Individual care · Veterinary consent
Sprains
An overstretched or partly torn ligament, usually after a twist or awkward landing.
What it is
A sprain is an injury to a ligament — the tissue joining bone to bone and holding a joint stable. It happens when a joint is forced beyond its normal range: a twist on a corner, a bad landing, or a foot going down a hole. Sprains vary from mild overstretching to a significant tear, and your vet will assess which it is.
What you might notice
- Lameness appearing suddenly during or just after activity
- Swelling or warmth around a joint
- Tenderness when the area is handled
- Reluctance to bear weight at first, improving over days
- Recurring lameness where the injury has not fully settled
These are things owners commonly describe. They are not a diagnosis, and several of them overlap with other conditions — only your vet can tell you what is actually going on.
How massage may help
A fresh sprain needs veterinary assessment and rest, not massage. Where massage helps is afterwards. Dogs offload an injured leg immediately and completely, and within a few days the other limbs and the back are carrying the difference. Even once the ligament has healed, that altered movement pattern often persists. With veterinary consent, Shanice works with the compensation left behind.
Speak to your vet first
Please have a new or sudden lameness examined by your vet before arranging massage.
Talk to Shanice about your dog
A diagnosis is only one part of the story. Two dogs with the same condition can need quite different care, depending on their age, temperament, routine and what they love doing. Share your dog’s veterinary history when you enquire and Shanice will talk through whether massage is appropriate for them.
Treatment complements your dog’s veterinary care, takes place in your own home, and requires signed veterinary consent.
Enquire about a session