Iliopsoas Strain in Dogs
What Is Iliopsoas Strain in Dogs?
Have you noticed that your dog is walking with more difficulty, struggling with jumping, having trouble negotiating stairs or experiencing discomfort in the groin area? They could be experiencing an iliopsoas strain and it’s best to consult a veterinarian for treatment as soon as possible.
Iliopsoas strains, also called an iliopsoas muscle injury or canine iliopsoas strain, is one of the most common soft-tissue injuries in active and sporting dogs, and unfortunately, also one of the most frequently missed as the early signs are often very subtle.
If left unmanaged or under-managed, iliopsoas strains in dogs can lead to chronic pain, muscle atrophy, and compensatory injury in other structures and carries a significant recurrence rate.
This guide is designed to help all responsible dog parents to understand more about an iliopsoas strain, including symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, causes and anatomy, as well as the importance of structured rehabilitation to ensure a full recovery and help your dog to live their life to the fullest.
What Is the Iliopsoas Muscle?
For dogs experiencing medial luxation, the kneecap dislocates towards the inside of the limb towards the body’s midline. This is the most common form of patellar luxation, accounting for approximately 75% of cases.
Medial patellar luxation (MPL) is strongly associated with small and toy dog breeds [2] Di Dona, F. Della Valle, G. Fatone, G. Patellar Luxation in Dogs. Vet Med (Auckl). 2018 May 31;9:23–32 due to a unique skeletal configuration, where bowing of the femur causes the patellar ligament attachment to sit too far medially.
Why does strain occur?
Iliopsoas muscle injury in dogs is a relatively common condition and comparable to a groin pull in human athletes. The muscle is highly susceptible to strain and general wear and tear, particularly if it has been extended and then rapidly flexed. This could happen at almost any time. For example, when your dog is stretching, or if it slips, or even if it’s just being generally active and playful, as it should be!
At Canine PT and Me, we don’t want you to worry about the constant risk of an iliopsoas injury, we’re here to simply help you understand how to identify and assist your dog when it happens.
Recognizing Iliopsoas Strain in Dogs
The early signs of iliopsoas strain in dogs are typically subtle and can be hard to identify, particularly without any veterinary training and medical imaging techniques. The condition varies in severity, with strains ranging from microscopic tears (Grade I) to near-complete rupture (Grade III), depending on the cause of the injury.
Causes of Iliopsoas Strain in Dogs
Iliopsoas injuries in dogs fall into three categories:
This is caused by a single, often explosive movement, such as slipping into a splay-legged position, jumping from height, a sudden twist or turn during fetch, or a strenuous hiking session. This is caused by the muscle being forcibly stretched at its weakest point, where it is attached to the tendon, also known as the myotendinous junction.
This is the result of repetitive trauma to the iliopsoas from sustained athletic activity without adequate recovery, and can be related to poor core conditioning, inadequate warm-up, muscle fatigue, and body weight.
It can develop when the dog manages pain by adjusting its gait in ways that overload the iliopsoas to compensate for a physical condition or injury, such as hip dysplasia, CCL insufficiency, lumbosacral disease, or sacroiliac malalignment. A secondary iliopsoas muscle strain is actually the most common reason for this type of injury!
Types of Dogs More Prone to Iliopsoas Strain
Unlike patella luxation, which is a breed-dependent condition, iliopsoas strains in dogs are caused by increased activity. This means that any active dog that participates in high-impact, repetitive activity in any capacity, regardless of breed, can develop an iliopsoas injury, including your beloved furry friend at home.
Certain breeds are genetically predisposed, including:
Sporting and working dog breeds are particularly at risk, especially those which are active in dock diving, field trials, hunting, or protection sport, including:
Other risk factors for iliopsoas injury in dogs
- Underlying orthopedic conditions such as hip dysplasia, CCL disease, or lumbosacral pathology
- Overweight dogs are more prone to injury during movement
- Older dogs with reduced flexibility, muscle conditioning and strength
Symptoms of Iliopsoas Strain in Dogs
Dogs may not show any obvious gait abnormality at rest. Symptoms often only emerge during or after exercise, or on palpation. This is a key reason why the condition is underdiagnosed.
The onset of iliopsoas muscle strain in dogs can be gradual and subtle, with no single dramatic lameness event. A dog may simply seem “not quite right,” becoming slower through turns, or less enthusiastic about activities that they previously loved.
From subtle to severe, here are the signs of iliopsoas injury in dogs to watch out for:
- Subtle performance decline: reduced drive, slower through weave poles or lower jump efforts for sporting dogs.
- Shortened stride on the affected hind limb or an asymmetric gait.
