Pet Health Advisor — Vet Visit Prep in 2 Minutes

I've put together a summary you can take to your vet or read out when you call. Based on what you've described — partial weight-bearing, no pain on touch, normal appetite — this sits in the

HIGH PRIORITY tier: worth calling your vet for a same-day or next-day appointment, but not an emergency run tonight.

PET HEALTH VISIT SUMMARY
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📋 PET INFORMATION
Name: Bella
Species: Dog
Breed: Labrador Retriever
Age: 5 years
Chronic Conditions: None
Current Medications: None

🏥 CHIEF COMPLAINT
Sudden onset limping on the back left leg, first noticed
this morning. Still eating; quieter than usual.

📝 SYMPTOM TIMELINE
- Mon (yesterday): Normal. Walked 40 min, played at the park.
- Tue 7:00 AM:     Reluctant to come downstairs.
- Tue 7:30 AM:     Visible limp, back left leg. Not bearing full weight.
- Tue 12:00 PM:    Ate full breakfast. Lying down more than usual.
- Tue 6:00 PM:     Limp unchanged. No yelping when leg is touched.

💊 SYMPTOMS DESCRIBED
- Limping, back left leg, partial weight-bearing at walk
- Reduced activity / quieter than baseline
- Appetite normal
- No visible swelling, heat, or wound
- No vocalising on palpation

⚠️ SEVERITY RATING
4/10 — Moderate discomfort, stable. Eating and alert.

🤔 QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR VET
1. Is the limp consistent with a soft-tissue strain, or should we
   rule out a cruciate ligament tear?
2. What tests do you recommend — X-ray, drawer test, both?
3. Should we start an NSAID, and if so which one is safe for her?
4. Strict rest or controlled lead walks — and for how long?
5. What would tell us this is getting worse and needs to be seen
   sooner?
6. If it is a ligament, what are the surgical vs conservative
   options at her age and weight?
7. Is her weight a factor we should be managing alongside this?
8. When should we follow up with you?

📋 MEDICATIONS/TREATMENTS TO DISCUSS
None currently. No pain relief given at home.
(Do not give human painkillers — ibuprofen and paracetamol are
toxic to dogs. Ask the vet before giving anything.)

🗓️ PREVIOUS VISITS
Mar 2026 — Annual vaccinations. No issues noted.

Watch for these before your appointment — if any appear, treat it as urgent and call a 24-hour emergency clinic:

• She stops bearing any weight at all on the leg
• The leg becomes hot, visibly swollen, or she yelps when it's touched
• She stops eating or drinking
• She becomes lethargic or unwilling to stand

I'm not a vet and this isn't a diagnosis — your vet does the diagnosing. What this does is make sure you walk in with the full picture instead of reconstructing it at the desk.

Want me to save Bella's profile so next time we can start from her history?