Black lab leg injury

This morning my 2 labs were playing out in the back yard and the oldest one came limping in the house, easing the pressure on her front right leg. As far as I can tell, it seems to be a muscle or tendon injury ... she lets me press on the bone and move the joint no problem, but when i gently touch the backside of the leg (along the muscle) just above the joint, she pulls her paw away. I want to give it a day or so before I take her in to the vet (my basset pulled a muscle about 4 months ago and I rushed her in for nothing) ... but is there anything I can do for her to ease the pain/discomfort in the meantime?

 

poor thing, I would just keep her very quiet for a few days an see if it gets any better, as for anyting to give dont know sounds like you ahve experience from your basset if its a pulled, llots of rest

honeybear

 

If she will keep it on maybe wrapping the leg with an Ace Bandage might give her some relief. I found this site that gives you information on administering aspirin to dogs. That will help for both muscle and other strain problems.
http://www.vetinfo.com/daspirin.html#As ... 0tolerance

 

Thanks for the suggestions ... I'll see how she's doing in the morning, and if she's still limping, I try wrapping it ... I'm nervous about giving her any kinds of medications, since she is on a daily liquid med for a bladder disorder and i don't know how/if anything might react with it.

What's your guys' take on Rimadyl? It was the pain med that my vet perscribed for my basset, but after doing some reading on it online, I got a little scared and didn't give it to her ... is it something to be careful of? or one of those "don't believe everything you read" kind of situations?

 

Krystina, I would research hilstic and alternative methods first like glucosomina dn MSM before rimydal, have heard alot of vets presribe this but the people try this first and it has worked. you can do a search. it does take like 30-45 days to kick in. I would do prescription meds as a lst resort, but that is my own opinion so again you can search the web for info on this

honeybear

 

I was given Rimadyl when Nala hurt her leg when she was a pup, but I never gave it to her. Personally, I would not give a drug that is so controversial for something so minor.

Something else to consider is that if you give the dog pain medication, he may then hurt himself even more. Pain is a reminder for us to take it easy while something heals. Your dog may be different, but my fear when Nala hurt her leg was that if I gave her pain medication, there would be no way I could keep her quiet. My only hope was that the pain would make her keep off it. If anything, I would only give the pain medication if there is a way to control him or keep him confined, or at night before he goes to bed so he can sleep comfortably.

Dogs have a very high pain tolerance and generally heal quite quickly. They are amazing critters!