If your dog or cat has been hit by a car, they will need to see a veterinarian as soon as possible. Your pet may walk away from the impact but could have serious injuries anyway!
After seeing your veterinarian, you may have a long recovery ahead of you. Here are some tips for caring for a pet who has been in a car accident.
- Keep the bandages clean and dry. You can wrap bandages in plastic wrap when your pet goes outside to protect them from dirt and damage. Don’t leave the plastic wrap on — wounds and bandages need to breathe.
- Follow your veterinarian’s instructions on changing bandages.
- Follow your veterinarian’s instructions on cleaning wounds. Minor cuts and scrapes may need to be cleaned daily with an antiseptic soap. Injuries that require stitches may need to be kept dry.
- Check your pet’s toes several times a day — a bandage that is too tight will leave the feet swollen, cold, or tender.
- Smell the bandages several times a day. A distinct bad smell means an infection has started.
- Watch for licking. A pet who has ignored a bandaged limb for several days but suddenly starts licking may have an infection.
- Your pet may need to wear an Elizabethan collar (or conehead) to protect injuries from licking. Depending on where the injuries are, you may find other ways to protect them. A wound on the leg can be covered with a long sock. A wound on the side or chest can be covered with a large t-shirt.
- Give your pet plenty of time to recover. Encourage gentle movement and exercise, but don’t push it. Let your pet laze around some, but try to get them moving a little bit several times a day.
- Use pain medication as directed; do not over dose or use over-the-counter painkillers meant for humans on your pets.