my dog fell off the stairs

Question
sir,my 3month old german shepherd fell off from the 2nd floor stair around 24hrs back.initially he was in shock.there are not many good doctors at my place so initially when he was in shock and was showing no sign of life(probably he fainted) we kept him on oxygen.after which he started showin signs of recovery.more than anything,i think he was in shock.he was also given an injection of analgesic and antibiotic.now in past 24 hrs he has been eating properly,is active,is having normal bowel movements and is also not limping or showing any sign of fracture or injury when we pressed his whole body to see whether there is pain in any specific area.he is also out of shock.the only cause of worry is that he is breathing bit heavily and is having a very wet nose.he also has this habit of throwing water out of his water bowl and then sleepin on the water to keep him cool and so his chest is perpetually all the time wet.what can be the possible reason for his heavy breathing.is it because of cold as he is all the time soaked in water or there is some other problem?

Answer
Pallivi -

Most likely, your dog may have a fractured rib or some pain following his fall. You did not say whether or not you were able to get veterinary care.


If at all possible, have radiographs taken to determined if there are any fractures.  

Unfortunately, I cannot tell you what is wrong with your dog without the benefit of a physical exam.  Even if there are not fractures, your dog must be very painful after falling such a distance.  Have your veterinarian prescribe pain medications to make your dog more comfortable.

Best Regards,

Charlotte Sherrell,DVM