She's a 4-year-old golden retriever and I took her on a longer hike than usual last weekend. Now she's putting less weight on her back left leg but still eats and plays normally. I'm trying to figure out if this is something that'll go away on its own or if I need to get her checked out soon.
Call the vet today or tomorrow - three days of limping after a longer activity warrants a professional look to rule out sprains, strains, or something worse before it gets more complicated. Golden retrievers are prone to joint issues and you don't want minor damage turning into something chronic because you waited too long.
Three days isn't necessarily an emergency, but it's worth getting checked out soon rather than waiting longer - the thing is, you won't know if it's a minor strain that'll heal on its own or something like a soft tissue injury that needs rest and possibly medication to prevent it from getting worse. Given that she's still eating and playing, it's probably not a fracture or acute injury, but I'd ring the vet this week and describe what you're seeing (does she limp worse after rest, or after activity?). They can do a quick exam to give you peace of mind and advise whether she needs restricted activity or something more.
If she's still putting weight on it at all and acting normal otherwise, you've probably got a day or two before you absolutely need to go, but watch for swelling, heat around the joint, or if she stops using it entirely - that changes everything and means get her in right away! The thing is, golden retrievers can mask pain pretty well, so even if she's playing it cool the vet should at least rule out a torn ligament or something that needs rest and meds rather than just time.
Has she licked or chewed at that leg much, or is she favoring it evenly throughout the day? The reason I ask is that sometimes after an intense hike, dogs get minor muscle soreness that genuinely does resolve on its own - kind of like how your legs feel after a long hike. But three days in, if she's still consistently shifting weight away from that back leg, it's better to get her checked sooner rather than later. A vet can tell pretty quickly if it's just a strain versus something that needs intervention, and catching it early matters if there's actually a ligament issue brewing.
Here's something I haven't seen mentioned: try a wet cloth test. Soak a warm (not hot) washcloth and hold it on the leg for a few minutes, then watch how she moves around for the next 20 minutes or so. If the limping gets noticeably better with heat, you're likely looking at muscle tightness that'll probably improve over a few more days. If nothing changes or gets worse, that's your sign to book a vet appointment without waiting. Also pay attention to whether she's reluctant to jump on the couch or go up stairs - that'll tell you if it's actually bothering her in daily life or just when she's fresh from rest.
The other thing: golden retrievers are notorious for hiding pain and just pushing through stuff, so don't let her normal eating and playing fool you into thinking everything's fine. Call your vet tomorrow and describe exactly what you're seeing. Most vets can fit in a quick look within 24-48 hours, and it's way cheaper to rule things out early than to deal with a full-blown injury later.
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