my rottie is 9 month and been limping

by sonia mann
(stroudsburg p.a.)

my rottie has been limping for a week now…he limping on his left front leg… about last 2 month it was his right paw.. now it’s the left.

he runs and jump and plays with other dogs but when i walk him he’s limping on that front leg… any advice.

Hi Sonia
First of all I’d recommend that you have your Rottie examined by your veterinarian because it’s important to rule out an injury or serious health issue.

There are all sorts of reasons for a puppy (or dog) to limp, including sprain/strains/fractures/torn ligaments/arthritic changes and so on. It’s impossible to say for sure what’s causing your pup to limp without a hands-on exam.

However, if your vet finds no injury or sign of degenerative joint problems, I would guess that your Rottie pup could be suffering from something called ‘Pano’.

Basically it’s inflammation of the bone, and it causing pain, lameness (ie limping) and sometimes swelling. Large and giant breed puppies are at most risk and it usually appears after the pup is 6 months old, and shows up in the front legs first.

The good news is that it’s usually a self-limiting condition, which means that most puppies grow out of it – often without treatment. But for severe cases your vet may prescribe painkillers or anti-inflammatory medications.

You can learn more about this condition on my Panosteitis page.

BUT please do make sure your Rottweiler sees a veterinarian to rule out other conditions or problems. Best of luck, hope he’s doing much better soon.