Injuries
If your dog has injured itself or suddenly sprains a paw, it's a shock at first. What to do? It is particularly difficult if the discomfort just happens and you cannot attribute it to a specific event. In the best-case scenario, the cause is harmless and it is just a torn claw or a small foreign object that has become lodged between the pads of the toes.
Accidents and injuries in dogs
Sometimes lameness is also caused by acute trauma, i.e. an accident or injury. For example, if your dog has stepped into a hole in the ground during a walk or fallen while romping around, it is possible that the ligaments or joints have been injured. A quick trip to the vet's office is now advisable.
Fortunately, not every cause of lameness is serious - but we should still not underestimate it. Early treatment can help to prevent consequential damage and permanent movement restrictions.
Important!
You should always have emergency numbers for the veterinary practice or veterinary clinic on hand, especially during a walk or on vacation. Also have a list with the most important information about your dog, such as what medication it is on or whether it has allergies.
DEFINITION
What is trauma?
Trauma is defined as any injury or damage to healthy tissue caused by an external force.
If your dog has suffered a cut, bite or graze, this is referred to as open trauma, as the skin is damaged. In blunt trauma, on the other hand, the structures under the skin (e.g. muscles, tendons, joints or internal organs) are injured. Blunt trauma often occurs in the form of bruises, strains or sprains, e.g. after play or sports injuries or due to knocks or falls.
SYMPTOMS
How do I recognize trauma?
You can usually recognize trauma by the fact that your dog is suddenly lame or avoids certain movements. Other symptoms may also occur. The classic signs of inflammation often appear:
- Warmth
- Redness
- Pain
- Swelling
- Restriction of movement
Important to know: Shortly after blunt trauma occurs, there is often nothing visible on the outside. Sometimes you can feel swelling on the affected leg. However, signs of inflammation may not appear until hours later. You should therefore keep a close eye on your pet.
Did you know?
Over the course of evolution, dogs have developed a tendency not to show pain. What was a survival advantage back then makes it difficult for us to recognize pain today. Therefore, pay close attention to your dog: unusual behavior such as aggressiveness, withdrawal or increased restlessness can also be a sign of pain.
CAUSES
How does a dog get...
... a contusion or bruise?
A bruise or contusion is usually caused by a fall or strong impact. The external force causes blunt tissue damage. Depending on the part of the body affected, this can involve the muscles, ligaments, joint capsule or periosteum. The injury results in swelling and the formation of a bruise (haematoma).
... a sprain or strain?
Sprains or strains are caused by a violent overstretching of the joint beyond the normal range of motion when the leg is twisted. However, the joint surfaces that are displaced against each other immediately return to their original position. The overstretching of the ligaments and/or joint capsules is very painful and is often accompanied by bruising and swelling.
... a dislocation of the joints?
A dislocation of the joints occurs when the joint surfaces are displaced against each other to such an extent that the joint capsule and ligaments are damaged - they tear. As a result, the ends of the joint do not return to their normal position, but remain displaced. A dislocated joint causes severe pain and can be recognized by pronounced swelling of the affected area, haematomas and an unnatural joint position.
DIAGNOSIS
Examination and diagnosis
Lameness or limping is always a sign of pain and therefore an important message from your dog to take a closer look. Even if the trauma seems harmless at first, it is advisable to have it examined by your vet. This is because, if the healing process does not go smoothly, even minor injuries can lead to chronic pain or result in a permanent restriction of mobility.
To make a quick and reliable diagnosis, your vet will first ask you the following questions:
- What is your dog's general condition, e.g. is it alert, eating and drinking normally?
- How long has the lameness or other symptoms you have noticed been present?
- Did the symptoms appear suddenly or did they develop gradually?
- Was there an accident or something similar?
- Does your dog have any other illnesses?
Your dog will then be thoroughly examined and a so-called lameness examination will also be carried out. Here, the animal's gait, at a walk and trot, will be observed in particular. The animal is then palpated and examined. Does your dog react to special manipulations such as pressure or certain movements with defensive reactions? Or are there other tangible or visible changes? In many cases, a diagnosis can then be made. Imaging procedures such as X-rays or ultrasound can also help to determine the extent and consequences of the injury.
TREATMENT
How do you treat trauma?
How your dog's injury needs to be treated depends on the type and severity of the trauma. You can do a lot yourself for acute injuries:
First of all, you should stop any activity when you are out and about with your dog. It is important that your dog does not put any more weight on the injured leg. Dogs often "forget" their pain. However, walking on the affected leg could lead to further injuries or aggravate the existing injuries.
If your dog allows it, carefully examine the affected leg for any features that are different from the other limbs. Gently move the leg to see if there is any swelling or redness, or if the dog is bleeding. Also check the paw (between the toes, pads and claws) carefully for signs of wounds, swelling or foreign material (small stones, burs or even broken glass).
You should stop heavy bleeding immediately with a pressure bandage and go to the nearest veterinary practice or clinic. Superficial and smaller wounds can be cleaned first by removing coarse dirt and rinsing the wound. Sterile saline solution or lukewarm tap water is suitable for this. Allow the rinsing liquid to dry and spray the wound with a wound disinfectant, if available. To avoid infection, ensure that your pet does not lick the injured skin.
If there is no open wound, you can cool the injured area with a wet cloth or cooling pad. Caution: Always wrap the cooling pad in a kitchen towel beforehand so that the skin is not overcooled or damaged.
In the event of bleeding wounds, severe swelling, sudden severe lameness or complete immobility of your dog, you should visit the vet quickly and without fail. Basically, if you feel unsure, it's better to go one time too many than one time too few!
For mild to moderate blunt trauma such as bruises or strains, temporary immobilization of the affected leg is usually sufficient. In this case, of course, this means that you have to keep your dog calm for a while. Your dog should be kept on a leash for the time being. Strenuous activities such as cycling or running around on the dog run should be avoided at all costs.
Regardless of which injury your four-legged friend is suffering from: Every injury triggers a complex inflammatory process in the body, which also promotes healing. Inflammation is a good sign: it means that your dog's immune system is active and is ensuring that damaged tissue is repaired.
However, this can sometimes lead to an excessive inflammatory reaction, which delays the healing of the injury. The consequences: persistent pain, swelling and restricted movement. The body then needs support from appropriate medication. Dislocated joints can be reset by the vet under anesthetic and then immobilized to protect them. If your pet has suffered serious trauma such as a broken bone or torn ligaments, surgical measures are usually necessary.
Heel Vet
If you want to support your dog, consider the natural medicines from Heel Vet.
PREVENTION
How can I prevent trauma?
To prevent injuries to your dog's musculoskeletal system, warming up is the be-all and end-all. Simply let your dog walk on the leash or at heel for 15-20 minutes before running or romping. Warmed-up muscles and joints are much more resilient and therefore less prone to injury.
