Full Answer
How do you treat soft tissue trauma in dogs?
Treatment of Soft Tissue Trauma in Dogs. After determining the absence of underlying bone damage, treatment depends on the severity of the injury. Mild bruising is generally treated with anti-inflammatory medications, such as deracoxib, ketoprofen, carprofen, etodalac or aspirin. You’ll generally see improvement in 3 to 5 days.
What happens if a dog has soft tissue trauma?
Canine Soft Tissue Trauma. Damage to any of these can result in significant swelling, pain or inability to use that part of the body. Soft tissues can experience crushing, bruising, stretching, tearing or rupture injury. Some can be treated with medication, while others may require surgery to repair.
What should I do if my dog has an injury?
Without an examination I cannot determine the severity of the symptoms or know if the injury is soft tissue, a sprain or other injury; you should restrict Bentley’s movement for the next few days to ensure there is no running, jumping or playing and visit your Veterinarian if there is no improvement before the weekend. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM.
How can physiotherapy help an injured dog?
Applying rehab and physiotherapy techniques to an injured dog should be preceded by a proper consideration of how the injury developed and progressed, and how it affects the health and function of the entire body. The care of the canine athlete in performance and working disciplines is finally getting much-needed attention and awareness.
How long does a soft tissue injury take to heal in dogs?
Generally speaking, a bone can heal in 14 weeks, as can a large muscle tear. Tendons will only have 80% of their original strength a year after a severe injury; ligaments even less. This explains why significant soft tissue injuries can be so important, especially for a sport or working dog.
How do you treat soft tissue damage in dogs?
Soft tissue trauma resolves rapidly with rest. Anti-inflammatory medications frequently are used to speed the healing process. It is important to differentiate soft tissue trauma from more serious conditions that cause limping, such as torn ligaments, broken bones, and arthritis in dogs or cats.
How can I speed up the recovery of soft tissue damage?
ICE - for the first 48 through to 72 hours after the sprain or strain injury apply ice wrapped in a damp towel to the injured area for 15 to 20 minutes. Do not allow the ice pack to touch the skin directly as this can cause an ice burn. COMPRESSION - normally a compression bandage to the injured area where possible.
How long does it take to cure soft tissue injury?
Most soft tissue injuries heal within two to three weeks. If you still have significant pain or stiffness one week after a finger injury or two or three weeks after other injuries, you should come back to the Emergency Department.
Can soft tissue damage be permanent?
Yes, soft tissue injuries may be permanent if you suffer a severe contusion on the muscles, tendons or ligaments. They may result in long-lasting effects that never properly heal. When soft tissue damage becomes catastrophic or permanent, a person's life may change forever if they underestimate their injuries.
How does soft tissue repair itself?
During the regeneration component, specialized tissue is replaced by the proliferation of surrounding undamaged specialized cells. In the repair component, lost tissue is replaced by granulation tissue which matures into scar tissue.
How do you strengthen soft tissue?
Here are 5 ways to improve your soft tissue function and continue to chase down your fitness goals!Foam Rolling. ... Stretching. ... Progressive Tissue Loading. ... Eccentric Exercises. ... Soft Tissue Prehab.
Does massage help soft tissue damage?
Massage therapy is a treatment that can help relieve the pain of soft tissue injuries and aid in faster recovery times. Often these injuries can benefit from a combination of chiropractic adjustment treatment along with massage therapy.
Why does soft tissue take long to heal?
What to avoid when you have a soft tissue injury? Increases blood flow and swelling. Increases blood flow and swelling, and will slow up the healing process.
What are the 4 types of soft tissue?
Types of soft tissueTypes of soft tissue. There are different types of soft tissue found in the body.Fat. Fat is a soft tissue made up of fat cells (adipocytes) that are packed tightly together. ... Fibrous tissue. Fibrous tissue is. ... Muscle. ... Synovial tissue. ... Blood vessels. ... Lymph vessels. ... Nerves.
What foods help soft tissue damage?
6 Best Foods to Eat While Recovering From Sports InjuriesFoods that Contain Plenty of Protein. Protein is the nutrient that reinforces your body's muscle tissue. ... 2. Fruits and Vegetables With Vitamin C. ... Omega-3 Fatty Acids. ... Zinc-Rich Foods. ... Vitamin D/Calcium. ... Foods Rich in Fiber.
What is a grade 3 soft tissue injury?
Grade 3: A Grade 3 injury is the most serious. It involves a total rupture of the soft tissue. There is considerably more swelling than Grade 1 or Grade 2 injuries along with a significant amount of instability in the affected joint structure. Inability to use the injured limb is a clear indication of a Grade 3 injury.
How long does it take for a dog to recover from soft tissue injury?
Soft tissue injuries and their rehabilitation require varying amounts of rehabilitation for their full return. Periods may vary from a few months to a year, depending upon the severity, accurate diagnosis, condition of the dog, access to rehabilitation, and compliance factor.
