When Your Dog Breaks a Bone

Dog bones are just as prone to fracture as human bones and these injuries are just as serious as they are in human beings. Your dog could experience a broken bone from rigorous activities outdoors or an accident. Broken bones are more common than you might think and pose the same level of a health threat as any other disease. Young puppies, older dogs, and those with other health conditions may be more prone to breaking their bones. In this piece, you are going to learn about the basics of what to do when your dog breaks a bone. 

What to do if your Dog has a Broken Bone

The obvious signs of a broken bone include limping, discomfort in sitting, or any abnormal activity. Broken bones could also be seen if the bone pierces the skin and protrudes to the outside leading to a wound and bleeding. If you identify these signs, you need to exercise precaution as you handle the situation. Work towards reducing pain and risk of further accidents, as well as avoiding infection. 

1. Remain Calm

Your goal is to help your dog get the help it needs to navigate the situation. We recommend remaining calm and administering all first aid procedures carefully to avoid further injuries or infection. In case the case is too complicated to be treated, we recommend calling the vet and avoiding panicking. 

2. Call the Emergency Vet Immediately

When the situation has been brought to control through first aid, or if it is too complicated, we recommend calling a qualified veterinary officer to handle the situation in a better manner. The vet will assess your dog physically or through X-rays and the extent of her injuries then suggest either having the bone repaired, setting the bone, or in very severe cases, amputating the limb. 

3. How to Deal with a Dog Recovering from a Broken Bone 

After your dog’s injury has been treated, it will need a lot of time to recover which will also require your cooperation to recover. You should not allow your dog to run, jump, or play until it has healed. We recommend keeping it indoors and providing all food from there. 

Conclusion

Broken bones are just as serious in dogs as in human beings. When your dog experiences this misfortune, the above tips will provide a background as to where to begin dealing with the issue. 

References: VeterinaryEmergencyGroup, The Kennel Club