Ava Williams
Accidents of all kinds are not uncommon, especially with young, lively, and inexperienced dogs. Minor injuries, bite wounds after fights, or a traffic accident – the range of injury risks is large. Even harmless games such as throwing sticks or frolicking around with fellow animals carry a certain risk of injury. An emergency can also arise during everyday walks, for example, if a poisoned bait is swallowed. In the case of accidents and complicated operations, the treatment costs at the veterinarian and/or physiotherapist can quickly reach four-digit euro amounts. It is therefore advisable to think about appropriate insurance, for example, limited to accident protection, even if the dog is still young, fit, and healthy.
In the event of an accident, it is always important to keep calm and assess whether and to what extent you can help your four-legged friend quickly and properly and when immediate veterinary treatment is unavoidable. We have summarized the four most common accidental injuries in dogs.
Cruciate ligament rupture in dogs
The cruciate ligament is an anterior and a posterior tendon in the knee joint. It crosses in the middle of the joint and, together with other parts, serves to stabilize it. If the dog suffers a cruciate ligament tear, the cruciate ligament can only be torn or completely severed. The consequences for the dog are severe pain and restricted movement in the affected leg. Trying to rest the leg and limping or refusing to walk at all. He also makes squeaky noises.
The causes of a cruciate ligament rupture in dogs are often difficult to prevent. It can be a missed game, an accident, or a severe overload. Signs of aging or wear and tear of the tendon or osteoarthritis can also cause cruciate ligament disease.
Professional treatment by a veterinarian is inevitable. Possible methods include ligament replacement, capsule removal, TPLO (Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy), TTO (Triple Tibial Osteotomy), and physical therapy. The chances of recovery from a cruciate ligament tear are very good. The bone regains its original function almost completely.
Cuts or lacerations in dogs
Cuts and tears on the paws are among the most common ailments in dogs. The dog puts weight on the pads of its paws and toes and the risk of injury is high. These arise just as easily during daily walks as when romping around or taking a bath. The dog steps on sharp thorns, burrs, splinters, stones, shards, and other foreign objects and the paw pad tears open.
If the tear or cut is deep, the injury will bleed profusely and the animal will limp. The wound gapes and hurts with every step. Dirt gets into the wound and a bacterial infection can develop. Deep tears or cuts must be treated by a doctor as soon as possible. The paw must be cleaned, disinfected, closed, and bandaged. If the perpetrator is a sharp piece of glass, other areas of the limbs can also be affected. Then the medical treatment expands.
Broken bones in dogs
A broken bone in a dog can result from a car accident, or a bicycle accident, but also from excessive romping and misdemeanors. It is either a closed or an open fracture. Both variants are very painful and, if left untreated, can lead to serious health problems.
In the case of an open fracture, where the bone is exposed, a bacterial infection can develop and cause more damage to the animal. If treated late or not at all, the affected bone can be further destroyed. The consequence is the restriction of normal function and quality of life. Rapid veterinary treatment of the broken bone is therefore urgently needed.
Swallowed foreign objects
Dogs have a lot of appetites and like to butcher the prey they have taken. It happens that they pick up, chew and swallow foreign objects. These include small toys, parts of household and garden utensils, fruits found in nature, splinters of wood or bone, and even poisoned baits. The animal suffers from abdominal pain, loss of appetite, and apathy. It tries to vomit what it has eaten and often gets a fever and even shortness of breath.
If the animal has swallowed a foreign object, treatment by a veterinarian is urgently needed. Without treatment, the patient may suffer from gastrointestinal problems, internal injuries, and bleeding. In an emergency, he dies.
The doctor will ask the owner about the animal and the type of foreign object swallowed. He examines the pharynx and teeth for foreign traces and measures fever. He feels the dog’s abdomen for foreign bodies and atypical physical symptoms to obtain further important information about the position of the foreign body and the health of the animal, he carries out blood, ultrasound, and X-ray examinations.
If the foreign body is located unfavorably in the throat, stomach, or intestines and cannot be easily removed, an operation is unavoidable. Follow-up treatment may be necessary for complete healing.
The loving attitude of dogs is fun and brings variety. But like humans, dogs are exposed to a variety of dangers and in an emergency need medical help quickly. It is helpful to have an emergency telephone number to hand in a crisis. In addition, an animal-friendly emergency pharmacy belongs in every dog household. If you want to be particularly well prepared, you can also attend a first aid course.