Dog Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook.pdf - Mr. Walnuts

Osteomyelitis associated with nonhealing fractures is treated by stabilizing
the fracture with plates and screws and implanting a sterile bone graft.
SPRAINS
A sprain is an injury caused by sudden stretching or tearing of the ligaments
in and around the joint, or the joint capsule itself. Signs are pain over the
joint, swelling of the tissues, and temporary lameness.
Treatment: If the dog is unable to put weight on the leg, seek veterinary
consultation to rule out a fracture or dislocation. This is true for any injury
that fails to improve in 24 hours. X-rays should be taken.
It is most important to prevent further injury by resting the affected part. Restrict
activity by confining the dog in a small area. Apply cold packs to the injured
joint for 15 to 30 minutes, three or four times a day for the first 24 hours. Use
a chemical cold pack or put crushed ice in a plastic bag. Wrap the pack in a
towel and secure it in place over the injured joint with a loose gauze wrap. An
alternative method is to run cold water over the affected leg for 5 to 10 minutes,
three or four times a day.
After the first 24 hours, switch to warm, moist compresses for 15 to 30 minutes,
three times a day for the next two to three days. Apply as described for
cold packs. Avoid hot compresses, which can burn the skin.
Analgesics may be prescribed by your veterinarian to relieve pain (see
Over-the-Counter Drugs for Home Veterinary Use, page 571). One disadvantage
of pain relievers is that they may allow the dog to begin using the leg while
the injury is still fresh. This can delay healing, but if the dog’s activity is
restricted this is not a problem. Anti-inflammatories may hasten healing by
reducing swelling and inflammation around the area. Keep the dog off the leg
by confining him in a small, closed area. Take him out on a leash only to eliminate.
Allow at least three weeks for successful healing. Incomplete healing is
associated with prolonged lameness and the later development of degenerative
arthritis in the joint.
TENDON INJURIES
THE MUSCULOSKELETAL SYSTEM • 387
Tendons can be stretched, partly torn, or ruptured. Strained tendons follow
sudden wrenching or twisting injuries. The tendons of the forepaws (front and
back) are strained most often. The signs of tendon injury are lameness, pain
on bearing weight, and painful swelling over the course of the tendon.
Rupture of the Achilles tendon at the hock joint can be caused by sudden
and extreme flexion of the hock. This injury tends to occur in Greyhounds
and sporting and performance breeds. The Achilles tendon is the one most
often severed in dog fights and car accidents. Rupture of the Achilles tendon
causes a dropped hock.