Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 3: Providing first aid
• Part 2 of 3: Arranging veterinary care
• Part 3 of 3: Recovering at home
• Tips
• Warnings
• Necessities

A broken leg is one of the most common injuries in dogs. If your dog has recently been in a car accident or has been fallen and broken his leg, then you should provide first aid and take him to an animal hospital right away! Once there, you need to look at the different treatment options and think about how you are going to pay for the vet costs, which can add up. When you return home, you should limit your range of motion and give your dog lots of love and attention.

To step

Part 1 of 3: Providing first aid

1. Evaluate the dog for more serious injuries. If your dog has just experienced a traumatic event, take a moment to assess him. If your dog has more serious injuries, you should address them before targeting the broken leg. If the injury is done in the street, take the dog to a safe place and then provide first aid. Some things to look at are:
   • Whether your dog is alert or not. If your dog is unconscious, he may have a head injury.
   • Whether or not your dog can breathe properly.
   • The color of the gums. That must be pink. If it is very pale, cloudy, or bluish in color, it is because the dog is not getting enough oxygen and needs immediate help from a veterinarian.
   • A strong synchronized heartbeat. Feel for the heart beating on the underside of the chest, at the level of the elbow joint. The femoral heartbeat can also be easily felt on the inner thigh, in the center of the leg. If you cannot find a strong and steady heartbeat, seek veterinary help for your dog immediately.
2. Examine the injured leg. If you see your dog limping, check which leg is injured. Slowly and carefully examine the injured leg. The broken leg can be very obvious, such as an exposed and open fracture. In that case, you have to keep the wound clean. If there is a closed fracture, your dog may limp, but there is no blood or obvious wound. Regardless of the fracture type, you should provide first aid and get your dog to the animal hospital right away!
   • Apply pressure if you notice the limb bleeding.
   • Injured dogs can be fearful and aggressive so you have to be careful. Signs of aggression include growling, biting, nipping, and stiffness. To avoid getting bitten, do not keep your hands or face close to the injured dog, especially if he is already upset. To keep your dog calm, put a light towel or cloth over his head. This limits light and noise, which can help keep your dog calm.
   • If you need to move the dog away from where the accident happened, use a towel to support some of its weight.
3. Dress all wounds with first aid bandages. Wrap a clean bandage around each of the wounds several times until they are completely covered. You need to wrap the wounds so that the bandage fits snugly, but not too much pressure. Secure the bandage with first aid tape.
   • If you don't have a clean bandage or gauze, use a clean towel.
   • You should be able to put two fingers under the bandage. If that doesn't work, the bandage is too tight and you have to wrap it loosely.
4. Put a splint on your dog's leg. You should prevent the fracture from getting worse by applying a simple leg splint. Use a medical splint or, if you don't have one, a ruler or spatula! The splint should cover the entire fracture and extend beyond the joints above and below the fracture. It may go all the way to where the leg reaches the belly. Tie the splint to the leg with a bandage and secure with medical tape at the top and bottom.
5. Bring your dog to the carrier with a towel as a sling. Your dog may not be able to walk to the carrier or the car, so you need to help him. Wrap a towel or blanket around his stomach. Hold some of his weight with the towel as he walks to the carrier or car.
   • An easy way to do this is to place a large bath towel under your dog's stomach. Hold the end over his back, like a sling, to support his weight.
6. Restrain your dog in the carrier. Since your dog can move during the trip to the animal hospital, you need to restrain him. Place it in the carrier with the injured leg up. Use the carrier to transport him to the hospital by car or taxi.
   • Because injured dogs can become aggressive, it's a good idea to muzzle your dog before taking it to the vet. However, make sure to take the muzzle off if you think it is interfering with your dog's breathing. If you don't have a muzzle with you, you can make one by wrapping gauze or a piece of cloth around your dog's muzzle and knotting it so that it fits snugly.
7. Take your dog to the animal hospital. You need to get your dog to the animal hospital as soon as possible. Take the car or, if you don't have a car, a taxi. Try to keep your dog warm and comfortable on the go by wrapping him loosely in a towel or blanket.
   • If your dog was in a car accident, it's especially important to get him to the hospital quickly as he could have internal injuries in addition to the broken leg.
   • Ask a friend to comfort your dog in the backseat while you drive.
   • You need expert veterinary treatment. So do not use ointment on the open fracture, and do not perform any other treatments on the dog.
   • Do not try to restore the bone yourself.