- Intermittent hind limb lameness that worsens after exercise.
- Reluctance to go upstairs, jump into a car, or rise from lying down.
- Posture change: dog may stand with a rounded lower back and hind legs drawn further forward than normal.
- External rotation of the affected hind limb when walking.
- Pain on physical examination of the hip.
- Tenderness on deep palpation through the iliopsoas muscle.
- Severe cases: three-legged lameness following an acute traumatic event.
If your dog is showing any of these signs, a veterinary examination is the essential first step — do not assume rest alone will resolve the issue without a confirmed diagnosis.
Treatment of Iliopsoas Strain in Dogs
The iliopsoas strain treatment approach depends on whether the strain is acute or chronic, primary or secondary to a concurrent condition, and the severity grade. We emphasize a phased return to activity rather than an immediate return to activity following a period of rest. Our treatment protocol is heavily based on manual therapy techniques, which are effective in the rehabilitation process1.
Conservative Management and Pain Relief
Conservative management of iliopsoas muscle strain alone, without rehabilitation, has a high recurrence rate. Initial management for most cases, particularly Grade I and II injuries, is as follows:
- All iliopsoas strain treatment begins with a short period of rest for 2-6 weeks.
- Strict activity restriction is important during this time, with lead walks only, no jumping, no off-lead running and no stairs where avoidable. Duration depends on the severity grade.
- Veterinarian guided pharmaceutical pain management includes NSAIDs prescribed by a vet as well as muscle relaxants where necessary.
- Cryotherapy (icing) is useful in the acute phase (first 48–72 hours) to manage inflammation.
- Long term weight management is useful for reducing load through the hip in overweight patients.
Rehabilitation Therapies
Conservative treatment including a combination of rest, medication and physical therapy has been shown to be effective in treating iliopsoas strain in dogs2.
At Canine PT and Me, we design each rehabilitation program specifically around your dog’s injury grade, activity history, and goals, whether that’s returning to agility competition or simply getting back to comfortable daily walks.
Our approach to canine iliopsoas strain recovery is carefully designed and tailored for each individual patient. We emphasize a phased rehabilitation program with a flexible approach that changes, adapts and pivots as your dog makes progress.
Phase 1 — Acute/Sub-acute (Weeks 1–3)
Pain reduction and inflammation management.
- Photobiomodulation (laser therapy) is applied to the affected area to improve circulation, support tissue healing and reduce pain.
- Soft tissue mobilization promotes blood flow and tissue repair at the myotendinous junction.
- Gentle range-of-motion exercises are prescribed.
- Acupuncture can be used in conjunction as it reduces painful trigger points in the muscle and surrounding tissues.
Phase 2 — Strengthening (Weeks 3–8 approximately):
Carefully re-introducing weighted loads.
- Core strengthening exercises which target the muscles that support and stabilize the lumbar spine, reducing load on the iliopsoas.
- Gradual incline walking is recommended as healing progresses.
- Proprioception and balance work.
Phase 3 — Return to Activity
Gradual, structured reintroduction of specific activities.
- Sport-specific exercises for agility, working, or fetch dogs.
- Structured warm-up and cool-down routines that the owner continues at home.
Advanced Treatments (PRP, Stem Cells)
For iliopsoas damage in dogs who are not responding to conservative management and rehabilitation, or where imaging confirms a significant lesion at the myotendinous junction, other veterinary interventions are indicated:
- Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP): Concentrated platelets which contain growth factors to accelerate tissue repair are drawn from the dog’s own blood and injected directly into the muscle under ultrasound guidance.
- Stem cell therapy: Regenerative cells, typically from the dog’s own adipose tissue or bone marrow, are used to promote tissue regeneration in cases with significant muscle-tendon disruption.
- Shockwave therapy uses sound waves to target deep muscle and tendon tissue. It reduces pain, increases local blood circulation, breaks down tiny calcifications, and accelerates cellular tissue repair.
1Cabon Q, Bolliger C. Iliopsoas muscle injury in dogs. Compendium. 2019. p35.
2Nielsen, C. Pluhar, GE. Diagnosis and treatment of hind limb muscle strain injuries in 22 dogs. Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol. 2005;18(4):247-53.
In our clinic, one of the most common presentations we see is a dog referred after weeks of “rest at home” with ongoing lameness following a canine iliopsoas strain. Rest without rehabilitation is the reason why so many of these dogs are still limping and struggling.
The muscle often does not heal properly and lacks strength, making unhealthy compensatory patterns habitual, and the underlying weakness that led to the injury in the first place hasn’t been properly addressed, leaving the door open for the dog iliopsoas strain to reoccur.
