18/05/2026
“But they’re still acting normal and happy so they aren’t in pain!”
As a vet, I hear this constantly when a pet is limping. It comes from a place of love, but it’s a major misconception.
Think of human behavior: if you tweak your knee, you walk into work, push through your day, and smile at your coworkers. You don’t whine with every step, but you are absolutely uncomfortable.
Animals do the exact same thing. Excitement for a walk, dinner time, or seeing you at the door creates an adrenaline rush that easily masks their discomfort.
Regardless of how happy they seem, a limp is never normal. It only happens for two reasons: pain or structural instability.
A cheerful demeanor or a wagging tail does not equal a pain-free body. If they are limping around the house, they are hurting. Let’s look past the “happy” behavior and address the underlying issue. 🤍
