Soft-tissue sprains
Weekend warriors and dogs jumping off furniture strain muscles and ligaments — often improving with rest and NSAIDs.
Dog Condition
Dog Limping — Online Vet Assessment
Limping can signal injury, arthritis, or joint disease. Get a same-day video assessment from a licensed vet and prescription pain relief delivered next-day.
Licensed Vets
$65 Flat Fee
Same-Day Rx
24/7 Access
Acute and chronic lameness
Finding the cause when your dog starts limping
Weight-bearing vs. non-weight-bearing lameness classification
Paw pad, nail, and foreign body inspection coaching
Cruciate ligament and IVDD red-flag screening by breed and presentation
NSAID prescription when soft-tissue strain or arthritis is likely
Rest and activity restriction protocol with timeline
Referral criteria for swelling, fever, or worsening over 48 hours
Limping signals pain somewhere along the limb — torn nails and glass in pads cause sudden non-weight-bearing lameness, while gradual stiff gait in seniors points to arthritis or cruciate disease. Some causes need surgery; many improve with rest and prescription pain relief.
Walking your dog on camera during consult localizes which leg hurts and whether the problem is paw, joint, or spine. TelaVets vets start appropriate pain management while telling you when swelling, fever, or complete inability to stand demands emergency imaging.
Common signs of dog limping we can help with
- Weight-bearing lameness
- Non-weight-bearing lameness
- Stiffness when rising
- Swollen joint or paw
- Heat around affected limb
- Licking at a specific area
- Changed gait pattern
What causes dog limping?
Acute limping after activity differs from slow-onset lameness — each path leads to different urgency.
Cruciate ligament injury
Partial or complete ACL tears produce hind limb lameness with sitting to one side and stifle swelling in active medium and large breeds.
Paw and nail trauma
Torn dewclaws, burned pads on hot pavement, and interdigital foreign bodies cause acute obvious foot pain.
How our vets diagnose it online
Orthopedic palpation is limited online, but gait observation and history exclude many urgent differentials quickly.
- Observe standing posture and which limbs bear less weight
- Guide paw inspection between toes and pad cracks on video
- Differentiate hip pain, stifle instability, and toe injury by gait
- Review recent activity, jumps, and known arthritis history
- Set 48–72 hour recheck expectations and imaging triggers
Treatments we may prescribe
Treatment ranges from strict rest and Carprofen for sprains to urgent referral when cruciate rupture or spinal disease is suspected.
NSAIDs (Carprofen, Meloxicam)
Gabapentin
Rest and exercise restriction
Joint supplements
Bandaging guidance (paw injuries)
Physical therapy referral
All medications are prescribed only when clinically appropriate by a licensed veterinarian and dispensed through our FDA-compliant pharmacy.
Preventing lameness injuries
Warm up active dogs before intense fetch sessions.
Use rugs on slippery floors for seniors with weak hind limbs.
Keep nails trimmed — long nails alter gait and snag on fabric.
Maintain healthy weight to reduce cruciate and arthritis load.
Avoid encouraging puppies to jump from heights before growth plates close.
Why pet parents choose TelaVets
Licensed DVMs Only
Every consultation is with a licensed Doctor of Veterinary Medicine — not a chatbot or technician.
$65 Flat Fee
One transparent price covers your full video consultation and treatment plan. No facility fees or surprise charges.
Same-Day Appointments
Most pet parents are connected with a vet within 1–3 hours of booking, 7 days a week.
Next-Day Prescriptions
When medication is appropriate, prescriptions are issued same-day and delivered to your door next business day.
Stress-Free Home Visits
Your pet is assessed in their calm home environment, which often makes symptoms easier to evaluate on video.
Secure & Private
Encrypted video calls and HIPAA-compliant records keep your pet's health information protected.
How TelaVets works
Book your consultation
Pick a same-day or upcoming slot — appointments available 7 days a week.
Connect with a licensed vet
Your vet assesses your pet via secure video, asks detailed questions, and reviews their history.
Get your treatment plan
Receive a diagnosis, personalised care plan, and same-day prescriptions delivered next-day.
What Our Pet Parents Say
Join thousands of happy pet parents who trust TelaVets for their furry family members care
"Fantastic service! My dog gets extremely anxious at the vet, so having a virtual appointment from home was a game-changer. The vet was kind and helpful, and getting his medication delivered the next day made the whole process stress-free and more affordable than going to the clinic."
DL
David Long
Verified Pet Parent
"The vet I spoke with Dr. Ricksaw was very knowledgeable and nice. He took the time to go through all of my options and ideas with me. Reassured me that all we were doing for my dog's anxiety was good and gave me a couple of new ideas as well."
CH
Courtney Hughes
Verified Pet Parent
"I would definitely use them again. I'm cat sitting for 2 weeks and needed to see a vet. I was so worried about the kitten. I used Televets the cat got his prescription and all is good. Excellent service!"
