Discover the Common Ways Your Dog Could Become Injured (2025)

Dogs

By

Jenna Stregowski

Discover the Common Ways Your Dog Could Become Injured (1)

Jenna Stregowski

Jenna Stregowski is the Pet Health and Behavior Editor for Daily Paws and The Spruce Pets. She's also a registered veterinary technician with over 20 years of expertise in the field of veterinary medicine.

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Updated on 06/23/24

Reviewed by

Bartley Harrison

Discover the Common Ways Your Dog Could Become Injured (2)

Reviewed byBartley Harrison

Dr. Bartley Harrison is a veterinarian with more than 15 years of professional veterinary experience treating dogs, cats, rabbits, ferrets, birds, and small mammals, with a specific focus on Emergency Medicine. Dr. Harrison is part of The Spruce Pets’ veterinary review board.

Learn more about The Spruce Pets'Veterinary Review Board

Discover the Common Ways Your Dog Could Become Injured (3)

There's a pretty good chance your dog will getinjured at least once or twice in its life—whether in their leg, spine, tail, eye, or elsewhere. Dogs are often adventurous and some are even fearless. Most dogs explore the world barefoot and uninhibited. Unfortunately, the world is full of things that can harm your dog. Accidentshappen, so do your best to be prepared for them in advance.

Whetherminor or serious, it's scary to see your dog get injured. Be sure to seek veterinary attention as soon as possible after an injury occurs.Keep your vet's phone number and an emergency vet's phone number nearby so you can call for advice and assistance. Depending on the severity of your dog's injuries, you may need toadminister first aid.Even if everything seems fine, it's important to take your injured dog to a veterinarian for an assessment.

Here are some of the more common injuries seen in dogs and how to deal with them.

  • 01 of 10

    Major Trauma

    Discover the Common Ways Your Dog Could Become Injured (4)

    Trauma is one of the most common medical emergencies that affects dogs. Major trauma can cause multiple injuries to the body, both internal and external.

    Being hit by a car is a frequentcause of major trauma in dogs. After getting hit by a car, many dogs suffer head trauma, bone fractures, jointdislocation, internal injuries like bleeding and organ trauma, skin wounds (often called "road rash"), and more.

    Falling from a height or being in a car during an automobile accident can also cause traumatic injuries.

    To prevent these types of traumas, be sure to keep your dog on a leashwhen outdoors and never allow it to roam free. Use a gateor a barricadeif you have a balcony and avoid leaving windows open when you are away. Keep your dog safe in the car by using a restraint.

    If your dog experiences a major trauma, you may need to administer first aidon the scene. Then, get yourdog to the nearest open veterinary office. It may be best to try to go straight to an emergency veterinary hospital if there is one nearby. They often have the necessary resources to treat major traumas.

  • 02 of 10

    Dog Fight or Attack

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    If your dog is in a fight with anotherdog, both dogs may sustain serious injuries. Generally, dog fights and dog attacks cause wounds to the skin and soft tissue. These wounds range from minor to severe. A dog's teeth cause puncture wounds and lacerations to the skin. Deep wounds may affect the underlying tissue, including the muscles, body wall, and even bones. Although many dog bites occuron the neck first, they can happen on any part of the body. Injuries of varying degrees can affect the head, limbs, chest, abdomen, and more.

    Small dogs tend to have especially serious injuries after being attacked by a larger dog. If your small dog has been picked up and shaken by another dog, there may be neurological damage or internal injuries.

    If your dog has a bite wound, make sure you bring him to the vet as soon as possible. Dogs carry a lot of bacteria in their mouths, so bite wounds almost always become infected. Also, the traumatized tissue from the bite wound is more easily treated the firsthour after an injury occurs. Waiting any longer means that wound treatment may become more complicated, and the wound may beginthe healing process improperly.

