My Yorkie yelped after being kicked. Vet visit or monitor her?

Poor Hank! It sounds like he really hurt himself when he fell down the stairs, and he could have torn a ligament. It sounds like he has been in a pain for a long time if this limping has been ongoing for two months, and he really needs to see a vet. Two months is a lot of time for a dog to be in pain, and the cause of the pain needs to be diagnosed so it can be treated. I would even consider taking him into a vet today because he sounds so painful. If you can't find an open vet, take him into one first thing in the morning. Best of luck!

Sweet Pea may have injured her leg or she may have arthritis or a joint abnormality that has flared up. Tick borne diseases can also occasionally cause limping and joint pain. Even though she does not seem to want to extend her leg the pain could be anywhere along the leg and not necessarily the paw or hock (ankle joint). Since she has continued to limp for a few days I would recommend seeing your veterinarian - they would hopefully be able to localize the pain and can recommend tests such as an x-ray and also prescribe pain medication. Limping is nearly always a sign of pain.

Chronic pain in a three year old Yorkie should definitely be investigated more closely by your primary care vet. Back issues are quite common in small breed dogs, usually related to disk disease in the spinal column. This can be verified with an x-ray. Your vet will also be able to perform a thorough orthopedic exam to try and see if the pain is arising from elsewhere. Pain and be treated with various medications, including anti-inflammatories, opioids, and muscle relaxants. Sometimes, the best thing you can do for dogs in these cases is rest them. This means no more jumping, no more running, and no more rough housing for a couple of weeks to allow for any healing that might be needed. I realize this might be frustrating for both Lou and you, but it potentially might be for the best. Let me know if I was helpful and if there is anything else I can do for you.

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I'm sorry to hear that your Yorkie got attacked by another dog. He could absolutely have injuries that you cannot see, either to his muscle or spine/neck. If he is moving slower, he may have neck pain that hurts him when he moves. I recommend having him evaluated by a veterinarian at their next available appointment, so he/she can perform a physical exam and localize any pain. Your vet can prescribe pain/anti-inflammatory medications that help your pet be more comfortable. If you cannot get him to the vet, I recommend keeping him rested (ie restricted to a crate) so he cannot hurt himself further. I hope this is helpful!

Poor Max! Max could have a soft tissue injury such as a sprain or muscle strain, or it's also possible he could have fractured something. Max should be seen by a vet to determine the source of the injury. For now, keep Max as quiet and calm as possible. Don't let him jump on/off furniture, and keep his walking to a minimum. If he's not using that leg normally within the next day or two, he needs to be seen by the vet. Do *NOT* give him anything for pain. There are no human pain meds that are safe and effective for dogs, and anything you give him could conflict with a more effective medication that the vet prescribes. Hope this helps and he feels better soon!

There is a very common problem in Yorkies called a luxating patella that often causes these symptoms. Basically, the knee cap pops out of place and causes her to hold the leg up intermittently. This is the first thing your vet will probably check for - it can usually be diagnosed during the exam. If this isn't the problem, then she may have some other type of injury to her leg, such as a torn knee ligament, or something more minor such as a sprain or pulled muscle. I would recommend keeping her calm and quiet for the rest of the night. If she is still holding her leg up in the morning, then she should see a vet to find out what's wrong.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Ivy. If she walks with her paw up (ie not using it), this indicates that she is still painful. It worries me that she is still displaying this behavior (even if it is improved) several weeks after the incident. I recommend that she shees her veterinarian. She may need some anti-inflammatory pain medication to eliminate residual inflammation from a muscle strain. She also may need x-rays to ensure that there is not a bone or joint problem. In the meantime, keep her as quiet as possible to allow her body to rest. Do not give any over-the-counter pain medications as these can be toxic to dogs. I hope this information helps!