Certain fractures need to be handled in a special way to make sure your pet has the best possible chance at recovery.
Leg fractures may need to be splinted, especially if you have a long drive to the veterinarian’s office. Try to immobilize the limb above and below the break.
- Wrap a soft towel or cloth around the leg.
- Use a rolled newspaper or paper towel core (sliced open on one side) to cradle the leg. Do not try to reposition the limb; the splint is just to support it so things don’t get worse in transport.
- Wrap the split with an Ace bandage, panty hose, or plastic wrap. Start at the foot and move up the leg.
- Watch for swelling.
Back fractures need immediate veterinarian care; broken bones in the back can damage tissue, arteries, and the spinal cord. A pet with a back injury should be transported on a rigid, flat object. For smaller pets, you can use a cutting board, cookie sheet, or a large book. For larger pets, you could use a piece of plywood, surfboard, or an ironing board.
- Set the rigid object next to your pet.
- Carefully slide a sheet or towel underneath your pet.
- Use the fabric to pull your pet onto the flat surface. Two people (if possible) should work together to move a larger pet: one at the head and one at the hips.
- Cover your pet with another sheet or towel.
- Use duct tape or other heavy tape to secure your pet to the flat surface behind the front legs and in front of the back legs. Do not tape the head, neck, or tail.
It can take eight weeks for a fracture to become stable and up to eighteen weeks to fully heal. During the first month, your pet should be kept calm and be allowed to rest. That means no running, no jumping, no roughhousing, and no stairs. You’ll need to make sure the bandages stay dry, or they can rub sores onto your pet’s skin. Keep watching for swelling, too.