If your dog breaks a bone in their leg like their shin or elbow bone, they will try to walk on it.If you place weight on the broken limb, it will cause the bones to move apart and make the injury worse.It is important that you assess your dog's injury and if necessary, create a splint for his injured leg before taking him to the vet, as bone rubbing against bone is extremely painful.
Step 1: Call your vet if your dog is hurt.
If you can avoid moving your dog or if he is injured in a low traffic area, you should call your vet.It may not be necessary to make a splint if your dog is able to walk without one.If his injury is bad, the splint will support the bone and help him get to a vet clinic.
Step 2: Your dog should be moved to a safe location.
It is important to get your dog to lay still to assess the injury, so you will need to move him to a safe place to examine his leg.Pick him up and take him to a safe area if he has been hit by a vehicle and is small and light.If you can't carry your dog on your own, get someone to help.Encourage your dog to stand and limp to a safe area as a last resort.
Step 3: If your dog's leg moves in the wrong direction, watch it.
There are signs that your dog's leg is not meant to be in a certain direction.If your dog has a shin bone injury, the shinbone may bend or bow when it should be straight, or it may angle in the wrong direction.
Step 4: If the bone has penetrated the skin, look for it.
If your dog's injured bone is sticking out through his skin, a splint will help to stop the bone from moving any further.
Step 5: If you tie your dog down, he won't move or stand.
Tie your dog to a piece of furniture or a post to prevent him from standing on his injured leg.Your neighbor can help you watch him to make sure he doesn't put too much weight on his leg.
Step 6: The materials need to be gathered in one place.
You don't want to get the first few layers of the splint on only to find you are missing a length of bandage, so get all your materials together in one placePausing to search for more materials will allow your dog to shake or move his leg while he is not supervised, and the potential that your hard work on the splint will be undone.Get at least four to five rolls of cotton padding bandage.A roll of tape.A roll of crepe bandage.A roll of bandage.A hand.As long as the injured limb bone is present, you want a splint that is the same width.A wooden spatula or ruler can be used in a pinch.Scissors are used to cut the bandage.
Step 7: Someone can help you hold on to your dog.
A friend or neighbor can help you hold your dog still if it is conscious.It will prevent him from shaking off the dressing halfway through and if he gets angry because of the pain, your assistant can help to calm him down.
Step 8: Lie your dog down on a padded surface with his injured leg.
If your dog is comfortable, use a rug or towel to create a soft, padded surface as he will be less likely to wiggle around if he is not.
Step 9: Place yourself on one side of your dog.
Your assistant should stand with your dog's back against their tummy, so that their legs are pointing away from you.
Step 10: The assistant should gently restrain the dog.
If your dog is wiggling around, your assistant can gently rest their forearm over his neck to push his head to the floor.Your assistant can use their free hand to grasp your dog's leg, which should be resting on the ground.Holding your dog's leg will stop him from getting up.
Step 11: Remove any open wounds.
Clean the wound before dressing it to limit the risk of infections.Do the best job you can within a few minutes.If bleeding is severe, apply direct pressure to the wound using a clean towel.If you can't stop the bleeding on your own, call the vet immediately.If there's no excessive bleeding or you're able to stop it, you can use a solution made of sea salt and warm water.If you have an antibiotic solution for your dog, you can apply it after.Rub the area with a clean towel.
Step 12: You can cover open wounds on your dog's leg with a sterile gauze swab.
Cut two strips of zinc oxide tape so they are four-inches wider than the swab.Put the sterile swab on top of the open wound.Wrap the zinc oxide tape around your dog's leg to hold the swab in place.If you stretch the tape, it will restrict the blood circulation to your dog's leg.If you don't have access to sterile swabs, you can use a piece of clean linen or cotton to cover the wound.If you choose a material that is not fluffy, it will not leave fibers in the wound.Do not use wool.
Step 13: There is a layer of padding around your dog's leg.
A single layer of padding around your dog's leg is the best way to start.If you want to prevent the splint from resting against your dog's skin, don't put a lot of padding at this stage.The splint can slip out of place if there is too much padding.The sterile Soffban has a wrapper.If you are left-handed, hold the roll in your right hand and look away.Start at the toes, and rest the tongue of the roll over the top of your dog's paw.Hold it in place with the left hand and then wind the Soffban around the limb in a circular motion.As you wind, apply a little bit of tension to the Soffban so that it doesn't tear.Soffban won't cut off circulation on the limb because the bandage shears and fibers can be applied before that amount of tension is applied.Continue winding until you have encased the limb.Remove the Soffban and tuck the free end under the previous wrap.If you don't have access to medical supplies like Soffban, you can use regular cotton wool to form a soft layer around the leg, or cut a T-shirt into strips and wrap them around your dog's leg.
Step 14: Cut the zinc oxide tape into pieces.
The bone should be twice the diameter of the strip.
Step 15: The padding should be placed against the splint to support the injury
To fit the injured area, line up the splint.
Step 16: Place zinc oxide tape at each end of the splint and then at the other end to secure it.
The splint should be secured firmly against the limb if the tape is winded around it.You can use what you have on hand if you don't have access to zinc oxide tape.You could use sticky tape, duct tape or even shoelaces to secure it in place if you used zinc oxide tape.The goal is to make the splint comfortable for your dog.
Step 17: Another layer of Soffban can be applied.
You should apply the initial layer of Soffban the same way.Wind a layer over the top of the Soffban using the same technique as opening the sterile packaging on the cotton bandage.For three layers, repeat this.Applying more layers of padding and bandage will help to hold the splint in place.
Step 18: To keep the bandage clean and rigid, apply a protective layer such as Co-Flex.
You can apply a layer of Co-flex the same way you did for the Soffban.If Co-flex is applied in a stretched state, it will contract on the damaged limb and affect its blood circulation.As you bandage your dog's leg, always release the tension on the roll so the Co-flex is not stretched.Don't worry about this step if you do not have access to Co-flex.While you take your dog to the vet, the bandage will be fine without an outer layer.If the dressing has to stay in place for several days, the outer layer will help to keep the inner layers clean.
Step 19: The splint should be used to prevent it from sliding away.
Most limb dressings have a tendency to slide off even if you apply the splint well.To secure the top of the dressing to the limb, cut a length of it.Cut a length of Elastoplast that is long enough to fit around the top of the dressing.If you want to overlap the dressing and fur on your dog's leg, overlap the width.The Elastoplast should be winded around like a garter.
Step 20: Go to the vet.
If your pup has a damaged limb, you should go to the vet.