A leg fracture is one of the most common injuries dogs experience. If your pet dog has a broken leg, you should give him first aid and immediately take him to the nearest veterinary clinic. Once you arrive at the veterinary clinic, find out what medical treatment options are available and consider the costs involved. When you get home, you will need to limit your dog's movement and give him lots of attention.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Giving Dogs First Aid
Step 1. Check the dog's condition to make sure there are no more serious injuries
If your dog has recently been in an accident, take some time to check on the dog. If the injury is serious enough, you'll need to treat it before you treat your dog's broken leg. If your dog has an accident on the road, move the dog to a safe place and then perform first aid. Some things you need to pay attention to are:
- Dog awareness. If the dog loses consciousness, he may have a head injury.
- Dog breathability. Observe whether the dog can take a full breath or not.
- Dog gum color. Healthy dog gums are generally pink. If your dog's gums look pale, dull, or blue, your dog may not be getting enough oxygen and should be treated by a doctor immediately.
- A steady and strong pulse. Feel the dog's heartbeat under his chest, near the shoulder joint. The dog's femoral pulse is also quite easy to feel. Place your finger on the surface of the dog's thigh, in the middle of the paw. If the dog's pulse is not very strong, the dog should immediately seek veterinary help.
Step 2. Examine the injured dog's paw
If the dog is limping, examine the leg of the injured dog. Examine the dog's paws gently and slowly. Broken bones in dogs may be clearly visible. For example, a broken dog's leg may be exposed enough to cause an injury. If this happens, you will need to keep the wound on the dog's broken leg clean. If the fracture in the dog does not open, the dog will probably walk with a limp and there will be no bleeding wound on the leg. You should give the dog first aid and immediately take him to the veterinary clinic.
- You should apply pressure to the area of the wound that is bleeding.
- Injured dogs are generally frightened and become more aggressive, so you need to be careful. An aggressive dog will generally growl, bully, and look stiff. To avoid being bitten, do not bring your hand to the injured dog's face, especially if he is very aggressive. To calm your dog down, place a towel or cheesecloth on his head. This can help drown out light and sound so the dog will be calmer.
- If you need to move your dog to a safer place, you can use a towel to support the dog's weight.
Step 3. Bandage the injured dog's leg and attach it with a tape
Wrap the injured dog's leg with a bandage several times until it is completely covered. Bandage the wound tightly enough but make sure not to apply too much pressure. Glue the bandage with medical tape.
- If you don't have a bandage, you can use a clean towel.
- You should be able to insert two fingers under the bandage. If you can't, the bandage is too tight and you will need to loosen it.
Step 4. Place the splint on the dog's broken leg
To prevent the fracture from getting worse, put a splint on the dog's broken leg. Use a medical splint whenever possible. Alternatively, you can also use a ruler or a spatula. The splint should cover the entire fractured leg and should extend past the joints above and below the fractured bone. The splint may extend between the dog's leg and belly. Tie the splint with a bandage and then apply the tape at the top and bottom.
Step 5. Use the towel as a sling to transfer the dog to the carrier (cage to carry the dog)
Your dog may find it difficult to walk to a carrier or car, so you will need to help him. Wrap a towel or blanket around the dog's stomach. When your dog walks to the carrier or car, support some of his body weight by holding the towel in a loop.
One easy way to do this is to wrap a large towel under your dog's stomach. Hold both ends of the towel over his back to support the dog's weight
Step 6. Limit the movement of the dog while in the carrier
The dog will probably move while in the carrier, so you need to limit its movement. Lay the dog in the carrier and lift the broken leg up. Use a carrier to take the dog to the clinic by car or taxi.
Since injured dogs can be very aggressive, you may need to put a muzzle on their muzzle before taking them to the clinic. However, the muzzle should be removed if it interferes with the dog's breathing. If you don't have a muzzle, you can wrap your dog's muzzle in a cloth and tie it tightly
Step 7. Take the dog to the veterinary clinic
Dogs should be taken to the veterinary clinic immediately. Use a car or taxi to take the dog to the clinic. When traveling, wrap your dog in a towel or blanket to keep him warm and comfortable.
- If the dog is hit by a vehicle, the dog must be taken to the veterinary clinic immediately because he may suffer internal injuries as well as fractures.
- You can ask a friend or relative to help calm your dog while you are driving.
- Dogs should be treated by a veterinarian. Therefore, do not treat wounds on dogs with traditional medicines or treat them yourself.
- Don't fix a broken dog bone yourself!
Part 2 of 3: Getting Medical Treatment
Step 1. Get a vet's help
Upon arrival at the veterinary clinic, the vet will immediately provide your dog with emergency assistance. Depending on the severity of the injury, the doctor may stabilize the dog's vital organs. Once stable, the doctor will begin to treat the dog's leg that has a fracture.
Step 2. Ask your vet what treatment options are appropriate for your dog
The vet will diagnose the type of fracture your dog has. Your doctor will tell you what type of fracture your dog has, such as a total fracture, a partial fracture, a straight fracture, or a diagonal fracture. The doctor will also tell you the treatment options that can be taken, either surgical or non-surgical.
