7 Common Summer Injuries in Dogs
7 Common Summer Injuries in Dogs
And How Physiotherapy Helps Prevent Them
Author: Karen Goodall AdvCertVPhys MIRVAP (VP) (ICH) | Veterinary Physiotherapist, Old Flatts Farm, Treeton
Why Summer Raises Injury Risk
The transition from winter to summer represents one of the biggest changes in a dog’s physical workload across the year. After months of shorter, quieter walks, dogs are suddenly running further, playing harder, navigating new terrain, and taking part in day trips and outdoor adventures — often without the underlying muscle condition to support that level of demand.
Research in both human and veterinary sports medicine consistently identifies rapid increases in training load as one of the strongest predictors of soft tissue injury (Gabbett, 2016). For dogs, the combination of reduced winter fitness, warm-weather enthusiasm, and owner excitement about the season creates the perfect environment for strains, sprains, and overuse injuries. The good news is that most of these are predictable — and preventable.
Below are the seven most common summer mobility injuries we see at our clinic, along with practical guidance on prevention and the role of physiotherapy in keeping your dog moving safely.
The 7 Most Common Summer Injuries
This is the most frequently seen summer presentation. Dogs that have been relatively sedentary through winter are suddenly asked to run further, jump more, and cover more varied terrain. The muscles most commonly affected include the iliopsoas (hip flexor), hamstrings, and lumbar paraspinal muscles — all of which are required to work harder as pace and distance increase. Signs include stiffness after exercise, reluctance to jump, a shortened stride, and subtle behavioural changes indicating discomfort.
How physiotherapy helps: A pre-season conditioning programme builds the muscular strength, core stability, and proprioceptive awareness needed to handle increased summer activity safely. For dogs already showing signs of strain, manual therapy, soft tissue work, and a structured return-to-exercise programme support recovery and prevent recurrence.
Hikes, woodland trails, gravel paths, beach sand, and rocky surfaces challenge the stabilising muscles of the paw, wrist (carpus), and shoulder in ways that flat pavements do not. Add speed or excitement to the equation, and the likelihood of paw injuries, carpal sprains, shoulder overuse, and toe hyperextension increases considerably. These injuries are particularly common in dogs who are unfit but highly motivated — a combination that describes many family pets in early summer.
How physiotherapy helps: Targeted rehabilitation programmes improve balance, weight-bearing symmetry, and core stability — all of which protect the distal limb joints when navigating unpredictable surfaces. For dogs with existing carpal or shoulder issues, a physiotherapy assessment before the hiking season can identify weaknesses and address them proactively.
Water play is one of the great summer joys for dogs — but wet decking, muddy riverbanks, slick grass, and tiled poolside surfaces significantly increase the risk of stifle (knee) injuries, soft tissue strains, and spinal incidents. These are particularly common in older dogs and those with early osteoarthritis, where reduced proprioceptive awareness and weaker stabilising muscles leave them poorly equipped to recover from an unexpected slip. A single significant slip can be enough to trigger an acute injury in a vulnerable dog.
How physiotherapy helps: Proprioceptive rehabilitation, targeted soft tissue treatment, and joint-specific strengthening improve a dog’s ability to detect and respond to changes in surface underfoot. Combined with practical home advice on non-slip surfaces and supervised water access, physiotherapy meaningfully reduces slip-related injury risk.
Energetic breeds — Spaniels, Collies, Pointers, Border Terriers, and working dogs of all types — often accumulate a significantly higher workload in summer through multiple long walks, beach sprints, garden agility, and off-lead socialisation. This sustained overloading can trigger lumbar soreness, forelimb strain, reduced endurance, and subtle gait changes that owners may not notice until the dog is clearly struggling. Working dogs engaged in beating, field trials, or agility competition are at particular risk.
How physiotherapy helps: Regular manual therapy, progressive strengthening, and sport-specific conditioning programmes reduce muscular discomfort, improve flexibility, and support gait quality across the demands of an active summer season. We can create bespoke conditioning plans for working dogs and competitive athletes.
Dogs tire significantly more quickly in warm weather, and fatigued muscles are less able to protect joints and maintain coordinated movement. What begins as heat-related tiredness manifests in movement as sloppy turning, stumbling, toe dragging, and a shortened stride — all of which increase injury risk. This is particularly relevant in brachycephalic breeds and dogs with underlying conditions who may not communicate early fatigue effectively to their owners.
