Why Is My Mastiff Limping? (All You Need to Know)

Limping can be the reason for various health issues, especially when it comes to dogs. They do it to relieve some kind of pain that is bothering them. The reason for limping can vary from simple issues to some seriously complicated health issues.

In the case of giant dog breeds like Mastiff, the reasons for their limping can be due to different issues. Stick to the last word of this read to find them out.

Why is my Mastiff limping?

The main reasons for which your Mastiff is limping can be due to leg injury, bone fractures, torn ligament, panosteitis, dysplasia, osteoarthritis, etc. It mostly affects males rather than females and also, it can be leg lameness that shifts which will be followed by fever and loss of appetite.

There can be a lot of reasons due to which your dog is limping however, we have explained some major common reasons behind dog’s limping:

External injuries:

External injuries can vary from cutting or scrapes from glass, running hot surfaces, or getting pinched by sharp objects. Also, it includes other sorts of injuries from bites, burns, stings or broken bones, etc.

These injuries can be the main reasons for which your dog is limping. You might also see your dog licking the injured area more than often to ease the pain. That is why you should take your Mastiff to the vet quickly if you notice these types of injuries.

Internal injuries:

Internal injuries include torn ligaments, broken bones, sprains, etc. It is more common among dogs because of its immense endurability.

They can jump higher, sprint faster, and even can take a quick turn whenever they run faster which can lead to ligament tear, fracture in bones sort of injuries.

Also, they can sustain injuries from getting stuck in fences or getting attacked by wild animals. Therefore, if you want to make sure that your dog avoids these sorts of injuries then you should keep a close eye on them whenever they are playing outside.

Side by side, consult with your vet as soon as possible whenever they show signs of these sorts of injuries.

Suffering from joint diseases:

Suffering from joint diseases is one of the main reasons behind your dog’s limping. Ligament disease, osteoarthritis, panosteitis, limb dysplasia, etc. are examples of joint diseases. It can cause trauma to your dog which is why they will start limping.

Therefore, it will be better if you consult with the doctor as they will be able to find what sort of joint disease they are suffering from.

Do all Mastiffs limp?

There can be multiple factors for determining the fact of the limping of the mastiff. Let’s dig in deep.

Tibetan Mastiff:

Any dog breed can suffer from limping and mostly giant dogs become the victim. Usually, Tibetan Mastiffs get attacked by panosteitis which is a cyclic disease that attacks the giant bones of the dog.

Bullmastiff:

Well, Bullmastiff can start limping due to various reasons such as a fracture in the bone, ligament tear, sprain, etc. For mostly becoming a household dog Bullmastiff can also start limping due to different types of joint diseases.

English Mastiff:

Osteosarcoma which is a bone disease is more common among English Mastiffs. For that reason, they start limping due to leg pain and lameness. Lameness can also be accompanied by fever and loss of appetite.

Neapolitan Mastiff:

Well, for being a giant dog Neapolitan Mastiff can limp because of internal injury. However, it can also happen because of cuts and scrapes from sharp objects. Though panosteitis is more common among Neapolitan Mastiffs.

French Mastiff:

Limping is more common in middle-aged dogs of French Mastiff breeds. There can be a lot of reasons behind that however

Osteosarcoma is the biggest reason. Osteosarcoma is basically a bone tumor in the bone which creates discomfort in walking.

Italian Mastiff:

In the case of Italian Mastiff they can limp because of hip dysplasia. It normally occurs when the hip does not perfectly connect with the joint.

Hip dysplasia can cause limping as well as your dog can gain excessive weight. However, there is also another disease that can make your dog limp is degenerative joint disease.

Pyrenean Mastiff:

Limping is more common among Pyrenean Mastiffs and the main reason behind this can be tearing the cruciate ligament.

It occurs because the giant breeds try to overcompensate on that limb. However proper treatment from the vets can help to overcome this issue properly.

Do Mastiffs limp as they grow?

Occasionally, a Mastiff puppy will get “Panosteitis”, whenever they start to grow. This is generated by the long bones growing extremely quickly, resulting in bone disease.

Limping and discomfort are the most common signs, which occur in the early stages. These long bones on front limbs, as well as the shoulder, seem to be the most usually impacted parts. Whenever your dog limps, you should consult a veterinarian.

When should I take my dog to the vet for limping?

Generally, it’s best to be cautious and consult with a specialist if your dog limps for more than just a few minutes, however canines, like people, appear to be getting injured beyond the standard work hours.

But then how do you determine if you can wait till the next day and then when you need to go to the hospital right away?

Progressive or rapid onset waddles that don’t seem to affect your canine can normally be tolerated for several days, and in certain situations, they might still heal under their own throughout that time.

How can I treat my Mastiffs limping at home?

There are a lot of medically approved ways that you can follow to treat your Mastiffs limping at home. However, we have pinpointed some crucial methods below to treat your Mastiffs at home:

Follow some basic drugs:

You can follow some basic drugs in order to ease the pain of your dog which is caused by inflammation.

You can take some NSAIDs which are basically anti-inflammatory drugs that reduce the pain caused by inflammation. However, make sure that you don’t overdose on these dogs, otherwise, it can cause serious health hazards to your dog.

Ensure proper resting for your dog:

You can apply an ice pack to the affected spot which will ease the pain a little bit. However, you have to obstruct them from running and playing and make sure they take a rest all the time.

Proper therapy can be useful:

Physical therapy can be very useful in order to make the limbs move a bit. You can make them walk on treadmills or even underwater.

You can use braces to support the inflamed area and after that, you can take them for a walk which helps the inflammation to heal.

Massage is very important:

Proper massage can help your dog to make slow movements as well as will help to reduce the pain on the spot. That is why you can either massage on your own or else you can take your dog to the massage center.

Why is my Mastiff panting?

Panting is a typical method for pups to express their anxiety. It could indicate that they are worried about a particular topic, are fearful, or are simply dissatisfied with what is going on around them.

They may begin sweating during a thunderstorm since they dislike the noise of thunder, or when visitors come since they are scared near strangers.

Are Mastiffs hypoallergenic?

Mastiffs are not hypoallergenic types of dogs. If you have ever had a pet hair allergy, you should avoid getting a Mastiff. The Mastiff is likely to aggravate these allergies to the point where he can no longer live alongside you.

Why do Mastiffs have loose skin? Why are Mastiffs so wrinkly?

Loose skin and wrinkles in canines are not a symptom of older years as if they’re in people, and they do not exist in all kinds of breeds.

Due to genetic changes in giant breeds like Mastiffs, high levels of hyaluronic acid are produced, that’s one of the compounds contained in gaps within cell membranes but gathers beneath the skin, causing wrinkles and loose skin.

Final Thoughts:

There are various reasons for which your Mastiff can limp, however due to their giant body most of the Mastiffs limp because of internal bone fractures. But most importantly, you have to consult with the vet as early as possible when your Mastiffs start limping as it can be a serious health issue.