Understanding Soft Tissue Injuries in Pets and How to Treat Them

Soft tissue injuries can ground even the most active pets. Seeing your pet hurt from that type of injury is heartbreaking. At South Federal Animal Hospital, we specialize in treating the soft tissue injuries pets sustain. We can offer immediate treatment to your pet at our location in Ft Lauderdale, FL. What types of veterinary treatment will be effective against soft tissue injuries? Let’s take a closer look at soft tissue injuries. 

What Are Soft Tissue Injuries?

Before we delve into the veterinary treatment options available for soft tissue injuries, let’s first discuss what they are. Soft tissue injuries affect your pet’s muscles and connective tissues. Your pet may develop these injuries from engaging in different physical activities. For example, your pet may twist their leg after accidentally falling and strain some of their ligaments and tendons. The same thing can happen if your pet is running extra hard to chase after a ball you overthrew.

A soft tissue injury could also be linked to a fight. You may notice your pet limping after getting into a scuffle. That limp is a likely indicator that they have sustained a soft tissue injury. Pets also become more susceptible to these soft tissue injuries as they grow older. The wear and tear on your pet’s connective tissues can make them more prone to injury. At that point, any excess pressure placed on the soft tissues could lead to a problem.

How Will a Veterinarian Treat a Soft Tissue Injury?

Treatment options for soft tissue injuries in pets are quite varied. Your veterinarian will choose the most suitable treatment option for your pet based on the severity of their injury. For a minor soft tissue injury, the veterinarian may recommend icing the injured joint until the swelling goes down. If your pet is in pain due to the injury, the veterinarian can prescribe medication to offer immediate relief.

Physical therapy can also work wonders for these injuries. The veterinarian may take your pet’s injured limb and stretch it out to see if that helps. They can also use massage to ease the swelling and promote faster recovery in that injured body part.

In some cases, those treatment methods may not suffice. Instead, the veterinarian may have to perform a procedure or surgery to address the soft tissue injury. Typically, the veterinarian will only opt for a procedure or surgery if the animal has torn some connective tissues or muscles. Your pet will likely have to wear a cast following their procedure. Make sure to assist them more while they are wearing that cast.

Find Effective and Compassionate Treatment for Your Pet’s Soft Tissue Injuries

Contact South Federal Animal Hospital if your pet needs treatment for their soft tissue injuries. Take your injured pet to our facility in Ft Lauderdale, and we’ll get right to work on providing the necessary treatment. Call our team today at (954) 523-8527 to learn more or to schedule an appointment.