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ANIMAL

ORTHOPAEDIC

CLINIC

OF FLORIDA

Animal Orthopaedic Clinic

of Florida

Fractures

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Fractures in dogs and cats can occur due to major trauma — such as being hit by a car — or from relatively minor incidents like jumping off furniture. Proper diagnosis and treatment are essential for optimal recovery and limb function.

What are they?

A fracture is a break in a bone. While often associated with major trauma, many fractures in dogs and cats actually occur from low-impact injuries. In these cases, the bones may be inherently too weak to withstand even minor forces. Classic examples include radius-ulna fractures (antebrachial fractures) in small breed dogs and elbow or humeral condylar fractures in breeds like French Bulldogs.

Fractures can vary widely — from partial (greenstick) fractures to severely shattered (comminuted) ones. Some fractures are open, meaning there is an associated wound. Others may occur secondary to underlying bone abnormalities, such as cancer.

Radius and ulna fracture in a dog
Radius and ulna fracture in a dog.

Symptoms

Most limb fractures cause severe lameness, and the affected leg may appear deformed, unstable, or shortened. Occasionally, an open wound indicates that the fracture is open. Some pets with chronic fractures may still use the limb surprisingly well, despite the severity of the injury.

Tests

Evaluation begins with a thorough history and physical examination to identify the likely cause of injury, localize pain, and check for other orthopedic or systemic problems. The next steps depend on the nature of the trauma:

  • High-impact injuries: A systemic workup — including bloodwork, chest X-rays, and abdominal imaging — is often required to rule out
    life-threatening injuries.
  • Low-impact or isolated injuries: Focus shifts to assessing the orthopedic problem directly.

Radiographs (X-rays) are the primary diagnostic tool and may require special views to fully understand the fracture configuration. CT imaging is particularly useful for complex or joint-involving fractures.

Radiograph showing a limb fracture
Radiograph showing a limb fracture.

Treatments

Fractures can be treated using a variety of methods, depending on severity, location, and patient factors. Options include:

  • Cage rest – for minor or stable fractures.
  • Splinting or casting – external support for less complex fractures.
  • Surgical stabilization – the most common approach for significant fractures.

Surgical repair may use plates and screws, rods or nails, or external fixators. Decisions depend on location, configuration, displacement, soft tissue condition, patient age, and underlying bone health. Prompt treatment is preferred, though life-threatening injuries always take priority. Postoperative care is critical to prevent implant failure and ensure healing.

Plate fixation of an antebrachial fracture
Interlocking nail used for a femoral fracture
External fixator on an antebrachial fracture

Various implants used to repair fractures, including rods, external frames, and plates and screws.

Prognosis

The prognosis for fractures is highly variable and depends on the bone involved, fracture type, degree of displacement, and timeliness of treatment. Generally, the sooner a fracture is stabilized, the better the outcome. With appropriate care, most pets make an excellent recovery and return to a comfortable, active life.

Why AOCF?

At Animal Orthopaedic Clinic of Florida, every patient benefits from unmatched expertise. Our head clinician is an internationally recognized leader and researcher in veterinary orthopaedic surgery. Using evidence-based, individualized care, we are dedicated to giving your dog the best chance at long-term, pain-free mobility.
Fracture Research from AOCF Surgeons +

Lederer XJ, Lewis DD, Evans RB, Johnson MD, Kim SE. Retrospective comparison of minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis and open reduction and plate stabilization of antebrachial fractures in 105 dogs (2017-2022). Vet Surg 2025; 54:714-723.

Deveci MZY, Lewis DD, Worden NJ, Johnson MD, Scheuermann LM, Kim SE, Peterson LC. Evaluation of 3D-printed patient-specific guides to facilitate fluoroscopic-assisted Kirschner wire stabilization of simulated capital physeal fractures in 3D-printed dog femur models. Vet Surg 2025; 54:354-366.

Hanlon J, Kim SE*. Mechanical evaluation of a threaded interference interlocking mechanism for angle-stable intramedullary nailing. Am J Vet Res 2024; 85:ajvr.24.03.0071.

Scheuermann LM, Lewis DD, Johnson MD, Biedrzycki AH, Kim SE. Clinical Efficacy of Virtual Surgical Planning and 3D-Printed, Patient-Specific Reduction Guides to Facilitate Alignment of Diaphyseal Tibial Fractures Stabilized via Minimally Invasive Plate Osteosynthesis in Dogs: A Historic Case Matched Control Study. Vet Surg 2024; 53:1052-1061.

Scheuermann LM, Lewis DD, Johnson MD, Biedrzycki AH, Kim SE. Efficacy of Virtual Surgical Planning and a 3D-Printed, Patient-Specific Reduction System to Facilitate Alignment of Diaphyseal Tibial Fractures Stabilized via Minimally Invasive Plate Osteosynthesis in Dogs: A Prospective Clinical Study. Vet Surg 2024; 53:1039-1051.

de Moya K, Kim SE*, Guiot L. Closed reduction and fluoroscopic-guided percutaneous pinning of femoral capital physeal or neck fractures: 13 fractures in 11 dogs. Vet Surg 2023; 52:846-852.

