Question

If you suspect your pet has a broken bone, you should _______.

1) Take your pet to the veterinarian immediately
2) Wait and see if the symptoms improve on their own
3) Give your pet pain medication at home
4) Try to set the bone yourself

Answer 1

The right action when suspecting a broken bone in a pet is to immediately seek veterinary care, since false beliefs about fracture symptoms can lead to inadequate treatment and harm. If you suspect your pet has a broken bone, the correct course of action is to take your pet to the veterinarian immediately (1).

Step-by-step explanation:

If you suspect your pet has a broken bone, the correct course of action is to take your pet to the veterinarian immediately. Waiting to see if symptoms improve or attempting to administer pain medication or set the bone yourself can result in further injury and complications.

It's a common myth that a broken bone can be identified solely by localized pain; however, the reality is that pain may extend beyond the fracture due to injuries to surrounding muscles or ligaments. Also, movement does not rule out a fracture, as muscles and tendons could still function despite the broken bone, and not all fractures result in immediate bruising.