Clinicopathological Features of Traumatic Injuries in Dogs Managed at University of Calabar Teaching Hospital

Traumatic injuries arising from road traffic accidents, animal attacks, and falls are among the most common presentations in emergency small animal practice in Nigerian tertiary veterinary institutions. This study describes the clinicopathological features of traumatic injuries in dogs managed at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital over a three-year period from 2021 to 2024. Medical records of 186 trauma cases were retrospectively reviewed, with data extracted on signalment, mechanism of injury, clinical findings, diagnostic imaging results, hematological parameters, surgical interventions, and outcomes. Road traffic accidents accounted for 55% of trauma cases. Musculoskeletal injuries, particularly fractures and dislocations, were the predominant clinical finding, present in 62% of cases. Concurrent soft tissue injuries and thoracic trauma occurred in 41% of patients. Hematological evaluation revealed significant anemia in 29% of cases, associated with higher mortality odds. Radiography was employed diagnostically in 78% of trauma cases, confirming occult fractures in 22% where physical examination alone was inconclusive. Surgical intervention was required in 67% of all trauma cases. The overall survival rate to discharge was 74%. These findings underscore the importance of systematic trauma assessment, multimodal diagnostic approaches, and surgical preparedness at teaching hospital emergency units in South South Nigeria. Continued investment in trauma surgery training and radiology infrastructure at the University of Calabar is strongly recommended. Keywords: canine trauma, road traffic accident, fracture management, Calabar, emergency surgery.