Happy Pets

Fractures

A fracture can range from a cracked toe to a shattered spine. Traffic accidents, awkward falls from a height (especially if the cat is half asleep or concentrating on something else), a bad encounter with a dog or deliberate human cruelty are likely causes — but a small kitten could break a bone (often one of the lower bones of the front legs) just jumping out of your arms.

Amateur treatment of fractures can do more harm than good. If a cat has multiple injuries, likely if it has been hit by a car or savaged by a dog, it is much more important to staunch bleeding and get it to the vet. The time taken to get professional attention will not affect recovery from a simple fracture. Only if you have absolutely no access to a vet should you attempt to treat a fracture by, say, splinting a limb with a flat piece of wood on either side and securing the whole with bandages. (more…)

In a case of serious accident, when professional attention is urgently required, do not stop to clean up a wound, unless a piece of glass or other object is easily removed, but concentrate instead on stemming bleeding. Scratches and minor lacerations should be cleaned with a salt solution or dilute hydrogen peroxide, never with strong antiseptics made for humans; they could irritate the tissues and actually delay healing and may interfere with any antibiotics. If you can get a wound treated by the vet within a day it is probably better not to cover it.

Bleeding

Pressure directly on a wound, either with the hand or using a pad of cloth, will help stem bleeding. On a limb the wound could be covered with a layer of lint or gauze, then a pad of cotton wool, and tightly bandaged from the foot upwards. (more…)