How do I know if my dog broke a rib?

1. Lameness, often seen with the affected limb held up.
2. Pain.
3. Joint swelling.
4. Crepitus (crunching within the joint) or increased looseness of the limb.
5. Abnormal conformation (angularity or shortening) of the affected limb.
6. Broken bone protruding from the skin.

Injuries can be difficult to diagnose in our beloved pets. As dogs age, they become more prone to falls and other accidents that can leave them with broken bones. Rib fractures are one of the more serious injuries that can be sustained, but they can be difficult to identify as signs are often subtle. If you suspect your dog has injured their rib or chest area, it is important to seek veterinary advice to ensure their condition does not worsen. In this blog post, we will look at the signs that could indicate that your dog has broken a rib and provide advice on what to do in this situation. Knowing the signs of a rib fracture can help you act quickly to provide the best possible outcome for your pet.

What to do if your dog’s ribs are fractured

Take your dog to the emergency vet, even if you only think his ribs may be broken, so he can be examined and receive the necessary care before the issue gets worse. Don’t wait because your pet needs urgent medical attention to recover, especially if the lungs have been punctured.

You can gently wrap the area with a clean towel, being careful not to apply pressure, if there are any open wounds or it appears that the bone may be pushing through the chest.

Use caution when transporting your pet to the veterinarian. For instance, use extreme caution when loading your dog into the car to prevent putting any pressure on their chest. Allow your dog to stay in a comfortable position while assisting in keeping them still to prevent further harm.

Keep in mind that your dog might bite you if theyre highly stressed or in a lot of pain. You might need to muzzle your dog to prevent them from biting, but this should be done only if your pet is able to breathe normally.

The veterinarian will conduct a thorough examination, carefully listening to the lungs, and looking for signs of broken bones and soft tissue injuries in your dog’s chest.

If there is a serious injury or a minor one, the veterinary team can use X-rays to identify it in order to determine the best course of treatment. A veterinarian can determine whether any of the organs are also affected by radiographs.

When there is air in the chest cavity, a pneumothorax, which affects dogs, can be detected using an ultrasound. In order to diagnose and treat a pneumothorax, the veterinarian may also inject a needle into the patient’s chest. Chest tubes may be required in severe circumstances, and your dog may need to be hospitalized.

Symptoms of broken ribs in dogs

A dog with a broken rib will probably exhibit pain-related behaviors. However, depending on how severe the injury is, the symptoms may not always be evident. For instance, if your dog has a severe break in the rib cage, you might be able to see the broken bone poking through the skin, but there may also be additional symptoms, such as:

Increased respiratory rate

Difficulty breathing

Whining, yelping, or other signs of pain

Reluctance to move, sit, or lie down

Swelling and bruising

Limping

Overview of Rib Fractures in Dogs

Isolated fractures of the ribs are rare. These fractures in dogs are more frequently discovered in conjunction with other fractures (legs, pelvis, and spine) as a result of trauma (motor vehicle accident). There are usually no potential long-term effects from these fractures.

The chest wall can be seriously injured and cause severe breathing problems. Dogs may also experience “pulmonary contusion” (lung trauma), “pneumothorax” (collapsed lung caused by free air in the chest cavity), and “flail chest” (abnormal movement of the chest wall when multiple rib fractures are present), in addition to rib fractures.

FAQ

What do you do for a dog with a broken rib?

Don’t let him struggle; instead, allow him to lie down or sit up if that’s what he prefers to do. Dogs with broken ribs must remain as still as possible to prevent lung puncture. You must ventilate your dog if he stops breathing in order to maintain his oxygen levels. Make a funnel by wrapping your hand(s) around his muzzle.

Can dogs survive broken ribs?

Overview of Canine Rib Fractures These fractures typically have no long-term consequences. The chest wall can be seriously injured and cause severe breathing problems.

How long does it take for a dogs broken rib to heal?

In general, canine fractures require a minimum of four weeks in young puppies and eight weeks in older animals to heal sufficiently and eventually return to normal. Your veterinarian will explain how long the bone may take to heal.

How do you know if your ribs are broken or cracked?

1. pronounced chest pain, especially when you breathe in
2. swelling or tenderness around the affected ribs.
3. sometimes bruising on the skin.
4. feeling or hearing a crack if it’s a broken rib.