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Why is my dog holding his back leg up when walking? Is he hurt?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Chihuahua | Male | neutered | 4 years and 10 months old

My dog's left back leg is up when he walks what should I do? (Btw: my dog is a Chauhauwa)

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Jenna Beyer, DVM, MBA, cVMA

Veterinarian, Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist

Published on August 31st, 2017

I would recommend that Heat be checked out by a vet. He could have a muscle or ligament strain, a broken bone, or a dislocation. If he is limping, it also means he is painful and would benefit from prescription pain medications. Remember, there are no human OTC medications that are safe in pets!

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    Answered By Julie Settlage, DVM, DACVS-LA, CVA

    Veterinarian, Board-Certified Veterinary Surgeon (large animal), Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist

    Published on

    Oh no! I am sorry that Heat has hurt himself. When a dog will not put a foot down when walking or running, it means that the leg hurts somewhere - it could be anywhere between his toes all the way up to his hip. And there are numerous reasons for the lameness - from something simple as a thorn in a foot to something very complicated and serious as a fracture (which is often accompanied by significant swelling). Another thing to consider is how consistent the lameness is - is it continuous or is it intermittent. A common diagnosis in chihuahu's (a toy breed) is a luxating patella - some may need surgery to get comfortable, others do not. You should visit with your veterinarian. They can do a physical exam and determine what is going on. They may need to do x-rays to get a diagnosis. Thank you for using pet coach!

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