Today, we’re going to dive into the signs that a bulldog limp is serious, and what you should do about it at every stage. Just as with kids, pets sometimes get a little injured. They bash into things, run into things, bulldoze people (particularly the bulldog breeds,) and act like they have absolutely no fear in the world a lot of the time.
We can’t always control our four-legged friends, but we can help them when accidents occur.
The first, and perhaps most important thing, is to first find out if your bulldog’s limp is serious.
Is My Bulldog’s Limp Serious?
There are four main “types” of limping, according to veterinarians and experts. Let’s look at each of them in a little more detail, and try to work out which one applies to your bully with a limp.
Acute Limping
Acute limping often comes on suddenly and only lasts for a short period of time – a few days or weeks. This type of limp is often caused by things like a bruise or muscle fatigue and often goes away by itself, without the need for medical intervention.
Other causes of acute (short-lived) limping in bulldogs include:
- Insect stings or bites
- Sprains, fractures, and dislocations
- Injuries or trauma to paw – nails, pads, etc.
- Foreign bodies/items stuck in paw
Bullies are particularly boisterous, so it’s almost to be expected that they’ll have a minor injury with an acute limp at some point. (We’re speaking from two-bulldog experience, there.)
Chronic Limping
Chronic limping is, as the name suggests, chronic. It doesn’t happen only for a brief period of time; the bulldog limp is constant. It might go away for a few days or weeks here and there, but the limp is there more often than not. It has also lasted for weeks, months, or even years.
Injuries and trauma cause acute limping, but chronic limping is often caused by something more long-term, like a medical condition such as arthritis.
Other causes behind a chronic bulldog limp are:
- Hip dysplasia
- Bone fractures
- Bone disease
- Interdigital cysts
- Tumours – benign and cancerous
- Tick-borne diseases
Mild Limping
PetMD describes mild limping as:
“Your dog is still using the leg but not putting as much weight on it.”
A mild bulldog limp often improves with a little rest, encouraging your pup to stop using the leg, and some TLC. It is mostly caused by things like overuse, muscle fatigue, bites and stings, etc.
If the mild limp doesn’t go away, it becomes a chronic mild limp.
A mild limp can also turn into a severe limp.
Both a chronic mild limp and a severe limp require an urgent appointment with your vet. The cause must be discovered, diagnosed, then given the appropriate treatment.
The latter can’t happen without that first appointment, either online or in-person.
Severe Limping
Some dogs will let you know when they’re in pain, in several different ways. Others, however, will carry on as normal, without so much as a slight flinch. Only you know your pup well enough to know when they’re in pain.
If you have any inkling that your pooch might be in pain, you should take them to the vet as soon as possible.
If your dog refuses to put any weight on the affected limb, growls, whines, refuses to let you go near them, refuses to eat treats, won’t run around as usual, and won’t play with their favourite toys, there’s a good chance that something hurts and needs urgent medical attention.
A severe limp is one that seriously hinders your dog’s movement around the home, and/or one that causes them pain and distress. It requires urgent medical attention. You should take your doggo to the vet immediately.
Gradual or Sudden Bulldog Limp?
Along with different ‘types’ of limp, there are also two ways the limp in which the limp can appear. The American Kennel Club (AKC) states:
“There are two types of limps in dogs: gradual onset and sudden onset.”
A gradual limp is one that comes on slowly, gradually (as the name suggests,) and over time. This type is indicative of an injury that has gotten worse, or perhaps even an underlying medical condition such as cancerous or benign tumours, bone disease, or dysplasia of the hip or other joints.
A sudden limp is the direct opposite of a gradual one: it comes on suddenly, out of nowhere, with no warning. Something has happened, such as trauma, to cause your bulldog to be in pain or discomfort.
FAQ
What should I do if my bulldog has a limp but no pain?
Just because you can’t see any signs of your four-legged friend being in pain, doesn’t mean that they aren’t actually in pain. Some dogs will hide or mask their pain, keeping it to themselves, much in the same way as [many] cats. Seek veterinary advice as soon as possible. Do not assume that your pet is ‘fine’ just because they seem fine.
Why has my bulldog suddenly started limping?
A range of issues can cause a sudden onset limp, such as injury or trauma, muscle fatigue, strains and sprains, bites and stings from insects and other animals, and much more besides. Without seeking attention from a vet, it might not be obvious what your dog is suffering from, which is what that appointment is so important.
When should I take a bulldog to the vet for a limp?
A bulldog limp requires medical attention as soon as you can manage it. Your pet might be in pain without you realising it, and the last thing you’ll want, as a good pet parent, is to leave them suffering. Even if the limp seems to go away by itself it’s still recommended, to get your bulldog checked out… just in case.
Bulldog limp: final thoughts
All of the information in this article – the speed at which the limping materialised, how long it has been going on for, what happened directly beforehand – is all important, and it will help your vet to properly diagnose your poorly pooch.
We recommend keeping a note of your bulldog’s symptoms in a diary or piece of paper, to then give to your vet. The more information they have, the easier and quicker your pet’s diagnosis will come – and in turn, the quicker your pet will receive the treatment they need.
