Fracture of the Radius and Ulna in Dogs

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Section: Follow-up

If surgery is not required or not pursued, and a cast or splint is used to immobilize the leg instead, the animal must be strictly confined to allow the arm to heal and prevent excessive painBiocaine 4oz
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After discharge from the hospital, the animal must be restricted from activity to allow the fracture time to heal properly. ActivityHol-ee Mol-ee Extreme
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The use of stairs should be limited, and outdoor walks should be just long enough for the dog to relieve himself and then should be returned indoors for more rest.

Animals whose fracture was repaired with an external fixation device will have pins exiting the skin. The "pin tracts" should be monitored daily for excessive swelling or discharge. Some discharge is normal and any crusty build-up that occurs at these sites can be gently cleaned with warm waterFresh Flow Pet Fountain
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Analgesics (pain medications), such as butorphanol (Torbugesic®), or anti-inflammatories, such as deracoxib, aspirin or carprofen (Rimadyl®), should be given as directed by the veterinarian.

The skin incision needs to be monitored daily for signs of excessive swelling or discharge. These can indicate problems with the incision or infection. If at any point prior to the recheck radiographs being taken the animal stops using the leg again after some improvement following surgery, there could be a problem.

Several weeks after surgery, the arm will need to be radiographed again to make sure the bone is healing properly. If the healing has occurred as expected, the external fixator, if present, will be removed and the animal's activity level will be allowed to increase slowly back up to normal over the next few weeks.

In general, any other implants that were used in the repair will be left in place unless they cause the animal a problem at some point in the future. Potential problems can include migration (movement) or infection of the implant.

In younger animals, it's very important that the arm be monitored closely for signs of abnormal growth. Injuries to the growth plates cannot be completely determined at the time of the injury or surgery. Signs such as curving or bending of the leg or worsening lameness can occur very quickly after the injury and early intervention by the veterinarian may be able to prevent future problems.