Fracture of Bones of the Tail are best treated by setting up the tail with strips of Mead’s adhesive plaister. Many layers must be applied so as to keep the parts at rest. Adhesive plaister is advised, as it is almost impossible to keep a bandage on the tail unless pitch or some other such material is used, and this makes the dressing so heavy and uncomfortable for the patient.
Green Stick Fracture: That is when a bone is broken, and the parts are not displaced.
Symptoms: These cases are sometimes difficult to diagnose, however, the parts are swollen and painful, and the dog is unable to put the foot to the ground. With the aid of the X-rays the fracture is easily discernible. The bone which I find by experience most liable to this form of fracture is the radius or fore arm.
Treatment: The same as for cases of simple fracture, and it soon unites, and the leg becomes strong again.
Broken Back, which occurs sometimes as the result of a dog being run over, the part that generally breaks is across the loins—lumbar vertebræ—well forward close to the dorsal vertebræ.
Symptoms: Acute pain at the part, some swelling of the soft tissues covering the injured vertebræ, and loss of power and feeling of the parts behind the injury.
Treatment: Useless; it is much the best to have the dog at once put out of his misery.
Fracture of the Cervical Vertebræ or Bones of the Neck may occur from a dog being run over across the neck. Death, as a rule, quickly occurs. There is nothing to be done.
Fracture of Ribs: This is not an uncommon occurrence.
Symptoms: Pain at the seat of injury, and some local swelling. The fractured rib can easily be felt, and there is some crepitation when manipulated. The broken ends of the rib are inclined to turn inwards.