Small Breed Dogs That Limp
Small-breed dogs that limp from a puppy are the ones with Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease, although some begin to show symptoms only in adulthood. We’ll talk more about that in this article.
Small Breed Dogs That Lame: What To Know
Small breed dogs are more likely to suffer from a disease known as Legg-Calvé-Perthes, in which blood does not adequately reach the muscles of the hind limbs.
This causes some difficulties to walk and they start to limp to different degrees. This condition is also known as “avascular necrosis” and mainly affects the head of the femur.
The disorder causes atrophy and, in some cases, is very painful. It is diagnosed between 4 and 12 months of the animal’s life and, if left untreated, it can be degenerative and also affect the hip.
Some veterinarians recommend the use of belts or straps for small-breed dogs that limp due to LCP disease. It is also advisable to rest and immobilize the animal’s hind legs.
But, in many cases, professionals end up choosing to perform a surgical intervention to reverse the situation, especially when the problem is already advanced.
Small breed dogs that limp due to kneecap dislocation
A kneecap dislocation may be behind this problem. The kneecap is an ossification of the tendon and is located in the quadriceps.
The tendency to dislocation can have a hereditary origin, although it can be aggravated by nutritional or environmental factors.
In addition to the pain when walking, the animal will likely walk with a limp and the problem will become even worse when the animal is overweight or exerting a lot of effort.
This type of lameness is common in small breed dogs because it is a birth defect.
At birth, your knees are healthy, but as they grow, the femur crease loses depth and the patella circulates “freely”. This causes her to disengage from the location and complicate walking.
Unlike LCP disease, kneecap dislocation can appear on the front or hind legs.
What are small breed dogs that limp?
Small breed dogs have many characteristics in common besides their size. For example, many of them limp due to the disease known as Legg-Calvé-Perthes, as we mentioned before.
These are the dogs most vulnerable to the problem:
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Maltese Bichon
This dog, originally from the Mediterranean island of Malta, but made famous in Italy, is quite healthy, although he may have a limp mainly due to problems with his knees and kneecaps. It is necessary to avoid weight gain.
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yorkshire terrier
This small breed native to England (emerging at the height of the Industrial Revolution) can suffer from many health problems, including kneecap dislocations, skin allergies, heart problems, cataracts, dry keratitis and a delicate digestive system.
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toy poodle
This is another of the small breed dogs that limp more commonly than the other subbreeds (large, medium or dwarf).
The toy poodle measures a maximum of 28 centimeters and this is the main feature that differentiates it from other poodles.
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pug
The pug is a breed of dog from China, very popular in the UK, which has become quite “famous” in recent times.
The molosso type, the pug suffers from brachycephalic syndrome due to its flattened snout; he can’t stand the heat and his breathing is difficult.
But these dogs also tend to suffer from obesity, as they eat a lot and don’t like to exercise.
This worsens the condition and increases the chances of him limping, as his joints suffer from having to support so much weight while walking.
If at the time of taking your pet for a walk, you detect that it is limping, look for the cause.
Maybe it’s because he missteps, for a specific pain, because he has something stuck in the pads… but if he continues to do this after several days, we recommend that you see your veterinarian for an examination, especially if he is a small breed .
