My dog was hit by a car but walked away — why does it still need an exam today?
Adrenaline lets a dog walk on injuries it cannot feel yet — internal bleeding, lung bruising, and a ruptured bladder often reveal themselves hours after the animal seemed fine.
After any vehicle strike the outside of the dog is the least informative part. The chest and abdomen absorb blunt force silently, and pain and shock chemistry mask limping for a while — which is why trauma protocols call for imaging and monitoring even in animals that look intact.
What can surface hours later
A lacerated spleen or liver can bleed slowly into the abdomen; bruised lungs stiffen over several hours until breathing turns fast and shallow; a torn bladder keeps the dog posturing to urinate with little coming out; and hairline fractures finish breaking with one wrong jump. At home, the red flags after a strike are pale gums, a rising breathing rate at rest, a swelling belly, vomiting, weakness, and urine that stops or turns bloody.
How much force a body absorbs before something gives way differs by size and individual build, so a bouncy small dog and a stoic large one can both hide the same injury. Take any dog that has been struck to a veterinary hospital immediately — carried on a firm board or in a crate if it resists walking — and let the exam, not the dog’s bravado, decide whether it is fine.
MediIndex articles are for general information only and are not medical advice, diagnosis, or advertising. Outcomes vary by individual — consult a board-certified specialist for personal decisions.