My dog's leg bone feels dislocated. Can I safely pop it back?

Question

I took my dog to the vet and they didn’t do xrays but suspect an ulnar nerve issue. She has not gotten better. Her bone feels out of place. It hurts when it gets bent upwards (towards spine) but not when it’s straightened. Funds are tight (I am having a baby in 2 weeks). Can I pop it back in place? I believe it’s just dislocated... Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Medium (23 - 60lb) | Female | spayed | 50 lbs

Jeffrey Milner · Accepted Answer

If your veterinarian said they believe there is a neural issue, I would not assume he is wrong and try to perform a replacement procedure yourself instead. Even if there was a luxation of a joint, getting it back into place is never easy and painful. The only time that it is easy, is when its the type of luxation that easily pops back in and out. Unfortunately, these are worst cases since keeping the joint in place is very difficult. If your veterinarian is correct and that there is a neural issue, there are medications that can be used to treat the pain and inflammation associated with it. He should have prescribed something. Your dog also needs to rest. No running, jumping, playing, leashing walking only until shes close to better. An ulnar nerve injury is a pretty specific diagnosis so I do not know how or why the vet is assuming this is the case. If your dog is persistently lame, not bearing weight, and no x-ray was obtained, I would seek another opinion and get an x-ray taken. While I understand funds are tight, this may not be an issue that resolves on its own. The one thing I can say absolutely though, is that you should not attempt to relocate your dog's bones yourself. This is a procedure that should be done under heavy sedation or anesthesia, checked for accuracy radiographically, and then bandaged in placed with a specific bandage type. Hope this makes sense.

My dog's leg bone feels dislocated. Can I safely pop it back?

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