Sometimes, a pet can break a bone during play or in a falling accident. In some cases, the dog may simply step wrong or tumble, shattering a bone in his or her leg. As with humans, broken bones in dogs and cats can be serious. In some cases, broken bones can result in severe injuries that can result in lifelong changes for your pet. Your pet may break his or her leg in a traffic accident, or when tripping on a run.
It is important to note that just because your pet is limping does not mean that he or she has broken or fractured a bone. Pets often pull muscles or may pull a bone out of socket. The animal may also suffer a tendon injury or a ligament injury. All of these injuries can be very painful, but they are typically easy to fix. If you believe that your pet may have broken a bone, you will want to determine if it is an open or closed fracture. An open fracture is one where the skin over the fracture is open and the bone is exposed. A closed fracture is one where the skin remains intact.
If the fracture is incomplete, this can be a hairline fracture. Hairline fractures describe an injury which causes pain, but did not actually break the bone. Normally, with a hairline fracture, the bone is only cracked. A dog that has a hairline fracture may not exhibit the same symptoms as one that has suffered a full fracture. Normally, the pet will limp, but will still be able to walk on the injured leg. If your pet is exhibiting signs of pain but there is no reason to believe the bone has been broken, you may want to take your pet in for an X-ray to see if a hairline fracture is causing the problem.
There are many signs that can indicate that your pet has suffered a hairline fracture. For one, if your pet is showing pain or discomfort after an obvious accident or injury, this could indicate that there is a fracture or dislocation. If your dog whines or limps, or if your pet is unwilling to walk, then these personality shifts can also point the fact that something is wrong. If you believe your pet has a fracture, think about when the accident could have happened. Did your dog fall? Did something fall on the animal's paw? Was the animal hit by a car or another moving object?
To treat your pet's fracture, you need to reduce the pain and help to avoid infection for an open wound. You should never try to reset a fracture on your own or use antiseptics and ointments on an open fracture. This can aggravate the injury site, rather than help it. It is best to get your dog to the vet immediately, where professionals can decide whether or not it is best to set the pet's bone.
If your animal has a broken back, you may want to muzzle it. This is because animals in pain will typically lash out, even if they are generally agreeable. You will want to pull your dog onto a flat board without bending its back, and will then want to strap the animal in to reduce and limit movement. Avoid putting any pressure on the animal's neck or back. Never try to splint a broken back, as your attempt may do more harm than good.
If your pet suffers a broken limb, then you need to slide a clean towel under the broken limb. Do not apply any antiseptic or ointment to an open fracture, but cover the wound in gauze. With limbs, it is wise to splint the leg with a newspaper or a rolled up magazine. If this causes the dog excessive pain, then do not do this. You should not try to rest the bone, but the splint can work to protect nerves, vessels, and other tissues from additional injuries. Once you have splinted the bone, lift a dog and transport him to the vet while keeping him warm. This will help to prevent the dog from going into shock. If you want to learn more about pet care, don't hesitate to call an attorney today!