Pet Broken Leg Repair

What Owners Should Do When Their Pet Has Suffered A Bone Fracture

A dog’s broken leg can be every pet owner’s worst nightmare, particularly when the animal is clearly in pain.

‘How bad is the break?’

‘Is my dog really suffering?

‘Will my dog be able to walk and run again properly?’

These are just some of the questions that are likely running through your head if you’re in this unfortunate position right now.

Don’t worry, we’re about to cover how to treat a broken leg on a dog – and hopefully put your mind at ease that a full recovery can be achieved with the right type of surgery.

In this article, we’re going to cover:

• Common causes of bone fractures/breaks in dogs.
• What to consider to ensure you make the best treatment decision for your pet.
• Surgery for a broken leg in dogs and everything this involves.
• The healing process and aftercare post-surgery.
• Some potential complications to be aware of (fortunately these are very uncommon)

Common Causes Of Bone Fractures In Dogs

No matter what bone is broken, the cases we see at SurgiPet are typically a result of trauma – an unlucky jump, sport injury, high rise syndrome etc.

In small breed dogs, landing heavily on the front limbs following a fall (i.e. out of your arms, or jumping from a height outdoors) is the most common cause of fracturing the forearm.

Meanwhile for large breed dogs, more serious trauma occurs in bone breaks. This could be being hit by a car on the road or falling from a height.

How To Treat A Broken Leg On A Dog: What To Consider To Make The Best Choice

In an ideal world, your dog’s broken bone would heal naturally on its own – but unfortunately this happens in a minority of cases (particularly as there may be more than one fracture).

More often than not surgery is necessary and an operation carried out by our expert surgery team also gives a much better chance of full recovery. This of course may help extend the life of your beloved pet.

In some selected cases a splint can be used. In splinting of a foreleg fracture, strips of plaster run down the lower limb, bound together by a tape or elastic gauze.

The type of splint material is chosen according to the size of your dog and the length of its limb. Most adult dogs require wearing a splint for several weeks until they’re fully recovered, but the length of time is dependent on any complications, such as swelling or infections.

Ultimately, you should seek expert advice before making such an important decision. Our team at SurgiPet can provide detailed advice during a consultation where the exact location of the injury, along with the circumstances, is properly assessed.

Whether it’s a splint or surgical option, you can have peace of mind that every single procedure performed at SurgiPet is extremely safe. And we will always guide you towards choosing the best and most affordable option.

Bone Fracture Surgery – What Does It Involve?

The best and most effective method of treating fractures involves fixing the broken parts of the bone in position with a stainless steel or titanium plate and screws. It is the standard procedure used by orthopedic surgeons, and it has a good track record when it comes to bone healing. Depending on the nature and severity of the injury, our surgery team may also place a splint or soft bandage to provide additional support for your dog.

This type of treatment have minimal aftercare for you as a pet owner, and also simplifies the recovery process for your dog.

Antibiotics will be prescribed to help prevent infection in the fracture location. Pain relief medications will also be used before, during, and after surgical repair to ensure your dog is comfortable throughout.

How To Ensure Your Pet Heals Properly After Surgery

Let’s begin with the good news: almost all pets have an excellent prognosis for a return for full function and complete healing in 12 weeks.

Once your dog returns home, it is important to watch for signs of pain by observing whether they are able to settle down, rest, and sleep okay.

There is also a strict restriction on activities for 12 weeks post-surgery. The healing phase must progress in phases to ensure a good recovery.

Phase 1 (Weeks 1 and 2)
In this initial stage, steps must be taken to ensure your dog rests and doesn’t walk on the operated leg for the first two weeks post-surgery.

Phase 2 (Weeks 3-8)
In this period, short walks can begin but limit activity. You should expect to see mild to moderate lameness in your pet’s mobility.

Phase 3 (Weeks 9-12)
At this point, your dog should be using the leg well. We’ve given a range of between 2-3 months, however, because it all depends on the type of fracture, severity, which bone etc.

Remember, strenuous outdoor activity or playing around with pooch pals is off limits for those first 12 weeks when activity should be restricted. Physical therapy is also recommended to assist in the healing process.

A proper assessment of the bone healing and your dog’s overall recovery is done via radiographs. The first set are taken at the eight-week stage, or after four weeks in young dogs.

Prognosis Following Fracture Repair Surgery

The prognosis following surgical fracture repair in pets can vary depending on the specific type of fracture and the quality of care it receives during its recovery period. Generally, fractures treated early and in relatively healthy pets have a better prognosis.

In most cases, the prognosis is excellent for pets that receive prompt and appropriate surgical treatment for their fractures. Surgical repair is indeed the best option for most fractures, and greatly reduces the risk of any long-term health issues for your dog.

In the right hands, and with the phased recovery afterwards that we’ve described above, your pet can return to full health and love life like before.

My Dog Broke Its Leg – Now What?

If your pet broke its leg and requires surgery, call us without delay to schedule consultation and surgery. Be sure to email us radiographs (x-rays) so our veterinary surgeons can evaluate the injury. In most cases, based on your pet’s health status and radiographs, we will be able to provide the estimated cost of surgery. If you decide the surgery is the best approach to restoring your pet’s health, the Surgipet team will promptly schedule the surgery.
Before, during, and after the surgery, you’ll be updated with all the information you need for a safe and speedy recovery. We also offer a wealth of resources right here on our website to help you care for your pet when we’re not there.