Young Dog Fractures

Pepper a young Doberman puppy was just playing at home with her buddy when she took a rough tumble. The only signs the family got were a yelp and then she could not put weight on her back leg. When she tried to walk it was very reluctant and a three legged approach. Even when she was picked up and carried she still cried. This was a sign to her family that something had gone wrong.

She had x-rays which showed a proximal spiral minimally displaced right tibia…that mouthful means a fracture of one of the bones in her right back leg. As the fracture had not pushed the bones out of line, or out of the skin, she could be cared for with a splint and confined rest for 4 weeks.

Signs of a potential bone fracture are:

1. limping
2. whining
3. not using their leg as much
4. swelling
5. shortening of a leg

Pepper a young Doberman puppy was just playing at home with her buddy when she took a rough tumble. The only signs the family got were a yelp and then she could not put weight on her back leg. When she tried to walk it was reluctantly and a three legged approach. Even when she was picked up and carried she still cried. This was a sign to her family that something had gone wrong.

She had x-rays which showed a proximal spiral minimally displaced right tibia…that mouthful means a fracture of one of the bones in her right back leg. As the fracture had not pushed the bones out of line, or out of the skin, she could be cared for with a splint and rest for 4 weeks.

Having a 4 month old pup in a splint takes true super human effort when it comes to the care needed daily. For those families who have does this before I can hear you agree.

The most common unbreakable rules:

1. Keep them rested
2. Keep them dry (this all happened in the wettest August for 70 years)
3. Be mindful if it smells or gets chewed it needs double checked
4. Keep your weekly veterinarian appointment to have things checked and the bandages changed as there is a risk of things going badly with the skin and bugs with the increase moisture.

Like people, fractures can be very obvious – the broken bone sticking out through the skin – but any sign of pain or discomfort after an accident or injury could indicate a possible break or dislocation. Muscle, tendon, and ligament injuries can cause similar symptoms to break so a check-up at the vets gives people more of an understanding what is going on.