You are out hiking with your dog and you notice he is reluctant to put any weight on one leg. Could it be a broken leg? While it is unlikely for a dog to break a bone running and jumping (most often broken bones come in collisions with cars) you want to make sure. Sometimes it is hard to know that your dog's leg is broken. Dogs tend to be stoic and don't generally whine when in pain. One telltale sign is a lump in the leg so run your hand along the dog's leg. Another thing to check is that the paw is facing in the same direction.
If you do find an irregularity the most important thing is to immobilize the bad leg. A simple fracture that doesn't break through the skin can wait a day or two for professional treatment. On a hike you can splint a fracture with bandages and a stick if need be. If you have a magazine or newspaper, when you reach the car roll it several times around the area and tape it. Make sure the splint extends above the knee and below the paw. Don't tie the splint too tightly as you could inhibit blood supply to the leg.
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