🧠 Brachial Plexus Injury in Pets: Vet-Approved 2025 Guide to Nerve Damage in Dogs & Cats 🐾

By Dr Duncan Houston BVSc

⚠️ What Is a Brachial Plexus Injury?

A brachial plexus injury occurs when the bundle of nerves that controls the front limb is damaged—most often due to trauma such as a car accident, fall, bite wound, or severe impact. These nerves arise from the spinal cord in the neck, pass through the armpit, and connect to the muscles of the shoulder, forelimb, and paw 🧠🐶.

When these nerves are stretched, crushed, or torn away from the spinal cord (an avulsion), the result can be weakness, paralysis, or complete loss of sensation in one front limb.

🚨 Common Causes

• 🚗 Hit by car or fall from a height
• 🦴 Surgical complications involving the shoulder/neck
• 🐾 Bite wounds, gunshot injuries, or blunt force trauma

These injuries can happen to any breed, age, or size of pet, though active or outdoor pets may be more at risk due to exposure to trauma.

📋 Signs of Brachial Plexus Injury or Avulsion

Symptoms depend on the severity and which nerves are affected. Look for:

• 🥺 Lameness or dragging of one front leg
• 📉 Weakness, especially in the shoulder or elbow
• 🐾 Inability to bear weight
• 🛌 Lack of movement or limp limb hanging lifelessly
• ⚡ Loss of sensation in paw or leg
• 🩹 Sores or abrasions on the top of the paw from dragging

In more serious cases—such as a nerve root avulsion—the leg may remain limp permanently, without any ability to recover function or feeling 😞.

🧪 How It’s Diagnosed

Your veterinarian will start with a thorough neurologic exam to evaluate reflexes, pain response, and motor control.

Additional diagnostics may include:

• 🦴 X-rays – To rule out fractures or spinal trauma
• 🖥️ Ultrasound – To check soft tissue swelling
• 🧲 MRI or CT scan – For detailed nerve and spinal cord imaging

Identifying whether nerves are stretched, bruised, or completely torn (avulsed) is critical in predicting whether your pet can recover function.

💊 Treatment Options

There is no surgery to reattach torn nerves to the spinal cord, so treatment focuses on:

1️⃣ Pain Management

• 💊 Analgesics or anti-inflammatories
• 🩺 Medications to manage nerve pain

2️⃣ Physical Therapy

• 🦴 Range-of-motion exercises
• 💪 Passive stretching to prevent muscle atrophy
• 🧠 Rehab to promote circulation and healing

3️⃣ Protecting the Limb

• 🐾 Prevent self-mutilation or paw dragging with E-collars or booties
• 🛡️ Monitor closely for pressure sores, scrapes, or paw wounds

Early support and consistent monitoring improve outcomes significantly. Even if full nerve recovery doesn’t happen, your pet can still live a happy, functional life 🐶❤️.

🕒 What Is the Prognosis?

Recovery depends on the type and severity of injury:

• ⚠️ Mild stretching or bruising: signs of improvement may appear within 1–2 weeks
• ⏳ Severe avulsion: if no progress is seen within 3–4 months, full recovery is unlikely

If your pet has lost deep pain sensation and the limb remains completely limp, amputation may be the most humane option—especially if dragging the limb leads to wounds, pain, or poor quality of life 🦿.

🦿 When Is Amputation Considered?

While a difficult decision, amputation is often a relief for pets with permanently non-functional limbs. It eliminates pain and injury from dragging, and most dogs and cats adapt remarkably well to life on three legs 🎾🐾.

Read our full guide: Amputation Is Preferable to Continued Pain.

🧠 Tips for Home Care and Monitoring

• 👀 Watch for signs of self-trauma (licking, chewing, dragging)
• 🛏️ Keep soft bedding to prevent sores
• 🧽 Clean any wounds promptly and call your vet for new ones
• 📆 Schedule regular rechecks with your vet for progress assessment

Your vet may teach you how to do physical therapy exercises at home, or refer you to a veterinary rehab facility for advanced support 🏥.

📲 Ask A Vet for Neurological Support

If your dog or cat has suffered a brachial plexus injury, get expert support today at AskAVet.com.

• 📋 Guidance on diagnosis and pain management
• 🧠 Rehabilitation support for nerve injuries
• 🩺 Second opinions on amputation decisions
• 📲 Tips for caring for a paralyzed or partially paralyzed limb

📱 Download the Ask A Vet App to chat with licensed vets like Dr Duncan Houston—right from your phone 🐶🐱❤️.

💚 Final Thoughts

A brachial plexus injury can be frightening—but with proper care, many pets recover function, or adapt beautifully to their new normal. Your support, patience, and collaboration with your vet team can make all the difference 🐾💪.

Ready for answers? Reach out now at AskAVet.com or download the app and start a conversation today 🩺.