Three Treatment Options For A Dog's Broken Bone

It's upsetting for any dog owner to realize that their furry family member likely has a broken bone. Whether a car has hit your dog or it has taken a tumble while running, it's important to promptly visit your area's animal hospital so that the dog can get the treatment it needs. The veterinarian will provide pain medication to alleviate the pet's discomfort and then assess the severity of the break. Depending on several factors, including the type of break, its location in the body, and even the age of the pet, the vet may recommend one of these specific treatments.

Cast Or Splint

For simple breaks, a cast or a splint can be a sufficient treatment option for your pet's bone. A small fracture in the lower leg, for example, may qualify for a cast or a split. The goal of either of these devices is to immobilize the area so that the bone can heal over a period of weeks. Your veterinarian will likely apply the cast or split during your visit, as well as provide you with some advice on how to care for your dog while it has this device in place.

Surgery

It's ideal if the vet can treat your dog's broken bone with a cast or a splint, but this simply won't be possible in every situation. In the case of a severe break, such as a compound fracture or a break in a certain part of the dog's body, such as its hip, surgery will likely be needed. Similar to how humans sometimes need surgery for severe breaks, your dog will get one or more metal plates and several screws put into its body to hold the broken bone together. Your vet clinic may be able to perform the surgery in-house, but it may also send you to a different clinic that is equipped with an operating room.

Amputation

Pet owners don't ever want to hear their veterinarian bring up the term amputation, but it's unfortunately a potential form of treatment for a broken bone in a dog's leg. Vets will often have to consider this treatment option in the case of a leg that is severely broken. If your vet believes that there's little chance of effectively repairing the break and giving the dog the quality of life it deserves, they might believe that amputating some or all of the leg is the best course of action.

Contact a pet hospital for more information.