lyme disease. There are also certain bone and joint diseases that only affect growing puppies, and need to be ruled out with an x-Ray. I recommend having your appointment sooner rather than later, you may want to call your vet and ask for an earlier appointment.

Since Sami can't talk, only a physical exam will be able to determine the source of the lameness. Just like people, the pain/limping can be related to many causes including a ligament tears, soft tissue injury, a developmental abnormality or even a spinal issue. You may try strict rest for a few days (no walks, running, jumping or stairs). If Sami does not improve or if he gets worse, have him examined by the veterinarian. Pets who exhibit toe touching lameness on the hing legs are a concern for a tear of the cranial cruciate ligament which is serious. He may need radiographs and the doctor will determine this based on the exam. I hope he starts feeling better quickly.

Poor Damon! The limo definitely looks swollen but without me examining him I cannot say WHY it is swollen and why he is limping. He could have a soft tissue injury like a sprain or torn ligament or he could have a fractured bone somewhere or even an infection. Since it has been going on for a few days and has only gotten worse and he isn’t eating then I would have your vet or local emergency vet look at him soon. they will be able to help determine the cause, localize the pain, see if he has a fever and help come up with a plan to make him feel better. They will be able to do blood work and X-rays if needed. I hope this helps!

He really needs to see a vet. You didn’t mention if it was a front leg or hind leg. He could have a simple strain/sprain. It could be a genetic OCD lesion or hip dysphasia. It could be a torn CCL if it’s a back leg. There is no way for us to diagnose this via the internet. He needs to be examined by a vet in person. It sounds like he’s in pain and that’s why he’s not eating.

Poor Sage! Since Sage can't talk, only a physical exam will be able to determine the source of the lameness. It's also the only way to know if the nodes are related to the limping or if they are unrelated. Just like people, the pain/limping can be related to many causes including arthritis, a ligament tear, soft tissue injury or even a spinal issue. You may try strict rest for a few days (no walks, running, jumping or stairs). If Sage does not improve, have him examined by the veterinarian. He may need radiographs and the doctor will determine this based on the exam. A joint supplement for dogs and an omega 3 fatty acid supplement for pets may also help. I hope he starts feeling better quickly.

I'm sorry to hear that Diamond isn't doing well. There are many potential reasons for lameness and lethargy. The first thing that comes to mind would be a tick-related illness such as Lyme disease. Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses can cause significant joint inflammation, fever and general malaise. I would ensure that Diamond has easy access to food and water and that you offer him some yummy options such as low-sodium chicken broth to drink and boiled chicken to eat. You can also try applying a cool compress to his swollen paw. If these ministrations are not successful and Diamond continues to be lethargic and inappetant, I would strongly recommend that you have him seen by a veterinarian. Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses are relatively easy to diagnose and are treatable. Other potential causes for his symptoms would be an injury, infection or cancer. Your veterinarian will be able to determine what is going on.

I recommend to have Zeus examined today. Shifting leg lameness can indicate a few conditions like Lyme disease, panosteitis or an autoimmune condition. These conditions are all very painful and need to be addressed. I hope he starts feeling better quickly and please feel free to post any additional questions.