What are soft tissue injuries in dogs?
Many soft tissue injuries mimic orthopedic problems such as cruciate disease, elbow dysplasia, osteochondritis dissecans, and others. Radiographs and other diagnostics may rule out these problems. Once the diagnosis is determined, the treatment phase may be initiated. Soft tissue injuries may be located anywhere in the dog’s body, ...
Why do dogs swim on treadmills?
I prefer the underwater treadmill to promote stability and extension with the joints. Once the inflammation is reduced and the dog is active in most activities, swimming may be utilized as a form of exercise. Core strengthening is a necessity for any dog that has suffered a soft tissue injury.
What is the challenge of treating soft tissue injuries?
The challenge in treating soft tissue injuries is not in the actual treatment itself, but the diagnosis of the soft tissue injury. Once the soft tissue injury is diagnosed and determined, a proper course of treatment may be pursued. Soft tissue injuries are difficult to diagnose and often require time and patience in determining ...
What is the diagnosis of soft tissue injury?
A thorough history, a deliberate physical examination, diagnostics such as MRI, ultrasound and arthroscopy, palpation and time are often required in the diagnosis of a soft tissue injury. Often differential diagnoses are ruled out before a determination and exact tissue may be determined. Many soft tissue injuries mimic orthopedic problems such as ...
How to increase weight bearing in acute stage?
Weight shifting activities should be encouraged through either manual balance activities, or activities on a rocker board or unstable surface. The goal is to increase the weight bearing of the affected limb.
Is a laser good for soft tissue?
Both are essential in the treatment of the soft tissue problems. Laser will aid in the reduction of inflammation, pain, and the promotion of soft tissue healing. Cyrotherapy will also reduce the pain and inflammation (ref) and is easily applied by both the clinician and the owner. Cyrotherapy may be applied in the form of ice packs, ...
What is soft tissue injury in dogs?
Soft tissue injuries fit into either category, depending on the severity. Soft tissues are those tissues surrounding bones and joints – primarily muscle, tendon and ligaments. Soft tissue trauma, sometimes charted by veterinarians as STT, is a common term used in dogs to describe injuries that cause symptoms such as pain but have no obvious skin lacerations or bone fractures.
What is soft tissue trauma?
Soft tissues are those tissues surrounding bones and joints – primarily muscle, tendon and ligaments. Soft tissue trauma, sometimes charted by veterinarians as STT, is a common term used in dogs to describe injuries that cause symptoms such as pain but have no obvious skin lacerations or bone fractures. Muscles are responsible for movement of the ...
How long does it take for a soft tissue injury to heal?
For any soft tissue injury, if improvement is not seen in 3 to 5 days, reevaluation by your veterinarian is recommended.
What is the most common cause of soft tissue injury?
Some can be treated with medication, while others may require surgery to repair. The most common cause of soft tissue injury is trauma.
Why is my dog limping after falling from a second story window?
For example, a dog that is limping after falling from a second story window may be diagnosed as having soft tissue injury if there is no evidence of bone damage on an X-ray. Determining the extent of the soft tissue injury can also be very difficult.
Can a dog be injured by pain medication?
If your pet was given anti-inflammatory medication or pain medication, he may feel much better and attempt to use the injured area. However, your pet is still healing and needs to be restricted from activity for several days. Re-injury is common when the pet is allowed to return to normal activity too soon.
Can a dog have soft tissue injury?
Diagnosis of Soft Tissue Trauma in Dogs. Diagnosing soft tissue injury can be quite challenging. A thorough physical exam can pick up swollen or painful areas, but X-rays may be recommended to determine bone damage. Soft tissue injuries are not routinely seen on X-rays.
How to treat a dog's shin injury?
There are some steps that you should take while you are contacting your dog’s doctor, such as placing an ice pad on the affected area to help reduce pain and swelling and making sure that the animal doesn’t aggravate the injury any further. Severe damage almost always entails some sort of surgery to remove or repair ligaments, tendons, and muscles, and if complete healing is accomplished, it will require more extensive healing time. Surgery on the ligaments can be either traditional or can be achieved by laser surgery.
How to heal a dog sprain?
If the soft tissue damage is minor and does not require surgery, aftercare should be fairly simple. Keep your dog as inactive as possible during the first stage of the healing period to avoid causing the sprain to reoccur. Continue with the anti-inflammatories and add in new exercises as recommended by your veterinarian. After any surgery, it is essential to keep the site clean and free from dirt and debris. You will need to keep your pet from interfering with the site and examine it often over the next two or three weeks for swelling, bleeding or pus. Keeping your recovering dog in a calm, quiet environment will help encourage healing, as will having appropriate food and water within his reach.
Why do dogs sprain?
