What If My Dog Breaks A Bone?

You should definitely get your dog to the nearest veterinary clinic as soon as possible. If he’s bleeding, apply pressure and try to find sterile gauze or clean cloth to cover the cut. Try as hard as you can to keep your dog from moving, which can make the break worse or cause him to lose additional blood. It can be difficult when his little body is wiggling all over, but ask other people in the area for help if necessary. If you don’t have any help for the drive to the vet, use heavy towels to restrain your dog.

Once you get to the veterinary clinic, your veterinarian will be able to tell you whether your dog has a compound, complete, or simple fracture.

A complete fracture causes one or more splits in a bone, while a compound fracture breaks through the dog’s skin and can result in additional infections because the wound is open. Simple fractures aren’t apparent like compound fractures, but they are more prone to swelling.

After X-rays, the veterinarian will repair the split with a number of different possible methods depending upon the severity. If it’s severe, pins, screws, plates, and wires may be used.

Caring for Your Pinned Dog

Should your dog require pins in his joint, do your best to not only accommodate the veterinarian’s orders but also his individual needs. Most pinned joints can’t handle things like stairs within the first month, so if your family spends a great deal of time in a room up or downstairs from your dog’s typical living quarters, try to move the action to his neck of the woods for the time being. Isolation from his family could make him decide to attempt climbing the stairs, something which will probably result in his pin breaking and requiring a plate or other stronger fastener to replace it.

If your dog is lucky and the break is minor, the fracture can probably be repaired with that cute little cast so you and your family members can sign paw prints on it.