Cats and dogs are curious, agile, and playful animals that like to explore their surroundings. They’re a unique part of our households and act like kids in many ways. Due to their nature, it is inevitable for them to get injured in their daily routines. However, knowing the common injuries that might happen to your pets can help you proactively get them out of harm’s way.
So let us discuss the common dog and cat injuries you should look out for.
Common Injuries That Occur in 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 harmed on their adventures.
Below are five common injuries in pets and instructions on how to avoid them.
1. Oral Trauma or Fractured Tooth
Dogs often damage their larger upper molars, back molars, or carnassial teeth when they chew random hard objects, often leading 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 may indicate oral abscesses
- Lack of appetite
When this occurs, it’s essential to take your companion to vet dentists to stop their pain and treat their condition. If you’re looking for animal dentists to examine your dog’s teeth, you may search for “veterinary dentist near me” to see accurate results.
Fractured teeth might 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.
2. Dog Bites
When cats and dogs fight, bruising, bleeding wounds, and skin lacerations are often obvious. Injuries and cuts must be treated with a bandage or sterile gauze or at least covered with a dry, clean cloth. If the wounds are bleeding, use gentle and firm pressure. Dog and cat fights are inevitable if you frequently take your pet outdoors for walks or visits to the park. You should be up-to-date with your dog’s parasite prevention and pet vaccinations to protect them from deadly viral diseases in social settings.
Having your pet sterilized is also a plus. Spaying or neutering can decrease your pet’s chances of developing infections and cancer in their reproductive system and reduce unwanted behaviors.
3. Insect Bites or Stings
Bites from insects and crawlers like ants, spiders, ticks, wasps, and bees may trigger mild irritation and serious conditions like anaphylactic shock. Because pets are always playful, they might chase or have fun with insects for fun, unaware of their painful and harmful bites. When you take your pet outdoors, always watch them so you can distract them quickly when they attempt to catch insects.
4. 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 pet’s age, the accident’s impact, and the injury’s location in their body will determine the fracture’s complexity. If you suspect strains, fractures, or other soft injuries in your pet, it’s essential to take them to vet surgery specialists.
5. Poisoning
Many human medications, foods, household chemicals, and plants can be dangerous or lethal to pet 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 ingested something toxic, immediately take them to the vet for treatment.
Final Thoughts
Your pet won’t 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’re injured so you can act immediately. If your companion experiences any of the injuries mentioned above, call the vet immediately to address your situation.