Sprains, strains, and muscle damage are most often caused by trauma or injury. This can occur through traumatic incidents such as an automobile accident or a dog fight, or through a more mundane situation such as slipping on ice or attempting too ambitious a jump. Fast growing breeds and overweight dogs are more prone to sprains of all sorts and dogs with long backs, like Dachshunds and German Shepherds, are more likely to develop strains and sprains in the back and neck area.
Can soft tissue trauma cause cancer?
Soft tissue trauma like strains, sprains, and muscle damage have many of the same symptoms as minor fractures, bone degeneration, and even cancerous conditions. This makes a confirmation of the condition by a veterinary professional crucial.
What is the best treatment for soft tissue injuries?
Early physical therapy sessions for these significant soft tissue injuries often include a warming ultrasound, massage and/or stretching, perhaps electrical stimulation on a muscle, targeted exercises to encourage stretch, and a cold compression at the end.
How long does it take for a dog's tendon to heal?
Generally speaking, a bone can heal in 14 weeks, as can a large muscle tear. Tendons will only have 80% of their original strength a year after a severe injury; ligaments even less. This explains why significant soft tissue injuries can be so important, especially for a sport or working dog.
Why does my dog limp?
Limping dogs often indicate a mild soft tissue injury that needs minimal intervention as listed above. One of the non-injury scenarios of a dog limping would be a soft tissue sarcoma. This tumor arises from soft tissue and is often removed if it’s caught in the earlier stages.
What causes swelling and inflammation in animals?
Tissue trauma causes inflammation and swelling. This means increased blood flow, an increase and release of inflammatory chemicals into the surrounding area, and results in pain and reluctance of the animal to use the body part.
Why are dogs brought to the vet?
Pets are often brought to the veterinary clinic after suffering soft tissue trauma. Bones are considered ‘hard tissue,’ anything else is ‘soft tissue’. This can be from impact from vehicles, falling from high surfaces, or suffering an athletic injury (sprains, strains or muscle tears).
How to help a dog with a dog injury?
Be sure to seek veterinary attention as soon as possible after an injury occurs. Keep your vet's phone number and an emergency vet phone number nearby so you can call for advice and assistance. Depending on the severity of your dog's injuries, you may need to administer first aid .
How often do dogs get injured?
There's a pretty good chance your dog will get injured at least once or twice in his life. Dogs are often adventurous and some are even fearless. Most dogs explore the world barefoot and uninhibited. Unfortunately, the world is full of things that can harm your dog. Accidents happen; do your best to be prepared for them in advance.
What happens if a dog bites a stick in the roof of his mouth?
It's not uncommon for vets to see dogs with sticks stuck on the roof of their mouths (lodged between the molars). When dogs fight, they may bite at each others' faces and cause wounds in the mouth. Minor wounds in the mouth, like scrapes and cuts, may be treated with medications.
Why do dogs get eye injuries?
Eye injuries are fairly common in dogs and can happen for a variety of reasons. Many dogs injure an eye when running through and around plant life that brushes the eye. Sometimes, a dog's eye becomes injured when a cat swats at him or he gets into a dogfight. Another common cause of eye injury is when a dog hangs his head out of a moving vehicle. The debris from the road and air can get into the eyes, causing abrasions.
What is the most common injury in dogs?
Injury to the cruciate ligament is one of the most common limb injuries seen in dogs. The cruciate is a stabilizing ligament in the knee. When it ruptures or becomes injured in another way, it causes knee pain and instability. 4 Most dogs will hold up the leg when the cruciate ligament is injured.
Why is my dog's tail flaccid?
In a different scenario, you may see that your dog's tail is flaccid and hanging limply for no apparent reason. This is sometimes called limber tail syndrome and may be the result of a minor sprain or strain. 10 A flaccid tail is common after a dog has been doing a lot of swimming.
What happens if a dog fights another dog?
If your dog is in a fight with another dog, both dogs may sustain serious injuries. Generally, dog fights and dog attacks cause wounds to the skin and soft tissue. 2 These wounds range from minor to severe. A dog's teeth cause puncture wounds and lacerations to the skin.
How Do I Treat Soft Tissue Injuries in Pets?
Soft tissue injuries are difficult to diagnose and often require time and patience in determining the specific diagnosis. A thorough history, a deliberate physical examination, diagnostics such as MRI, ultrasound and arthroscopy, palpation and time are often required in the diagnosis of a soft tissue injury.
The challenge in treating soft tissue injuries is not in the actual treatment itself, but the diagnosis of the soft tissue injury. Once the soft tissue injury is diagnosed and determined, a proper course of treatment may be pursued
Soft tissue injuries are difficult to diagnose and often require time and patience in determining the specific diagnosis. A thorough history, a deliberate physical examination, diagnostics such as MRI, ultrasound and arthroscopy, palpation and time are often required in the diagnosis of a soft tissue injury.