Dogs and cats are curious, agile, and enthusiastic animals that like to explore their surroundings. They are a unique part of our families and act like kids in numerous ways. Due to their nature, it’s inevitable for them to get injured in their daily routines. However, knowing the common injuries that occur to your pets can help you be proactive in getting them out of harm’s way.
So let us talk about the common dog and cat injuries you must keep an eye out for.
Injuries That Often Happen to Pets
Pets are fun, loving animals that like to explore, play, and make the most of their days. But like people, they can also get injured on their adventures.
Below are five common injuries in pets and a few instructions on preventing them.
1. Insect Bites or Stings
Bites from crawlers and insects like spiders, ants, ticks, wasps, and bees might trigger mild irritation and serious conditions like anaphylactic shock. Because pets are always playful, they will chase or have fun with insects for fun, unaware of their harmful and painful bites. When you take your pet outdoors, always watch on them so you can distract them quickly when they attempt to catch bugs.
2. Fractures
Fractures in pets often happen due to traumas ranging from minor to fatal. This can happen to your dog when leaping from a height or struck by a vehicle. Your dog’s age, the accident’s impact, and the injury’s location in their body will determine the severity of the fracture. If you suspect strains, fractures, or other soft injuries in your pet, it’s necessary to take them to vet surgeons.
3. Dog Bites
When cats and dogs fight, bruising, bleeding wounds, and skin lacerations are generally obvious. Injuries and cuts must be treated with a sterile gauze or bandage or at least covered with a clean, dry cloth. If the wounds are bleeding, use gentle and firm pressure. Dog and cat fights are unavoidable if you frequently take your pet outdoors for walks or visits to the park. You must be up-to-date with your pet’s vaccinations and parasite prevention to protect them from deadly viral conditions in social settings.
Having your pet sterilized is also a plus. Cat neutering or spaying can decrease your pet’s chances of developing cancer and infections in their reproductive system and reduce undesirable behaviors.
4. Oral Trauma or Fractured Tooth
Dogs often damage their larger upper molars, back molars, or carnassial teeth when they chew random hard objects, which typically leads to fractured teeth.
Below are common signs of a tooth fracture in dogs:
- Drooling
- Chewing on one side of the mouth
- A swollen lump under the eyes that might indicate oral abscesses
- Lack of appetite
When this happens, it is essential to take your companion to veterinary dentists to stop their pain and treat their condition. Fractured teeth can be prevented by removing everything in your home that can catch your pet’s interest to chew on. You can also give your pet chew toys that are safe for their teeth.
5. Poisoning
Many human medications, foods, plants, and household chemicals can be dangerous or lethal to dogs. The best preventive measure to keep your pets from getting poisoned is to keep these things away from them. If you suspect your companion has consumed something toxic, immediately take them to the veterinarian for a dog checkup.
Final Thoughts
Your pet will not say a word when something is wrong. So as their parent and guardian, you should have the instinct to tell what’s normal and when they are hurt so you can act immediately. If your companion experiences any of the injuries mentioned above, call the veterinarian immediately to attend to your situation.