Whether or not your dog is alert. If your dog is unconscious, then he may have a head injury. Whether or not your dog can take full breaths. The color of their gums. They should be pink. If they are very pale, muddy, or blueish in color, then your dog is not getting enough oxygen and needs immediate veterinary attention. Strong, synchronous pulses. Feel for the heart beating on the lower chest, near the elbow joint. The femoral pulse is also easy to feel on the inside surface of the thigh, in the middle of the leg. If you cannot find a strong regular pulse, then seek immediate veterinary attention for your dog.

Apply pressure if you notice that the limb is bleeding. Since injured dogs can be fearful and aggressive, you’ll need to be careful. Signs of aggression include growling, snapping, snarling, and rigidness. [2] X Trustworthy Source American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Leading organization dedicated to the prevention of animal cruelty Go to source To avoid getting bitten, don’t put your hands or face close to the injured dog, especially if it is already agitated. [3] X Research source To help keep your dog calm, place a light towel or cloth over their head. This will help to limit light and sound, which may help to keep your dog calm. If you need to move the dog away from the place where the accident occurred, you can use a towel sling to support some of their weight.

If you don’t have a clean bandage or gauze, you could use a clean towel. You should be able to fit 2 fingers under the bandage. If you can’t, the bandage is too tight and you should rewrap it so it’s looser. [6] X Research source

An easy way to do this is to pass a large bath towel under your dog’s belly. Hold the end up over his back, like a sling, to support his weight.

Since injured dogs can become aggressive, you may want to put a muzzle on your dog before taking them to the veterinarian. [12] X Research source However, make sure to remove the muzzle if you feel like it is restricting your dog’s breathing. If you don’t have a muzzle on you, you can make one by wrapping gauze or a piece of fabric around your dog’s snout and tying a knot so it’s snug.

If your dog was involved in a vehicular accident, it is especially important to get them to the hospital quickly because they could have internal injuries in addition to the broken leg. You could ask a friend to comfort your dog in the back seat while you drive. You’ll need professional veterinary treatment. So don’t use ointments on the open fracture, or perform other self-treatments on the dog. Don’t try to re-set the bone yourself. [14] X Research source

If it is a closed fracture, they may put your dog’s leg in a cast or a splint. Your vet may perform surgery to insert pins, plates, or screws into the bone to help the broken leg heal. [17] X Research source

X rays will be taken to determine the extent of damage. [19] X Research source The amputation surgery may take several hours.

The average cost for treating a broken leg is $2000. See if your veterinarian offers a payment plan or more affordable care options.

If the splint or cast becomes wet, reach out to your vet. They may ask you to bring your dog in so they can replace the splint or cast.

There are various neck braces that prevent the dog from turning around to lick its wound. If your dog is not a chewer, a light dressing or an old sweatshirt can provide a barrier between his tongue and the wound.

Crates are widely available from pet retailers and sold for the purpose of housebreaking puppies. You don’t want a crate that is overly roomy. The general rule is to use a crate that the dog can sit upright in without banging its head. After a few weeks and if your veterinarian approves it, you can start to increase physical activity. Keep your dog away from stairs and slippery surfaces. If you let the dog out of its crate, it may run around and injure itself again!

If NSAIDs do not work, your veterinarian may prescribe opioids.

They may recommend hydrotherapy for your dog. Hydrotherapy is like physical therapy, but it takes place in water. The buoyancy of the water makes it easier for dogs to move their joints during recovery. [25] X Research source

If the weather is cold, cover the crate with blankets at night. You may also want to give your dog a blanket.