If your dog suddenly has a slope foot and a lame leg, here are the causes and solutions.

1.It is caused by overwork.

Dogs will be overworked due to excessive exercise. Think about the rough play and running of dogs, or running in the park for a long time, which will lead to overwork. This phenomenon usually occurs in juvenile dogs. Muscle soreness affects them as much as we do. If this is the case, don’t worry, the dog usually recovers quickly.

2.Something stuck in the claw.

Imagine if we go out without shoes – running around on the grass, in the woods and around you, your soles will be dirty or even hurt! This is what your dog does every day because he doesn’t have shoes. Of course, it can be avoided if you force him to wear a pair of shoes. If your dog limps or stretches out its claws, it may be due to scratches or something between its claws, such as burrs, thorns, or even stones. In some long haired dogs, even their own hair can tangle between their toes. In this case, we need to check his melon seeds to see if it is due to scratches or something. There is no need to panic. Just deal with it.

3.This is caused by toenail problems.

If your dog hasn’t been to a pet salon for a while, or doesn’t walk on the concrete floor often (which helps to trim nails), it’s likely that an ingrown or overgrown toenail has penetrated his skin. This may cause discomfort (e.g. limping) and in severe cases, veterinary assistance may be required to file the nail. On the other hand, if your dog just comes out from the pet beautician and limps, their nails may be too short. In this case, we need to trim his nails or wait for his nails to grow. Don’t worry too much.

4.Animal or insect bites.

Spider venom is toxic and can affect the nervous system. Lyme disease caused by ticks can cause quadriplegia. Non infectious animal bites can also be dangerous because of stings. For example, if your dog is bitten by another dog on the leg, it may damage the joints and cause lameness. In this case, check whether there are insects biting him and whether his joints are injured. It is best to send it to the veterinarian for help.

5.Underlying scar tissue.

If your dog has ever broken a leg or had surgery, scar tissue may be the culprit. Even if the dog’s legs are properly splinted (and if necessary, he has undergone surgery), there may still be scar tissue and / or bones in slightly different positions than before. This is especially true for complex fractures that require plates and screws to fix the bone. This situation will improve after the dog recovers from fracture.

6.Infection.

Infected wounds, incisions, and skin can cause pain and lameness. This condition should be treated immediately because the infection may worsen and become more difficult to treat.

7.Caused by injury.

Dogs are active animals and may sprain and strain as they move. Leg injuries are one of the most common causes of dog lameness. If limping occurs suddenly, injury should be suspected. Sometimes the limp will disappear within a day or two. If the injury is more serious, the limp will continue. In this case, if the dog does not need to be nervous for a short time, and generally the sprain or strain will recover by itself. If it still fails, send it to the veterinarian to help you deal with it.
8.Growth pain.

This often affects growing large dogs (5-12 months old). Over a period of weeks or months, pain and lameness tend to shift from one limb to another. The symptoms usually disappear when the dog is 20 months old. This kind of situation is not uncommon. Excrement shoveling officers should pay attention to the calcium supplement of dogs, and the nutrition supplement should be balanced without excessive panic.

9.Knee dislocation (patella dislocation).

Kneecap dislocation is a fancy term for kneecap dislocation, which occurs when a dog’s kneecap leaves its natural position. The effects of this condition vary from limbs that are completely unwilling to bear weight (causing severe claudication) to mild to moderate instability without any accompanying pain. Some breeds, such as Yorkshire Terriers and toy dogs, have a tendency to dislocate the patella. This condition is also inherited, so if your dog’s parents have this condition, your dog may also have this condition. Many puppies have knee bone dislocation throughout their lives, which will not cause arthritis or pain, nor will it affect the dog’s life. In other cases, it can manifest as a more severe condition, which may require surgery or treatment. Dislocated knees can also be caused by accidents or other external injuries.

10.Fracture / leg fracture.

Fractures are not always visible to the naked eye and may be caused by trauma. When a dog has a fracture, it will not be able to bear the weight of the affected limb. In this case, it should be referred to the veterinarian to check whether there is a fracture and then handle it.

11.It is caused by dysplasia.

Hip and elbow dysplasia is a common disease in dogs and can lead to claudication. Dysplasia is an inherited disease that causes joint loosening and subluxation. In this case, dogs need to be supplemented with reasonable calcium and nutrition.

12.Tumor / cancer.

You should always monitor your dog for any unusual lumps or growths. In most cases, lumps are harmless, but in some cases, they may indicate cancer. Bone cancer is particularly common in larger dogs. If not controlled, it will grow rapidly, leading to lameness, pain and even death.

13.It is caused by degenerative myelopathy.

This is a progressive disease of the spinal cord in elderly dogs. Initial symptoms included weakness and limping. The disease will eventually develop into paralysis.

14.It is caused by nerve injury.

This can lead to paralysis of the front leg, leading to lameness, and usually the foot will drag on the ground. Dogs with diabetes often have nerve damage.

The dog’s vitality and self recovery ability are relatively strong, so when the dog has slope foot behavior, there is no need to worry too much. The slope foot caused by most of the reasons can recover by itself. If you can’t judge the cause of the dog’s slope foot after excluding some of the basic reasons I cited, I suggest you refer him to a pet doctor for treatment.