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Urgencias

Bone fracture

A broken bone, almost always from trauma. It is painful and requires veterinary care. Birds and rabbits have especially fragile bones.

Veterinary emergency🐕 Dogs🐈 Cats🐰 Rabbits🦜 Birds

This may be a veterinary emergency

URGENT: with sudden lameness and intense pain after a knock, go to the vet. Move the animal as little as possible.

Symptoms to watch for

  • • Sudden lameness, not bearing weight on the limb
  • • Intense pain, cries out when the area is touched
  • • Swelling and sometimes visible deformity
  • • In open fractures: the bone protrudes through a wound
  • • Restlessness, unable to settle

Causes

Road accidents, falls, blows, being trodden on (common in rabbits and small animals), fights. Osteoporosis or certain tumours can cause a bone to break with a minor knock.

Diagnosis

X-rays to confirm the fracture and plan treatment.

Treatment

EMERGENCY: pain control, immobilisation and, depending on the fracture, rest with a splint or surgery. Do NOT try to splint at home: you may make the injury worse. Move the animal carefully, without handling the area.

Prevention

Avoid falls and accidents, hold rabbits and birds securely when handling them (their bones are fragile), supervise small animals.

When should you see the vet?

URGENT: with sudden lameness and intense pain after a knock, go to the vet. Move the animal as little as possible.

Consult a vet24 h emergency vets nearby

WetAi guides you and takes you to the vet; it does not diagnose.

Notice: this information is for general guidance and educational purposes only. It does NOT replace diagnosis or treatment by a registered veterinary surgeon. If you notice any symptoms, always consult a professional. Wallapets accepts no responsibility for the use of this information without veterinary supervision.

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