Long Dog Nails Can Cause Limping As the nail bends back and forth, it can create pressure and cause pain in the foot. The equivalent for people would be if your toenails were so long that they got caught in your socks when you were walking.
Broken nails and dry or cracked paws can have your dog limping. Your dog's pads should feel soft and smooth all the time. While your dog's nails are strong, they can still break. The only thing is they may not completely break them, leaving an opening for irritation and pain.
Over time, your dog might develop spine and posture problems (like sitting or standing oddly) due to frequently shifting weight because of overgrown nails. Too-long nails can even lead to difficulty walking, lameness or serious injury; especially if they're so long that they touch the ground.
In older dogs, you can see extremely long nails — so long that they can affect your dog's ability to walk. If the nails are too long and the first thing to touch the floor, they can inhibit traction and make it even harder for old dogs with arthritis or other orthopedic impairments.
Superficial Injury/Trauma
Superficial injuries can include a cut or scrape caused by a sharp object such as stepping on glass, getting stuck by a thorn, walking on a nail, or running on hot pavement. Other paw injuries that can cause limping include bites or stings, infection, broken toenails, or burns.
A mild limp means your dog is still using the leg but not putting as much weight on it. If your dog has just developed a mild limp, but appears comfortable and healthy in all other ways, it's not unreasonable to encourage them to take it easy for a few days and see what happens.
Some minor injuries can lead to limping without pain, such as a minor tear to their ACL, minor patella luxation, or minor sprains. Medically speaking, sprains harm the ligaments that connect bones. This can lead to joint damage if not properly taken care of.
As long nails hit the ground, it puts force on the foot and leg structure. This force can potentially lead to arthritis and ongoing pain. The growth pattern of a dog's nails forms a curved shape. If left untrimmed, the claws will eventually curve under the dog's paws and dig into the skin, creating pain when they walk.
It is therefore important to keep your dog's claws well trimmed at the correct length. If they get too long it can put pain and pressure on the toes and paws, which will ultimately put strain on the legs. Long claws are also prone to splitting and infection.
Instead, you'll want to gradually cut your dog's overgrown nails over time — a little bit each week, so that the quick can gradually recede. Once you've developed this routine, you can continue to trim your dog's nails every week or every other week to avoid getting into another overgrown situation.
If your dog's nails are too long you can always contact your veterinarian or groomer for a nail trim. This is especially important for dogs that don't like having their paws touched or are hard to handle during nail trims. You can also do at-home nail trims using nail clippers or nail grinders.
Overexertion. Dogs can get muscle and joint soreness just like their human counterparts, especially after a session of more than usual exercise. Usually, this kind of dog limping will only be mild, and they will recover from their soreness within a few days.
Dog Limping on Front Leg
Front leg limping is also caused by a host of conditions and injuries. Limping is a symptom of canine carpal extension, as well as everyday sprains and strains to the wrist or hock, the dog's version of an ankle. Other hock injuries that result in limping include arthritis or dislocation.
If your dog is limping all of a sudden, your dog has likely sustained some injury or trauma. This could range from the superficial, as a foreign object stuck in their paw or an insect bite, to deeper injuries, like a broken bone or a sprain. It's always best to seek veterinary care sooner rather than later.
It's best to not cut within 2 millimeters of the quick. As you cut the nail deeper, a gray to pink oval starts to appear at the top of the cut surface of the nail. Stop cutting the nail at this point as additional cutting will cut into the quick and cause bleeding. Styptic powder stops bleeding when applied.
If you or your dog is uncomfortable with the use of nail cutters, the good news is there are alternatives. Many pet owners prefer the use of a motorized nail file or Dremel tool that is often less stressful for dogs, as it eliminates the pinching sensation associated with clippers.
If you dog has dark nails trim very thin cuttings off the end, as it's easy to accidentally damage the 'quick' or soft part of the nail. If you see a black dot in the centre of his nail, you have reached the quick and should stop cutting right away.
In most cases, it's better to be safe than sorry, and scheduling an appointment with your vet may help both you and your dog to feel better. If the limp doesn't begin to resolve itself, is becoming worse, or is accompanied with whining or yelping, it's time to call your vet or visit your nearest emergency vet.
Generally, if your dog's limp isn't severe, you can just monitor your pup's progress at home over 24-48 hours, watching for more symptoms or to see if the limp becomes more pronounced. Most of the time it's best to err on the side of caution and schedule an appointment with your vet.
A simple rule of thumb to help determine the severity of the injury is that most dogs will not walk on a broken leg, torn ligament, or dislocated joint. A good exam requires two people: one to examine the leg and one to restrain the dog. Dogs that are in pain may bite, even people they love so be cautious.
Common medications used in the management of pain related to dog limping include the NSAID family of drugs (non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs) such as carprofen, meloxicam, firocoxib, and deracoxib.
If your dog's limp isn't severe, you can monitor your pup's progress at home over 24-48 hours. That said, it's typically better to be safe than sorry, and scheduling an appointment with your vet may help to pinpoint the cause of your dog's limp so that the underlying condition can be treated effectively.