Vol. 10, Issue 8, Part F (2025)

Background: Fractures are a common orthopaedic problem in dogs, with long bones being the most frequently affected. Identifying the incidence and distribution of these fractures helps in understanding risk factors and planning effective management strategies.
Methods: The study was conducted from January 2023 to December 2024 at the Department of Veterinary Surgery and Radiology, NTR College of Veterinary Science, Gannavaram, and the SVVU Super Speciality Veterinary Hospital, Visakhapatnam. Dogs presenting with lameness of thoracic or pelvic limbs were clinically examined, and detailed histories, radiographs, and records were analyzed. Data were evaluated with respect to breed, age, sex, limb, bone involved, and etiological factors.
Results: 9,127 surgical cases, 286 (3.13%) involved fractures, of which 198 (2.17%) were long bone fractures, representing 69.23% of all fractures. Mongrels (28.3%) showed the highest incidence, followed by Pomeranians (10.6%) and mixed breeds (9.1%). Juvenile dogs (0-1 year) were most affected (43.4%), and males (63.6%) had a higher prevalence than females (36.4%). Hind limbs (51.5%) were slightly more affected than forelimbs (48.5%), with the right hind limb most frequently involved (29.9%). The femur was the most commonly fractured bone (33.5%), followed by radius-ulna (27.7%) and tibia-fibula (23.3%). Falls from height (46.0%) and automobile accidents (38.4%) were the predominant causes.
Conclusion: Juvenile male Mongrels were most susceptible to long bone fractures, with the femur being the bone most frequently affected. Falls and road accidents were identified as the major etiological factors influencing fracture occurrence in dogs.