Dog limping? Seen today, X-ray on site
A limp that appeared overnight does not need an appointment next week. It needs to be examined, and X-ray is available in-house.
Mon–Sat, 9 AM–8:30 PM · Tue to 6 PM
When a limp should be seen today
Bring them in if
A limp means pain. The question is whether it is a strain, a break or a joint problem.
- They will not put the leg down at all
- It appeared suddenly, or after a fall, a jump or a chase
- The leg is swollen, hot, or held at an odd angle
- They cry out when it is touched or moved
- The limp has come and gone for weeks — that pattern usually points to a joint problem
- They are a large-breed dog under two years old
Go straight to emergency if the limp follows being hit by a car, if a bone is visible, or if your pet is also pale, breathing hard or unwilling to stand. Hit by a car
What we do here
An exam first, then an X-ray if it is needed
Most limps can be diagnosed with a hands-on exam. X-rays are for the ones that cannot.
- A full orthopedic and neurological examination
- Digital X-ray, read in-house by our veterinarian, with a board-certified radiologist consulted when needed
- Sedation when a painful leg cannot be positioned while your pet is awake
- Pain relief before you leave, and a written plan for rest and recheck
What to expect
Exam and X-ray in one visit
Walk in
No appointment needed. Patients are seen in order of medical urgency.
Exam and X-ray
If the X-ray is needed it happens at the same visit, not on a second trip.
Plan and estimate
You hear what we found and what it costs before we proceed. If it turns out to be surgical, surgery is available in-house.
Cats too
Cats hide lameness better than dogs
Cats often do not limp visibly — they stop jumping or climbing instead.
If your cat has stopped jumping onto the counter, is using the stairs one at a time, or has started sleeping somewhere lower down, that is a cat’s version of a limp and it is worth an exam. Arthritis is far more common in cats than most owners expect, and it is treatable. See also senior cat care and surgery.
Which visit is this?
Choose the Right Care for Your Pet
From routine wellness to urgent and emergency care, it all happens under one roof at 6937 Warner Avenue. The difference is how quickly your pet needs to be seen.
Emergency Care
Open now · until 8:30 PM
Come in now — call on the way if you can.
For potentially life-threatening conditions. No appointment needed.
Difficulty breathing · collapse · severe bleeding · suspected poisoning · a swollen or bloated abdomen · seizures · inability to urinate
Calling on the way allows our veterinary team to prepare for your pet’s arrival.
Urgent Care
Same-day care · Walk-ins welcome
When your pet needs to be seen today.
For problems that should not wait for a routine appointment but are not immediately life-threatening.
Vomiting or diarrhea · limping or pain · ear or eye problems · wounds · decreased appetite · sudden changes in behavior or energy
Wellness & Preventive Care
Appointments available
Keeping healthy pets healthy.
Preventive care and planned medical visits, including wellness exams, vaccinations, dental care, surgery consultations, dermatology, and routine diagnostics.
Not sure which type of care your pet needs? Call us. Tell us what you’re seeing, and our veterinary team can help you determine how quickly your pet should be evaluated.
Common questions
Questions we are asked
Does my dog definitely need an X-ray?
Not always. Many limps are a soft tissue strain and the examination tells us that. We X-ray when the findings, the age or the history make a fracture or a joint problem likely, and we explain why before we do it.
Could it be a torn cruciate ligament (a knee ligament)?
It might be, especially in a dog who was chasing something and came back on three legs, or whose limp improves with rest and returns with exercise. Cruciate ligament surgery and other orthopedic surgery are performed at this hospital. See surgery.
My cat will not use a back leg. Is that the same as a limp?
Treat it as more urgent. A cat who suddenly cannot use one or both back legs, especially with cold feet or crying, needs to be seen right away, not later today. Call (714) 274-9305 and come in.
Come in, or call us on the way
If your pet needs to be seen, call and tell us what is happening. We will tell you what to do next and get ready for you before you arrive.
- Address
- 6937 Warner Avenue
Huntington Beach, CA 92647 - Hours
- Monday – Saturday, 9 AM – 8:30 PM · Tue to 6 PMSunday: closed.
- Phone
- (714) 274-9305