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.
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