My dog sprained his leg. Is he improving? How long for recovery?

Sorry to hear that Indiana has hurt his leg! It sounds like you're already doing everything you can, with restricting his exercise to rest the leg. If the limp has not resolved after 7-10 days, I would recommend taking him to the vet for an orthopedic exam and possible x-rays, since this would indicate that he may have a more serious problem than a simple sprain or pulled muscle.

By today I would have expected there to be a great improvement in his condition, especially considering the pain medication. I would make a review appointment at the vet as there may be something more serious going on such as a subtle fracture or a tear in a ligament. The vet can do a thorough ortho exam, but it may be necessary for him to be sedated and have xrays to be sure what is going on. Try and keep him calm and confined in the mean time.

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).

If Bruno was in a car accident or has severely sprained his hind end it is best to seek veterinary care in person. They may recommend additional testing such as X-rays to rule out any more serious issues such as breaks or severe injury to the hind end, back, or legs. Your vet can also provide treatment including pain and anti-inflammatory medications as needed to get Bruno comfortable. Limiting all activity to leashed-potty breaks only can also help until he is examined by your vet.

Poor Becks! It's possible that he may have sprained or twisted it when he slipped. If he's acting okay otherwise, I would recommend restricting his exercise for the next few days to see if the limping resolves - short leash walks outside to potty, no running or jumping. There are unfortunately no over-the-counter human pain medications that are safe to give him, so I wouldn't recommend giving him anything right now. If it's a minor injury like a sprain, he should be back to normal in 2-3 days. If there is no improvement in the next few days, or if he seems excessively painful, it would be best to have him seen by a vet since he may need x-rays to help determine what's wrong. Your vet can also prescribe safe and effective pain medication for him if needed.

I'm really happy to hear Ruby has not done any seriois damage to her leg, Im sure you are relieved. Ten days rest is what I would suggest for a sprain. See how she is getting on and if she still is a little sore you can extend the period. If she is not making good improvement I would go back to the vet.

Be patient Willie should get better with more time. I'm glad you are trying to keep him from jumping as that can make the leg sore and take longer for the injury to heal. Most cats heal leg injuries fine with time and limited exercise. If after six weeks of keeping him quiet and resting he's no better then take him back for a recheck to find the reason he is still limping. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Willie.