If your dog was hit by a car, get them out of traffic safely, call Burlington Veterinary Emergency Hospital (BVERH) at (905) 637-8111, and drive there directly. Even if your dog gets up and seems fine, internal injuries from car strikes are common and often invisible for the first few hours. Adrenaline masks pain immediately after impact, and the most dangerous injuries (internal bleeding, collapsed lung, diaphragmatic hernia, bladder rupture) reveal themselves slowly. Every dog hit by a car needs a vet assessment with chest and abdominal imaging, regardless of how they look. This guide tells you how to safely move them, what to watch for, and what to expect at BVERH.

What to Do in the First 10 Minutes

  1. Make sure the area is safe before approaching. Turn on hazard lights, get yourself and the dog out of the road.
  2. Approach calmly. Even your own friendly dog may bite when in pain. Speak softly. If the dog is conscious and biting, use a slip leash, a belt, or a piece of clothing as a soft muzzle (only if the dog is breathing normally, never muzzle a dog that is gasping or vomiting).
  3. Slide a rigid surface under the dog. A flat board, plywood, a baking sheet for small dogs, or a folded blanket if nothing rigid is available. Do not lift by the chest or belly. Do not let them walk.
  4. Cover the dog with a second blanket to slow shock-related heat loss.
  5. Apply direct pressure with a clean cloth to any visible heavy bleeding. Do not remove anything embedded.
  6. Call BVERH at (905) 637-8111 while driving so the team is ready with IV, oxygen, and imaging when you arrive.
  7. Drive to BVERH at 775 Woodview Road in Burlington. Do not detour to your regular vet. Most general practices cannot manage major trauma.

The full Burlington emergency contact list and first-aid steps for other emergencies are on our pet emergency page.

Why “He Seemed Fine” Is the Dangerous Phrase

The most common reason owners delay treatment after a car strike is that the dog gets up, shakes off, and walks. Adrenaline masks pain for 30 to 60 minutes. Dogs are also evolved to hide weakness, a predator-avoidance instinct that works against them in this situation. The result is that dogs in serious internal trouble can appear normal for hours, then collapse.

The injuries that commonly hide for the first 6 to 24 hours include:

  • Pneumothorax (collapsed lung): air leaks into the chest cavity around the lung. Often presents as gradually worsening rapid shallow breathing. Can be fatal.
  • Diaphragmatic hernia: the muscle separating the chest from the abdomen tears, allowing abdominal organs to migrate into the chest cavity. Breathing becomes increasingly laboured. Always requires surgery.
  • Internal bleeding: ruptured spleen or liver bleeds slowly into the abdomen. The dog becomes progressively pale, weak, and lethargic over hours. Without intervention, can lead to fatal shock.
  • Bladder rupture: especially in dogs hit when the bladder was full. Urine leaks into the abdomen, causing chemical irritation and eventually toxic absorption. The dog may continue to act normally for a day before becoming acutely ill.
  • Brain injury: subtle changes in alertness, coordination, or behaviour that worsen over 12 to 24 hours.

This is why even apparently uninjured dogs get imaging and overnight monitoring after a car strike. The cost of overreacting is one vet visit. The cost of underreacting is sometimes the dog.

How to Move a Dog Safely

The goal: stabilize the spine, support the limbs, and prevent additional injury during transport.

With a rigid surface (best):

  • Slide a flat board, plywood, an oven shelf, or for small dogs a baking sheet under the dog from one side.
  • Do not roll or flip the dog if a spinal injury is possible.
  • Use blankets or rolled towels alongside the body to prevent rolling off.
  • Two people lift the board from each end.

With a blanket (next best):

  • Lay a large blanket or beach towel flat next to the dog.
  • Slide it under by gently lifting just enough to feed the fabric across.
  • Two people pick up each end at the same time.
  • Keep the dog as level as possible during transport.

For small dogs:

  • A laundry basket or cardboard box with a folded blanket inside works as a stretcher and prevents jostling.

