What are the reasons for a dog's hind leg suddenly going lame?

A dog's hind leg suddenly going lame may be caused by long-term calcium deficiency, injury to the hind leg, arthritis, and hip dysplasia. When this happens, the owner can first check the dog at home by palpation to see if there are any obvious injuries or signs of pain. If there are injuries, it is necessary to timely treat the wounds. If the dog is in severe pain, it may be due to a fracture, or arthritis and hip dysplasia. In this case, take the dog to the pet hospital immediately for X-ray examination. If there are no obvious signs of pain during palpation, it may be caused by calcium deficiency, and calcium supplementation should be given to the dog.

Long-term calcium deficiency

If a dog's diet is relatively simple, only eating dog food without supplementing other nutrients, it is prone to calcium deficiency, resulting in poor leg bone development. In this case, it is recommended that the owner adjust the dog's diet structure, feed the dog foods rich in calcium, such as shrimp, bone broth, etc., and appropriately supplement calcium tablets and vitamin D. Also, take the dog out for more sun exposure to help promote calcium absorption.

Injury to the hind leg

If the dog's hind leg is affected by external forces, such as falls, scrapes, and collisions, it will be unable to walk normally due to severe pain, resulting in the sudden lameness of the hind leg. In this case, the owner needs to immediately check whether there are wounds or fractures on the dog's hind leg. If it is only an external injury, it is necessary to clean the wound and bandage it properly. If it is a leg fracture, the dog needs to go to the pet hospital for X-rays to determine the location and degree of injury. Depending on the situation, internal fixation or external fixation may be required.

Arthritis and hip dysplasia

If a dog's exercise volume is relatively large, it can cause joint wear and tear over time, leading to arthritis and hip dysplasia, which can result in a dog's hind leg going lame. Moreover, due to the severe pain, the dog may also emit whines or cries, and be unwilling to move. If this is the case, the owner needs to take the dog to the pet hospital for examination and treatment in a timely manner, and appropriately reduce the dog's exercise volume, avoiding activities such as going up and down stairs.