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This article was co-written by Natalie Punt, DVM. Natalie Punt is a veterinarian, founder and CEO of mPet. She specializes in small animal emergency, general medicine and veterinary economics. Punt holds a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry and molecular biology from the University of California, Davis, a master’s degree in biochemistry from the University of Buffalo, and a veterinarian degree from the Western University of Health Sciences.
There are 7 references cited in this article that you can view at the bottom of the page.
This article has been viewed 28,333 times.
An ankle sprain is an injury to the tendons, ligaments, and/or muscles around the ankle joint. A dog that runs around too much or has a minor accident can cause an ankle sprain. Detecting a dog’s ankle sprain quickly is crucial to effective treatment and preventing the injury from becoming worse.
Steps
Know the signs of an ankle sprain
- Dogs don’t have front ankles just like humans don’t have “ankles”. The forefoot is also likely to have a different type of sprain and is treated similarly to an ankle sprain.
- Running, jumping, or spinning rapidly and making sharp turns puts a strain on the joint.
- Not all dogs are hyperactive, but the pressure in the leg joints can be more than a dog can handle. Sprains can also be the result of slips, falls, pits, or simple accidents when jumping up or down a chair. Any of these causes can cause a dog sprain.
- Dogs with sprains often try to avoid putting weight on the injured leg.
- Dogs may raise the injured leg high or low, depending on the severity. Dogs will avoid using their whole paws.
- You should be on the lookout for other reasons why your dog may limp, such as hip, knee, or foot injuries. [4] X Research Sources
- You may also notice dogs licking their sprained ankles frequently.
- Become anorexic and eat less.
- Changes in activity levels, such as sleeping more or acting reluctantly.
- Sound-related changes such as barking, growling, or groaning when touching or moving the ankle.
Treatment of ankle sprains
- When necessary, you can tie a leash around the dog’s neck and walk the dog outside. Take your dog for a short walk at a leisurely pace. [8] X Research Source After that, the dog should be returned to the kennel as soon as possible so that the dog can rest.
- Limit your dog’s activity for 48 hours to give the dog enough time to recover from the injury.
- Use an ice pack to avoid freezing the dog’s skin.
- Repeat this method as needed, every 2 hours to prevent skin irritation, decrease circulation and hinder the recovery process.
- You can use a bag of frozen vegetables like a bag of peas instead of an ice pack so that you can wrap it around your dog’s ankles easily. This effectively distributes the cold to the damaged tissue. [10] X Research Source
- Heat can increase circulation, relax muscles, and ease pain.
- Use a damp cloth heated in a dryer or microwave. Make sure the towel is not too hot to avoid burning the dog’s skin.
- Apply a hot towel to the wound for 10-15 minutes. You can reapply after at least 1 hour. [12] X Research Source
- Do not use heat immediately after the dog is active.
- If your dog’s paw doesn’t get better after 48 hours or gets worse, you should consult your veterinarian. [13] X Research Source
- If there are no signs of improvement, your dog may need more rest and medication prescribed by your veterinarian.
- Sometimes, dogs can also get trauma elsewhere and disrupt the recovery process. If your dog has a more serious injury such as a dislocation or a minor fracture, you should take your dog to a general practitioner or get an X-ray if necessary.
Advice
- Treat your dog’s sprain as soon as possible. Early treatment helps dogs recover faster as well as prevents tissue damage that makes injuries worse.
Warning
- Do not attempt to bandage the injured area without consulting your veterinarian. Incorrect dressing can cause other problems such as skin irritation. Wrapping the bandage too tightly can also restrict circulation, slow healing, and cause more damage to surrounding tissue.
- Do not give your dog any medication without consulting your veterinarian. Prescription or over-the-counter medications for humans are extremely dangerous for dogs. There are several anti-inflammatory drugs for humans that can be used to treat dogs, but the dosage will vary.
- If you don’t notice any signs of improvement within 48 hours, you should take your dog to the vet right away. You should also contact your veterinarian if the condition is getting worse. As with many serious injuries, dogs need to be treated as soon as possible if the sprain gets worse. [14] X Research Source
This article was co-written by Natalie Punt, DVM. Natalie Punt is a veterinarian, founder and CEO of mPet. She specializes in small animal emergency, general medicine and veterinary economics. Punt holds a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry and molecular biology from the University of California, Davis, a master’s degree in biochemistry from the University of Buffalo, and a veterinarian degree from the Western University of Health Sciences.
There are 7 references cited in this article that you can view at the bottom of the page.
This article has been viewed 28,333 times.
An ankle sprain is an injury to the tendons, ligaments, and/or muscles around the ankle joint. A dog that runs around too much or has a minor accident can cause an ankle sprain. Detecting a dog’s ankle sprain quickly is crucial to effective treatment and preventing the injury from becoming worse.
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