My dog's foot got run over and is limp. What do I do immediately?

I am sorry to hear that your pet has an injury to his leg and paw. Unfortunately, how to treat injuries like this depends entirely on the extent of the injury itself. This would require a more in depth conversation so that an appropriate wound management plan can be devised for your pet and this is not easy to do at home without any medical treatment (pain mediation, antibiotics if needed, or anti-inflammatories). Not to mention it could be a very painful and prolonged situation for your pet. Generally if there are broken bones then a fixture device such as a splint or cast are best used to help keep the bones stable for long enough (typically 4-6 weeks) until they are healed. However this would require splint/cast changes every 1-2 weeks depending on how fast the pet grows. Also the fracture must not be an open fracture (through the skin). If there are no fractures (sometimes can only be ruled out with an x-ray of the leg), then proper shaving of the hair and cleansing of the external wounds using chlorhexidine solution 3% or iodine (diluted 50:50 with warm water) is needed. The hair itself carries a lot of bacteria so clipping it is essential. Then depending on the extent of the skin damage bandaging this area may be needed and changed every 2-7 days. Then once the wounds are seen to be healing well and the top layer of skin is intact the bandages can finally be removed. As I mentioned before typically if there is extensive damage then your pet should get proper medications to a) prevent infection and b)ease discomfort and pain. I just don't see how any of this can be achieved without getting a professional involved unless you are knowledgeable about managing wounds in pets. I do have a couple of financial resources that you can try if the wounds seem too severe and your pet is in need of professional help and guidance so that this is treated appropriately for your pets overall care and well being. Here they are: www.carecredit.com redrover.org www.youcaring.com GiveForward  God's Creatures Ministry Harley’s Hope Foundation Hopefully some of this will be helpful for you to make the best decision for your pets care.

This is a very concerning presentation. I would recommend an immediate check up to assess his injuries properly and give immediate pain relief and appropriate treatment. X rays and antibiotics and supportive nutrition may be needed.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Bruno! Possible causes of Bruno's limp are: strain or a sprain from being stepped on, if he is older it could have aggravated arthritis, a toe or a bone could be broken, or it could be something unrelated like Lyme disease. Since Bruno can hardly walk on the leg that indicates pain. I recommend having Bruno seen by your Vet for an exam. If there is concern for the paw then they may want to take X-rays, otherwise they may just prescribe anti-inflammatories and rest. I hope this helps and I wish Bruno a speedy recovery!

Rest him completely for the next 48 hours (just go out on lead walks for his business). If the signs do not resolve and Bobby is not putting weight on the leg after 48hours a check is necessary to treat at least the pain/inflammation with appropriate meds. Ice packs on the affected leg (on the spot where you think Bobby might have been injured) may be helpful (10 minutes 2 times daily). Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

He really needs an x-ray of the leg. If there are broken bones sometimes just a cast for few weeks will fix it. The wound does not look that bad but antibiotics may be needed to heal it. I do no think you have to worry about an amputation but if he does need that cats do great with 3 legs. It sounds dramatic but they really adapt well. The first step is getting the diagnosis. If you want to post again with more information about your location we can try to help find you a low cost vet clinic.

That looks extremely painful. There are many very small bones in the paw, and Lottie may have fractured bones that are not easily observed at the moment, but that can lead to more pain and delayed healing if not treated quickly and properly, which can increase her risk of arthritis as well. Please have Lottie seen by a veterinarian immediately, as she is likely in a lot of pain, and yes, the vet may need to stitch up the wounds. Pain medications meant for humans can be very dangerous (and even deadly) for dogs, so I do not recommend giving any to your pup without consulting with your vet.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding your pet. I recommend that he see his veterinarian. Depending on his exam findings, he may require x-rays to ensure that he has not suffered any broken bones. Based on these results, a treatment plan can be formulated. In the meantime, keep him quiet to allow him to rest. Do not give any over-the-counter pain medications as these can be toxic to pets. I hope this information helps!