Cat Limb Injuries

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

In a compound fracture, a bone fragment penetrates the surface, and severe damage to the skin, muscle, nerves, and blood vessels can result. Delayed healing and infections can be serious problems in compound fractures. Since bone is not very resistant to infection, cover a compound 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 that the jagged bone edges do not injure any neigh-boring tissues and nerves. Remember: A splint should include the joints immediately above and below the fracture.

Fractures of the spine from trauma are extreme emergencies, especially if your cat is hit by a car. You may see a paralysis of the hind legs and stiffness (out stretching) of the front legs after trauma.

Cat Limb Injuries Home Remedies

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

Cat Limb Injuries Treatment

Your veterinarian will check all other systems to be sure that they were not injured. A radiograph (X-ray) is needed to verify the fracture and to determine the best method of repair. Some fractures will heal with external stabilization (splints or casts) alone, while others need internal fixation (metal pins, plates or wires). Discuss the chances of healing and the cost of each technique with your veterinarian. Today, no cat has to be put to sleep be-cause it has a fracture - a three-legged cat is still more agile than a two-legged person!

The following are some common symptoms of occurrence of factures in the limbs of cats.

• In case of a fracture tour cat will be able to use its injured limb at al. It will try to hold its limb up and may put it to rest while standing.
• While dealing with the cat you will notice that the cat is not willing to allow you to handle its limb.
• The fractured limb would also appear to be deformed and shortened or twisted.
• Sometimes, in case of severe injury you would be able to see the parting of the fur of the cat surrounding the injured region and along with considerable degree of swelling.
• Huge amount of blood loss may also be possible in case of fracture in the femoral or the pelvic bone.

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