Part 2 of 3: Arranging veterinary care

1. Provide professional veterinary care. When you arrive at the hospital, the veterinary team will take the necessary emergency measures. Depending on the severity of the injury, the vet will focus on stabilizing the vital organs. Once the vital signs seem stable, the vet can deal with the broken leg.
2. Ask the vet about treatment options. The vet will diagnose the type of broken leg. He or she will tell you what kind of fraction it is, such as a full or an incomplete fraction, a transverse (straight), or an oblique (diagonal) fraction. And he can give you some treatment options, which can be surgical or non-surgical.
   • If it's a closed fracture, your dog's leg can be in a cast or splint.
   • The vet can perform surgery to insert pins, plates, or screws into the bone to heal the broken leg.
3. Find out if amputation is necessary. The vet may suggest amputation if your dog's leg has been severely broken in multiple places. While this treatment may sound scary, it may be the best solution if the injury is very serious. Remember that your dog has four legs and, if necessary, should be able to live a healthy life with three legs.
   • X-rays will be taken to determine the extent of the damage.
   • The surgical amputation can take several hours.
4. Discuss the costs of the treatment. When discussing treatment options, ask the vet about the differences in costs. Depending on the severity of the fracture, you can pay between $ 1,000 and $ 2,500 in vet costs, and sometimes more. In general, non-surgical plaster or splint treatment is cheaper than surgery, although non-surgical procedures may require more follow-up visits.
   • The average cost of treating a broken leg is € 1,500.
   • Ask if the vet has an installment plan or more affordable care options.

Part 3 of 3: Recovering at home

1. If your dog has a splint or cast, keep the injury site dry. It is important that the splint or cast does not get wet. Don't let your dog run loose in the backyard or park. Also, make sure to clean up any puddles or liquid spills on the floor so that your dog's splint or cast doesn't get dragged through.
   • If the splint or cast gets wet, contact your vet. The vet may ask you to come over with your dog so that he or she can replace the splint or cast.
2. Do not let your dog lick the wound. It is important that your dog does not lick his wound. A dog's mouth is full of bacteria and the licking is likely to infect the wound. Talk to your vet about the various options available to prevent licking.
   • There are several collars that will prevent the dog from turning over to lick his wound.
   • If your dog is not prone to chewing something, a light bandage or an old sweatshirt can act as a barrier between his tongue and the wound.
3. Limit movement for the first four weeks after surgery. While your dog is recovering from the fracture, limit his exercise to a few five-minute walks a day, or just enough to allow him to go outside every day. While not absolutely necessary, you can keep your dog in a crate during this time so you don't have to worry about getting hurt if you can't see him.
   • Dog crates are widely available at pet stores and sold for potty training puppies.
   • Use a crate that is not too spacious. The general rule is to use a crate that the dog can sit upright in without bumping its head.
   • After a few weeks and if your vet approves, you can start getting more exercise.
   • Keep your dog away from stairs and smooth surfaces.
   • If you let the dog out of its crate, it could run around and injure itself again!
4. Ask your vet about painkillers. If your dog lashes out at you, bites, or doesn't want to move, it could indicate that he is in pain. Advances have been made in the treatment of pain in dogs, so you should ask your vet about the various options available for your dog. Your vet can prescribe a pain reliever, such as a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), a synthetic opioid, or an opioid. Check with your vet which medications work best and when they will make your dog's pain go away. You should also ask about the side effects of specific medications.
   • If NSAIDs don't work, your vet can prescribe opioids.
5. Get a check-up after six weeks, or sooner if your vet recommends it. Depending on the type of treatment your dog has received, your vet will let you know when to return your dog. He or she will take X-rays to see if the fracture is healing properly. Your vet will also give you new recommendations for home grooming, such as longer 15-minute walks.
   • Your vet can recommend hydrotherapy for your dog. Hydrotherapy is like physiotherapy, except it is done in water. The buoyancy of the water makes it easier for dogs to move their joints during recovery.
6. Provide memory foam bedding. Choose bedding that distributes pressure evenly under your dog's weight, such as orthopedic memory foam beds. There are also beds that have a moisture-wicking effect, which means that should your dog accidentally pee in the crate, the moisture will be sucked away from his skin.
   • When the weather is cold, cover the crate with blankets at night.
   • You can also give your dog a blanket.
7. Give your dog soothing attention. In order for your dog to relax during recovery, you need to give him a lot of attention. By giving your dog a lot of attention, you ensure that your dog is calm and you promote relaxation. Stroke your dog's ears for five minutes. Stroke his back to make him feel better.
8. Throw a bone at your dog. Since your dog will spend a lot of time indoors or in a crate during the recovery period, it is important that you stimulate him with toys and loving attention. Give him a new bovine hide toy or chew bone for the crate.

Tips

• Leave the TV or radio on. While your dog may not be able to follow the plot of a TV show, the sound and voices can be soothing.
• Give your dog a toy with food in the center. Peanut butter toys in the center can keep your dog entertained for hours.
• Give your dog a puzzle to solve.
• Try different tricks with your dog. As long as he can't walk or run, you can teach your dog some tricks during his recovery.
• Make sure your dog has company and check on your pet regularly. Pets can sometimes get lonely without their owner.

Warnings

• Dogs that are in a lot of pain can bite their owner.
• Contact your vet if your dog is still hopping around on one leg five days after surgery. If your dog is hopping around, it could indicate that he is in pain or that an infection has developed.
• Don't try to hug your injured dog.
• Don't put your face close to your injured dog, because it could bite!

Necessities

• Bandage
• Medical tape
• Splint
• Dog basket or bench
• Cloth or blanket
• Toy
• Painkillers