My puppy's neck was injured. What to do if no vet is nearby?

If the pup is nursing and acting normal he should be fine. Puppies are very flexible and usually heal quickly with injuries. If he's not eating or acting different from the rest then he may have a more serious injury. Your veterinarian will examine the pup and may give an anti inflammatory injection to reduce the swelling especially if there is a neurological problem. In the meantime you can put a cold pack on the area to reduce the swelling. There is not much else to do. Even if it seems bad as long as you keep the pup fed and warm he should improve with minimal treatment. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you get answers to your veterinary questions.

I am so sorry this has happened! Puppies are very fragile, so if you suspect a head or neck injury, its best to have him seen immediately. Even if it isnt an injury, a sudden change in behavior can indicate something serious, as well. I certainly hope this helps.

I would strongly recommend that you take OJ to a vet. Dog bites are very nasty, and get infected quite easily. They often require oral prescription antibiotics and pain medications. Unfortunately, it is illegal for me to prescribe medications without physically examining OJ, and there aren't OTC pain medications that are safe for dogs. You can help him by getting him to rest, bringing food and water to him, and keeping the wound clean. Just use a warm wet washcloth or gentle water spraying, don't use alcohol or peroxide on the wound.

I am so very soory your pet has such a severe injury and no available vet anywhere for the moment. There isn't a whole lot you can do to help with the pain besides soaking this area in a Betadine diluted 50:50 with warm water bath to help relieve some of the inflammation and also cut down on any bacteria that may develop at the site of the injury. You should also clean this daily with sterile saline. Applying a cold compress (for 5 mins max twice daily) on the area first can also help with pain anf inflammation. We can't recommend any over the counter pain medicine b/c they can be quite toxic in pets and therefore we can't risk it. I would try to do this and wrap the leg as best you can with materials (Tefla pad, continuous gauze, cast padding) from your local pharmacy. You can certainly also look up "how to bandage your pets leg" on youtube to learn how to do this safely and without cutting off any circulation in the process. Then work diligently to try and find any vet in the area that can help your poor puppy moving forward, because it sounds like he will certainly need medical attention moving forward if we are going to help him save this leg. I hope that your puppy is going to be ok moving forward. Poor guy. Take care.

Ouch, poor Harper! Unfortunately, there are no safe over the counter pain medications for dogs (including aspirin). Try to restrict Harper to a crate or a small room with no furniture for the next week or so to prevent further injury to her neck. Only take her on a harness for a short trip outside to eliminate, but avoid a neck collar. I understand your financial constraints, but Harper really should be examined by a vet to make sure she has not sustained more severe injuries to her neck that are causing neurologic deficits. Some SPCAs or rescues have low cost veterinary clinics available. Care Credit (carecredit.com) can provide a financing option for veterinary costs. There are some non-profit groups (redrover.org is one example) that will also provide financial assistance for veterinary care if costs are a concern. Best of luck and I hope that Harper is feeling better soon!

BB could have a hematoma or accumulation of blood and fluid secondary to the trauma on his neck. I would be worried that he is painful when standing - while it is possible that this is from bruising and soft tissue trauma a broken bone would be another possibility. I would not recommend anything else specific if you are absolutely unable to see a vet right now - just keep him as quiet/calm as possible and continue to offer food and water. You may need to help him stand up - sometimes slinging a towel underneath to assist might help. I do not recommend any over the counter pain medications in dogs. If he stops eating, is having trouble breathing, seems very weak or lethargic, or is unable to walk I would recommend driving to the nearest veterinarian.

If Onay's neck is broken it is best to seek veterinary care immediately. You will want to keep the body and head as stable and immobile as possible to prevent further injury until your vet can examine it.