road traffic accidents (rta)road traffic accidents (rta) emergency if your pet has been hit by a...

Road traffic accidents (RTA)

EMERGENCY

If your pet has been hit by a car, contact your nearest vet

straight away.

Even if they seem okay, there could be serious injuries that

you can’t see on the surface.

What to do if your pet has just been hit by a

car

Stay calm. It will reassure your pet.

Take your pet to the vet. Call ahead to tell them what time

you will arrive and if your pet has any obvious injuries such

as difficulty breathing, bleeding or broken bones. Cats and

small pets should travel in a box for their own safety.

Hold them still. Whilst moving your pet, keep their back

straight in case they have a neck or spinal injury. Use a board

or a blanket to safely move your pet, a towel will help with

smaller dogs and cats.

Keep them warm. After an accident your pet might suffer

from shock. Keep them as warm as possible.

Prevent bites. If your pet is scared or confused, they may

bite. If this is the case, consider using a temporary muzzle to

protect yourself until they have calmed down. Never use a

muzzle if your pet is having trouble breathing or has an injury

to their face.

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Unsure if your pet has been hit?

If your pet has come home out of sorts, and you think they may

have been injured in a road accident check them for:

Bleeding

Split claws

Limping or stiffness

Breathing problems (hard, fast, shallow)

Low energy (lethargy)

Sleeping more than usual

Pain (growling, crying, off food, guarding an area of their

body)

Seem in shock (pale mouth, cold feet and ears)

Common injuries

Head

Head injuries can cause very serious problems including

epilepsy and skull and brain damage.

Internal injuries and bleeding

Damage to vital organs such as the kidneys, liver, spleen,

lungs, heart and bladder. Internal bleeding isn’t always

obvious to begin with.

Burst bladder is particularly common in cats after a road

traffic injuries accident.

Ruptured diaphragm

Cats commonly rupture (burst) their diaphragm if they are

hit by a car.

The diaphragm is a thin muscle that separates the chest

from the abdomen (stomach). If it’s damaged, blood or

guts often fill the chest and breathing can be seriously

affected.



This injury is rare in dogs.

Spinal injuries

Damage to the back and spine can lead to your pet

becoming paralysed.

Broken bones

Broken bones are a common road traffic accident injury.

Wounds

Wounds including grazes, friction burns, cuts, bruises and

degloving wounds where skin is pulled off the legs.

Treatment

Treatment depends on the injuries your pet has suffered. Your

vet may need to admit your pet into the hospital to give pain relief

and put them on a drip (lifesaving fluids given directly into their

blood stream).

Your vet will treat life threatening injuries first, for example

damage to internal organs, shock or severe bleeding. Once your

pet is stable, they will treat other injuries like broken bones and

wounds.

Surgery might be needed to fix broken bones, damaged organs

or wounds.

Outlook

Recovery might take a few days or many weeks, depending on

how serious your pet’s injuries are.

Serious skin wounds can take weeks to heal, need regular vet

checks and special dressings. Skin reconstruction is sometimes

necessary.



Broken bones often need complex surgery and long recovery

periods, sometimes even physiotherapy to help them walk again.

Sadly, very badly injured pets may not survive their injuries, even

if they get vet treatment. Head, spine and chest injuries are often

very serious and cause fatal damage that can’t be fixed.

Preventing road traffic accidents

There are many things pet owners can do to reduce the chance

of their pet bring hit by a car:

Road safety for dogs

Road safety for cats

Male cats who are not neutered (not castrated) have a much

higher chance of being hit by a car. This is because they roam

over large areas and cross busy roads in search of a female cat.

Make sure your cat is neutered.

Microchipping is very important. A microchip means you will be

reunited with your pet if they are taken to the vets by a member

of the public after a road traffic accident.

Cost

Treatment for a road traffic accident can cost thousands of

pounds (depending on the treatment needed). Always speak to

your vet if you can’t afford the treatment they have

recommended, there may be other options. If you are struggling

with veterinary fees, PDSA offers free or reduced cost treatment

to eligible clients. Having pet insurance will help to pay any

unexpected vet bills and help to provide the best possible care

for your furry friend. Always check what level of cover you have

and whether it is a ‘lifelong’ policy.

Published Sept 2018



road traffic accidents (rta)road traffic accidents (rta) emergency if your pet has been hit by a...

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