Looking after an injured cat
Discussion
Our cat has broken his pelvis in two places. Options were to have it plated and pinned and cage rest for around six weeks or leave alone and cage rest for around six weeks. As the bone hasn't moved too far we have opted for the latter as we were worried about the stresses and side effects of the operation. Apparently the downside of leaving to heal on it's own is calcification of the bone which could lead to a narrowing of the hole in the centre of the pelvis where the bowel or colon (not sure which) runs which could cause problems later.
Has anyone had similar problems with a cat and what did you opt for and what was the outcome?
Has anyone had similar problems with a cat and what did you opt for and what was the outcome?
Me and my ex had two cats.
We got them for free as little kittens, at about 10 months old one (my favourite) didn't come in one night for dinner - it was early Feb so pretty cold.
I found her hunched up in the front garden, she had been hit by a car. She was not moving so I carried her into the house, put her in front of a heater and organised a trip to the vet for an x-ray.
One very expensive night later it was discovered that she had a broken pelvis that had also been pushed forward into her body with the impact.
At the time we had no insurance, I'd been out of work for a while, the bill to fix her was £1500 that we simply didn't have and at the end of the day it was a free cat.
The ex's family all suggested we put her down. We couldn't do it.
So, after discussions with the vet we went and bought a small cage and got some very strong painkillers.
After the first 3 weeks she had started to move round a bit more, after 6 weeks she was climbing upside down in the cage desperate to have her freedom back.
Fast forward another year and a half and she runs, climbs and jumps as well as any cat.
The only long lasting thing so far is that her tail won't go quite straight but this adds quite a comical look to her! She'll probably get quite bad athritis in years to come but at least she'll get to lead a proper life first.
We got them for free as little kittens, at about 10 months old one (my favourite) didn't come in one night for dinner - it was early Feb so pretty cold.
I found her hunched up in the front garden, she had been hit by a car. She was not moving so I carried her into the house, put her in front of a heater and organised a trip to the vet for an x-ray.
One very expensive night later it was discovered that she had a broken pelvis that had also been pushed forward into her body with the impact.
At the time we had no insurance, I'd been out of work for a while, the bill to fix her was £1500 that we simply didn't have and at the end of the day it was a free cat.
The ex's family all suggested we put her down. We couldn't do it.
So, after discussions with the vet we went and bought a small cage and got some very strong painkillers.
After the first 3 weeks she had started to move round a bit more, after 6 weeks she was climbing upside down in the cage desperate to have her freedom back.
Fast forward another year and a half and she runs, climbs and jumps as well as any cat.
The only long lasting thing so far is that her tail won't go quite straight but this adds quite a comical look to her! She'll probably get quite bad athritis in years to come but at least she'll get to lead a proper life first.
The outcome of your cats recovery depends exactly what damage has been done. Where the pelvis has been broken/how badly, and what associated structures have been affected (like nerves, bladder and musculo-skeletal stuff). This is usually assessed with the xrays, but some will also depend on the ability of the cat to pass urine/defaecate/move tail etc. If the xrays suggest the bones haven't moved too far and the cat's clinical appearance suggests that it can do all it needs to in order to survive, then the conservative (cage rest) approach may be fine. There are too many variables in what you have given to be able to say that method X or Y is the choice. Sorry, you may have to just listen to your own vet, but I hope they also listen to you and present the evidence carefully to allow you to choose. HTH and that pud makes full recovery.
The narrowing of the pelvic canal, interfering with the colon, should not be the biggest problem unless the fragments of the pelvis have moved a fair way out of place.
The narrowing of the pelvic canal, interfering with the colon, should not be the biggest problem unless the fragments of the pelvis have moved a fair way out of place.
Edited by Thevet on Friday 30th April 21:11
The vet was pretty optimistic and he was also weighing up the fact we don't have him insured, we were more concerned that the op is pretty major with a lot of risks during and after. He says no damage has been done to any organs, he was worried about the diaphragm, and no major nerve damage.
I trust what the vet/s who have been dealing with him have told us and was more interested in hearing people's experiences on the long term outcome of similar injuries.
This isn't the actual xray, it's as near as I could find on Google and I've photoshopped the break in from memory.
I trust what the vet/s who have been dealing with him have told us and was more interested in hearing people's experiences on the long term outcome of similar injuries.
This isn't the actual xray, it's as near as I could find on Google and I've photoshopped the break in from memory.
Edited by jagracer on Friday 30th April 21:30
Ours got hit by a car, apparently the pelvis sometimes fuses and the muscles surrounding the bone act like a splint, so it can heal. We nursed ours for 6 weeks, cleaned up after it, feed it, all the usual stuff, then it upped and went one day, deciding to go and live with a nearby elderly couple, despite our lovng attention.
Thats gratitude for you.
Thats gratitude for you.
