Ask the Veterinarian/Dog's leg injury

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Expert: - 6/2/2010


Question
Hello,
Yesterday our dog Fawkes (7 month GSD) ran out into the street towards a dog on the other side. She clipped the back end of a minivan and hurt her front left leg. She limped over to me afterwards and I immediately tried to feel for a break and couldn't feel a thing, she let me gently squeeze all down her leg and didn't yelp. She has been walking on it and seems to be happy but still sore. She's even been jumping up on the couches with a little extra care. Should I bring her in today or wait another day to see how she's doing? I am worried this could lead to other problems down the road, but seem to be getting no help from my bf who thinks she's okay, am I overreacting?

Answer
IF you can squeeze her leg and she doesn't yelp, there is a good chance she hasn't gotten a green stick fracture. But that doesn't mean that she hasn't sprained it.

If she is still limping or favoring it tomorrow I would have the vet look it over because at her age, if she has damaged one of the growth plates in her joints she will have some major problems down the road.

Best to be safe than sorry and have her leg looked at now. Growth plate issues are very hard to correct later on.


She is lucky to be alive if she is running out in the street at all. Hopefully this is the last time. Once she is hit there is no undoing it.
I hope her leg heals without any incident.

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Jana Connell RVT, CVT

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PLEASE READ BEFORE SUBMITTING TO ME: I am NOT a vet and do NOT diagnose diseases. That is only for a licensed Veterinarian to do. I will give you suggestions and steer you toward calling your vet for help. You can call the vet's office and talk to the technician there or the vet at times. Don't be afraid to call them! If you have a serious issue with your pet please post it to one of the veterinarians in here- I will tell you the same thing in my answer. IF your pet is injured or in an emergency situation, CALL YOUR VET- Do not wait and post in here. Just call the vet's office and get them in to see the vet right away. Critical treatment time is lost if you seek answers here when you should have your precious pet at the vets!! Don't sit at home waiting for an answer when your pet is critically ill or injured!! I can answer most questions about small animal and wildlife care as well as small animal nutrition. I can also answer questions about all phases of dental care for small animals. I DO NOT answer questions about birds (unless it is wildlife or songbirds) or HAMSTERS/GERBILS/CHINS/GUINEA PIGS/REPTILES/FROGS/RABBITS/PET BIRDS OF ANY KIND so please submit these questions to the appropriate sections. I, as well as other experts in here, do NOT do homework questions- that is for YOU to do! Please respect these rules for all of us. Thanks!

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I have over 35 years experience in the field of veterinary medicine. I specialized in small animals and did wildlife rehab for over 25 years, mostly raptors, squirrels and opossums. I am a Small Animal Nutritional Consultant with 6 certificates from Hills Pet Foods, CNM and Purina. I also specialized in Small Animal Dentistry which is a field I truly love.

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Audubon,World Wildlife Federation, American Society of Veterinary Dental Technicians.

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Licensed with California and Oregon, RVT and CVT. Certified Veterinary Dental Technician Have over 500 logged hours of Continuing Education Credits(that means I keep up to date!).

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Nominated for Expert of the Month for the last 5 years.

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