'Ribcage Injuries: Avoidance Behaviour or Hidden Pain?' Webinar Presented by Dr Laura Lee

About the Webinar

Ribcage injuries are often overlooked as a cause of behaviour-altering pain, even though it is impossible to stabilize the ribs since they need to move with every breath, 21,600 - 43,200 times each day. Rib pain can be difficult to assess because it is constant, chronic and sufferers often take great lengths to protect themselves from situations which may aggravate the pain. Rib injuries may occur from slips or falls, especially on steps, or decks or surfaces with sharp edges. Hard play, wrestling, exuberant jumping, agility obstacles, any hard blow to the ribcage, even violent coughing, can cause rib injuries, especially in smaller animals with thinner ribs, or short stature, or older individuals whose bones are becoming more brittle. As there is no obvious lameness or symptoms showing, people often do not realize there is a problem until their companion refuses to do something, or alters behaviour trying to avoid pain and protect themselves.

Join Dr Laura Lee to learn about the often hidden, and commonly overlooked, problem of ribcage injuries. She will discuss diagnosis and treatment strategies for rib injury and dysfunction. Cases from Dr Lee's practice will be discussed, as well as her own personal experience.