Dogs and cats are considered to be extremely mobile animals that love to play and express their emotions through active movements. Dogs often run and jump, and cats conquer new and new heights, which exposes themselves to the risk of injury and even fracture. Sometimes even with an unfortunate fall from the table or the hands of the owner, the animal can break its limb. This is especially true for kittens and puppies or small breed dogs such as Yorkshire Terrier, Toy Terrier and Chihuahua. It should be noted that trauma and fracture are not easy to recognize at once, because some animals can appear outwardly very calm, even suffering from pain.

It is to avoid possible complications, it is necessary to know how to determine the fracture of the paw in your pet. And at the slightest suspicion of traumatization of the animal, you should immediately get veterinary advice.

Symptoms of a fractured paw

A clear sign of traumatization of the pet is an uncharacteristic behavior. The cat or dog tries to find a secluded place in the house, does not respond to the owner’s affection, sometimes behaves very aggressively. With such symptoms as lameness, refusal to lean on the front or hind limb, pain when examining the paw or making uncharacteristic dog or cat sounds, it is necessary to show the animal to a veterinarian. This will help identify the cause of the condition and, if necessary, diagnose a cracked or fractured paw by x-ray.

The owner should be alerted to signs such as an irregular shape of the animal’s limb, licking of the injured paw and swelling or hematoma. By the way, a fracture of a paw in a cat or dog can be not only traumatic, but also pathological, i.e. it can occur in case of rickets in young animals or bone tumors in old animals. Treatment in this case includes not only immobilization (immobility) of the limb, but also elimination of the root cause.

If the injury in a pet occurred due to a fall from a window, a fight or a traffic accident, then in addition to dislocations and fractures, the general condition of the pet can be extremely serious due to possible bruising of internal organs. Therefore, immediate hospitalization at a veterinary clinic is required in this case.

Causes of fractured limbs

Pets are often injured in the home because of their natural inquisitiveness and mobility. However, there are some causes of fractures that are more common in cats than in dogs, and vice versa.

The most common causes of paw fractures in cats are as follows:

  • falls from a height,
  • accidental trauma,
  • pinching a limb in a window or balcony door,
  • injuries caused by other animals.

Most often, dogs can be seriously injured in these cases:

  • on a walk, during active play,
  • falling from a height, even a small height for miniature breeds,
  • during sporting events,
  • due to impaired calcium and phosphorus metabolism in puppies (hyperparathyroidism) resulting from an unbalanced diet,
  • due to bone cancer (osteosarcoma).

It is important to note that after an injury, the animal will feel fear in addition to pain. Therefore, it is very important that the owner is able to calm it down and make it immobile with a large towel or blanket. Do not attempt to splint your pet yourself, but seek qualified veterinary assistance immediately.

First Aid

The main task of the owner in case of a fracture in the pet is to try to reduce pain, avoid infection and the risk of traumatization in the future. This can be done by restricting movement, but never give your pet anesthetic, as this may prevent the specialist from making a correct diagnosis.

Instead, follow the veterinarians’ recommendations:

  • do not lay your pet with an injury by force, it may be easier for him to bear the pain by standing;
  • put a muzzle on the dog, because the intense pain may cause it to show aggression and try to bite;
  • do not attempt to restore the correct position of the broken bone fragments on your own;
  • do not treat at home;
  • cover the site of an open fracture with a gauze cloth moistened with 0.9% sodium chloride physiologic solution;
  • call a veterinarian at home or put the animal in a carrier (box) and transport it to the clinic.

Treatment of fracture

In selecting an effective method of treating a fracture, the veterinarian considers factors such as the type of fracture, the age, size and condition of the dog or cat and its physical condition. Basically, surgery is performed when the animal’s shock, pain and blood loss are successfully managed with medication. It spends the entire time before and after the surgery in an inpatient unit.

Plaster bandages for the treatment of paw fractures in cats and dogs are not used because of their ineffectiveness in ensuring immobility of the limbs of these animals. Instead, surgery is performed using various metal structures (internal and external) – spokes, pins or plates. The veterinarian, regardless of the severity of the injury, will recommend a period of complete rest for the pet. Therefore, it is necessary to avoid active games with him and his excessive mobility. In addition, it will be mandatory for the pet to take painkillers and antibacterial drugs.

The stage of healing of the fracture will help to determine a repeat X-ray, usually a month after surgery. During the appointment at the clinic, the doctor will also determine how much more time the dog or cat will have to walk with a metal structure. If there are no complications, it will be possible to remove it.

Care during healing of the fracture

Remember that the suture or external fixation apparatus should be dry and clean. If you see redness, discharge of blood or pus, feel an unpleasant odor, then do not hesitate to visit the veterinarian. Do not forget that the pet should not lick the wound, so be sure to use a protective collar. And keep your pet on the medications prescribed by the doctor.

It is also advisable to take the advice of a veterinarian:

  • Limit the mobility of the animal, here it is better to use a cage;
  • change the pet’s diet, namely, reduce its caloric content so that the animal does not gain weight;
  • provide convenient access to water and food for the pet, while feeding by the hour;
  • add calcium-containing mineral and vitamin supplements to the pet’s regular diet to restore bone tissue.

Keep in mind that a fracture is not a bruise, but a serious injury that without surgical intervention can lead to improper fusion of the bone, permanent lameness of the pet due to changes in the length of the paw, and even inability to use that limb. Also, lack of veterinary assistance can lead to the development of infection, and in complicated cases – even to tissue necrosis.

Recovery of the animal after a fracture

The pet may limp for some time after the fracture has healed. There is no need to panic in this case. The fact is that the bone of a dog or cat fully heals only after 6-12 weeks, and during the recovery period, the animal often takes care of the injured limb and does not use it to the fullest extent. Only 14-20 days after the injury, the pet will be able to start short walks of 10-15 minutes. At that time, the veterinary rehabilitologist will prescribe a course of physical therapy, which will increase the likelihood of rapid recovery of mobility and function of the injured paw. It usually includes active and passive exercises, massage and ultrasound. Full recovery depends on the initial state of health and age of the pet and the owner’s compliance with the recommendations.

Only competent rehabilitation usually increases the effectiveness of the prescribed therapy and accelerates the process of recovery of the pet after the fracture. Therefore, it is worth remembering that all actions of the owner of a traumatized cat or dog must necessarily be coordinated with the veterinarian.