The Role of Physical Therapy in Iliopsoas Strain Recovery
Benefits of a physical therapy program for iliopsoas injury rehabilitation
- Targeted rehabilitation promotes organized tissue healing and restores your dog’s full range of motion by reducing the formation of inflexible scar tissue at the injury site.
- Rehabilitation prevents future reoccurrence of canine iliopsoas strain. It resets the foundation for effective, functional movement that protects your dog’s joints by addressing muscle imbalances along the whole kinetic chain, not just an isolated muscle.
How our physical therapy approach for iliopsoas injury works
- Initial assessment includes a gait analysis, palpation, and range-of-motion testing.
- Exercise modality selection based on phase of healing.
- A home exercise program is given to the owner to help continue a successful recovery between clinic sessions.
- A progress reassessment is conducted at each in-person session.
- The physical therapy program is adjusted as recovery progresses to continuously optimize your dog’s movement.
Wondering if your dog needs a rehabilitation program for an iliopsoas strain? [Inquire about cost and availability →]
Recovery Timeline for Dogs With Iliopsoas Strain
Recovery timelines for an iliopsoas strain vary significantly based on grade, acuity, concurrent conditions, and owner compliance to treatment programs. It is strongly influenced by how strictly the owner manages rest and activity restriction in the early weeks. Premature return to activity is the most common cause of re-injury.
It’s best to allow between 4-12 weeks for a full recovery for an iliopsoas injury in dogs, however, it can take even longer if for severe injuries and dogs with co-existing physical disease.
At Canine PT and Me, our experienced physical therapists work carefully and gently with you and your dog to ensure that progress is slow and steady with long-lasting results.
Written & reviewed by Kelsey Jonas, PT, DPT, CCRT
8 years experience in canine physical therapy
Last reviewed: May 2026
The information on this page is intended as a general guide only and does not constitute veterinary advice. Always consult a registered veterinarian for diagnosis and treatment of your dog’s condition
Prevention of Iliopsoas Strain in Dogs
While not all cases of iliopsoas muscle injury can be prevented, risks can be substantially reduced by preventing the likelihood of acute traumatic events and chronic muscle overuse. Our strategy to reduce canine iliopsoas strains includes:
- Structured warm-up exercises: we recommend 5–10 minutes of low-intensity movement before any strenuous activity.
- Progressive training load: avoid sudden increases in training intensity, duration, or surface difficulty.
- Core conditioning: a strong core reduces the load placed on the hip flexors.
Weight management: excess body weight continuously loads the iliopsoas during normal movement. - Regular veterinary and rehabilitation check-ups to identify and manage concurrent conditions.
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FAQs About Iliopsoas Strain in Dogs
What are the benefits of exercise for dogs with Iliopsoas Strain?
The benefits of a structured program for an iliopsoas injury include maintaining muscle mass, promoting organized tissue healing, preventing compensatory injury in other structures, and reducing the risk of re-injury through progressive reconditioning.
Unstructured exercise before the muscle has healed is the most common cause of re-injury.
What types of exercises are best for dogs with an Iliopsoas Strain?
The appropriate exercises to treat a canine iliopsoas strain depend on the phase of recovery. Early-stage rehabilitation focuses on passive range-of-motion and gentle core activation. Mid-stage introduces controlled strengthening through a guided exercise plan.. Late-stage incorporates sport-specific movements and proprioception work.
Can Iliopsoas Strain Recur?
Yes, recurrence of dog iliopsoas strain is a significant concern. The primary risk factors for re-injury are premature return to activity before the muscle has fully healed and the absence of a targeted rehabilitation program.
When to Contact Your Veterinarian
Contact your vet if you notice the following signs of iliopsoas injury in your dog: hind limb lameness, a shortened or asymmetric gait, reluctance to jump or climb stairs, signs of pain when their hip is extended or a sudden decline in athletic performance or enthusiasm.
Disclaimer: The information on this page is intended as a general guide only and does not constitute veterinary advice. Always consult a registered veterinarian for diagnosis and treatment of your dog’s condition
Can My Dog's Iliopsoas Strain Affect Other Parts of Their Body?
Yes, iliopsoas injuries in dogs can affect all the structures involved in movement because the iliopsoas connects the lumbar spine to the femur. A dog compensating for iliopsoas pain will shift load onto other structures, such as the opposite hind limb, the forelimbs, and the lumbar spine, creating secondary injury risk. In many dogs,, CCL instability and lumbosacral pathology frequently co-exist with iliopsoas. See our guide to CCL Tear in Dogs and Hip Dysplasia in Dogs.
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