Sprains in Dogs

Sprains are soft tissue injuries that involve damage to a ligament, usually caused by physical trauma to the ligament. This type of injury can occur at any joint although it is most common in the knees, elbows, and ankles in domestic animals, particularly with dogs and horses. Sprains can usually be split into three categories, determined by the amount of damage to the ligament and surrounding tissues. Sprains often present with symptoms that are nearly identical to other disorders, such as muscle strains, minor fractures, and bone degeneration.

Dogs can acquire sprains through physical activity, degeneration of the joints, and traumatic accidents, like car accidents. Sprains have similar symptoms to several other injuries and should be evaluated by a veterinary professional.

The symptoms that indicate a sprain can range from barely noticeable to temporarily crippling, depending on the severity of the sprain itself: 

• Excessive licking on joints or legs
• Limping
• Loss of appetite
• Pain
• Reddened joints
• Reluctance to put weight on paw or limb
• Swollen joints
• Swollen paws

Sprains have many of the same symptoms as muscular strains and damage, minor fractures, bone degeneration, and even cancerous conditions. This makes a confirmation of the condition by a veterinary professional very valuable in determining the correct treatment plan.

Types 

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. Sprains in the neck and back can cause your pet a great deal of discomfort, fortunately, are somewhat less common. This type of injury is more likely to occur in dogs with longer backs such as Dachshunds and German Shepherds. Sprains in the tail can cause your dog's tail to appear limp and sprains involving the jaw may make it uncomfortable for your pet to eat or chew.

Sprains and other similar damage to soft tissues are most often caused by trauma or injury. This can occur in a traumatic incident such as an automobile accident or a dog fight, or in a more mundane situation such as slipping on ice or simply attempting too ambitious a jump. Fast growing breeds are more prone to sprains of all sorts and dogs with long backs are more likely to develop strains and sprains in the back and neck area.

Symptoms of anything more than a mild sprain should be addressed by a veterinarian as soon as possible, and even mild limping should be treated if it lasts more than 48 hours. Muscular strains and damage, minor fractures, bone degeneration, and even cancerous conditions have many of the same symptoms and often requires imaging to differentiate. Your veterinarian will begin with a thorough physical examination, paying particular attention to the joints and musculature. Radiographs (x-rays) will usually be employed to better visualize the joint and the surrounding bone in order to rule out other disorders such as fractures and osteoarthritis. Arthroscopy is an imaging technique that allows the examiner to get a clear visual image of the ligaments of the affected joint. An arthroscopy is a surgical procedure, performed by inserting an endoscope into the joint using a small incision. 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
• Grade II - A larger part of the ligament is torn or stretched, and severe swelling is occurring; the dog may be able to walk but will have some lameness and difficulty, and the joint is only partially functional
• Grade III - The most severe grade of sprain, in which the ligament is severely damaged or completely torn; bones may not remain intact, and the dog will be unlikely to put any weight on the paw

There are some steps that you should take while you are contacting your dog’s doctor, such as placing an ice pad on the affected area to help reduce pain and swelling and making sure that the animal doesn’t aggravate the injury any further. Grade I sprains generally only need minimal care, although they can take several weeks to heal correctly. They are often splinted to prevent movement, and anti-inflammatory medications are prescribed, but the joint generally heals fully. 

Grade II sprains also require a splint and anti-inflammatory medication, but due to the more severe trauma may also need corrective surgery. Most grade II sprains heal completely, although the healing time may be further extended, particularly if surgery is required. Grade III sprains almost always entail some sort of surgery to remove or repair the torn ligament and if complete healing is accomplished, it will require extensive healing time. Surgery on the ligaments can be either traditional or can be achieved by laser surgery.

If the sprain is minor and does not require surgery, aftercare should be fairly simple. Keep the patient as inactive as possible during the healing period to avoid causing the sprain to reoccur, and continue with the anti-inflammatories as recommended by your veterinarian. After any surgery, it is essential to keep the site clean and free from dirt and debris. You will need to keep your pet from interfering with the site and examine it often over the next two or three weeks for swelling, bleeding or pus. Keeping your recovering companion in a calm, quiet environment will help encourage healing, as will having appropriate food and water within their reach.

Paying to treat a sprain out of pocket can be a major financial burden. Fortunately, most pet insurance companies reimburse claims within 3 days, putting 90% of the bill back in your pocket. In the market for pet insurance? Compare leading pet insurance companies to find the right plan for your pet.