Fractures in the legs of dogs are injuries that occur more frequently than they seem and put the quality of life of the animal at risk. It is normal for the pet owner to worry when they see that their puppy has some difficulty walking, or that in a specific position it is unable to support any of its members correctly; That's why it's normal for to go to the vet with certain doubts.
In this AnimalWised article, we will develop the types of fractures in the legs of dogs, causes and treatments, so that the owner has more information when his pet has this type of problem.
Types of fractures in the legs of dogs
There are many ways to diagnose a fracture, but the most commonly used classification is based on its shape. Of course, after classifying the fracture according to the form, you can put the “last name” of the location where it occurred, that is, the name of that anatomical structure that was injured. The most common types of fracture are the following:
- Oblique fracture: it is a fracture that has a diagonal shape.
- Transverse fracture: bears this name because it divides the bone in the transverse plane, that is, the fracture line ends up being practically perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bone.
- Spiroidal fracture: In this case, the break occurs in a spiral around the bone.
- Comminuted fracture: is one in which the bone breaks into several fragments, making it difficult or impossible to follow a fracture line such as those previously named.
Regardless of the fracture line, when the bone injures neighboring tissues by breaking and ends up breaking through the skin, it is classified as open fracture.
On the other hand, you may also find this article about Hip Fracture in Dogs - Symptoms, treatment and care interesting.
How do I know if my dog has a broken leg? - Symptoms
Fortunately, the signs and symptoms associated with fractures are quite specific and will give both the owner and the veterinarian a way to have a presumptive diagnosis. If a dog has been run over by a car, fallen, or hit one of its legs hard, the first thing the owner will worry about is the possibility of a fracture. Common symptoms after any of these events are:
- Stress: the animal seeks a shelter to hide due to the stress it is experiencing.
- Difficulty supporting the leg: the quintessential sign of leg fractures will always be lameness; the animal is anatomically unable to support said limb correctly.
- Inflammation: it can be accompanied, of course, by a great inflammation, which if palpated carefully, can feel hot (sign typical of phlogosis).
- Pain: Pain cannot be put aside. The animal may act normal at first, and you can only notice that it gives up, but after a few minutes, the concentration of certain substances in the body drops and pain appears.
- Lack of appetite: this pain can lead to the next symptom: loss of appetite. It is quite common for a sore and stressed animal not to prioritize eating, and we can see this in all conditions that involve pain, not just fractures.
How do I know if my dog has a dislocated leg?
It should be known that a fracture is something different from a dislocation in dogs, although fortunately the signs are practically the same, and the definitive diagnosis is made by means of X-raysby the veterinarian.
How long does it take to weld a dog's leg?
Without a doubt, the most difficult part of the fracture process is recovery. Not even the best surgery of all can help heal the bone if the recovery is not successful. Talking about times when a bone heals is somewhat unspecific and depends on many factors (type of fracture, race, weight, age, recovery).
However, it should be noted that small dogs have better prognosis than large dogs, because they are lighter. Great importance should also be given to the type of fracture and its care; An open fracture that has not been taken care of can lead to an infection and this would greatly delay the recovery of said anatomical structure.
That said, a medium-sized dog, with a correctly reduced fracture in the operating room and a proper recovery, could do osteosynthesis in a matter of weeks; This is not the case of a dog that, in addition to weighing more than 20Kg, was not given adequate confinement or the medication it deserved, in this case it can take up to up to 6 monthsto finish the osteosynthesis process (incorrectly most of the time).
Fractured dog's front leg
Fortunately, the dog, being a quadruped, distributes its weight in four limbs, and that gives us some ease when it comes to treating a fracture at the level of the legs. Speaking of forelimbs, we can comment on the different bones that make them up (scapula, humerus, radius ulna, carpus, metacarpus and phalanges).
Fractures at the level of the scapula are infrequent and are associated with run-over injuries. The most frequent fractures in thoracic limbs are at the level of the humerus and radius ulna, which can be injured by countless accidents, from windings to falls.
In the most distal region of the hind limb, we find the carpus, the metacarpus and the phalanges. Fractures at the level of the phalanges and at the level of the metacarpus are also uncommon and quite difficult to recover, because they are the structures that the animal supports directly.
You may also be interested in this other article about My dog limps in one front leg - Causes and solutions.
Femur fracture in dogs
It is one of the most common fractures in cases of run over and they are a challenge for the treating veterinarian, especially, as mentioned above, if the dog is large. There are many surgical techniques to resolve a femur fracture, but it must be taken into account that if the dog does not receive adequate confinement, he could lose the surgery in a few days.
In the most distal region of the hind limb we find the tarsus, the metatarsus and the phalanges. Metatarsal fractures in dogs should be corrected according to their classification and are one of the most painful fractures for the animal.
Do not confuse a fracture with a sprain. To distinguish it, we leave you this other article about Sprain in dogs - Causes, symptoms and treatment.
