6 Signs of a Sprained Leg in Dogs

When your normally sprightly four-legged friend greets you with a limp, you may wonder—does my dog have a sprained leg? And if so, what should I do about it?  

Leg sprains are pretty common in dogs, especially with all the zoomies younger pups are up to! Your best bet is to take your dog to Veterinary Emergency Group (VEG) to help ease their pain quickly and easily. 

Identifying the signs of a sprained leg is the ideal way to come up with a plan to get your pooch back on his paws in no time.

6 SIGNS YOUR DOG HAS A SPRAINED LEG:

1. HOBBLING HOUND

If there aren’t any visible injuries but your pup has suddenly started limping, there’s a good chance that this may be the case of a sprained leg.

If the limp goes away after a day, it was likely just a mild sprain and you don’t have anything to worry about. On the other hand, if it gets worse—don’t wait! Get to VEG to figure out what’s up with your pup.

2. HIDING AND WHINING DOGGY

If your dog is hiding, and also whimpering, it’s likely a sign that your pet’s hurting. The pain from the sprain may be causing your poor pup to cry and keep to himself. Playing this sort of hide-and-seek can also mean your pup is scared, has an injury, illness, or a health condition that needs to be diagnosed.

Take a fast trip to VEG to figure out if your dog has a sprain or if it’s something else entirely. 

3. NO HOP, SKIP, OR JUMP!

When dogs get a sprained leg, they typically will not be in the mood to play fetch as much as they normally do. However, nobody knows your doggo’s activity levels like you do. So, keeping an eye out for any sudden changes can help alert you if something’s wrong. 

If your dog is avoiding putting weight on one leg, you’ll need to get your dog checked, as it can be a sprain, but it may be another issue or injury  like arthritis or broken bones.

4. SOMETHING TO CHEW ON

Pups in pain tend to lick and chew the part of the body that hurts. If your dog is licking/chewing one of their joints or legs more than the others, that may be the area where they’re injured.

5. POOR PUFFY PUPPERS

In more severe cases, you may find that your dog’s sprained leg becomes very swollen. Redness on your puppy’s joints or legs is another sign of a sprain–this can occur with or without the swelling (though usually with).

6. FOREGOING FOOD

When your usually ravenous foodie dog does not want to eat and gives the bowl a snub, you know all’s not well in his world. It’s possible that the pain from a leg injury could be causing their stomach to be upset or bringing on the hunger strike. 

If this is the only symptom you notice, there are a lot of other issues which could be causing appetite loss aside from a sprained leg. You’ll likely need a trained veterinarian to diagnose the problem.

NEXT STEPS…

If you think your dog has a sprained leg, first, observe your pet for any of the above symptoms. While there are a lot of signs which can point to a sprained leg, it’s important to keep in mind that the symptoms can also be due to a variety of other health issues. Taking your dog to an emergency veterinary hospital like VEG is the best way to pinpoint the problem and start the treatment. 

Our compassionate, experienced emergency vets and staff are available 24/7 to evaluate your pup. If you get the news that your dog does indeed have a sprained leg, our doctor will guide you to the care needed to heal your precious pooch right away! We’ll triage your pet immediately and best of all, you can stay by your dog’s side all throughout treatment.