• Recognize and manage life-threatening problems FIRST. Fractures and muscle, tendon, or ligament injuries are rarely life threatening. Resuscitate and stabilize life-threatening problems first. Provide treatment to prevent further compromise to the fracture site and neurovascular structures and minimize infection risk.
  • Recognize long bone fractures. MWDs with fractures will have varying degrees of lameness and will likely have limb deformity, swelling, pain, and loss of function. Open fractures are generally obvious, but pose greater risk of local and systemic infection and loss of function. See Management of Open Fractures in this CPG for specific guidance.
  • Provide analgesia and confine the MWD. Any MWD with possible fractures or joint injury should initially be given parenteral analgesia, continued orally once stabilized (See CPG 16). Any MWD with possible fractures should be confined to its kennel or small space at all times, with limited opportunities to go outside to urinate and defecate (three times daily as a minimum). Use a make-shift sling placed under the abdomen while walking patients outside. Analgesia and confinement may be the only treatment necessary or feasible, as noted below.