If Your Dog Breaks a Bone: If your dog breaks a bone, it can be a frightening experience. Not only do you have to worry about your pet’s health, but you also need to ensure you’re taking the right steps to help them recover. In this blog post, we’ll provide a guide for pet owners on what to do if their dog breaks a bone.
Common Causes of Bone Breaks in Pets
There are a few different ways that dogs can break bones. The most common causes include:
- Being hit by a car
- Falling from a tall height
- Getting hit by another animal
- A direct blow to the bone (e.g. from playing too roughly)
These can happen either suddenly or over time, and may be the result of an accident or underlying health condition.
Signs That Your Dog May Have Broken a Bone
There are several signs that your dog may have broken a bone. The most common telltale sign of a broken bone is that your dog is limping. There are a few reasons why your dog could be limping, but if you suspect a broken bone, it’s always best to err on the side of caution and take them to the vet. Other signs that your dog may have broken a bone include:
- Yelping or crying when they move
- Not wanting to put any weight on the affected leg (or other area)
- Swelling or bruising around the injury site
If your dog displays any of these signs, it’s important to take them to the vet as soon as possible.
Treating a Broken Bone in Dogs
These are the steps you need to take if our dog has a broken bone:
1. Take them to the vet immediately
If your dog has a broken bone, you first need to take them to the veterinary hospital. This is an emergency and they must see a professional as soon as possible. At the vet, they can confirm whether or not your dog has a broken bone and advise on the best course of treatment.
2. Keep them calm and quiet
Once you’ve confirmed that your dog has a broken bone, it’s important to keep them calm and quiet. This means no running, playing, or other strenuous activity. If your dog is in pain, the vet may prescribe medication to help them stay comfortable.
Restrict their movement as much as possible and provide them with a soft bed to sleep on. You may also need to crate or confine them to a small area. This is to prevent them from accidentally injuring themselves further or re-injuring the broken bone while it heals.
3. Move forward with treatment options
There are a few different options for treating broken bones in dogs, and the type of treatment will depend on the severity of the break. In some cases, surgery may be required. For less severe breaks, your dog may just need to rest and heal at home. This will usually involve keeping them calm and quiet, confining them to a small area, and providing them with a soft bed.
They may also need pain medication or physical therapy to help them recover. Recovery time can vary depending on the severity of the break, but most dogs will need at least several weeks to heal properly. If your dog has a broken bone, following these steps will help them recover as quickly and smoothly as possible.
Endnote
Taking care of an injured dog is never easy, but we hope that this guide has given you some useful information on what to do if your pet breaks a bone. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to speak to your vet. They will be able to advise you on the best course of action for your pet.