Muscle Tear in Dogs

According to the Pet Place website, the muscular system "is one of the largest systems in the dog's body and the most common cause of this soft tissue injury is trauma." The muscle can be damaged by being bruised or torn.

  1. Severity

    • According to the Career with Animals website, there are four stages to a muscle tear in dogs. A stage one injury can consist of bleeding, swelling, bruising and pain. Stage two is if the muscle fibers tear apart. Stage three is when the muscle fibers and the surrounding area tear apart. Stage four is when the body of the muscle tears apart.

    Causes

    • Much like a person, a dog can injure its legs from overuse. The muscle can suffer anything from a pull to a complete tear.

    Hernia

    • A hernia is a tear in a muscle wall where tissues or organs can come through the opening. Common hernias include the diaphragm, umbilical cord, perineal, and the inguinal or scrotal for female and male dogs respectively.

    Medial Shoulder Instability

    • In humans, this would be considered a rotator cuff tear but dogs do not have rotator cuffs. According to Colorado Canine Orthopedics "the medial collateral ligament (MCL) and the subscapularis muscle are critical components for medial stability of the shoulder joint." A tear in the ligament or muscle creates instability.

    Considerations

    • Muscle tear risk is greater for athletic canines. Trauma can also occur from car accidents, fights, falling, old age or obesity. The key treatment to a muscle tear is rest. A serious tear may require surgery.