M
Maria
Verified Pet Parent
"Dr Corey was amazing, helpful, compassionate and well versed. I would highly recommend using this. It is so much easier than trying to get a 3 legged cat into a carrier, take him to a doctor's office and stress him out, love it!!!"
JG
Jackie Gardner
Verified Pet Parent
"I had a TelaVets Zoom appointment and couldn't be more impressed. They spent a lot of time with me, walking through every option to help my cat recover from her skin issues. I've also reached out about getting her medication through Chewy.com, and they've been extremely helpful every step of the way."
LD
Lara Durand
Verified Pet Parent
"Dr. Moppin is a dedicated professional who truly cares about his furry patients and their humans, too! It's such a relief that Dr. Cole took the time to listen and address my concerns thoughtfully. Thank you for taking care of our cats 🐈"
WW
Wanida Walker
Verified Pet Parent
"This service was amazing! My dog ran out of his medication before we were able to get in with a new vet and they were able to help get him a short term supply quickly. I would definitely use them again!"
AT
Amanda Tobias
Verified Pet Parent
"Knowledgeable, professional caring provider! Needed urgent Vet care on a weekend and TeleVet kept me from having to miss a day of work, as well as half the price of local weekend options. Thank you!"
JH
Jana Humble
Verified Pet Parent
"Dr. McGinnis was very knowledgeable and listened to my cat's issues. She addressed the problem and may have come up with an answer after 5 years of trying with local vet practices."
MK
Marilyn Kerr
Verified Pet Parent
"Fantastic service! My dog gets extremely anxious at the vet, so having a virtual appointment from home was a game-changer. The vet was kind and helpful, and getting his medication delivered the next day made the whole process stress-free and more affordable than going to the clinic."
DL
David Long
Verified Pet Parent
"The vet I spoke with Dr. Ricksaw was very knowledgeable and nice. He took the time to go through all of my options and ideas with me. Reassured me that all we were doing for my dog's anxiety was good and gave me a couple of new ideas as well."
CH
Courtney Hughes
Verified Pet Parent
"I would definitely use them again. I'm cat sitting for 2 weeks and needed to see a vet. I was so worried about the kitten. I used Televets the cat got his prescription and all is good. Excellent service!"
M
Maria
Verified Pet Parent
"Dr Corey was amazing, helpful, compassionate and well versed. I would highly recommend using this. It is so much easier than trying to get a 3 legged cat into a carrier, take him to a doctor's office and stress him out, love it!!!"
JG
Jackie Gardner
Verified Pet Parent
"I had a TelaVets Zoom appointment and couldn't be more impressed. They spent a lot of time with me, walking through every option to help my cat recover from her skin issues. I've also reached out about getting her medication through Chewy.com, and they've been extremely helpful every step of the way."
LD
Lara Durand
Verified Pet Parent
"Dr. Moppin is a dedicated professional who truly cares about his furry patients and their humans, too! It's such a relief that Dr. Cole took the time to listen and address my concerns thoughtfully. Thank you for taking care of our cats 🐈"
WW
Wanida Walker
Verified Pet Parent
"This service was amazing! My dog ran out of his medication before we were able to get in with a new vet and they were able to help get him a short term supply quickly. I would definitely use them again!"
AT
Amanda Tobias
Verified Pet Parent
"Knowledgeable, professional caring provider! Needed urgent Vet care on a weekend and TeleVet kept me from having to miss a day of work, as well as half the price of local weekend options. Thank you!"
JH
Jana Humble
Verified Pet Parent
"Dr. McGinnis was very knowledgeable and listened to my cat's issues. She addressed the problem and may have come up with an answer after 5 years of trying with local vet practices."
MK
Marilyn Kerr
Verified Pet Parent
Related resources
Helpful reading and services from the TelaVets team.
Book a Vet Visit
Same-day online vet appointments for $65 — no membership required.
Read moreHow TelaVets Works
Learn how our licensed vets diagnose and treat pets via secure video consultation.
Read moreDog Treatment Hub
Browse all dog health topics we treat online — from allergies to arthritis.
Read moreDog Allergy Treatment
In-depth guide to online dog allergy diagnosis and prescription relief.
Read moreExplore related care
Licensed TelaVets vets treat a wide range of conditions online.
Frequently asked questions about dog limping
Yes. Our licensed vets can assess symptoms of limping via video consultation, review your dog's history, and provide a clinical assessment with a treatment plan.
Treatment depends on severity and cause. Our vets will create a personalised plan which may include prescription medications, dietary changes, or at-home care instructions.
Same-day appointments are usually available. Most pet owners are seen within 1–3 hours of booking.
Yes. If medication is clinically appropriate, our licensed vets can issue prescriptions same-day, with next-day delivery to your door.
If your dog shows severe distress, inability to breathe, uncontrolled bleeding, or sudden collapse, seek emergency in-person care immediately. For other concerning symptoms, an online consultation is an excellent first step.
Get expert help for your dog's limping today
Same-day appointments — $65 flat fee — licensed vets