Never:

  • Pick up by the collar, leash, or harness.
  • Carry over the shoulder like a sack.
  • Allow the dog to walk to the car, even if they want to.
  • Twist or fold the body.

Signs of Shock and Internal Injury

Watch for the following on the drive in and overnight after discharge:

Shock:

  • Pale or white gums (capillary refill longer than 2 seconds)
  • Weak rapid pulse
  • Cold paws, ears, tail
  • Rapid shallow breathing
  • Weakness or staggering
  • Decreased mental alertness

Chest injury:

  • Increased respiratory effort, especially abdominal “pumping” with each breath
  • Open-mouth breathing in a dog that does not normally pant
  • Coughing up blood or pink frothy fluid
  • Blue or grey gums

Abdominal injury:

  • Distended belly that is enlarging over hours
  • Painful abdomen (the dog reacts to touch)
  • Vomiting, especially with blood
  • Decreased urine output or blood in urine
  • Progressive weakness

Any of these is a reason to drive back to BVERH immediately.

What the Vet Will Do

Standard trauma protocol at BVERH:

  1. Triage and shock assessment the moment you walk in.
  2. Oxygen support if breathing is affected.
  3. IV access and shock fluid therapy to support blood pressure.
  4. Pain control with opioids (typically methadone or fentanyl, never NSAIDs in the first 24 hours after trauma because of bleeding and kidney concerns).
  5. Imaging: chest X-rays for pneumothorax and diaphragmatic hernia, abdominal X-rays or ultrasound for internal bleeding or bladder rupture, additional views for suspected fractures.
  6. Bloodwork: packed cell volume (looking for blood loss), kidney values, electrolytes, lactate (a shock marker).
  7. Treatment of specific injuries: chest tube for pneumothorax, surgery for diaphragmatic hernia or ruptured bladder, blood transfusion for severe internal bleeding, splinting or surgery for fractures.
  8. Hospitalization for a minimum of 24 to 48 hours of monitoring.

Cost varies enormously based on the injuries found. Uncomplicated observation typically runs $1,500 to $3,000. Surgery for diaphragmatic hernia or ruptured bladder is $5,000 to $10,000. Severe multi-system trauma can exceed $15,000.

After Discharge

Most dogs go home after 2 to 5 days. Discharge instructions usually include:

  • Strict rest, often kennel rest, for 2 to 6 weeks depending on injuries.
  • Leash walks only for bathroom breaks.
  • No stairs, no jumping, no running.
  • Pain medication as prescribed (often gabapentin, sometimes a dog-specific NSAID once kidney safety is confirmed).
  • A specific recheck schedule.
  • Signs to watch for that warrant immediate return.

The recovery period is a real test of patience, especially for energetic dogs. Boarding or daycare facilities (including Pawlington) can sometimes accommodate post-trauma rest stays, but check with the facility, your trauma vet, and your regular vet before booking.

Prevention

  • Reliable recall is the single most important training investment for dog safety in a city. A dog that turns instantly on cue rarely ends up in front of a car.
  • Use a properly-fitted secure harness or martingale collar. Standard collars can slip off in a startled dog.
  • Six-foot fixed leash for road walking. Retractable leashes can fail or extend too far when a dog bolts.
  • Watch the door. Burlington has high foot traffic, and front-door bolts at the moment of a delivery or guest arrival are a top scenario for car strikes.
  • Fenced yards need fence audits. Doodles, retrievers, and shepherds can jump higher than most owners realize.
  • Microchip and current ID tags make recovery much faster if your dog does escape.

The complete Burlington emergency resource list is on our pet emergency page.

A car strike is one of the few emergencies where the right action in the first 15 minutes is almost entirely about transport, not first aid. Stay calm, move the dog safely, call BVERH on the drive in. Do not be reassured by a dog who walks away. The dogs who survive serious car strikes are the ones whose owners brought them in regardless.