Accidents and injuries with dogs can sometimes lead to broken bones. Knowing what to expect with treatment and recovery can put your mind at ease. Our vets in Moreno Valley share some information on caring for a dog with a broken jaw, including how to feed them.
The Potential Causes Behind a Dog's Broken Jaw
Dogs may sustain a mandibular fracture, commonly known as a broken jaw, through trauma or periodontal disease. Traumatic incidents, such as being hit by a car or engaging in a fight with another dog, can lead to broken jaws in dogs.
Innocuous activities like chewing on a toy or biting down on food can lead to jawbone fractures due to the weakened strength caused by periodontal disease.
Promptly checking for other potential injuries is crucial if your dog experiences vehicular trauma or a dogfight. If your dog experiences a fracture, it is important to promptly take them to the vet or seek emergency veterinary care. The fracture should be addressed once your dog has been stabilized.
How to Feed a Dog With a Broken Jaw
Feeding a dog with a broken jaw requires adjustments to ensure comfort and proper nutrition. We recommend soft or liquid-based foods, such as wet canned food or a specially designed soft diet. The food may need to be blended or pureed to make it easier for the dog to eat.
In severe cases where the dog cannot eat on their own, a syringe or feeding tube may be necessary.
Treating Dogs With a Broken Jaw
If your pet's jaw is broken, it may need surgery. In these cases, surgeons frequently use metal plates, screws, and wires. However, less severe fractures can be treated with acrylic splints, providing a simpler procedure without requiring complex surgery. Proper alignment of the teeth is the main goal.
After applying the splint, your pet should avoid chewing on hard objects for a few weeks. Furthermore, it is advised to feed them soft food until the veterinarian approves a return to a hard food diet. Once the fracture is completely healed, you can remove the splint. Another anesthetic procedure may be required if the wire or splint needs to be removed.
When your dog experiences a jaw fracture, our main goal during surgery is to quickly relieve discomfort, ensuring that your dog can eat and rest comfortably. Improper healing of the upper or lower jaw can result in problems with teeth alignment. Preventing harm to the nerves and blood vessels in the jaw is crucial.
The Prognosis for Dogs WIth a Broken Jaw
Although a few exceptions exist, repairing jaw fractures is usually highly effective. Maxillary fractures typically exhibit stability and yield favorable outcomes. However, the prognosis for mandibular fractures can be more uncertain, depending on the cause of the injury.
The prognosis is usually favorable when it results from a minor fall. However, older dogs with small sizes and dental issues may have a more difficult recovery if their jaw fractures during surgery.
Some potential complications with jaw fracture repair include the severity of the injury, any damage to the blood supply, and the presence of a bacterial infection.
Caring for Your Dog After Jaw Surgery
After repairing the broken bone, your vet will give you home care instructions for your dog. Make sure to confine your dog and use a leash to prevent any activities that could cause more harm.
Furthermore, feeding your dog a soft diet or paste food may help relieve the pressure on the healing bone. At first, your dog may require a feeding tube, which can be daunting. However, dogs typically adjust quickly and handle it well. Your vet will give you detailed instructions on how to use and take care of the feeding tube.
Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition, please make an appointment with your vet.