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My dog is limping. What to do for a possible broken or dislocated toe?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Labrador Retriever | Male | neutered | 90 lbs

I believe my dog Romeo has a fractured or dislocated bone on his lower right toe on his front paw. He’s a 2 year old black lab, male and about 90lbs. He was outside playing and came back limping. My mother is set on waiting to see if it gets better on its own for the next few days. I was wondering what could I do in the meantime. I wrapped it in an ace bandage to try and stabilize it and have tried to keep him sedentary. Is there anything I should do to help him otherwise?

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Dr. Elizabeth

Veterinarian

Published on April 26th, 2019

Poor Romeo. I would advise to not wrap the toe. I have seen too many owners who applied the wrap too tightly and caused damage to the foot by cutting off the blood supply. I do recommend to significantly restrict his activity. He should not be allowed to walk around the house, go for walks, climb up and down on furniture or run or jump. If he is still limping beyond two days or if he seems extremely painful, I recommend to have him examined sooner. If you notice any swelling on the toe then I would also advise to have him seen sooner. A broken or dislocated toe can get worse if it is not splinted quickly. I hope he starts feeling better quickly and please feel free to post any additional questions.

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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