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My dog's leg is swollen and painful. What can I do until the vet?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | American Pit Bull Terrier | Female | 80 lbs

I have a female blue pit who was in another dog fight and the owner had hit her with a board her leg is very swollen and she is shaking alot what can i do to ease her pain until I can get her to a clinic

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Harrah White

Veterinary Technician

Published on October 28th, 2017

The damage done to her leg could be soft tissue or as extensive as a fracture. Until being able to get her to a vet the best you can do it’s try icing her leg and restricting her activity. If you have a crate for her it would be recommended to keep her in that most of the time so that she does not cause any more trauma to the leg just by trying to walk or run around When she needs to go to the bathroom take her for a short slow walk. Getting her to a vet sooner vs later is highly recommended as they will be able to determine the full extent of the injury and prescribe her some pain medications to ease the pain.

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    Answered By Destini R. Holloway, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on November 21st, 2016

    Poor girl. You can place a doggy diaper on her and just allow her to use this. She can't safely have any over the counter human medication, so that is not an option. You can also try some cold compresses on the area that hurts her for 5-10 minute intervals to help with any inflammation/swelling. You can also use a towel placed under her belly to help lift her up and ease the amount of weights she has to place on her leg as she goes . Once she gets seen in the morning the vet will give her some much needed safe pet pain medication to help her the most. You just have to get through one night and things will hopefully be much better.

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