Surgical removal of gunshots and wound management in dog

Abstract

A four-year-old male non-descript dog, weighing 28 kg, was presented as an emergency case after it suffered a gunshot injury in the right forelimb and thorax position. Physical examination of the dog revealed that bleeding with an entry point of gunshots without exit wound results into restricted movement to walk and lift the body. There was no bone fracture and dislocation in the lower extremity examination. A bullet (diameter, 3-4mm) between the 11th and 12th thoracic position, right elbow and humerus joint, head of the fibula was observed on radiographic examination. The bullet was about 1 cm dimension, which stuck at different location and carefully removed. In the examination, the lacerative wound beneath the skin was observed relatively in some longitudinal strands, and no necrosis was present in the site. After the surgery and post-operative treatment, the dog was discharged with a good condition. Consequently, a precise evaluation of the gunshot injury to limb and thorax could not be achieved by easily palpable, which made a prediction of the prognosis difficult prior to surgery. Therefore, if radiography imaging tests provide evidence of a direct impact within the limb joints and thorax, surgery should be considered a primary method to prevent irreversible harm necrosis and specific treatment in small animal practiced.