The Retriever Expert Expert Care Tips For Your Retriever
Did you let out your dog to play only for it to go home with a limping front leg? A Golden Retriever limping front leg indicates a potential injury, health problem, and even congenital defects. It’s important to get your Goldie examined at the vet’s clinic, especially if the limp is getting worse.
Golden Retrievers are very energetic canines. Paired that with their large size and it’s a recipe for joint problems. Below, I discussed the possible reasons for the limping and what you should do.
Gradual vs. sudden limping
Limping among Golden Retrievers can either be sudden or gradual. With sudden limping, the problem occurred without previous underlying causes. With this, it’s typically triggered by an injury or trauma to the affected leg.
On the other hand, gradual onset limping is brought by an underlying illness. The limping developed slowly, which is far more concerning than sudden limping.
Nevertheless, both of these conditions require immediate treatment. This is to save your Goldie from suffering and to prevent the condition from worsening.
Why is my Golden Retriever limping on its front leg?
Limping is a tell-tale sign that there’s something wrong with your dog. It’s rarely a learned habit, so you must consult the vet to rule out these possible causes:
1. Injury and trauma
Imagine your Golden Retriever as a child. If you let them out unsupervised, they can get bruised knees, a broken bone, and all sorts of possible injuries.
Injury and trauma is the most common reason why Golden Retrievers will limp on their front legs. Your dog probably zoomed too fast and pulled a muscle on its front leg. Also, your Goldie can fall off elevated surfaces, which can cause trauma on its forelimbs.
Aside from that, paw injuries due to sharp objects can occur. If you wish to let your Golden Retriever out in your yard, make sure that you’ve cleaned up shards of glass, sharp metal pieces, and similar hazards.
Lastly, you should rule out insect bites. My Golden Retriever is notorious for pawing bees, which always give him swollen paws and a limp that goes on for days.
2. Elbow dysplasia
Like hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia can also affect Golden Retrievers. This time the affected legs are in front. This will cause limping, lameness, and other progressive symptoms.
With this condition, the dog’s elbow joints didn’t form properly. This can lead to various abnormalities on the affected joint, making it difficult or almost impossible to fix entirely.
Moreover, elbow dysplasia is observed to be the most common cause of forelimb limping and lameness in young dogs. But unlike typical limping, Goldies with this condition will have a paddling gait as the dog tries to compensate for the lameness.
Elbow dysplasia is easy to diagnose if the Golden Retriever puppy underwent rigorous testing. This is standard among legitimate breeders.
However, the limping won’t manifest until the Golden Retriever dog is older. By that time, the condition has worsened and can be expensive to manage.
Since elbow dysplasia is primarily genetic in nature, there’s no absolute cure for the condition. However, factors like obesity, excessive physical activity, and diet will affect a Goldie’s predisposition to elbow dysplasia.
3. Panosteitis
Panosteitis is a condition among young pups, specifically those that belong in the large and giant breeds. It’s also called ‘growing pains’, since it occurs in dogs between the age of 5 and 18 months.
What happens here is that your Golden Retriever’s bone legs become inflamed. It can occur on one of the forelimbs or both. While rare, this condition can also affect the hind legs.
Golden Retriever puppies with panosteitis will exhibit lameness, depression, unexplained weight loss, fever, and poor appetite. If not corrected early, panosteitis will lead to muscle atrophy on the affected legs.
It’s not fully known what causes this condition among puppies. The good news is that this condition is self-limiting, which means it will resolve on its own most of the time. Generally, Golden Retriever puppies with panosteitis will outgrow the condition once they turn a year old.
Still, some dogs will require corrective treatments and medications to assist with walking. It’s also important to bring your dog to the vet every 2 to 4 weeks to check for progress.
4. Hypertrophic osteodystrophy (HOD)
On a more serious note, a limping Golden Retriever might be suffering from a condition called hypertrophic osteodystrophy.
Hypertrophic osteodystrophy is commonly observed in large breeds. It occurs between the dog’s first 2 to 6 months of life. According to experts, Golden Retrievers are about 5.4 times more likely to have the risk of developing HOD.
Like panosteitis, Goldies with hypertrophic osteodystrophy will suffer from bone inflammation. The difference is that hypertrophic osteodystrophy affects the flared regions of the long bones (metaphyses). On the other hand, panosteitis occurs on the bone shafts (diaphyses).
Moreover, HOD is a self-limiting condition that will usually go away on its own. Treatment for this condition is mostly centered on managing the pain. Depending on your pup’s condition, the vet will prescribe NSAIDs and IV fluid therapy.
Overall, the medication for HOD will only last for a few weeks. But if your Golden Retriever still suffers from bone inflammation at an older age, there might be another underlying condition involved.
5. Cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) tear
Another condition Golden Retrievers may experience is the cranial cruciate ligament. This is quite a common knee injury among canines, which can affect both the front and rear legs.
CCL tear causes sudden limping as the shin bone slides forward. You’ll hear a loud pop when the ligament tears, which will automatically cause unbearable pain on your Golden Retriever.
Dogs with torn CCL can’t walk properly. Surgical correction is often necessary to prevent irreversible injuries and further joint damages.
Almost all cases of CCL tear are due to overexertion. It can occur when your Golden Retriever runs too fast or jumps from an elevated surface. In general, the ligament tears because your dog planted its limbs on the ground even as the body is still in the forward movement momentum.
Take note that CCL tears don’t go away on their own. The longer you put off treatment for your dog, the worse the condition gets. From limping, it will develop into full-on lameness, inflammation, and muscle atrophy.
