Projectile Injuries in Small Animals

While projectile injuries are not uncommonly encountered in veterinary practice, many clinicians are not very familiar with the various weapons and projectiles that may be involved or with the types of injuries that can occur. Whether or not an individual has an interest in firearms, a basic knowledge of projectiles and ballistics can help a clinician to predict the types of injuries expected in a given case, as well as direct him/her toward an appropriate treatment regimen for the patient. Additionally, an understanding of the legal process as it relates to cases of projectile injury allows a practitioner to appropriately collect and process evidence to assist with successful prosecution in cases where malice is suspected. Gaining in-depth understanding of these topics would require specialized training that is beyond the scope of this discussion. However, the goal of this presentation is to provide practitioners with a basic review of projectile injuries seen in small animals and to increase comfort level with appropriate diagnostics and therapies in these types of cases.