• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Dr. Buzby's ToeGrips for Dogs

Helping people. Helping dogs.

  • What are ToeGrips?
  • Reviews
  • Instructions
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • SHOP
  • Show Search
Hide Search

Compensatory Injury in Dogs: When One Pain Leads to Another

July 11, 2016 6 Comments

Share579
Tweet
Pin
Shares 579

close-up of black dog's face with title Compensatory Injury in Dogs When One Pain Leads to AnotherIs your dog limping? Not only is a limping dog living with pain, but he or she is more likely to suffer from a compensatory injury. The best way to describe a compensatory injury is by sharing my own story of a recent adventure that ended in pain–and gave me new found appreciation for compensatory injury in dogs.

How my own injury made me even more sympathetic to compensatory injury in dogs 

I am risk averse and I don’t like pain. Nor do I like falling through the air at 9.8 meters per second squared. So I really can’t explain how I got talked into leaping off a 32 foot cliff at Slide Rock State Park in Arizona into a pool of murky water. What I can explain is my newfound appreciation of compensatory injury in dogs.

When my head bobbed out of the water, strangers shouted, “Wasn’t that great?!” and “Didn’t you love it?!” My answer was a resounding NO. It was terrifying. And on top of that, I hit my right heel on a (presumed) rock on the bottom the river and was in significant pain.

I submit forensic evidence of the injury:

 

I limped to shore and proceeded to enjoy the rest of the day, compliments of NSAIDs. However, my foot hurt even worse the next morning. I babied it for several days until I began to notice it less, thanks to the way the body prioritizes pain. And herein lies the veterinary topic of the day, one that I’ve seen a zillion times in my patients: compensatory injury in dogs.

Compensating for one injury creates another

Pain is “multisynaptic”. This means there are many highways running to the brain which all carry the sensation of pain. It’s actually one of ways that acupuncture works. We stimulate the body at acupuncture points, which shuts the “gate” to other roads of pain from a sore joint, a sore back, a toothache, etc.

Acupuncture can be an appropriate treatment for compensatory injury in dogs like
Acupuncture is used in veterinary medicine for pain control in dogs, among other things.

This phenomenon is why, by day four, my heel pain was the least of my problems. Now, my left knee was killing me. Nerve endings in my knee were firing impulses to my brain which made me less aware of my tender foot. Though I don’t normally have knee pain, I’d created an “overuse” strain injury by compensating for my sore heel. I had been distributing my weight differently as I stood and walked. As a result, I’d created a new problem.

When there’s pain, other parts of the body pay the price

The same result is true for dogs too. Compensatory injury in dogs is a well-known phenomenon. For example, it is reported that once a dog ruptures a cruciate ligament in one knee (sadly, a common dog injury), he has about a 60% greater chance of doing the same in the other knee within about a year.

It makes perfect sense. Think about all the extra work that the “good” knee has to do, while the dog shifts weight off of the “bad” knee. Often, like my foot, the body pays a price for that.

Dog with sling showing that cruciate ligament rupture is a prime example of compensatory injury in dogs
Cruciate ligament (ACL aka CCL) tear is often a prime example of a compensatory injury in dogs. This dog is recovering from a cruciate surgery called a TPLO.

What is the moral of the story? (Besides don’t jump off cliffs!)  Here are four important tips for understanding pain in dogs and how to avoid a compensatory injury: 

1. Dogs are tough. Limping means pain. Diagnose early.

For starters, if your dog is not fully bearing weight on a leg, he or she is experiencing pain. Even if your dog is not crying out, whining or refusing treats, please trust me. Limping is almost always because it hurts to use the leg. Don’t ignore this symptom. Early diagnosis and treatment are the best gifts you can give your lame dog.

Black dog's face looking painful and sad
Dogs in pain typically aren’t this obvious. Dogs are often very stoic. Remember, just because your dog isn’t crying or whining doesn’t mean he isn’t experiencing pain.

Also, dogs in pain typically aren’t this obvious. Dogs are often very stoic. Remember, just because your dog isn’t crying or whining doesn’t mean he or she isn’t experiencing pain.

2. Visit the vet. Rest your dog.

Second, a dog that is noticeably and persistently limping needs to be seen by a veterinarian. Keep in mind that the longer your dog hobbles around, not only is he or she living in pain, but the likelihood of suffering a compensatory injury increases.

Years ago, there was a subplot in veterinary medicine to consciously leave limping dogs in pain so they “wouldn’t overdo it”. The theory stated that hurting dogs would be more inclined to rest and stay “off their feet”! Thankfully, we’ve evolved and learned that:

  • Healing happens more rapidly when we mitigate pain.
  •  In cruciate ligament tears, by addressing the pain and inflammation in the leg, we are “sparing” the good leg. This decreases the stress on the healthy joint and ligaments, and therefore, decreases the risk of cruciate ligament rupture in the “good” knee.
  • In most cases, exercise restriction is probably going to be an important part of the recovery process, but it is now a part of home care management, not achieved as the default status of a hurting dog. Please follow your vet’s orders explicitly on exercise restriction. It is a vital component of the healing process that is completely dependent on you, the home nurse.
  • You are your dog’s biggest advocate and he or she is counting on you to be part of the recovery team!
dog wearing sunglasses and sitting in wagon at the beach
This may be a stretch, but dogs can be on exercise restriction (typically defined as leash walks for potty breaks only) and still enjoy life with their families!

