how to splint a dog leg?

Question

my dog got hit by a car today he is ok, but i need to find out how to care for him until i can get to the vet. everything looks ok he can walk on his legs and even bend the injured leg he just yelps when he gets in odd positions there is no blood or deep wounds just a lil nick. just wondering if there is some kind of methods i could try at home

Answer 1

If the leg is broken (and it sounds like it might be), the longer you wait to take him in, the greater the odds that he might lose his leg as a result of the delay. At the very least, he can be doing more damage to it, making it more difficult (and costly) to fix. If you try to splint or bandage it yourself, you'll likely actually make matters worse unless you are very familiar with the anatomy and circulation of the limb. (Some of the most damaging bandages/splints I've ever had to remove were applied by MD's and RN's.)

Do NOT give him a tylenol. First of all, "a" tylenol is probably way too much, depending on the size of the dog. That's too much for even the biggest dogs. Second of all, tylenol has been shown to not have very good effectiveness on the pain receptors in canines. Third of all, tylenol can cause liver damage. If he was hit by a car, there's a good chance his liver is at least bruised. It doesn't need anything else thrown at it right now.

Your best bet is to take him to an emergency clinic, or ask your veterinarian to meet you at the office for an after-hours visit.

(P.S.....Great edit to your post, Tom!!!! I was already going to give you a thumbs up, and then you added that and made it even better.) :-)

***EDIT***.....To those who *think* they more than they really do....Go ahead and give your dogs tylenol all you want, then, if you're determined to do so. But, you should know....it is WELL-documented in the veterinary literature (textbooks and papers to which you have no access) that tylenol should not be given to dogs. It is certainly not anywhere near as toxic to them as it is to cats (which it will flat out kill), but that doesn't mean it is safe to give. The mechanism is different between the two species. Those of us who have actually had to treat dogs for this probably know just a little bit more about it than you. ;-) (And any veterinarian who told you it was okay to give needs to keep up with current research better.) And no....there is not a single FDA-approved canine drug that contains acetaminophen. Not one.

Answer 2

Dog Leg Splint

Answer 3

You really need to get the dog to a vet ASAP and not worry about how to splint his leg. Just because he looks OK, doesn't mean that he is. He could have serious internal injuries and tomorrow might be too late to find out.

Answer 4

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
how to splint a dog leg?
my dog got hit by a car today he is ok, but i need to find out how to care for him until i can get to the vet. everything looks ok he can walk on his legs and even bend the injured leg he just yelps when he gets in odd positions there is no blood or deep wounds just a lil nick. just wondering if...

Answer 5

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A friend recommened it to me a few years ago, and I was amazed how quickly it worked, which is why I recommend it to others. The dog training academy also has as an excellent home training course.

Answer 6

It would be very easy to do more harm than good. A dogs leg is a little different shape than ours, and what might look right might no be. My suggestion is to leave it alone and get to the vet ASAP. Internal problems that can't be seen can be life threatening even when we think there are none.

QUOTE _ READ CAREFULLY
"Tylenol (acetaminophen) and Ibuprofen toxicity is due to an active metabolite made by the liver from the drug. This metabolite causes severe damage to liver cells and red blood cells. Dogs tend to have more liver damage, whereas cat's red blood cells undergo a transformation of their normal oxygen carrying hemoglobin to a non functional form called methemoglobin. One Children's Tylenol tablet contains almost twice the toxic level for a normal sized cat per kilogram of body weight, and the adult size Tylenol has more than six times the toxic level!

The problem is more acute and life threatening in cats than in dogs (though by no means safe in your canine companion!). The signs in cats occur within one to two hours after ingestion and include salivation, vomiting, cyanotic gums, severe depression, dark colored urine and swollen face and paws. If your pet ingests Tylenol, get them to a veterinarian right away for emergency treatment

Answer 7

Tom is incorrect. Tylenol is safe in small doses in dogs, but not in cats. The confusion combes because the AVMA believes it is safer to just say 'tylenol is toxic to pets' and avoid any confusion between canines and felines. Ask any licensed vet, acetaminophen is as safe as aspirin in canines. In fact, it is a major ingredient in many prescription pain medicines in canines.
Trust me, I'm in vet school at UPenn... but since you don't trust me, here's a link to a very reliable source, not some guy writing some ariticle like tom used. It's the same reference most licensed vets use...
http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/191606.htm&hide=1

Just wanted to clarify that... it is a huge misconception in the world... Acetaminophen is highly toxic to cats, not dogs... The article he quotes (yet doesn't reference) is about an overdose... guess what, the same thing happens if a human ingests too much acetaminophen. One childrens tylenol will not be toxic to most dogs.

Answer 8

Tripforyou is right, my vet has told me to give my dog tylenol on several occasions with no problems. I wouldn't give it right after he was hit by a car though, just in case.

Answer 9

Yeah I second the ace bandage, loosely, some support is needed, plus a big soft comforter to lay on. you don't want him to put any pressure on the area, if it's close to an artery he could end up in serious trouble, give him a Tylenol for the pain.

Answer 10

try a human ace bandage