  • 03 of 10

    Eye Injury

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    Eye injuries are fairlycommon in dogs and can happen for a variety of reasons. Many dogs injure an eye when running through and around plant life that brushes the eye. Sometimes, a dog's eye becomes injured when a cat swats at it or itgets into a dogfight. Another common cause of an eye injury is from adog hanging its head out of a moving vehicle. The debris from the road and air can get into the eyes, causing abrasions.

    If your dog has an eye injury, you may notice squinting, excess tearing or other eye discharge, redness, bulging of the eye, and/or swelling. Eye injuries can quickly turn severe, so be sure to see your vet at the first signs of an eye injury. If caught early enough, many eye injuries can be successfully treated with medication.

  • 04 of 10

    Cruciate Ligament Injury

    Discover the Common Ways Your Dog Could Become Injured (7)

    Injury to the cruciate ligament is one of the most common limb injuries seen in dogs. The cruciate is a stabilizingligament in the knee. When it ruptures or becomes injured in another way, it causes knee pain and instability. Most dogs will hold up the leg when the cruciate ligament is injured. Some will put a bit of weight on the leg, but most cannot put full weight on it.

    Only a veterinarian can determine if your dog has a cruciate injury. Dogs almost always need surgery to repair a ruptured cruciate ligament. Most dogs that rupture the ligament in one leg will eventually go on to injure the ligament in the other leg. Fortunately, there are several surgical options available, and the success rate is favorable.

    Continue to 5 of 10 below

  • 05 of 10

    Other Injuries to the Limbs

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    Several injuries may affect your dog's extremities. Most of these will cause limping. The severity of the limping usually tells you if you need to see a vet right away. After doing an exam, the vet may recommend radiographs (X-rays).

    Limping might be caused by a fracture of one or more bones in the legs or paws. Major fractures and joint dislocation usually look fairly obvious. However, minor fracturesmay not be as clear, especially hairline fracturesthat affect small bones or bones that do not support a lot of weight. A fracture is treated by stabilizing or immobilizing the broken bones. This may be achieved by placing a splint or cast. Or, surgery and placement of a pin or plate might be necessary.

    Your dog could have a soft tissue injury in the leg (sprained orstrained a muscle). This often happens if your dog lands the wrong way after jumping or overdoes it while running or playing. Treatment usually involves medication and rest. Moreserious soft tissueinjuries may require surgery.

  • 06 of 10

    Spinal Injury

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    Spinal injuries in dogs range from mild to severe. Spinal issues may be brought on by ​minor or major trauma. Others simply occur because of genetic predisposition.

    Intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) is a somewhat common spinal issue in dogs. When a dog has IVDD, one or more discs in between the vertebrae bulge or rupture, causingdisc material and inflammation to put pressure on the spinal cord. This causes pain and can lead to paralysis. Many owners report drunken gait or completeinability to walk (especially in the rear limbs). Signs may appear gradually or come on suddenly. In some cases, IVDD can be managed with medications and rest. However, more serious cases require surgery.

    Spinal fractures are less common in dogs than IVDD and typically occur with major trauma. In some cases, spinal fracturescan be repaired surgically.

  • 07 of 10

    Oral Injury

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    When dogs have oral injuries, it is often due to something they ate or tried to chew on. Bones, antlers, and hooves can cause injuries to the teeth, gums, tongue, and other soft tissue. Bones can become lodged around the lower jaw and canine teeth.

    Even chewingon sticks and twigs can result in an injury. It's not uncommon for vets to see dogs with sticks stuck on the roof of their mouths (lodged between the molars).

    When dogs fight, they may bite at each other's faces and cause wounds in the mouth.

    Minor wounds in the mouth, like scrapes and cuts, may be treated with medications. However, larger lacerations and tooth fractures usually require oral surgery.

