Dogs are loved thanks to their active and energetic selves, earning them the rightful title of “man’s best friend.” However, when play becomes too rough, they can find themselves injured.
One type of injury that can commonly occur is in the form of a muscle strain. It’s beneficial to learn more about muscle strains in dogs, how long muscle strains usually last, and what to do if your dog has a strained muscle.
What is a Muscle Strain in Dogs?
Muscle strains are essentially pulled muscles, a soft tissue injury that occurs when a muscle or tendon becomes torn or overstretched. These are often caused by rough play, falling, and excessive exercise. They are a common form of minor injury that your dog can experience throughout their lifetime and can happen anytime through play or even daily walks.
Sprain vs. Strain
Strains can often be confused with sprains. Strains are caused by tears in muscles or tendons. On the other hand, sprains are tears to the ligaments that connect the different bones.
Risk Factors of Strains
Some dogs are more prone to strains than others. Here are some risk factors to watch out for as these make your dog more likely to suffer from strains:
- Obesity
- Inactivity
- Diseases such as arthritis
- Dogs only active on the weekends
Symptoms of Pulled Muscles in Dogs
Muscle strains vary in severity. In general, they can be classified into three different degrees.
Grade I
At this stage, the muscle can be torn or overstretched. You might notice minor swelling and pain, but this will typically go away on its own and can be remedied with a cold compress and rest.
Grade II
At this stage, your dog may experience serious strain due to stretching or tearing. The pain may be more physically apparent as you notice your dog limping or the injured area swelling and bruising more severely. Your dog may also exhibit some altered behavior because of the pain.
Grade III
At this stage, the muscle would have likely severed, leaving your dog unable to use their injured limb and experiencing extreme pain. This type of strain demands immediate veterinary action.
Treating Your Dog’s Strain
We advise taking your dog to the vet clinic as soon as you notice the first sign of a muscle strain. Until a veterinarian can assess your dog, there’s no way to know if the injury is a strain, sprain, or fracture, some of which would require surgery to treat.
Minor to moderate strains in dogs are typically treated with the help of anti-inflammatory medications, compression bandages, and cold compress. More severe strains may require surgery and medicine to lessen the pain and inflammation.
Physical therapy with a therapist and at home therapy are vital parts of the treatment and recovery plan to ensure your dog can return to their usual quality of life.
Recovering From a Strain
Strains can heal in a matter of weeks to several months.
After getting the proper assessment and treatment from a veterinarian, your dog should also be able to recover in an environment that is suited for them.
Lessen Your Dog’s Physical Activity
The first thing to do is lessen their activity to allow your dog time to heal and prevent further injury. For example, keep them leashed when walking outside and ensure they walk slowly.
If they are the type to jump from couches, chairs, and beds, it’s best to fully prevent them from this high impact activity. As they begin to heal and use their limbs more effectively, you can set up a ramp so your pet can easily reach these areas without your support and too much physical stress on their muscles or tendons.
It’s important to reduce the activity but not take it away fully, as you don’t want to give your dog mobility problems down the line due to inactivity, such as muscle atrophy.
Get Your Dog to Rest
Set up an area for your dog to stay so that you can keep a close eye on them. If you are not around, having them confined in one area of the house is ideal for lessening their movement.
If your dog is the type that doesn’t like to stay put, it might be easier said than done to get them confined in one area. You can use boxes or crates to section off a space in your house for your dog to stay in.
Compression is Key
Using a cold compress goes a long way when it comes to injuries like muscle strains, especially during the first two days. A cold compress can help combat inflammation and offer much needed pain relief for your dog.
Place the ice in a dry towel and apply it to the injured area, removing it every fifteen minutes before applying again to prevent any ice burns.
Preventing Muscle Strains in Dogs
Diet
What your dog eats plays a vital role in preventing muscle strains. If they don’t get the needed nutrients like amino acids, your dog may not have enough energy for muscle contractions, leading to strains.
Overfeeding your dog is also another cause for an increased risk for strains. Obese dogs are more prone to pulling a muscle and have weaker heart muscles that pump blood much slower across the other organs.
Exercise
Different dogs require different levels of exercise. Ensuring your pet gets the right amount of activity is crucial to keeping them healthy. If their bodies are used to exercise, sudden bursts of roughhousing or play would be less likely to result in a strained muscle.
Supervision
Keeping a close eye on your dog can be crucial in preventing injuries. Puppies are more fragile than full-grown adult dogs and may require supervised activities. Don’t let them go unleashed unless the yard or area is fenced off, and encourage running or jogging until they are at least a year old.
You can also be wary when your pet is around bigger dogs. If the play gets too rough, don’t hesitate to step in to prevent further accidents or injury.
Stay on Top of Your Dog’s Well-Being
As a pet parent, it’s your job to make your dog feel loved and cared for. Knowing how to help your dog with a strained muscle is one way to equip yourself for any similar situation.
Learn more about keeping your dog safe and healthy. Check out the TPLOInfo blog today!
