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Why won't my dog go up stairs? He's limping on one back leg.

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

My dog does not want to use the stairs to come up. I made him do it to see what was the problem and he was limping on one of his back legs. It doesn't hurt when I touch it and he walks and runs normal. He also can use the stairs to come down and he can jump from the sofa or the bed without any problems. The issue is only to come up since Thursday (3 days). I checked his paws and I don't see anything weird. Thank you!

3 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Dr. Davis

Veterinarian

Published on August 5th, 2017

This could be a knee or hip injury. I recommend you keep him quiet, leash walk only and let him rest for several days. If it's minor he'll be back to normal soon. If the lameness and not wanting to come up the stairs continues after a week of rest, or gets worse I recommend an exam and they may do X-rays to diagnose the problem. Cruciate (ACL in humans) is the most common knee injury in larger dogs and they can also have hip dysplasia. There are many medications to help the pain and some orthopedic problems require surgery to repair. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for your dog.

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Other Answers

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    Answered By Rebecca, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on

    I would recommend cage rest and activity restriction for a few days (including avoiding the stairs) for a few days. He may have a hip or knee injury or some arthritis that bothers him climbing. If not improving with rest he may need a vet check up. Do not give any otc pain medications as that can hurt him.

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    Answered By Mara Howard, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on

    I'm sorry to hear your dog is limping. I would be concerned that he possibly injured his knee (ACL injury or sliding kneecap issue) or has a problem with his hip. Depending on his age, we would also want to ensure he doesn't have a bony tumor starting to develop. I would recommend he be evaluated by his regular veterinarian to try to determine the underlying cause for his limping, have any necessary testing done (X-rays, sedated exam) and get started on a treatment plan if needed. Good luck!

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