Cat Limb Injuries

If your cat is not bearing weight on alimb, has a crooked limb, or has limb pain and swelling, you should suspect a break.Crepitus, the sound or feel of bone rubbing onbone, is even stronger evidence of a fracture. Ifa piece of bone is protruding through the skin,there is no doubt.

In a compound fracture, a bone fragmentpenetrates the surface, and severe damage tothe skin, muscle, nerves, and blood vessels canresult. Delayed healing and infections can beserious problems in compound fractures. Sincebone is not very resistant to infection, cover acompound fracture immediately with gauze or a clean cloth and get veterinary assistance.

Limb fractures are not life-threatening,but they should be temporarily splinted so thatthe jagged bone edges do not injure any neigh-boring tissues and nerves. Remember: A splintshould include the joints immediately aboveand below the fracture.

Fractures of the spine from trauma areextreme emergencies, especially if your cat ishit by a car. You may see a paralysis of the hindlegs and a stiffness (out stretching) of the frontlegs after trauma.

Cat Limb Injuries Home Remedies

Gently restrain your cat. Apply ice packs to decrease the swellingand inflammation. Splint the limb,but do not try to reset it. If the break is in thetail, immobilize it with a slender piece of woodor a tongue depressor. If the break is in thecat's pelvis or hind legs, you will need to trans-port it by stretcher.

Cat Limb Injuries Treatment

Your veterinarian will check all other sys-tems to be sure that they were not injured. Aradiograph (X-ray) is needed to verify the frac-ture and to determine the best method of re-pair. Some fractures will heal with externalstabilization (splints or casts) alone, while oth-ers need internal fixation (metal pins, plates,or wires). Discuss the chances of healing andthe cost of each technique with your veterinar-ian. Today, no cat has to be put to sleep be-cause it has a fracture - a three-legged cat isstill more agile than a two-legged person!