Internal Injuries in a Dog
Dogs can suffer from traumatic incidences that cause internal injuries. Internal injuries are serious and should not be taken lightly. It is important to know the symptoms so your dog can be diagnosed and treated properly by a veterinarian.
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Symptoms
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If your dog has an internal injury, it may cry or whine, hide, behave abnormally, experience shortness of breath, have difficulty breathing or remain inactive when it normally wouldn't. If your dog had trauma to his body, it may have bruising, abrasions or lacerations, pale gums, broken bones or lameness.
Causes
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Most internal injuries in dogs are caused by serious traumas, such as being hit by a car or getting kicked. Other causes of internal injuries are involvement in a fight with another dog or animal, or a serious fall.
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Diagnosis
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After your veterinarian does a complete physical examination, he may run some other tests, which include a complete blood count, chest X-ray or an electrocardiogram.
Treatment
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Your dog may need to be hospitalized and treated with intravenous fluids if the internal injury is serious Some other treatments for internal injuries may include oxygen therapy or antibiotics. Sometimes, blood transfusions or surgery may have to be performed.
Warning
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If you are afraid your dog may be suffering from internal injuries, do not put off taking it to the veterinarian. Internal injuries can cause extreme bleeding, which could result in your dog bleeding to death or causing permanent damage.
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References
- Photo Credit the Dog head image by Thomas Bertin from Fotolia.com
