Please help I'm in bits, dog snapped

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Ok I'm in bits here, had rescue dog 3 months but on wed she fell down some stairs (she is small breed and struggles with stairs) I didn't know how many stairs just heard the noise but she was walking and seemed fine.
I thought she was ok but since falling she has snapped at 2 dogs and she snapped at my mum who she loves.
My mum tried to pick her up and we didn't know she was in pain but she snapped.
Took her to the vets who said she has bruised her ribs and doesn't look serious.

I'm in bits because she snapped at my mum , yes I know she is in pain and we didn't know and as my mum picked her up it was a reaction but I'm torn now as she seems different . She is nervy and its shaken me as I have a Son and now it's always going to be in my mind she will snap.
She had never snapped at dogs before either.

I know she was in pain but I feel nervous knowing she is capable of snapping .
Just any advice please as I'm struggling to know what to do.

Oh, and as an aside, I'm not sure how old your DS is but do make sure he knows how to behave around dogs...
No getting right in their face with yours, demanding kisses or cuddles, ear pulling, tail pulling, taunting, going near their food bowl, disturbing the dog when it's asleep, eating, in its bed etc Even if you didn't have a dog, they are around in other people's homes etc and it's good to ensure he knows how to responsibly behave around them (if you haven't already).
This is sounding like I'm making out dogs are some vicious species! They're not, but it is important children especially know how to behave around pets appropriately.

Oh, that's good...she's getting some pain relief. That should help. It can be a shock but at least there is an explanation for her behaviour. I honestly don't think you have a malicious dog on your hands, just one that is reacting to being in a lot of pain and is reacting instinctively.

My two have snapped. And they are the biggest cuddle monsters ever. One really went for me when he was eating something he really enjoys and I went to take it away. Not normal food, but a special treat. From that one time i learnt never to do that. And if there are kids around when he gets fed they get told to leave him eat in peace.

Poor pooch is hurting and lashed out. I'm sure she'll come around. Be cautious and respectful but don't give up :)

You could get a bottle of bachs rescue remedy from the health food shop aswell.

Pop a couple of drops either straight in her mouth or in her water. Helps with shock and reduces anxiety which she will probably be a bit anxious. She may also protest about being picked up for a while since she will associate it with pain.

You can take the rescue remedy too to help with your own shock X

It's just a dogs way of saying 'ouch that bloody hurts!' You don't need to be wary of her snapping again because she's a dog, of course she might snap again if she's in that sort of pain. All dogs would. If you're afraid of snapping a dog might not be the best pet.

My girl has never shown any human aggression at all, even when ds as a toddler tripped and fell on her when she was fast asleep she just looked at him and wagged her tail. However, I was brushing her a year or so back and she snapped suddenly, breaking the skin on my arm. Turns out she had a lump on her side that I hadn't noticed under all the fur and that I'd caught with the brush. Trip to the vets and it was sorted in a few weeks, and she's never even shown a slight sign of doing it again.

If you need to pick up your dog give her some warning first by stroking her then pick her up as gently as you can and put her down as soon as you can.

She didn't know that you didn't know she hurt herself so she had to warn you off. If she meant to hurt your mum then she would have done

My last dog was rehomed from the rescue centre by another family before I got him. They returned him the next day as he'd snapped at one of them when they helped him into the car by giving his backside a push. No-one had realised that he had a broken tail, and the snap was because of the pain.
The tail healed up and he was fine.

I would actually say that's a really good dog to only snap and not bite. Like others have said she could well have bitten.

I've gone for my OH now when he knocked my just operated on knee!

Honestly it's just a communication thing. The other day my little boy trod on our greyhound and he 'grumbled' I told my little boy off and praised the dog.

I've had a dog my hole life. I also had a rescue dog from a child twho only was put to sleep last year who had arthritis and a broken leg from a puppy Ime any dog will snap in pain, I have a ds who is 21 months now and 2 dogs I've had since puppy's and allhough they are extremely placid I never leave ds alone with them because you never really know as it is there only way to defend themselves when threatened. X

I think it shows your dog is excellent around people. She snapped and didn't bite. If a dog snaps and you know why (in pain) and know how to stop it (let it heal) she's fine honestly.

I know it is scary but this is a great sign that you can trust your dog. The dogs that you can't trust are the ones who have been trained not to snarl/growl/snap as warnings and then when they are in pain or scared they bite "out of nowhere" with "no warning". Your dog is a good dog! Snapping is dog for swearing.
If she had wanted to bite your mum, she would have.