My dog's shoulder hurts. What can I do to help her without a vet?

Poor girl. Unfortunately there isn't much you can do for a musculoskeletal injury. Over the counter pain meds shouldn't be given to pets b/c of a high risk of liver and/or kidney damage. You can try doing alternating cold and warm compresses on the sore area for 5-10 minutes a day. Also a warm water Epsom salt bath can help with some of the soreness. If she just has a minor injur like a muscle sprain, then letting her rest the leg and the cold and warm compresses should help improve her limping over the next 4-5 days. Also leash walking her only outside and not encouraging jumping and rough play can help the area heal. Here is a website link that also has some financial resources that may be of assistance for getting Princess seen by your vet. It sounds like she may need a radiograph of the leg and appropriate treatment depending on the underlying injury if things don't get better soon. http://m.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/trouble_affording_veterinary_care.html Best wishes and take care.

Ouch, poor Harper! Unfortunately, there are no safe over the counter pain medications for dogs (including aspirin). Try to restrict Harper to a crate or a small room with no furniture for the next week or so to prevent further injury to her neck. Only take her on a harness for a short trip outside to eliminate, but avoid a neck collar. I understand your financial constraints, but Harper really should be examined by a vet to make sure she has not sustained more severe injuries to her neck that are causing neurologic deficits. Some SPCAs or rescues have low cost veterinary clinics available. Care Credit (carecredit.com) can provide a financing option for veterinary costs. There are some non-profit groups (redrover.org is one example) that will also provide financial assistance for veterinary care if costs are a concern. Best of luck and I hope that Harper is feeling better soon!

Unfortunately there are no pain relievers you can give Roxy. Many human ones are toxic to dogs, and can be fatal if given. I recommend resting her for the next 48 hours. No running, jumping, or playing. Take her out to toilet on a leash, and bring her right back in when she's done. If she still appears painful after this time, then I would take her into the vet for an exam. The vet can diagnose where the pain is coming from, and can dictate a treatment plan for it. She may also benefit from some pain medications, which the vet can prescribe.

The damage done to her leg could be soft tissue or as extensive as a fracture. Until being able to get her to a vet the best you can do it’s try icing her leg and restricting her activity. If you have a crate for her it would be recommended to keep her in that most of the time so that she does not cause any more trauma to the leg just by trying to walk or run around When she needs to go to the bathroom take her for a short slow walk. Getting her to a vet sooner vs later is highly recommended as they will be able to determine the full extent of the injury and prescribe her some pain medications to ease the pain.

There is nothing OTC that can safely be given to your dog. Many OTC medications are toxic or can easily be overdosed. Additionally, our experts are legally prohibited from recommending medications in the absence of a physical exam and a VPCR (veterinarian-patient-client relationship). Restrict her activity for the rest of the night and tomorrow. A warm compress can be applied for 10-15 minutes. If the lameness persists or if she is extremely painful, have her physically examined by your veterinarian. Afterwards, an appropriate medication can be administered or dispensed. Never medicate a pet without the advice of your veterinarian.

A surgery at 12 can be hard on the body, especially if Charlie has any underlying health issues, but consulting with the surgeon and running some tests such as bloodwork can help you determine if it is still a viable option for him or not. An exam in person with additional testing is best to try and figure out if this is possible. At home, limiting activity to kennel-rest and leashed-only walks may help rest the muscle and joints some to provide some pain relief and limit further injury to the joint, however a complete workup from a vet in person is a good idea to further assess the situation and see if more can be done.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I am sorry to hear Molly isn't feeling well. Unfortunately we are unable to give advice for medication without seeing Molly. I would contact your veterinarian to see if they can give you more assistance. I recommend making an appointment for her so they can find the source of her pain and get her the correct treatment. They may need to take x-rays to rule out a fracture. In the meantime, I would rest her in a kennel so she doesn't continue to injure herself. You could also try a warm compress on the area, but since it has been going on for so long, I would take her to a vet. Good luck and kisses to Molly!