A limp on the way home, a hesitant rise from the rug or a dog who suddenly avoids the stairs can leave you wondering whether to rest them or ring the vet. You do not need to know the cause before asking for help.
Limping and stiffness are signs to notice, even when your dog still wants their dinner or greets you with a wag. This guide helps you describe the change and recognise urgent warning signs. It cannot diagnose your dog or replace advice from your own vet.
Quick answer
- Contact your vet if your dog is limping, moving stiffly or struggling to get up. A mild-looking change still deserves advice.
- Call immediately if they cannot put a leg down, have severe pain, a serious wound or a sudden inability to stand or walk.
- Sudden weakness, wobbliness or dragging feet also needs urgent veterinary advice.
- Stop the activity, keep handling gentle and ask the practice what to do next. Do not try to walk the problem off.
What counts as limping or stiffness?
A movement change does not always look like a dog holding one paw in the air. You might notice shorter steps, an uneven walk, difficulty sitting down or getting up, or reluctance to do something they normally manage comfortably.
PDSA advises contacting a vet for limping or stiffness. A slower pace in an older dog is worth checking too, rather than assuming age explains it.
Think about what is different for your dog. “She normally gets up as soon as I pick up the lead, but today she struggled to stand” gives the practice useful context.
When should I call the vet?
Phone your practice when you notice a new limp or stiffness, including a change that comes and goes. Describe when it started, whether your dog can bear weight and how comfortable they seem. The veterinary team can decide how quickly an appointment is needed.
Do not use a fixed “wait 24 or 48 hours” rule as permission to delay. If you are unsure whether the problem is urgent, call and ask. You do not need a dramatic injury or a certain diagnosis to make that call.
Signs that need immediate help
Contact your vet or their emergency service straight away if you notice:
- an inability to put a leg down or use one or more legs
- severe pain, repeated crying or strong guarding of a body part
- a suspected broken leg, serious wound or heavy bleeding
- sudden weakness, loss of balance, dragging feet or inability to stand
- collapse or difficulty breathing
- a road accident or other significant injury.
After a road accident, call even if your dog appears unhurt. Blue Cross warns that internal injuries may not be immediately obvious. Phone before travelling so you know which practice to attend and how to move your dog safely.
Why the way they walk cannot tell you the cause
Different problems affecting the paws, limbs or back can produce similar movement changes. Looking at which leg seems affected is useful, but it is not a home diagnosis.
PDSA lists weak legs, wobbliness, trouble getting up and dragging or scuffing feet among possible signs of a slipped disc. That does not mean a dog with those signs has that condition. It explains why a sudden change needs veterinary assessment rather than guesswork.
What to do while you arrange help
Keep the situation quiet and pause the walk or game. Ask the vet how much movement is appropriate and how to transport your dog if needed. A painful dog may bite even when they are usually gentle, so avoid forcing a check.
- Observe first. If your dog is comfortable, look for an obvious wound or damaged claw without bending the leg or pressing sore areas.
- Do not make them climb stairs, jump or repeatedly walk for you to test the limp.
- Do not attempt to straighten a limb, apply a splint or tightly bandage it without veterinary instructions.
- Ask your vet before giving any medicine. Do not improvise with human painkillers or another pet’s prescription.
If a check hurts or your dog pulls away, stop. An incomplete description is enough to start a conversation with the practice.
A practical checklist for the call
Jot down what you already know. Do not delay an urgent call to finish the list.
- When did the movement change begin?
- Was there a fall, collision, walk or other activity beforehand?
- Which leg seems affected, and can your dog put weight on it?
- Are they stiff, weak, unsteady or dragging a foot?
- Is there swelling, a wound, crying or discomfort with handling?
- Have appetite, drinking, toileting or usual behaviour changed?
- What medicines and existing conditions should the practice know about?
If you already have a short video showing the change, ask whether the practice would like it. A plain description is fine too.
The next step
You do not need to solve a limp from the living-room floor. Notice what has changed, contact your vet and follow their advice. Being able to eat, wag or walk a little does not cancel out a movement problem that needs checking.
Reviewed: 16 October 2026
