Pain. A dog with a broken leg will hold its leg in midair, whine or cry, and resist your attempts to touch the damaged limb. The acute pain will not lessen until the fracture has been properly set by a veterinarian.
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.
According to VCA Hospitals, other signs that your dog's leg might be broken include intense pain, swelling at the site of the fracture, and the leg lying at an awkward angle. If your dog is willing to walk, he won't put any weight on a leg that's broken, but will instead carry it above the ground.
Bruising. You can also check for any bruising around the leg of your dog if you suspect it has a sprain but also a fracture. You may not see it right away if your dog is furry, but the affected area will slowly turn purple, swell, or become tender to the touch.
If you notice your dog whining or yelping when part of her body is touched, if there is unexplained swelling in your dog's body, or if she refuses to walk on a certain leg no matter what, she may have a broken bone.
Contact your vet as soon as you can if you discover something painful. If you think your dog is limping because of inflammation, alternate between ice and heat packs to lower the level of swelling and discomfort. Call your veterinarian to ask them when you should be applying the packs.
Grade I sprains - Your vet will apply a splint on the affected area to restrict your pet's movement and recommend anti-inflammatory medicine. Grade II sprains - Your vet will splint the injured joint and prescribe medication. They may also recommend surgery to address more severe damage.
Take your dog to the vet's office immediately if they can't put any weight on their leg, show extreme pain (this could include crying out), have swelling or injury and are reluctant to move or eat. If your pup is still limping after a day, take them to the vet.
A simple rule of thumb to help determine the severity of the injury is that most dogs will not walk on a broken leg, torn ligament, or dislocated joint. A good exam requires two people: one to examine the leg and one to restrain the dog. Dogs that are in pain may bite, even people they love so be cautious.
ACT QUICKLY: If you suspect that your dog may have a broken leg (or any broken bone for that matter), you should treat it as an emergency and go to a qualified veterinarian right away.
WILL A DOG'S BROKEN LEG HEAL ON ITS OWN? It is dangerous to allow a dog's broken leg to heal untreated or without the supervision of a veterinarian. While a broken bone does naturally heal on its own (through bone remodeling), that does not mean it will heal properly.
Keep your pet as still and quiet as possible. If small enough, place your pet in a crate or box. Do not give any pain relievers or any other type of medication unless directed by a vet. Fractures cannot be treated at home.
If your dog is unable to put any weight on his leg, it is important to see a veterinarian immediately as his leg may be broken. However, if your dog can still put weight on his leg and walk relatively normal, you can wait a few hours to a day to see if his condition improves.
A swollen paw. Redness or swollen joints. Reluctance to walk or play.
While a sprain is more serious than a simple strain, most dogs make a full recovery from a sprained leg. The biggest challenge most pet parents face is convincing their active and energetic canine companions to take it easy for the roughly six weeks it takes for a sprain to heal.
When a dog starts holding up one leg, this is a symptom of lameness, and is usually due to some soft tissue injury, trauma, or musculoskeletal orthopedic problem of the particular limb. Occasionally neurological problems of either the discs in the neck or lower back or hip areas can also cause pets to hold up one leg.
Some dogs remain stoically quiet when they're hurting but others, especially young dogs who have not experienced physical discomfort, may whimper and cry when they're feeling pain. Your presence may provide comfort and lead them to stop whining.
Sometimes limping will go away on its own, especially if you provide some at-home support like a brace. Other times limping may be a sign of a more serious injury or condition that will require veterinary intervention.
If your puppy is limping but still playing, this is probably a sign of a superficial injury. Superficial injuries can include: Cuts or scrapes from stepping on something sharp. Burns from stepping on the hot pavement.
Clinical signs of muscle tears include pain on palpation (examination by touch during a physical exam) of the injured area, lameness or limping, swelling of the muscle, and bruising. The clinical signs may be difficult to detect if the tear is mild.