How To Treat a Limping Dog at Home: Understanding the Causes and Providing Safe, Natural Remedies for Your Pet
Seeing a beloved pet limping is difficult for any dog owner to witness, and the more one knows how to treat their pup properly, the more easily one can help them recover. To ensure that your furry friend gets the best care possible, here is an overview of what you need to know when treating a limping dog in the comfort of your home.
Identifying the Cause
The first step when dealing with a limping pup is to try and identify the cause. Is it coming from an injury or illness? Knowing what’s causing your pooch’s limp will help you determine the next steps that you need to take.
Here are some common causes of limping in dogs:
- Injury or trauma – An injury such as a fracture, sprain, or strain can all cause limping in dogs.
- Arthritis – This inflammatory disease can affect any joint in the body and cause pain and discomfort.
- Sprains or strains – These are muscle injuries caused by sudden and excessive force on joints or muscles that may require physical therapy and rehabilitation.
- Blocked Nerves – This type of nerve damage occurs when something presses on a nerve root which interrupts its normal functioning, resulting in pain and loss of movement in affected areas.
- Infections – Bacterial infections such as Lyme disease can affect bones and joints, leading to inflammation and pain. Other conditions, such as abscesses or tumours, may also lead to lameness.
Home Care Options
Once you have identified what is causing your pup’s limp, there are some home care options that you can try before seeking professional help if needed:
- Rest – Allow your dog ample rest by providing soft bedding in warm areas away from loud noises or other sources of stress. Try not to over-exercise them during this time but do take regular walks on flat surfaces like grass instead of hard surfaces like concrete whenever possible.
- Ice/Heat Therapy – If approved by your veterinarian, applying ice packs (for inflammations) or heating pads (for muscle aches) can help reduce inflammation and provide relief from pain for up to 20 minutes at a time several times per day if needed
- Pain Relief Medications – Your vet might prescribe medications that act as anti-inflammatory agents which target affected cells directly at the source of swelling and stiffness, helping them feel better.
When Should You Call Your Vet?
In most cases above treatments should help improve symptoms. However, if there is no improvement within 3 days after trying these remedies at home, then it’s best to call your veterinarian for further assistance. Some situations where immediate medical attention might be necessary include:
- Severe lameness along with fever, vomiting or diarrhoea
- Limps accompanied by abnormal discharge from wounds
- Any signs of infection, such as swollen glands
- Difficulty breathing
- Internal bleeding
- Wounds that haven’t healed after 2 weeks
- Signs of extreme distress or pain
How to Treat a Limping Dog at Home – Conclusion
Pet owners need to be aware of the different causes behind their dog’s limping and how best they can support them during their recovery process. With knowledge comes power, so stay informed to ensure your four-legged friend gets all they need while they heal!
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