How to tell if your dog has a broken leg:
How can you tell if your dog’s leg is broken? If you
are wondering how to tell if a dog’s leg is
fractured or broken, watch our informative video on the six symptoms that you
should look for:
If you see any of these signs or symptoms (or a combination
of these signs), you should take your dog to the veterinarian immediately for
an examination and x-rays.
- Visible Bone or Trauma: If you can see any actual bone sticking out or if your dog has a leg that is obviously in the wrong angle or position, there is definitely a bone-related issue (most likely fracture) that needs to be addressed.
- Unwillingness to Bear Weight: When a dog has a leg injury, they often will be unwilling to bear weight on the hurt leg. Sometimes, they will pick up the leg and attempt to walk as a tripod.
- Refusal to Play/Walk/Go up Stairs: A dog in pain may refuse to walk altogether or engage in normally playful activities. In such instances, there is a possibility that your dog is in pain because of a broken leg.
- Watch for Unusual Aggression: A dog with a broken leg will often not allow you to touch their leg and will try to snap or bite if you come near their limb.
- Howling or whimpering: If your dog is making unusual sounds, they may be in pain.
- Loss of appetite/isolation: If your normally friendly dog starts to isolate himself and refuses to eat, there is usually some underlying medical issue. Combined with any of the previous signs, it could indicate pain from a fracture.
Causes of Broken Legs in Dogs:
Broken bones in dogs can be caused for a number of reasons.
When a situation arises where an unusual or atypical amount of stress is
exerted onto the bone of a dog, it can result in a break or fracture. Some
common examples that can result in a broken leg in a dog include:
Jumping from a Height - Dogs often suffer from fractures
when they attempt to jump off of furniture such as a couch or tall bed. Just
like with humans, your dog’s size and physical strength will determine whether
this is something you should be concerned about. For example, a 90 lb. Labrador
may be able to regularly jump off a bed or sofa without injury, while a 4 lb.
teacup Chihuahua or Maltese could very well suffer a broken leg from such a
fall.
Pre-existing Injury – Dogs that have had a broken leg
before can often reinjure or hurt themselves in the same spot because the limb
is already weak. Even normal activities can cause problems if the dog’s is not
properly set or strengthened after the initial injury. Make sure to speak with
your veterinarian about preventive steps you can take to ensure that you are
providing proper bone and joint support for your dog in such cases. Also
check out our blog on 5 Ways to Strengthen Your Dog's Bones to see if you've
been doing all you can do to keep their bones strong!
Landing on Hard Surfaces - When a jump from a height is
combined with a hard surface, such as concrete or wood flooring, the impact can
be much greater. Carpet or a rug can sometimes prevent a fracture, while wood
or tile can cause one.
Getting Hit By a Car - Neo, the rescue dog who inspired
Boneo Canine, suffered from a compound fracture after getting hit by a car.
Dogs that get out of the yard or are somehow unsupervised on the street can
break their legs by the impact of a car, and in many cases, even get killed.
Retractable Leashes - Retractable leashes may seem like a
convenient way to give your dog freedom while maintaining control but they can
be extremely dangerous for your dog, you, and anyone around you, especially if
you have a rowdy or uncontrollable dog. Retractable leashes have the potential
of wrapping around limbs and causing very serious leg injuries, from breaks to
even amputations.
Rough-housing - If you have multiple dogs or take your dog
to the dog park, they often can get outsized by other dogs. For example, if you
have dogs that just go crazy to greet you at the door they can often jump over
or on each other to be first in line. This can result in injury and even
fracture.
Surgery– Certain orthopedic surgeries, such as a TPLO
surgery, require the bone to be cut in order for the orthopedic issue to be
addressed. A bone leveling or cutting procedure is supervised by a
veterinarian, but is still considered a broken bone for healing purposes.
Is My Dog’s Leg Broken or Sprained?:
Sometimes, what may meet the signs of a broken leg
(especially when there is no visible trauma) could actually be a sprain. If
your dog is still willing to put a little bit of weight on the leg, or is
limping after a particularly active day but otherwise no injurious activities,
you may want to keep an eye and see if the situation improves over a day or so.
It may be that your dog had a sprain/strain instead of a fracture. If you have
noticed that your dog is suddenly limping, but can't tell whether it is
serious, check out the following blogs: 15 Causes of Dog Limping and What to Do
if Your Dog is Limping.
There are some key differences between a sprain and a
broken leg but unfortunately, many of the signs look the same. Furthermore,
sprains can also be serious, as sometimes they require surgery when there is a
tear that cannot be treated with rest and a brace. Instead of attempting to
self-diagnose, the only way to tell whether a dog has a sprain or a broken leg
is to take the dog for a complete visual exam and x-rays at the veterinarian.
What to Do if You Think Your Dog has a Broken Leg:
If you think your dog may have a broken leg, read our post
on How to Help a Dog with Broken Leg for specific instructions on how you
should react. The key to a healthy recovery later on often
lies in early detection and prompt treatment by a veterinarian.
Bone is a constantly remodeling and dynamic organ (yes,
it's an organ!) and dogs have instincts that will allow them to adapt even when
the bone is set improperly. But when a fracture is not addressed properly, the
malformed bone can eventually result in infection, require surgery, and
sometimes even amputation.
