How to Treat a Sprained Foot in Dogs

Similar to small children, dogs can hurt themselves when they run, jump, bounce and play. This can be stressful for a pet owner, because a dog cannot communicate what exactly is hurting. A cry and/or limp may be your only indicators that your pet is injured. Additionally, you may not be able to pinpoint when exactly your dog hurt himself. If you notice your dog limping and/or crying during normal activities, he may have a sprained foot.

Things You'll Need

• Anti-inflammatory
• Nylabone
• Edible bone
• Kong

Instructions

How to Treat a Sprained Foot in Dogs

1. Take your pet to the vet. It is important to take your dog to the vet if he injures his paw. Some dogs are good at hiding pain, so even a small limp could be indicative of a more serious injury. The vet will look at the paws, toes, legs, hips and joints and may even recommend an X-ray. If the vet determines that your dog has a sprained foot, she may prescribe an anti-inflammatory to help with your pet's discomfort. Additionally, she may recommend that you add a supplement to your dog's diet to help keep his joints and bones strong and possibly prevent future injury.

2. Follow the vet's instructions for giving the medicine and supplement to your dog. You may have to mix the pills with food or even hide them in peanut butter to get your dog to take them.

3. Limit your dog's activities until his sprained foot is healed. Young dogs and puppies will sometimes get excited and ignore their pain to play, which could make the sprain worse. Avoid throwing balls or other toys for your dog to fetch. Avoid playing tug of war, because pulling can strain a dog's paws. Walk your dog only when he has to go to the bathroom. Additionally, prevent your dog from jumping up and greeting you whenever possible.

4. Reinforce calm activities for your dog. Keep your dog relatively calm and in one place by purchasing a Nylabone, edible bone or Kong for him to lie down and chew.

5. Revisit the vet for a follow-up appointment. Your vet more than likely will schedule a follow-up appointment approximately 2 weeks after your original visit. Go to this appointment even if your dog seems to be doing better. You will want to make sure that the sprain is healed and that your pet has not just adapted to the pain. Your vet may provide further instructions or even order an X-ray if the foot has not gotten better.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish