How Do I Know My Dog Has A Sprained / Torn Achilles Tendon?

If you think your dog has injured their Achilles Tendon, it's essential to visit your vet immediately for a confirmed diagnosis. An Achilles tendon injury in your dog can be quite serious and recovery can take a significant amount of time.

Common symptoms of an Achilles tendon injury include:

• Limping on the affected leg, or reluctance to put weight on the leg
• A Crab claw stance (your dog’s paw becomes a ‘claw’-like with the toes curled down)
• Being flat-footed or plantigrade (walking with a ‘dropped’ hock)
• Swelling and tenderness around the tendon area
• Reduced range of motion in the affected leg

An Achilles tendon injury can occur for any number of reasons. It can be from a sudden twist while playing or running. It can be from stress or degeneration over time. Chronic swelling of the Achilles’ tendon (Achilles’ tendonitis) just above the point of the hock is also sometimes seen in some large-breed dogs, most often Labradors, English Setters, and Doberman’s. 

An Achilles tendon injury in your dog can just involve the muscles and tendon group. However, sometimes a piece of bone attached to the tendon may also be torn away from the main body of bone (avulsion fracture). Injuries to the Achilles tendon can cause partial or complete ruptures. An injury to a tendon is defined as a strain. There are 3 degrees of severity:

• Grade 1: mild (haematoma/bruise formation)
• Grade 2: moderate (partial tearing of tendon)
• Grade 3: severe or complete (complete disruption of all of the fibres of the tendon)

Read more about Achilles Tendon Causes, Prevention and How to Help https://zoomadog.co.uk/collections/dog-achilles-tendon-injury 

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