6. Luxated patella
Your Golden Retriever’s limping might be due to patellar luxation. This condition occurs when the kneecap gets dislocated. As with CCL tears, the most common reason behind the luxation is injury or trauma.
Dogs with this condition will bunny hop and limp on the affected leg. It can also affect both the front and back legs, depending on which limb received the trauma.
Toy and small breeds like Yorkshire Terriers, Pomeranians, and Chihuahuas are at high risk of experiencing patellar luxation. Still, the likes of Golden Retrievers aren’t fully invincible to this injury.
Many cases of patellar luxation require surgical correction, especially if it occurs frequently. The veterinarian can also place implants to prevent the kneecap from luxating in the future.
7. Arthritis
Almost any dog can suffer from osteoarthritis later in life. It’s a common problem, but older and larger breeds are at high risk.
If your senior Golden Retriever is limping its front leg, you should get it checked for arthritis. This is a degenerative joint disease that causes massive inflammation and pain in the dog’s limbs.
Moreover, arthritis occurs due to the deterioration of the joint cartilage. As the cartilage thins, the bones rub together, which forms bone spurs. These spurs will cause extreme pain and discomfort to the affected dog.
As a progressive disease, the treatment for osteoarthritis in dogs is focused on managing the pain. Veterinarians can also prescribe medications and supplements to slow down cartilage degeneration. Take note that joint supplements will help your dog, but they can’t cure or stop arthritis.
Overall, the goal is to reduce your dog’s limping and provide the best quality of life possible. If you suspect that your Golden Retriever is experiencing the onset of arthritis, it’s best to bring it to the vet right away.
8. Neurological problems
It’s quite tricky to tell whether your dog’s limp is due to an external injury or neurological problem. The only way to diagnose it is to bring your dog to the vet’s clinic for a comprehensive examination.
The vet will first rule out potential causes like luxation, dysplasia, trauma, arthritis, and so on. If your Golden Retriever doesn’t have any of it, the veterinarian will conduct basic neurological tests.
This includes checking your dog’s reflexes, palpation of the spine, and testing the nerves. If your Golden Retriever’s limping leg takes more than two minutes to correct an uncomfortable position, it might be dealing with brain-related injuries.
Further tests, including MRI, X-Rays, and DNA testing might be needed based on the vet’s initial findings.
What should I do when my dog is limping?
If you noticed that your Golden Retriever is limping, the first thing to do is check the affected leg. Look for obvious wounds, injuries, or dislocation.
You should also bring your dog inside and observe its behavior. If the limping front leg becomes swollen, inflamed, or warm, you should bring it to the vet right away.
You should do the same if you notice that your dog is licking the affected leg too much. This habit can cause bald spots on the leg and even increase the risk of infections.
Just remember that you’re not supposed to self-medicate your dog. Human-grade pain relievers are no-nos for canines, regardless of breed.
What can I give my dog for limping?
If the cause of your Golden retriever’s front leg limping is a sprain or mild trauma, the following tips will help:
- Cold or heat pack. To manage acute pain on the affected leg, you can put on an ice pack on it. This will also reduce inflammation on your dog’s leg. However, if there’s muscle stiffness, a heating pad is the best solution.
- Reduce physical activity. While you’re preparing to go to the vet, make sure that your Golden Retriever won’t experience rigorous activities. Putting the canine on a crate will help. You should also keep them on ground level and avoid forcing the canine to climb the stairs or the car.
- NSAIDs. To know if this medication suits your dog’s condition, you should call the vet right away. This is the best move if the limping occurs in the middle of the night or if vet clinic access isn’t possible at the moment.
- Control the bleeding. If your Goldie sustained open wounds, you should wash and bandage them right away. This will control the bleeding while you head to the vet.
- Carry the dog. When transporting a limping dog, you should carry it around. This is to prevent further stress on the affected forelimbs. You can also use a crate if you can’t hold your dog properly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why is Golden Retriever limping and licking its front paw?
A: Limping and licking are signs that your Golden Retriever’s paw or leg is hurt. Your dog probably stepped on sharp objects or very hot pavement. It’s best to check the paw to see if it has wounds or more serious issues.
Q: Why is my dog limping but doesn’t seem to be in pain?
A: Minor injuries may cause your dog to limp but not substantial enough to trigger excruciating pain. Still, it doesn’t mean that your dog doesn’t need veterinary care. Some Golden Retrievers are tolerant than others, so they may appear fine even if they are experiencing pain.
Q: Should I take my Golden Retriever to the vet if he is limping?
A: Most causes of limping aren’t an emergency. However, the longer you put off treatment, the longer your dog will suffer. You should assess the situation and observe if your dog’s condition will worsen. If the limping doesn’t go away and your dog seems to be in a greater deal of pain, that’s the time you should go to the vet’s clinic.
Q: How long will a dog limp with a sprained leg?
A: A Golden Retriever with a sprained leg will limp for 24 to 48 hours. If the condition isn’t serious, the sprain will clear up on its own on the second day. However, if the limping and pain persists, it’s best to bring your dog to the vet’s clinic.
Q: Can I give ibuprofen to my Golden Retriever for limping?
A: You should never give human-grade ibuprofen to your dog. This medication has a very narrow margin of safety for canines. It can cause more harm than help if you decide to self-administer. Veterinarians have treated many cases of ibuprofen-induced conditions like intestinal inflammation and internal bleeding in dogs.
Final words
A Golden Retriever limping front leg should always be considered a serious condition. Whether it’s a non-emergency limp, seeking immediate veterinary attention will save your dog from suffering.
Aside from that, you should always supervise your Golden Retriever’s activities. This way, you can prevent it from running too fast or getting exposed to various hazards.
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