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Question
my dog has started limping i think he may have hurt his leg not sure how? would bandage help support him i do not think he has broke it but rying to help him recover. i am first adier but not sure if you treat a strain or ligament damage the same way in animals? i have gave him asprin only 75 mg is that too less?

Answer
First of all, aspirin is really a bad idea for dogs. One aspirin starts eroding the lining of their stomachs right away.
Your dog could have torn a ligament in his knee. The only way to fix it is by surgical repair.

If it is left untreated then the dog usually ends up tearing the ligament on the other knee as well because of over compensating for the first damaged knee.

Bandages do not help in this situation because it is an actual tear.
Now he could have done something else to it, could have a cut or sticker or stone in the pad. He could have hurt his hip (if it's a back leg) or his shoulder (if it's a front leg).

The only way to know is to have your vet look at it. Don't wait too long or the damage becomes worse and then arthritis sets in on top of that.

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Jana Connell RVT, CVT

Expertise

PLEASE READ BEFORE SUBMITTING TO ME: I am NOT a vet and do NOT diagnose diseases. That is only for a licensed Veterinarian to do. I will give you suggestions and steer you toward calling your vet for help. You can call the vet's office and talk to the technician there or the vet at times. Don't be afraid to call them! If you have a serious issue with your pet please post it to one of the veterinarians in here- I will tell you the same thing in my answer. IF your pet is injured or in an emergency situation, CALL YOUR VET- Do not wait and post in here. Just call the vet's office and get them in to see the vet right away. Critical treatment time is lost if you seek answers here when you should have your precious pet at the vets!! Don't sit at home waiting for an answer when your pet is critically ill or injured!! I can answer most questions about small animal and wildlife care as well as small animal nutrition. I can also answer questions about all phases of dental care for small animals. I DO NOT answer questions about birds (unless it is wildlife or songbirds) or HAMSTERS/GERBILS/CHINS/GUINEA PIGS/REPTILES/FROGS/RABBITS/PET BIRDS OF ANY KIND so please submit these questions to the appropriate sections. I, as well as other experts in here, do NOT do homework questions- that is for YOU to do! Please respect these rules for all of us. Thanks!

Experience

I have over 35 years experience in the field of veterinary medicine. I specialized in small animals and did wildlife rehab for over 25 years, mostly raptors, squirrels and opossums. I am a Small Animal Nutritional Consultant with 6 certificates from Hills Pet Foods, CNM and Purina. I also specialized in Small Animal Dentistry which is a field I truly love.

Organizations
Audubon,World Wildlife Federation, American Society of Veterinary Dental Technicians.

Education/Credentials
Licensed with California and Oregon, RVT and CVT. Certified Veterinary Dental Technician Have over 500 logged hours of Continuing Education Credits(that means I keep up to date!).

Awards and Honors
Nominated for Expert of the Month for the last 5 years.

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