My dog sprained his leg and is limping. What can I do for his pain?

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Max. Poor boy! He's limping because he's in pain, and unfortunately there are no OTC pain medications you can give him. Many human ones are toxic to dogs and can be fatal if given. You need to take him into a vet immediately to get examined and treated. Best of luck.

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.

Poor Max! I'm sorry to hear that he's limping. Unfortunately, it's illegal for us to advise you to give any medication to your pet without first doing a physical exam - so this is not something we can do over the internet. I can tell you, however, that Robaxin is not likely to be helpful since it's a muscle relaxant, not a pain medication per se. It's sometimes used as an adjunct treatment for dogs with certain types of back pain, but wouldn't do much good for other types of soreness. If you're not able to get Max in to see an emergency vet tonight, the best option would be to keep him confined in a relatively small area such as a crate or small room, so that he can't be too active and make the injury worse. Then take him in to see your regular veterinarian tomorrow.

Poor Max! Max could have a soft tissue injury such as a sprain or muscle strain, or it's also possible he could have fractured something. Max should be seen by a vet to determine the source of the injury. For now, keep Max as quiet and calm as possible. Don't let him jump on/off furniture, and keep his walking to a minimum. If he's not using that leg normally within the next day or two, he needs to be seen by the vet. Do *NOT* give him anything for pain. There are no human pain meds that are safe and effective for dogs, and anything you give him could conflict with a more effective medication that the vet prescribes. Hope this helps and he feels better soon!

It sounds like poor Max injured himself playing outside. He is in pain because he's limping. I recommend resting him for the next 48 hours. No running, jumping, or playing. Take him out to toilet on a leash, and bring him right back in when he's done. If he still appears painful after this time, then I would take him into the vet for an exam. The vet can diagnose where the pain is coming from, and can dictate a treatment plan for it. He may also benefit from some pain medications, which the vet can prescribe. Please do not give him any human pain medications, as many are toxic to dogs and can be fatal if given. I hope this helps!

Poor Lexi! I'm sorry to hear that she's limping. Unfortunately, there are no over-the-counter pain medications that are safe for use in dogs, so there isn't anything you can give her at home today. I would recommend keeping her as calm and quiet as possible to avoid aggravating her injury further, and taking her to the vet tomorrow for an exam to find out what's going on.

Aww poor guy. He may have a muscle sprain. You can apply a cold compress onto the areas that appear sore for 5-10 minute intervals twice a day for next few days. Also limit his activity, don't encourage active play, and leash walk him only outside. If this is just a muscle sprain then he should improve over the next 48-72 hrs. However keep in mind that he should be able to at least move the limb somewhat, there shouldn't be a significant amount of noticeable swelling, and it shouldn't appear to be dangling (possible fracture). These are all signs that you shouldn't wait and should take him in right away. I do not recommend giving him any over the counter human pain medication, because these are not safe for pets due to high risk of acute liver and kidney damage. If he is still limping after that time frame, or getting any worse, then it is best to have your vet take a look at him to make sure he doesn't have more serious internal injuries (ligament injury, hairline bone fracture, dislocation).