Reduce The Risk Of Losing Your Pet In A Road Accident

Roads are dangerous at the best of times, but in the dark, cold and miserable conditions of winter, they can be a real hazard for drivers, pedestrians, and our pets.

During winter, the average veterinary costs for dogs involved in road traffic accidents (RTA’s) can be at least 50 per cent higher than those in summer, averaging over £1,100, reveals data from PDSA Petsurance.

Dark winter nights really don’t bode well for your canine companion - not only are injuries from an RTA likely to be more serious in winter, but their chances of being involved in an accident actually increases by 8 per cent.

Elaine Pendlebury, PDSA Senior Veterinary Surgeon, explains, “It’s essential to keep your dog on a lead when out walking and, as much as possible, only walk them in daylight.”

But accidents can happen in spite of pet owners taking every precaution - a dog can slip its lead or get out of the garden. A loose dog rushing across a road will only be seen at the last minute, so the driver is more likely to brake late and hit it at speed, thus causing a serious - or even fatal injury.

“RTA’s can result in a dog suffering life-threatening internal injuries or multiple limb fractures requiring immediate emergency surgery, plus a great deal of expert nursing care to aid recovery,” says Elaine. “During the winter, victims of road traffic accidents are one of the most common causes of trauma we see at PDSA PetAid hospitals.

“Because it’s dark so early, many pet owners won’t have even seen the accident happen and so don’t realise their dog or cat has been hit by a car, and so are at a loss when their pet returns home looking unsteady on their feet. Often injuries are hidden or impossible to detect without a veterinary inspection; such as bruises buried beneath layers of fur or internal injuries. These are the pets we do see, but sadly, in many cases, a pet may just crawl away and never be seen again.”

Young cats, especially those aged between seven months and two years which are not ‘street-wise,’ are particularly vulnerable on the roads at night.

However, there are signs that PDSA advises all pet owners to look out for that could indicate a pet has been involved in an accident:

• Pale gums and lips: could be a sign of internal bleeding.
• Difficulty breathing.
• Cuts, wounds and bruises: make sure you check beneath fur.
• Scuffed hind claws: could be a sign that your pet dug its claws into the road when hit, causing a fraying of the hind nails.
• Limping.
• Inability to stand.

PDSA encourages all pet owners to take the following simple precautions to reduce the risk of their pet getting involved in an RTA:

• Keep your pets in at night.
• When walking your dog, ensure you have them on a non-extendable lead and well-fitted collar so it’s impossible for them to run into the road.
• Invest in a florescent jacket for you and your dog to ensure you are clearly visible on the road.
• Always make sure that you only let your dog off the lead when you are absolutely sure it is safe to do so. You may be legally liable if your dog causes an accident.

For further tips and advice on how to keep your pets safe and healthy during the winter months, you can visit: www.pdsa.org.uk

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