How to Heal a Dog's Pulled Muscle

A pulled muscle is a very painful injury for your dog to have. According to Dr. Jim Baker, DVM of the Wasola Animal Health Clinic, baby aspirin can be given to a dog with a pulled muscle to help relieve pain and reduce swelling. Baker said the best thing for your dog if she has a pulled muscle is rest. It may take anywhere from a week to a month for a pulled muscle to heal. The more rest your dog gets, the faster a pulled muscle will heal. There are a few things you can do to help comfort your dog and help her injury heal.

Things You'll Need

  • Baby aspirin
  • Bathroom scales
  • Rubbing alcohol
  • Heating pad
  • Two old blankets

Instructions

  1. Medication

    • 1

      Weigh your dog on the bathroom scales to get an accurate weight.

    • 2

      Give your dog baby aspirin at a rate of 10 milligrams per pound of body weight. That means for an 8-pound dog you would give her one 80-milligram baby aspirin. Do this every 12 hours to help with pain and swelling.

    • 3

      Rub down the affected area with rubbing alcohol.

    Prepare a Bedding Area

    • 4

      Lay an old blanket down on the floor or on your dog's sleeping pad.

    • 5

      Put the heating pad on top of the blanket.

    • 6

      Turn the heating pad on the lowest setting.

    • 7

      Cover the heating pad with the second blanket.

    • 8

      Encourage your dog to spend time resting on the heating pad.