Causes of Rib Pain in Dogs
- Fracture of the ribs
- Trauma or injury to the rib cage
- Respiratory illness
- Lung trauma
- Tumors
- Osteosarcoma
Diagnosis of Dog Rib Pain
Since there are different causes that lead to rib pain in dogs, it’s necessary for the vet to obtain an accurate diagnosis. If the pet has a fracture, he will be unable to walk or stand and will experience extreme pain and discomfort. The easiest way to identify the cause of the pain or confirm a fracture is to perform an X-ray. An X-ray will also enable the vet to pinpoint any abnormalities that are present in the chest cavity.
Diagnostic Tests
If the vet notices any changes to the chest wall like the presence of a tumor, additional tests will have to be conducted to find out if the tumor is malignant in nature or not. Blood tests and biopsies will also be performed to determine the grade of the cancer if malignancy is suspected. If the tumor is large enough, it may exert pressure on the rib cage and cause symptoms of pain and labored breathing. These tumors may have to be surgically extracted. Due to this reason, prompt diagnosis is crucial.
Treatment of Rib Pain
In order to get rid of the pain in the pet’s ribs, the vet will have to treat the underlying cause. Fractures will have to be surgically corrected with the help of wires and suture materials while tumors will have to be extracted depending on their size and location. If the dog is suffering from an invasive form of osteosarcoma that’s attacked his rib cage, the vet will use an aggressive treatment protocol to slow down the progress of cancer. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy are the most commonly used treatment options in this case.
If the cause of the rib pain is associated with swelling and inflammation of the chest wall the vet will prescribe a course of antibiotics or steroids to control any infections that are present. Pet owners should work with the vet to help the dog recuperate at the earliest. All medications should be administered on time and in the right amounts.
Supportive Care
Dogs that have recently undergone surgery require plenty of rest and supportive care. The pet should be fed a nutritious diet and may require additional supplements to speed up recovery. Avoid administering any supplements without first discussing it with your vet. Also make sure that the dog is kept in a comfortable environment, away from other pets.
If your dog is recovering from a fracture, you need to make sure that you conduct follow up vet checks to assess your pet’s condition. Restrict your pet from walking or roaming about and consider using physical therapy to bring your pet back to normal.