Once the veterinarian has evaluated the sprain she will give it one of three grades: Grade I - Only a minor part of the ligament is torn and the joint is still functional; some swelling and pain are evident, but the dog usually is able to walk.
A sprain will cause your dog to favor the injured leg, just as a fracture would. However, in many cases a less severe sprain may permit a certain amount of weight bearing. Your dog may barely touch the toes of the injured limb to the ground when standing or walking.
While a sprain is more serious than a simple strain, most dogs make a full recovery from a sprained leg. The biggest challenge most pet parents face is convincing their active and energetic canine companions to take it easy for the roughly six weeks it takes for a sprain to heal.
Instead of attempting to self-diagnose your dogs injury, the only way to tell whether a dog has a sprain or a broken leg is to take the dog for a complete visual exam by a veterinarian. Your veterinarian can then determine if x-rays are needed.
A dog limping but not crying or showing other signs of pain should still be taken seriously. Dogs are tougher than you think, and just because your dog isn't howling in pain doesn't mean there isn't any pain. It would be best if you still got your dog to a vet for a check-up.
A swollen paw. Redness or swollen joints. Reluctance to walk or play.
While they will be lying down for an extended period, you may still want to provide them with some support that limits how much they can bend their sprained joint. That is when you would want to use a soft splint or wrap like the Walkin' Wrist Hugger or Walkin' Hock Hugger.
Sprains can often heal on their own with rest and time. As long as your dog is eating and drinking normally and has normal energy and otherwise acting like themselves, rest may be all they need.
Be prepared for a minimum recovery time frame of four to six weeks. The road to recovery for your pet must be a slow one. The prognosis is good, though sporting or working dogs may not recover to the level of ability present before the injury.
When to Call the Vet If Your Dog Is Limping. In general, it is usually better to play it safe and call your veterinarian for a dog's limp that lasts more than a few minutes. But as with people, dogs seem to have a knack for getting hurt outside of normal office hours.
This is basically what happens with your dogs muscle and tendon, and if you have ever experienced an acute strain yourself you will know how painful that can be. When your dog pulls a muscle they will feel a sharp pain and may let out a yelp or cry and come back to you hobbling, limping or whimpering.
A sprain is an injury to the ligaments and capsule at a joint in the body. A strain is an injury to muscles or tendons. Immediate treatment of sprains or strains includes protection, optimal loading, ice, compression and elevation (POLICE).
No, you should never give your dog Tylenol or Ibuprofen. Human NSAIDs, including Ibuprofen and Tylenol, can be toxic to dogs, even in small doses, according to rover.com.
Avoid giving your dog OTC pain meds unless your vet specifically recommends them. This includes the following drugs: Acetaminophen (Tylenol) can be safe when carefully dosed and used short term. However, the risk of toxicity is high and most vets prefer safer, more effective drugs.
There are no readily available OTC pain meds for dogs.
Most OTC (over-the-counter) pain medications that are made for people, such as naproxen or ibuprofen, should never be given to dogs. Even at very small doses, they can cause life-threatening gastrointestinal (GI) ulcers, liver failure, and/or kidney failure.
The most common sprain for a dog to develop is a leg sprain, usually in either a wrist or elbow joint, although in some cases, shoulder and hip joints may also be involved. Sprains can develop anywhere a ligament is, however.
The vet will check over your dog's entire body looking for potential causes of the lameness and concurrent health issues. Radiographs (x-rays) are commonly recommended to look for fractures and other abnormalities in the limbs. In some cases, sedation is necessary to get the best images.
If your puppy is limping but still playing, this is probably a sign of a superficial injury. Superficial injuries can include: Cuts or scrapes from stepping on something sharp. Burns from stepping on the hot pavement.
Most of the time, NSAIDs are safe, effective medications to help dogs with pain when given as prescribed. It's important to monitor your pet closely for side effects and signs of toxicity. Veterinary intervention is needed in an overdose situation or if your pet is not tolerating the medication well.
Signs of a Torn ACL in Dogs
Limping in the hind legs. Joint stiffness that is most noticeable when resting after physical activity. Difficulty jumping or rising from the floor. Sitting with one hind leg stuck out to the side.
If you break a bone, you may hear a cracking sound. Source of the pain. If the pain you feel is in the soft tissue around a joint, it's probably a sprain. If applying light pressure over a bone causes significant pain, the injury is likely a fracture.