Scheuermann LM, Kim SE*, Biedrzycki AH. Accuracy of 3D printing assisted minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis for femoral fracture repair in dogs with and without custom surgical guides. Vet Surg 2023; 52:827-835.

Dalton CL, Kim SE*, Mullen KM, Biedrzycki AH. Minimally invasive repair of acetabular fractures in dogs: an ex-vivo feasibility study and case report. Vet Surg 2023; 52:836-845.

Johnson MD, Lewis DD, Sutton WA, Scheuermann LM, De Armond CC, Kim SE, Biedrzycki AH. Efficacy of Virtual Surgical Planning and 3D-Printed Patient-Specific Reduction Guides for Aligning Simulated Comminuted Tibial Fractures in Cadaveric Dogs. Am J Vet Res 2022; 83(9):21.12.0215.

Evers JS, Kim SE*. Use of a bone-to-tendon plate to stabilize a comminuted calcaneus fracture in a dog. Vet Surg 2022; 51:859-863.

Peterson LC, Kim SE*, Lewis DD, Johnson MD, Ferrigno C. Calcium Sulfate Antibiotic Impregnated Bead Implantation for the Treatment or Prevention of Deep Surgical Infection. Vet Surg 2021; 50:748-757.

Peterson LC, Kim SE*. Minimally invasive fixation of a lateral tibial plateau fracture in a dog. J Small Anim Pract 2021; 62:161.

Kim SE*, McFetridge PS, Hagen JE. Human-placental derived matrix with cancellous autograft and demineralized bone matrix for large segmental long-bone defects in two dogs with septic nonunion. Vet Surg 2020; 49:1618-1625.

Hudson CC, Kim SE, Pozzi A. Percutaneous Pinning for Fracture Repair in Dogs and Cats. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract 2019; S0195-5616:30132-9.

Carvajal J, Kim SE*, Pozzi A. Use of a Cerclage Cable-Plate System for Stabilization of a Periprosthetic Femoral Fracture Following Total Hip Replacement in a Dog. Vet Surg 2019; 48:437-443.

Au Yong J, Lewis DD, Kim SE, Evans RB, Pozzi A. A retrospective evaluation of the efficacy of minimally invasive, fluoroscopic-assisted reduction and stabilisation of uni-condylar humeral fractures. Australian Veterinary Journal 2018; 96(8):302-307.

Gilbert ED, Lewis DD, Townsend S, Kim SE. Evaluation of two external fixator systems for facilitating alignment and reduction when performing minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis in simulated antebrachial fractures. Vet Surg 2017; 46:971-980.

Coggeshall JD, Lewis DD, Iorgulescu A, Kim SE, Palm LS, Pozzi A. Adjunctive Fixation with a Kirschner Wire or a Plate for Lateral Unicondylar Humeral Fracture Stabilization. Vet Surg 2017; 46:933-941.

Tremolada G, Lewis DD, Paragnani K, Conrad BP, Kim SE, Pozzi A. A biomechanical comparison of 3.5 mm Fixin plates and 3.5 mm Synthes locking compression plates applied as plate-rod constructs in a fracture gap model. Am J Vet Res 2017; 78(6):712-717.

Boekhout CL, Kim SE, Pozzi A, Cross AR. Closed Reduction and Fluoroscopic Assisted Percutaneous Pinning of 42 Physeal Fractures in 37 dogs and 4 cats. Vet Surg 2017; 46:103-110.

Christopher SA, Kim SE, Roe S, Pozzi A. Biomechanical evaluation of adjuctive cerclage wire for the prevention of periprosthetic femur fracture using cementless press fit total hip replacement. Vet J 2016; 214:7-9.

Arulpragasam SP, Kim SE*, VanderHart DJ. What is your diagnosis? Comminuted Salter-Harris Type III fracture of the femoral capital physis in a dog. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2014; 245(11):1225-1227.

Frydman G, Cuddy LC, Kim SE, Pozzi A. Treatment of bicondylar femoral fractures complicated by concurrent ligament or tendon injuries in four dogs. Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol 2014; 27:324-332.

Coggeshall JD, Lewis DD, Fitzpatrick N, Conrad BP, Swanson KR, Palm LS, Pozzi A, Kim SE. Biomechanical comparison of two implants utilized for the stabilization of incomplete ossification of the humeral condyle lesions. Vet Surg 2014; 43:58-65.

Kim SE*, Lewis DD. Corrective osteotomy for procurvatum deformity due to distal femoral physeal fracture malunion: results in two dogs and a review of the literature. Aus Vet J 2014; 92:75-80.

Kim SE*. Robert Jones Bandage. NAVC Clinician’s Brief 2013; 11:71-75.

Rubin JA, Kim SE*, Bacon NJ. Traumatic tympanic bulla fracture in a dog. J Small Anim Prac 2013; 54:605-609.

Kim SE*, Hudson CC, Pozzi A. Percutaneous pinning for fracture repair in dogs and cats. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract 2013; 42(5):963-974.

Aitken-Palmer C, Lewis DD, Kim SE, Reese DJ. Use of a circular fixator construct for metacarpal fracture stabilisation in a fawn. Vet Rec 2012; 170(17):444.