3. Rehabilitation can make a world of difference for your dog

Physical therapy/rehabilitation is one of the fastest growing fields in veterinary medicine. And with good reason. It can make a world of difference in your dog’s short- and long-term success. Dogs that receive rehab post surgery or injury recover faster than dogs who do not. Apparently, pet insurance companies agree. Most pet insurance plans, as outlined in this chart by the American Association of Rehabilitation Veterinarians, now cover rehabilitation services. To find a certified rehabilitation professional near you, click here.

dog wearing ToeGrips nonslip nail grips in an underwater treadmill
Maxwell Spike, ToeGrips supermodel, waits for his therapy session in the underwater treadmill to begin.

4. Time and patience are virtues during your dog’s recovery process

Compensatory injury in dogs can show up in a variety of ways. Muscles, tendons, and ligaments all play a role in compensatory gait and posture. This might manifest as inflammation/spasm/pain in another leg, the dog’s back, or even the TMJ (jaw joint). Part of a veterinarian’s job is weeding out which issues are compensatory and getting down to the primary diagnosis. Sometimes veterinarians refer to this process as “peeling the layers of an onion.” Getting to the the root issue (especially if it has been there a while), can take time.

As long as your dog is moving in the right direction, be patient during your dog’s recovery process. However, don’t be shy or hesitant to talk with your veterinarian if you have questions or concerns at any point along the path. Rest assured, if you need to shed a few tears as the onion peels, your dog and a your vet will understand.

Which of these tips are most helpful to you? We’d love to hear! Please comment below. 

 

RELATED POSTS

  • 6 Secrets for Utopian Vet Visits6 Secrets for Utopian Vet Visits
  • My Miracle, McGuireMy Miracle, McGuire
  • Love and ToeGrips helped Ozzy recover from a spinal strokeLove and ToeGrips helped Ozzy recover from a spinal stroke
  • The 5-Year Mystery of Our Little Bichon Frise’s PainThe 5-Year Mystery of Our Little Bichon Frise’s Pain
Share579
Tweet
Pin
Shares 579

Filed Under: Common Dog Health Problems, Our Blog: The Buzby Bark Tagged With: acl, acupuncture, ccl, compensatory injury, cruciate, dog, dog injury, dog rehab, dr buzby, injury, lameness

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. cyndi lusk says

    July 12, 2016 at 12:06 pm

    This was very helpful and made so much sense to me. Thank you for this logical approach to helping my dog should this ever happen.

    Reply
    • Dr. Buzby says

      July 13, 2016 at 11:06 pm

      Hi Cyndi, Thanks for being such a faithful follower of our blog. You inspire me. So glad you enjoyed this article. 🙂

      Reply
  2. Alyssa says

    July 12, 2016 at 12:54 pm

    Thank you for this wonderful article! It was very informative and I appreciate having your perspective on doggie pain, pain treatment, and recovery.

    Thank you!!

    Reply
    • Dr. Buzby says

      July 13, 2016 at 11:05 pm

      Thank you, Alyssa, for your encouraging words! I appreciate you reading my blog. 🙂

      Reply
  3. Laurene McGinnis says

    July 12, 2016 at 3:28 pm

    Thank you for this informative article. I love watching my pack of pups run, so when one is favoring a limb I am concerned, and to confine one of them is difficult…but I do it. I will be more observant now.

    Reply
    • Dr. Buzby says

      July 13, 2016 at 11:04 pm

      Thanks for the comment, Laurene! I’m happy to know that this topic was helpful for you. Keep up the good work caring for your pack! 🙂

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

About Dr. Buzby

Dr. Julie Buzby has been an integrative veterinarian for twenty years and has earned certification by the American Veterinary Chiropractic Association in 1998, and by the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society in 2002.
READ MORE

Looking For Something?

Browse by Category

  • Common Dog Health Problems7
  • Dog Mobility2
  • Dog Nail Care2
  • Dr. Buzby's Love of Dogs Stories4
  • Happy, Healthy Dog Care8
  • Senior Dog Care2
  • ToeGrips Success Stories14

SHOP NOW

Shop Now

Featured Blog Posts

Traction Socks

Traction Socks

Otitis in Dogs: Navigating the “Ear-rie Canal”

Otitis in Dogs: Navigating the “Ear-rie Canal”

One Vet’s Philosophy on Caring for Your Dog

One Vet’s Philosophy on Caring for Your Dog

MORE BLOG POSTS

Connect With Us

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Join Our Pack

SUBSCRIBE

Podcast

LISTEN

Silhouette of a girl holding a yellow umbrella over a dog while sitting on a bench and title Dr. Buzby's and phrase Helping people. Helping dogs.
  • Home
  • FAQ
  • About
  • Retailers
  • CONTACT
  • Share Your ToeGrips Story
  • SUBSCRIBE
  • Guarantee
  • Shipping Terms
  • Privacy Policy
  • Veterinary Wholesale
  • Return Policy
  • Press
  • Podcast
View on Facebook

© 2018 Dr. Buzbys ToeGrips. All Rights Reserved.