Treatment for a Strain or Sprain on a Dog

Properly treating a strain or sprain in dogs is vital to reducing the chance of further injury. These injuries are common in dogs that are athletic, working dogs and those that have arthritis or are overweight. While you may be able to treat a strain or sprain for your dog on your own, it is important to consult your veterinarian to rule out a possible fracture or dislocation.

  1. Strain and Sprain Basics

    • A strain is a torn tendon. A temporary injury, a dog can usually recover from a strain within 48 hours with the proper care. Strains occur when a dog wrenches or twists a limb. You can recognize the signs of a sprain if your dog has inflammation and pain. Your dog may not be able to put weight on his paw, resulting in temporary lameness.

      Similarly, a sprain is torn ligament. A dog can overextend or tear ligaments around the joint, or the joint capsule. Dogs will not be able to put weight on a sprained limb due to the pain. Swelling or inflammation is also expected. Sprains take approximately three weeks to heal.

    Sprain Treatment

    • If your dog's sprain is not treated and allowed to heal properly, he runs the risk of developing degenerative arthritis or lingering pain and lameness in the limb. Treat your dog's sprain by applying a cold compress to the limb three to four times within the first 24 hours of injury. After 24 hours, switch to warm compresses for 15 to 30 minutes three times a day. Continue the warm compresses for the next two to three days.

    Strain Treatment

    • Treating a strain in a dog are similar to treating a sprain. Treat a sprain with cold compresses until you can get your dog to the vet, applying and removing the compress in 20-minute increments. After the first 24 hours, switch over to warm compresses. If your dog will not allow you to hold the compress to his limb, wrap the compress in a towel and loosely apply gauze to hold the compress in place. Rest is vital to a dog suffering from a strain to ensure that he does not injure himself further.

    Considerations

    • Use gel packs, a bag of ice wrapped in a towel or a bag of frozen peas as a cold compress. For a warm compress, never use electric heating pads. The safest thing you can use is a moist towel placed in the dryer or microwave for one minute. Test the towel on your wrist to ensure that it is not too hot to place on your dog's injured limb.

    Further Considerations

    • Always consult your veterinarian to rule out other possible injuries if you dog cannot put weight on his limb after 48 hours. Your vet will not likely prescribe pain medications for your dog, as they can cause the dog to become more active and injure himself further if he does not feel pain. Instead, your vet will prescribe anti-inflammatory medications to reduce the swelling. Confine your dog to a small space and take him out on a leash during the healing process so he does not exacerbate the injury.