My puppy has a fracture. Can it heal on its own without surgery?

Question

My puppy was hurt at a boarding place. The vet we took him to said he needed surgery, the owner wanted a second opinion and the other vet said it would heal on it's own with proper rest. Can the fractures heal on it's own? Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed | Male | unneutered | 5 months and 20 days old | 31 lbs

Kevin Sanada, DVM · Accepted Answer

They can definitely heal on their own and they heal especially well with puppies. However, it may heal at an angle, which can cause a life-long limp and issues with arthritis. This particular fracture involves the growth plate, which can increase the possibility that it won't heal correctly. The advantage of surgery is that the fracture can be aligned appropriately, which will shorten healing time and reduce chances of future complications. This would not be an easy surgery though and would likely require an orthopedic specialist to do it; which can get quite expensive. If you want to pursue surgery, then it's best to ask your veterinarian for a referral to an orthopedic specialist. Otherwise it's possible for it to heal fine with casting/splinting and time. I hope that helps and Ice gets better soon.

My puppy has a fracture. Can it heal on its own without surgery?

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