When a pet suffers a serious injury, getting the right treatment quickly can make a big difference to their recovery.
Our specialist surgeon treats complex injuries and trauma in dogs and cats, including complicated fractures, severe wounds, joint and soft tissue injuries, and injuries following serious accidents.
Treatment is tailored to each pet and may include advanced imaging, fracture repair and stabilisation, soft tissue reconstruction, pain management and follow-up care.
Common injuries and trauma in dogs and cats
Pets can suffer significant injuries from road accidents, falls, bites, sporting injuries and other trauma. While some injuries can be treated conservatively, others require specialist assessment and surgery.
Broken or fractured legs
Fractures vary depending on the bone involved, the location and pattern of the break, and damage to surrounding tissues.
Some fractures can heal with rest or external support, while others require surgical repair to restore alignment and stability. Depending on the fracture, this may involve plates, screws, pins or other stabilisation techniques.
Injuries after being hit by a car
Being hit by a car can cause injuries to the chest, abdomen, pelvis, spine, limbs and soft tissues, as well as broken bones.
A thorough assessment is important to identify injuries that may not be immediately obvious. Once your pet is stabilised, our specialist can assess injuries that may require surgical treatment.
If your pet has been hit by a car or suffered significant trauma, seek urgent veterinary attention.
Joint, ligament and soft tissue injuries
Trauma can damage muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints and other soft tissues. While some injuries can heal with conservative treatment, more extensive damage may require surgery to restore function and protect important structures.
Open fractures and complex wounds
Open fractures and severe wounds require careful management because of the risk of contamination and infection. Where there is significant skin or tissue loss, reconstructive surgery may be needed to protect underlying structures and support healing.
When does a pet injury need specialist surgery?
Not every traumatic injury requires surgery. The decision depends on the type and severity of the injury, the structures affected, your pet’s overall health and the expected outcome with or without surgery.
Assessing the severity of a traumatic injury
After significant trauma, the priority is to assess and stabilise your pet. This may include checking breathing and circulation, controlling pain, assessing neurological function and looking for injuries to the chest or abdomen.
Once your pet is stable, diagnostic imaging can help determine the extent of the injury and guide treatment.
When a fracture needs surgical repair
Surgery may be recommended when a fracture is unstable, significantly displaced, involves a joint, cannot be adequately stabilised with external support, has multiple fragments, is open or has not healed as expected.
The goal is to restore appropriate alignment and provide stability while the bone heals, supporting the best possible return to function.
When soft tissue reconstruction is needed
Severe trauma can cause significant skin and tissue loss, making normal wound closure difficult or impossible. Reconstructive surgery can help close the wound, protect exposed structures and create the conditions needed for healing.
Diagnosing complex injuries
Accurate diagnosis is an important part of planning treatment, particularly when trauma affects multiple structures.
X-rays and advanced diagnostic imaging
X-rays are commonly used to identify fractures and assess bone alignment. Depending on the injury, advanced imaging may provide additional information about complex fractures and surrounding structures.
Assessing bones, joints and soft tissues
Our surgical team considers the bones, joints and surrounding soft tissues when assessing an injury. This is particularly important where nerves, blood vessels, muscles or tendons may also have been damaged.
Planning surgery for complex injuries
Surgical planning is tailored to the individual injury. This may involve selecting the most appropriate method of fracture stabilisation or planning staged wound management and reconstruction.
Fracture management and surgery
Our specialist surgeon can assess and manage complex fractures from diagnosis through to follow-up and recovery.
Fracture repair and stabilisation
Depending on the fracture, repair may involve plates and screws, pins or other surgical techniques. The approach is selected based on the location, type and stability of the fracture.
Managing complicated or multiple fractures
Multiple fractures or significant surrounding tissue damage require careful treatment planning. In some cases, surgery may be staged to allow your pet to recover from the initial trauma before definitive treatment.
Surgical treatment and pain management
Pain management is an important part of trauma treatment and recovery. Your pet’s pain relief will be tailored to their injury and treatment, with guidance provided on wound care and activity restriction following surgery.
Soft tissue reconstruction for pets
Extensive trauma can cause skin and tissue loss that cannot be repaired through standard wound closure.
Treating severe wounds and tissue damage
Severe wounds may involve damaged skin, muscle and other underlying tissues. Treatment may initially focus on cleaning and managing the wound before surgical closure once the tissues are ready to heal.
Reconstructive techniques, grafts and flaps
Where there is insufficient healthy skin for direct closure, techniques such as skin flaps or grafts may be used. The most appropriate approach depends on the location and extent of tissue loss.
Supporting wound healing and recovery
Careful wound management and activity restriction are important following reconstructive surgery. Your veterinary team will provide instructions for caring for the surgical site and monitoring healing.
Recovery and follow up care after trauma surgery
Recovery depends on the injury, procedure and your pet’s individual response to treatment.
Pain relief and wound care
Your pet will receive an individualised pain management plan and instructions for caring for their wound or surgical site at home.
Monitoring bone and soft tissue healing
Follow-up examinations and imaging may be recommended to monitor healing. For fractures, X-rays can help determine when it is safe to gradually increase activity.
Rehabilitation and return to normal activity
Activity will usually need to be restricted initially, followed by a gradual return to normal movement as healing progresses. Rehabilitation may also form part of the recovery plan following significant orthopaedic or soft tissue injuries.
Referrals for complex injuries and trauma
Your primary veterinarian may recommend referral to our specialist surgeon when an injury requires specialist assessment or surgical treatment.
Referral may be appropriate for:
- Complex or unstable fractures
- Fractures involving a joint
- Multiple fractures following significant trauma
- Open fractures
- Extensive soft tissue or skin damage
- Wounds that cannot be closed normally
- Injuries requiring advanced imaging or specialist surgical planning
- Fractures or wounds that have not healed as expected
FAQs
Keep your dog calm and as still as possible and seek veterinary advice. Avoid encouraging them to walk or put weight on an injured limb. Significant accidents, including being hit by a car, require urgent veterinary assessment.
Common injuries include sprains and strains, fractures, ligament injuries, dislocations and wounds. Treatment depends on the injury and may include rest, pain relief, surgery and rehabilitation.
Signs may include an inability to put weight on the leg, sudden or significant lameness, swelling or an abnormal position of the limb. Not all fractures are obvious, so sudden or severe lameness should be assessed by a veterinarian.
Your dog should be assessed if they are suddenly or significantly lame, unable to put weight on a leg, have swelling or appear to be in pain. Seek urgent care following significant trauma or if your dog cannot stand or walk normally.
Maintaining a healthy weight, building fitness gradually and avoiding sudden increases in high-impact activity can help reduce stress on the joints. Regular veterinary checks can also help identify joint problems early.
Seek urgent veterinary attention, even if your pet appears well. Internal injuries may not be immediately obvious. Keep your pet as still and calm as possible while transporting them and follow your veterinary team’s advice.
No. Some fractures can be managed without surgery, while others require surgical repair because they are unstable, displaced, involve a joint or are unlikely to heal properly with external support.
Healing time varies depending on the bone, type of fracture, your pet’s age and health, and the treatment used. Follow-up examinations and X-rays may be needed to monitor healing.
In many cases, yes. Where there is insufficient healthy skin to close a wound directly, techniques such as skin flaps or grafts may be considered.
Yes. Your primary veterinarian can refer your pet to our specialist surgical team for assessment and treatment of complex injuries and trauma.
Your pet will be monitored following surgery, and you will receive a recovery plan covering pain relief, wound care, activity restriction and follow-up appointments. We will also keep your regular veterinarian informed throughout their recovery.