  • 08 of 10

    Cuts and Scratches

    Discover the Common Ways Your Dog Could Become Injured (11)

    It's not unusual for active dogs to get cuts and scrapes. Wounds on the body might occur after a dog runs past a sharp object, such as a nail. Dogs often get wounds on their paws after stepping on glass, sharp rocks, metal, or other hazards. In some cases, the material becomes embedded in the paw pads or between the toes.

    If your dog is bleeding from anywhere on his body, it's best to get to your vet. A thorough cleaning is essential to flush out as much debris and bacteria as possible. A laceration repair (stitches) may also be necessary if the wound is large enough. If somematerial is in the wound, the vet may need to explore the site and remove it surgically.

    At the very least, your dog will need antibiotics to prevent infection. Vets also tend to prescribe anti-inflammatoriesfor pain and swelling.

    Continue to 9 of 10 below

  • 09 of 10

    Torn Toenail

    Discover the Common Ways Your Dog Could Become Injured (12)

    Many dogs experience a torn toenail at least once in their lives. In the same way that cuts and scrapes occur, dogs can also catch a toenail on something and injure it. A dogmay also catch a toenail on the grate of a metal cage.

    Sometimes, the toenail splits down the middle. Othertimes, the nail partially breaks off beyond the quick. Either of these scenarios is painful and may cause bleeding.

    In many cases, these dogs need what is called a "nail cutback." Vets typically use local anesthesia and/or sedation to prevent additional pain and relax the dog. Then, clean nail trimmers are used to cut the nail beyond the split and break. Sometimes, the nail must be cut down to the nail bed. The breeding is stopped and a minor bandage is applied. Dogs are usually sent home with antibiotics and anti-inflammatoriesfor pain and swelling.

    To prevent toenail injuries, keep your dog's nails trimmed short and watch where he walks.

  • 10 of 10

    Tail Injury

    Discover the Common Ways Your Dog Could Become Injured (13)

    Tail injuries occasionally happen to dogs. Usually, they are the result of some type of trauma. Your dog may accidentally get his tail caught somewhere(like a door). The tailmay be bitten by an animal or stepped on by someone.

    Some dogs, especiallylargebreed dogs, get what vets sometimes call "happy tails." This occurs when a large, heavy tail wags againsta hard surface so much that it causes bruising and abrasions.

    These types of tail injuries can be difficult to treat. When the dog feels well enough to start wagging again, he will likely re-injure the tail. Depending on the severity of the tailinjuries, healing can take weeks to months and may require the use of bandages, e-collars, and crate restrictions.

    In a different scenario, you may see that your dog's tail is flaccidand hanginglimplyfor no apparent reason. This is sometimes calledlimber tailsyndrome and may be the result of a minor sprain or strain. A flaccid tail is common after a dog has been doing a lot of swimming. However, it could simply be the result of excessive wagging. Limber tailsyndrome usually resolves on its own after a few days, but recovery and comfort can be helped with pain medications from your vet.

If you suspect your pet is sick, call your vet immediately. For health-related questions, always consult your veterinarian, as they have examined your pet, know the pet's health history, and can make the best recommendations for your pet.

The Spruce Pets uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

  1. Zeleny, M., and K. Grusova. A Car Accident Involving A Restrained Dog Within The Vehicle: A Case Report.Veterinární Medicína, vol 60, no. No. 7, 2016, pp. 399-402.Czech Academy Of Agricultural Sciences, doi:10.17221/8389-vetmed

  2. Eye Emergencies.Veterinary Manual.

  3. Cranial Cruciate Ligament Disease.American College of Veterinary Surgeons.

  4. Fractured Limbs.American College of Veterinary Surgeons.

  5. Intervertebral Disc Disease.American College of Veterinary Surgeons.

  6. Soft Tissue Pet Oral Surgery. Texas Veterinary Dental Center.

  7. Lacerations Cuts.Lort Smith Animal Hospital.

  8. What Is Limber Tail In Dogs?American Animal Hospital Association.

Discover the Common Ways Your Dog Could Become Injured (2025)
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