- If your dog has a closed fracture, the doctor may apply a bandage or splint.
- Your doctor may perform surgery to insert pens, plates, or screws that can help speed up the bone healing process.
Step 3. Know whether the dog needs to be amputated or not
If the dog's leg bone is broken in several places, the vet may need to amputate the dog's leg. As scary as it sounds, this option may be the only way to save your dog if the injury is serious. Remember, dogs have 4 legs, and if they need to be amputated, they can still live a healthy life even if they only have 3 legs.
- X-rays are needed to determine the severity of the fracture.
- The amputation process may take several hours.
Step 4. Discuss the cost of treating the dog
When discussing dog treatment options, also ask your veterinarian for the difference in costs. Depending on the severity of your dog's fractures, you may need to spend between IDR 17 million to IDR 45 million. Generally, treatment with a bandage or splint is much less expensive than surgery. However, you may need to visit the vet more often if you choose the non-surgical option.
- Generally, the cost to treat a broken bone in a dog is IDR 30 million.
- Try asking whether the clinic accepts payments in installments or not. Also ask your doctor for more affordable treatment options.
Part 3 of 3: Helping the Dog Recovery Process at Home
Step 1. Make sure the dog's broken leg remains dry when it is wrapped in a bandage or splint
It's important to keep the splint and bandage from getting wet. Do not let the dog run in the yard or garden. In addition, you will need to mop and dry the wet floor so that the bandage or splint attached to the dog's paw doesn't get wet.
If the bandage or splint comes into contact with water, contact your veterinarian immediately. Your doctor may ask you to take your dog to the clinic to change a wet bandage or splint
Step 2. Make sure the dog doesn't lick the wound
You need to keep your dog from licking the wound. Dog's mouth contains a lot of bacteria that can cause infection. Talk to your vet to find out how to prevent your dog from licking his wound.
- There are several special leashes that can prevent dogs from licking their wounds.
- If your dog doesn't like chewing, an old cloth or jacket can be used to protect the dog's tongue from touching the wound.
Step 3. Limit the movement of the dog for the first 4 weeks post-surgery
While the fracture healing process is underway, you will need to limit your dog's movement. You can let your dog walk for 5 minutes or spend a little time outdoors. Although it's not mandatory, you can put your dog in his crate while he's still recovering. This is done so that the dog doesn't hurt himself when you're not paying attention.
- Many dog kennels are sold by pet stores. Generally, these kennels are designed to train puppies.
- Make sure the selected cage is not too spacious. Choose a crate the dog can sit in and make sure it doesn't hit its head.
- After a few weeks and getting approval from your vet, you can increase the activities your dog can do.
- Keep dogs away from stairs and slippery surfaces.
- If the dog is allowed to roam outside the crate, he may injure himself!
Step 4. Ask for pain medication that can be used
If your dog is scratching, biting, or refusing to move, he may be in pain. There are several medications that can help relieve pain in dogs, so ask your veterinarian which pain medications are suitable for your dog. Your doctor may prescribe special pain medications, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), synthetic opioids, or opioids. Consult your veterinarian to find out which pain medication is best for your dog. Also ask how quickly the medication will relieve the dog's pain. Don't forget to ask about the side effects.
If NSAIDs are less effective, your doctor may prescribe an opioid
Step 5. Take your dog to the veterinarian after 6 weeks, or at the time recommended by your doctor
Depending on the treatment options your dog receives, your veterinarian will let you know when your dog needs to be re-examined. The doctor will use X-rays to see if the dog's fracture has healed or not. The doctor will also recommend follow-up care at home, such as walking the dog for 15 minutes.
Your doctor may recommend hydrotherapy. Hydrotherapy is similar to physical therapy, but is done in water. The buoyancy of the water can make it easier for your dog to move his joints while he is recovering
Step 6. Prepare a bed of memory foam
Choose bedding that keeps the pressure evenly distributed under the dog's weight. There are some beddings that have a special absorbency so that when your dog pees on it, the dog's skin will not become damp or wet.
- If the weather is very cold, cover the dog kennel with a blanket at night.
- Provide blankets for dogs.
Step 7. Give the dog special attention
To help calm your dog while he's still recovering, you'll need to give him lots of attention. Giving your dog lots of attention will make him calmer and more relaxed. Pet the dog's ear for 5 minutes. Also pet the dog's back to make him more relaxed and happy.
Step 8. Give the dog a bone
Since your dog will spend most of his time in the crate, you should continue to stimulate him with toys or attention. Give the dog a toy or bone to nibble on while in the crate.
Tips
- Turn on the TV or radio. Sounds from the TV or radio can help calm them down.
- Give the dog a toy with food in the middle. Toys containing peanut butter can be entertainment for dogs.
- Give the dog a puzzle toy.
- Teach the dog some new tricks. Even if your dog can't walk or run, you can still teach him some new tricks.
- Accompany and check on the dog as often as possible. Dogs may be lonely if left by their master for too long.
Warning
- Do not hug an injured dog.
- A dog in pain may bite.
- If your dog is still limping 5 days after surgery, contact your veterinarian immediately. The dog may be in pain or the wound may become infected.
- Don't bring your face close to the dog's face, he might bite!