How physiotherapy helps: Conditioning programmes that build neuromuscular endurance, coordination, and body awareness help dogs move more safely even when tired. Practical owner guidance on recognising early fatigue signs, adjusting walk timing around cooler parts of the day, and incorporating appropriate rest periods is also a key component of summer physiotherapy advice.
Dogs that have done significantly less through winter are most vulnerable in early summer. Cold-season deconditioning results in weaker core stability, increased muscle tightness, reduced joint mobility, and poorer balance — a combination that leaves dogs physically unprepared for the demands placed on them as activity ramps up in spring and early summer. This group accounts for a significant proportion of the early-season soft tissue injuries we see at our clinic.
How physiotherapy helps: A spring conditioning assessment identifies where deconditioning has occurred and builds a structured programme to restore strength, flexibility, and joint mobility before summer activity peaks. Manual therapy, targeted stretching, and progressive exercise prescription allow a safe, graduated return to full activity.
Dogs with osteoarthritis, hip or elbow dysplasia, or spinal conditions often experience noticeable flare-ups as summer activity levels rise — sometimes before owners are aware their dog was struggling at all. The combination of harder ground in dry weather (which reduces shock absorption and increases joint load), longer distances, and less predictable terrain can significantly worsen symptoms in dogs with underlying joint disease. These dogs need a managed increase in activity rather than a sudden one.
How physiotherapy helps: Comprehensive management using manual therapy, thermotherapies, laser, and tailored home exercise plans can significantly improve mobility, reduce pain, and help these dogs participate safely in summer activities within appropriate limits. Regular review through the summer allows the programme to adapt as conditions and symptoms change.
How to Keep Your Dog Safe This Summer
The principles of injury prevention in dogs mirror those in human sports medicine: gradual load progression, adequate warm-up, appropriate rest, and a body that is conditioned to meet the demands being placed on it. These practical steps make a meaningful difference:
Increase exercise duration and intensity by no more than 10–15% per week. Sudden leaps in workload are the most common cause of soft tissue injury.
Five minutes of slow, controlled on-lead walking before free running prepares muscles and joints for higher-impact movement.
Dry, compacted soil significantly increases joint load. Grass and softer surfaces are kinder on joints, particularly for dogs with OA or dysplasia.
Fatigue from heat impairs movement quality and coordination. Walk during cooler parts of the day and ensure water is always available.
Particularly important for seniors, dogs with OA, and those recovering from injury. Rubber-backed mats and non-slip runners make a significant difference.
A physiotherapy assessment before summer peaks can identify weaknesses, address deconditioning, and build a summer-safe exercise plan tailored to your dog.
When to Book a Physiotherapy Appointment
Early assessment consistently produces better outcomes than waiting for a problem to become severe. The following signs warrant prompt physiotherapy review:
- Stiffness after activity or prolonged rest
- Reluctance to jump into the car, onto furniture, or up steps
- Any degree of limping, even if intermittent or mild
- A noticeable change in gait, stride length, or movement quality
- Slowing down on walks or requesting to turn back earlier than usual
- Difficulty rising after rest
- Uneven weight-bearing or leaning to one side
- Behavioural changes suggesting discomfort: irritability, reduced engagement, changes in appetite or sleep
Scientific References
Gabbett, T.J. (2016). The training-injury prevention paradox: should athletes be training smarter and harder? British Journal of Sports Medicine, 50(5), 273–280.
Cullen, K.L., Dickey, J.P., Bent, L.R., Thomason, J.J. and Moens, N.M.M. (2013). Survey-based analysis of risk factors for injury among dogs participating in agility training and competition. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 243(7), 1010–1018.
Baltzer, W.I. (2012). Rehabilitation of companion animals following orthopaedic surgery. New Zealand Veterinary Journal, 60(4), 192–200.
Mlacnik, E., Bockstahler, B.A., Muller, M., Tetrick, M.A., Nap, R.C. and Zentek, J. (2006). Effects of caloric restriction and a moderate or intense physiotherapy program for treatment of lameness in overweight dogs with osteoarthritis. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 229(11), 1756–1760.
Book a Summer Mobility & Injury Prevention Assessment
Give your dog the best, safest summer possible with a personalised physiotherapy plan. Whether your dog is a working athlete, a senior with arthritis, or simply a family pet who loves the outdoors, we will build a programme that keeps them moving well all season long.
Book an Appointment →