Thevet said:
If the only break was to the wing of the ilium and was only displaced slighty as shown, the cat should have an uneventful recovery and amaze you with how well it does.
The vet says it's broken/displaced at the bottom as well, don't know the correct term for the section of bone but it's where the two halves join. It's displaced pretty much the same amount as the top break but he says both parts will fuse.He seems to be doing OK, eating and drinking and then crapping in the middle of the night, he them cries until we (my wife) gets up and cleans the out the tray
This is all quite traumatic for us as well as we've never had a cat this ill or badly injured so we're not used to something that doesn't get better within a few days.
Thanks for all the comments and advice, most helpful and reassuring.
Edited by jagracer on Saturday 1st May 15:21
The bit at the bottom you refer to is called the pubic symphysis, and is very painful if broken or loose, but if there is minimal displacement, will probably heal in half the time of the top bit, because it is actually more like a very short ligament, and will in nature occasionally slacken and then tighten, as happens before giving birth. Anyway, I think your cat has one life less to burn, but should with rest do very well.
Sorry to hear about your cat and hope he makes a full recovery. One of mine was hit by a car last year but was long dead by the time we found him. I hope yours gets to make full use of his 8 remaining lives.
A bit OT: This sort of thread just go show what an amazing place PH is. Considering it's primarily a petrol heads' forum there are more proper specialists on here in more diverse subjects than anywhere else I've ever seen on the 'net. Awesome.
A bit OT: This sort of thread just go show what an amazing place PH is. Considering it's primarily a petrol heads' forum there are more proper specialists on here in more diverse subjects than anywhere else I've ever seen on the 'net. Awesome.
Animals can do amazing things, and they are incredibly resilient. And Cats (according to our vet at least) recover and cope even better than dogs. Dog in our village got hit by a car, broke the pelvis, some ribs, one hind leg (and one rib went through a lung and caused internal bleeding) - there are other injuries the poor sod had but I can't remember them.
BUT, a year later and the dog walks a bit wonky, but he's pretty much back to normal, allowed off lead to play and all sorts. If I didn't know that he'd had a major smack, I wouldn't have guessed it.
So, I wish you and the moggie luck and a swift recovery.
BUT, a year later and the dog walks a bit wonky, but he's pretty much back to normal, allowed off lead to play and all sorts. If I didn't know that he'd had a major smack, I wouldn't have guessed it.
So, I wish you and the moggie luck and a swift recovery.
jagracer said:
Our cat has broken his pelvis in two places. Options were to have it plated and pinned and cage rest for around six weeks or leave alone and cage rest for around six weeks. As the bone hasn't moved too far we have opted for the latter as we were worried about the stresses and side effects of the operation. Apparently the downside of leaving to heal on it's own is calcification of the bone which could lead to a narrowing of the hole in the centre of the pelvis where the bowel or colon (not sure which) runs which could cause problems later.
Has anyone had similar problems with a cat and what did you opt for and what was the outcome?
Almost exactly what happened to ours. Puss was hit around three years old and he went to the great mouse hunt in the sky nearly at nearly 19. He had cage rest for around six weeks then regular check ups and the odd x ray but the restriction meant a daily shot of liquid paraffin. Occasionally he would get bunged up and need an enema but without the paraffin it was worse. We just had to watch him and make sure he was going regular. Every six weeks or so we would keep him in with a litter tray to make sure. Paraffin we got from the vet (as it was the treatment we worked up to) and we had tried various other pills and potions. One of the tablets we ended up was a human constipation aid. Dulcoease?? check with the vet!Has anyone had similar problems with a cat and what did you opt for and what was the outcome?
Edit to make it clear. This was developed over time between us and the vet as the condition was dealt with and developed. So not saying this will be the same or to do what we did without consulting the vet. Just what happened to us.
Edited by jmorgan on Saturday 1st May 22:45
Very common injury post RTA (we have a cat with the same injury) Basically surgery is major so only usually advised if severe displacememt. Cage rest usually provides a perfectly good heal but as thevet said there are many factors, however the xray doesn't look bad at all,Our cat can still jump a 6 foot fence! (Did't do it for many months post accident though)
The improtant thing is to keep their weight down as when they get older they may suffer re: constipation due to weight gain and poorer muscle tone.
Our cat is a maine coon (so 6kg) on dry food and has now problems with bowel movements so far.
Try not go down the route of lactulose etc unless no other choice, Using products like these can make the bowel lazy and may eventually exacerbate the problem. (short term is ok)
The improtant thing is to keep their weight down as when they get older they may suffer re: constipation due to weight gain and poorer muscle tone.
Our cat is a maine coon (so 6kg) on dry food and has now problems with bowel movements so far.
Try not go down the route of lactulose etc unless no other choice, Using products like these can make the bowel lazy and may eventually exacerbate the problem. (short term is ok)
Edited by becksW on Saturday 1st May 22:12
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