my dogs injured hock or ankle

Question
Okay, yesterday, I went horseback riding, with my dogs, and somewhere along the way, my dog got underneath the horse, and I would have to say that the horse accidentally stepped on my dog.  As I was atop of the horse, and the next thing I know is my dog yelped in pain, and when I tried to look to find him, I couldn't see what had happened.  But my dog was now limping.  Of course, we had to still make it back to the barn, and along the way, I kept watching my dog, who would walk a little bit on his back leg, and then he would refuse to utilize his back leg. I felt all over his back leg from his hip to his toes, the only time he whined was when I straighted out his leg.  Today, his hock is swollen, should I wrap it, ice, give asprin, what should I do? please help me, cause in this economy, I can't afford to take him for a $300.00 x-ray, plus the cost of the office visit.  Please help me to ease my dogs pain.

Answer
Hi Dawn,
Unfortunately the only way to ease your dogs pain is by going to the vet. It sounds like your dog definately has a fracture and this is incredibly painful, imagine having a broken leg and not being taken to the doctor for treatment!

It is quite simply CRUELTY

at home there is not alot i can offer, you can try bandaging the leg but if the fracture is displaced the bandaging may cause irreversible damage. I cannot recommend giving your dog aspirin as this could prove detrimental if your dog had an underlying medical condition. you can try ice compressions to ease the swelling, gently place ice on the swelling for about 20 seconds then off for 20 seconds and repeat. Keep the dog confined to a crate or the laundry/bathroom. As little movement as possible, definately no running or jumping!

I can not recommend taking this dog to the vet enough. Im sorry but if you cant afford veterinary treatment for a dogs broken leg, you should not have a dog or a horse. If you cannot afford to treat the leg it would be kinder to euthanase rather then have him suffer.

YOU are the only one who can ease your dogs pain. If you choose not to take the dog to the vet you may also be looking at animal cruelty charges for failing to provide medical attention to an injured animal.

I really do hope you get your priorities straight for the sake of this poor little guy