Muscle Injuries in Dogs

Dogs experience muscle injuries just as humans do. Dogs' muscles support their bones and allow their bodies to move. Yet because muscles are soft tissue they're susceptible to tearing, straining and bruising. An injury from exercise, an accident or some other kind of trauma to your dog's body can damage muscle and inflict pain. When a muscle injury happens, rest and drug therapy typically are what's needed to help your dog recover.

  1. Causes of Muscle Injury

    • Muscle injuries can occur anytime and anywhere. Petplace.com says the most common cause of soft tissue damage is from trauma. A dog injured in a car accident or household accident from a fall may bruise or tear a muscle. A dog may misstep while walking or running and injure its muscle. It may pull a muscle when jumping. Even playtime with another dog can lead to a muscle injury.

    Signs of Injury

    • When a dog has a muscle injury, its leg may swell. It may limp and move slowly. Pain from the injury may be mild or severe, depending on the extent of the damage.

    Home Care

    • A dog with a possible muscle injury needs rest. Restrict its activity for 2 to 3 days. Metpet.com recommends applying an icepack to the affected area for 5 to 10 minutes every few hours. If after a few days your dog shows minimal or no improvement, take the dog to a veterinarian.

    Diagnosis

    • The vet will perform a thorough exam, including X-rays to rule out bone damage and confirm the injury is limited to the muscle.

    Treatment

    • For a dog with a mild or moderate muscle injury, where the muscle is simply bruised, the vet will prescribe an anti-inflammatory medication like carprofen or deracoxib. Swelling and pain should subside in 3 to 5 days. Surgery may be needed for more severe injuries, but even when an acute muscle injury is suspected your vet may prescribe an anti-inflammatory medication first to try to avoid surgery. Continue to limit your dog's activity while medication is administered. The drugs need time to work and the muscles to heal.

    Prevention

    • A muscle injury is difficult to prevent. Even the most careful dog owner can't always contain an active dog and protect it from hurting itself. However, when a muscle injury occurs, treatment is usually easy and prognosis it generally good for a full recovery.