Concerned about my little nephew's limp

My sister has a corgi named Bam Bam who will be turning 2 in March. Earlier this evening I noticed him limping across the living room and during sitting, he has decreased weight bearing on his left front leg and was leaning more to the right. When I questioned my sister, she said that his limp has happened a few times before. She told me that as a puppy, he fell off the bed and stairs.

I've gone running with him before, and he's pretty fast and agile. Currently, he's able to jump on/off the bed and walk without whimpering, just the limp. Any ideas and how concerned should we be?

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Permalink Reply by Skip Kennon on February 17, 2011 at 9:38am

Over the years my older corgi has had an intermittent problem with his left front leg and shoulder. Our vet has told us that jumping off beds, sofas, etc. basically anything over a foot tall, puts tremendous strain on a corgi's front legs and shoulders. Going down stairs is also not great because of their build. Obviously you can't avoid or prevent all these things. But I do try to discourage my older dog from jumping off the bed or sofa when he has strained himself. Then I will say Stay! and lift him down supported under his chest and rear. Never under the arms! You can injure him easily that way. Hope my thoughts are a help.

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Permalink Reply by Jane on February 17, 2011 at 1:10pm

I would just take him to the vet. It's really impossible to say what it could be as there are many reasons a dog could be limping, i.e. an old growth plate injury, luxating patella, hip dysplasia causing him to overcompensate in the front leg, torn ligaments, etc.

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Permalink Reply by John Wolff on February 17, 2011 at 1:30pm

Rule out paw injury. We discourage jumping off the bed (unsuccessfully) and other high places. We have smooth slippery floors, so we have ugly nonskid throw rugs on takeoff & landing zones. Where walks include steep hills or especially long stairways, I try to do them uphill. Provide some step or ramp for the bed if that's where he sleeps.