Broken toes can happen to dogs just as they do to people. A broken toe in your dog may not be as obvious as a larger broken bone, but there are still things dog owners need to do to help it heal properly. Here's how to determine if your dog has a broken toe and what you should do about it.
What is a Broken Toe?
A broken toe is a fracture of a digit on a dog's foot. A fracture may simply be a hairline-sized crack in the bone or a complete break causing one bone to now be in two or more pieces. Regardless of the size of the bone though, fractures, even in toes, are painful.
How Do Dogs Break Toes?
There are a number of ways dogs can break a toe, but it's most often caused by some kind of trauma.
Getting Stepped On
Dogs sometimes accidentally get stepped on by their owners and since toes are such small bones, they can easily fracture. Stepping on a dog's toe is a common cause of fractures. This is especially true for smaller breeds of dogs that can easily get caught up in the legs of a person.
Jumping
Jumping off of a high surface such as a balcony, deck, or staircase can cause a toe to break, especially in larger dogs. The amount of force that is placed on the toes at landing is too much for some bones to bear.
Getting Stuck
A dog may get a foot stuck in something like a rug, loose threads on a blanket, wooden deck boards, or fencing. The dog will try to pull free, which can cause a broken toe.
Car Accident
A common cause of broken toes and other bones, car accidents can result in a lot of trauma to a dog. Sometimes the dog is inside the car and other times the car hits the dog while the dog is outside. Regardless of how the accident occurs, fractured toes may happen.
Bite Wound
When animals fight they may grab at each other's appendages with their teeth. If another animal bites a dog's foot hard enough, it can break a toe.
Poor Nutrition
A malnourished dog may not have the proper bone density to support their weight. Broken toes often result in these dogs that aren't receiving enough calcium. Simply hopping off of the couch can cause some malnourished dogs to break toes or other bones. This most commonly occurs in dogs fed simple homemade diets that lack essential nutrients instead of nutritionally balanced diets such as those from the pet store.
Signs of a Broken Toe in a Dog
A dog with a broken toe may show several signs that they are in pain. The toe itself may look normal, swollen, or crooked depending on the severity and location of the fracture.
- Limping
- Vocalization
- Holding up a paw
- Licking a paw
- Swelling in paw
- Crooked toe
Dogs may demonstrate they are in pain by crying or whining, especially when putting pressure on the broken toe or if someone touches it. They may limp when walking or hold up the paw with the broken toe in it, even at rest. The toe or whole paw may appear swollen though this may be hard to see in long-haired dogs. Dogs will commonly lick the broken toe.
If you suspect a broken toe in your dog, contact your veterinarian right away.
How Vets Diagnose Broken Toes in Dogs
A veterinarian will examine your dog and feel the feet to see if they can tell which toe is broken. Next, the vet will take X-rays to look for a fracture. X-rays of feet are usually quick and painless, so a diagnosis is typically easy to obtain in only a few minutes.
How to Treat a Broken Toe in a Dog
Depending on which toe in the foot is broken, a splint or cast may be used to keep the broken bone isolated until it can heal. On rare occasions, dogs may need surgery to place a pin in the broken bone. Pain and anti-inflammatory medications are usually prescribed to help a dog with a broken toe feel better and if there is also a wound associated with the fracture, antibiotics may also be used to address an infection.
Limitations for Dogs with Broken Toes
Activity restrictions will be necessary to help a dog with a broken toe heal as quickly as possible. Running and jumping should not be allowed or the bone may not heal properly. Baby gates and exercise pens may be needed to keep a dog with a broken toe from going up the steps or jumping on and off of furniture.
How Long Does it Take a Broken Toe to Heal?
While symptoms can improve in as early as 4 weeks, it can take up to 16 weeks for signs on X-rays of the bone to improve. However, it may take much longer depending on the break, the age of the dog, the presence of infection, and how well the activity restrictions are followed at home. Most dogs will have normal function in the toe after the fracture heals, but they may eventually develop some arthritis in that area.