17 Comments on What do you do if your dog sprains it's ankle?

laj1099 on Sat, 22nd Nov 2008 8:24 pm


Bed rest for one more day, if not any better go to the vet. It may require wrapping. He also could have torn a ligament.
References :
I am vet tech

martinamagrace on Sat, 22nd Nov 2008 9:00 pm


Any dog that limps for two days needs an Xray taken. How do you know the ankle is sprained & not broken?? I would get him/her to the vet tomorrow.

HOW do you give a dog "Bed rest"?
References :

laurie m on Sat, 22nd Nov 2008 9:28 pm


How do you know it's sprained? Could be torn lig. , muscles, a slight fracture. Have you examined the foot? torn off toe nail , ripped paw pad. The problem could also be in the knees or hip too. If it doesn't stop limping in 2 more days, take it to the vet.
References :

Savanahs Mommy on Sat, 22nd Nov 2008 9:49 pm


you don't… you should make sure its a sprain and go to a vet for a diagnosis…it could be more than a sprain, it could be a torn ligament or a fracture….smile
References :
retired vet tech

DoOm on Sat, 22nd Nov 2008 10:35 pm


you cant treat it yourself go to the vet or you could end up hurting your dog.
References :
i have a dog

Tara B on Sat, 22nd Nov 2008 11:12 pm


The same way a human treats a sprained ankle – go to the doctor.
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brbnryn on Sat, 22nd Nov 2008 11:44 pm


Is it swollen? If so, please get some ice and wrap it in a towel or something and put it on the place where the swelling is pretty bad.

Try to wrap it with an elastic band right now and then take it to the vet ASAP.

The vet will be able to take some xrays and see if a ligament was torn or not. Also, the ankle may need a cast for a few days to keep the dog from moving it a lot.

Besides, why didn't you take it to the vet when the accident occured?

Well, put some ice to keep the place a bit numb and take it to the vet. The vet will know what to do, because unless you are my neighbor, I can't go and check your dog to see if it needs wrapping. (Live in MEX, for the time, anyway)
References :
Wild life rescuer and vet

runwilde on Fri, 18th Sep 2009 1:56 pm


My irish wolfhound was playing in the surf last weekend and got hit sideways by a wave. I did not think he was hurt until I noticed that his right rear ankle kept wiggling (a break to the outside when his rolling forward off his paw), He had no problem bearing weight on it, but it made a clicking sound sometimes. We brought him home and gave him an aspirin. We kept him quiet until we could take him to the vet on Monday. The vet watched him walk and manipulated his leg and said he was sure it wasn’t a fracture and he thought it was just a sprain. He gave us anti inflammatories and sent us home. He said to stay off it for ten days. I want to believe this but his ankle (hock) keeps noticeably breaking out to the right when he goes out to go to the bathroom. He jumped up on the bed when i wasn’t looking and he keeps acting like he is fine. (I know he is not). Can an xray diagnose tendon/ligament issues or do you have to get an ultrasound? How can I tell the difference between a sprained hock/knee and a torn tendon/ligament?

Melanie on Mon, 5th Oct 2009 11:24 am


I brought my dog to the vet and had x-rays done and she was put on meds that helped with pain and swelling; she was on meds for ten days and finished the meds two days ago. It is still a bit swollen and she will not walk on it, any suggestions?

Shannon on Fri, 15th Jan 2010 12:04 pm


I took my 9 mo old dog to the vet for Xrays -$$$$$- and there was nothing showing up in hip or stifle. She was on anti-inflamatories and rest for 2 weeks for possible soft tissue injury, but she is still limping after any exercise and when she gets up after sleeping. I think it is in her hock, as the ACL and hips were ruled out. How can one diagnose a hock injury if there is no swelling? She seems to wobble a bit at the hock when she walks. Any ideas?

Shannon on Fri, 15th Jan 2010 12:07 pm


It seems a lot of us has hock issues! Can diagnosis be done manually instead of with an ultrasound like the “drawer test” for stifle tendons?

Lindsay on Tue, 4th May 2010 10:42 pm


today while outside my 2 yearold Aussie tried running up a hill but fell down limpping and whinning nonstop.I took her inside and wrapped it then i put her on cold and hot compressions but she wouldn’t let me touch her ankle and kept whinning.I dont know what to do!HELP!

fred on Tue, 28th Dec 2010 12:02 am


Lindsay go to the vet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! sounds major. like a break or ligament.
My german shepard sprianed her ankle. She limps but still wants to play .. only when I bend the ankle a lot she crys. she is on asprin non buffered and no activites. day one. if no progress tomoorw night vet she goes.

krisy on Thu, 24th Mar 2011 7:51 am


What if we don’t know how are dog sprained her ankle?

krisy on Thu, 24th Mar 2011 7:52 am


Also my dog sprains her ankle a lot

samantha on Thu, 19th May 2011 1:25 pm


I believe my dog twisted his ankle. It doesn’t make sense really sometimes he limps and sometimes he doesn’t. A couple of days ago he obviously stepped off the back step wrong and he doesn’t cry or whimper no matter what I do. So then I started thinking maybe he is getting Charlie horses a lot because I would rub his thy and he wouldn’t limp again for a while. He’s only a year old this month but my thoughts came from the fact that his muscles on his back legs are quite large and growing. I need help. This is my last resort and the to the vet we go

Brookelyne on Sat, 4th Jun 2011 5:12 am


My 6 year old German Shepard Border Collie Mix, Sprained his ankle somehow. All i did was treat it like my mom treated mine. Lay him on your couch or bed, lay a blanket on him, wrap his foot with Medical Wrap, put ice on it, prop his pillow, and give him an aspin or two! (yes, asprin will NOT hurt the dog. it will help him.) HOPE THIS HELPS!

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