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Cat Forum / Health and Behavior / November 2003broken front leg
Hi all! A friend of mine has a cat with a broken front leg. Cookies has been in a cast for a few weeks, but the vet just checked her out again and the leg isn't getting better. The vet says the problem is that Cookies is still running and jumping around and putting weight on the foot. The vet recommended surgury, but my friend can't afford it. The vet's new advice is to keep Cookies in a cage 24 hours a day, so she can't move around and damage her foot. All my friends and I think this is cruel and very bad for the cat overall. I've been wondering if there's some way to put the leg up in some sort of sling, so the cat can't step on it or put weight on it. I'm sure she could get along fine on three legs for a few weeks, and it would give the one leg time to heal. At least her other legs would still be working and getting exercise! Does anyone have advice on this? Has anyone done anything like this before? I'm thinking we could just pull her leg up to her side and maybe wrap a bandage around her to keep the leg there. We can see how she does while there are people around to watch her, and depending on how that goes decide whether she should be confined when she's at home alone or not. Even if she's in the cage part of the day, she's better off if she can have some time running around enjoying herself. Any advice? Thanks in advance for your help! Siobhan :P >The vet's new advice is to keep Cookies in a cage 24 hours a day, so >she can't move around and damage her foot I do squirrel rescue. I have to do the same thing for my injured squirrels. I put them in a cat carrier so they can't climb or run around because their bones must heal. Having her in a small cage for a few weeks is better than having to amputate the leg if it doesn't heal. You can take her out and hold her and play with her lying on her back. She can still be taken out for pets and lap sitting. I'd follow the vet's advice. > >The vet's new advice is to keep Cookies in a cage 24 hours a day, so > >she can't move around and damage her foot [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > with her lying on her back. She can still be taken out for pets and lap > sitting. I'd follow the vet's advice. I agree. I had my cats declawed when I was younger and didn't know any better. One of them was so put out by it, he began pulling and eating at the stitches or glue or whatever. The vet tried to bandage his legs, but he just kept worrying at it until they came off. He wouldn't have his legs bandanged. Just wouldn't stand for it. Anyway, the point is, I don't think the cat would stand for her leg all in a sling. It would probably stress her out and she would just find a way to get her leg out. In the process, she might injure it more. If you've ever tried to restrain a pissed off cat, you know they can squirm to the point of hurting themselves. She could easily re-break it or pull out her shoulder twisting around. Also, keeping the shoulder and elbow in one position like that might injure it in and of itself and would probably be uncomfortable. I would take the vet's advice or the cat might end up with 3 legs permanently. Better a few weeks of confinement than a lifetime of handicap. ------------------------------------------------- ~kaeli~ Jesus saves, Allah protects, and Cthulhu thinks you'd make a nice sandwich. http://www.ipwebdesign.net/wildAtHeart http://www.ipwebdesign.net/kaelisSpace ------------------------------------------------- > Hi all! > [quoted text clipped - 24 lines] > > Siobhan :P I would follow the vet's advice and keep her in a cage. This may sound cruel, but it is the way feral cats are socialized -- it's a short-term action to bring long-term comfort. I certainly would not try to fashion a sling for the leg. You could cause the leg to heal in a completely unnatural position, and in the long run could cause eveb more extensive damage. Incidentally, you said that your friend cannot afford surgery. Has she looked into the possibility of making payments over a period of time or even using a credit card? MaryL (take out the litter to reply) Photos of Duffy and Holly: >'o'< http://tinyurl.com/8y54 (Introducing Duffy to Holly) http://tinyurl.com/8y56 (Duffy and Holly "settle in") By all means, go for the cage rest. It is hardly cruel, to avoid surgery or worse for the cat. The only alternative I can think of (if it is a rear leg) is to buy a veterinary "cart," a contraption meant for an animal with paralysis. Expensive as all get-out and possibly not even a good orthopedic option. We've save two cats this year who were hit by cars and needed 6 weeks of cage rest to recover. They are both doing well. Borrow a large dog crate to house the cat in. Visit the Campus Cats website and read the bit on socialization; we have some tips on caging in that article ("Taming the Tiger"). Sharon Talbert Friends of Campus Cats www.campuscats.org > Hi all! > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > Cookies is still running and jumping around and putting weight on the > foot. The vet recommended surgury, but my friend can't afford it. Well her choice may end up being amputation or euthanasia if she doesn't get the cat treated properly. > The vet's new advice is to keep Cookies in a cage 24 hours a day, so > she can't move around and damage her foot. All my friends and I think [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > I'm thinking we could just pull her leg up to her side and maybe wrap > a bandage around her to keep the leg there I wouldn't. Putting undue stress on the leg will most likely make it worse or cause the cat to throw a clot. Call around for help in paying for the surgery. Extensive fractures can cause blood clots which may cause devastating problems like blindness or death. Don't screw around with a broken leg. -L. > Hi all! . > The vet's new advice is to keep Cookies in a cage 24 hours a day, so > she can't move around and damage her foot. All my friends and I think > this is cruel and very bad for the cat overall. Do what the vet says to do. It won't be for long, and the cat will not be crippled for life this way, and your friend can avoid expensive surgery. > The vet's new advice is to keep Cookies in a cage 24 hours a day, so > she can't move around and damage her foot. All my friends and I think > this is cruel and very bad for the cat overall. Cage the cat. The animal will tolerate being caged better than being trussed up in some sling. You can cuddle the cat as much as you want. It is crueler to allow the animal to reinjure its leg.  SignatureWhen the fog came in on little cat feet last night, it left these little muddy paw prints on the hood of my car. Thanks for the great advice, everyone! It means a lot to hear so many of you saying that caging the cat is the best answer. I can tell that my friend doesn't really get a good vibe from the vet she's being going to, so it was hard to know about this advice. I'm hoping she'll start going to my vet, who is fantastic, and then we'll all be more confident about getting answers we're comfortable with. Thanks again! And cuddles from Cookies to all of you! (My 3 cats send cuddles too - just because they're friendly sorts. :) Thanks! Happy & healthy kitties to all! Siobhan > I can tell that > my friend doesn't really get a good vibe from the vet she's being [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > Siobhan In addition to what you have said ...it is always a good idea to get a second opinion on something as serious as this. MaryL >Hi all! > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >Cookies is still running and jumping around and putting weight on the >foot. The vet recommended surgury, but my friend can't afford it. >The vet's new advice is to keep Cookies in a cage 24 hours a day, so >she can't move around and damage her foot. All my friends and I think >this is cruel and very bad for the cat overall. It would more than likely be for a max of 6 weeks. Do you want the cat's leg to heal or do you want it to be crippled? >I'm thinking we could just pull her leg up to her side and maybe wrap >a bandage around her to keep the leg there. So you're a vet now? How do you plan to get the leg into that position without putting strain on the cat's joints (given that the cast will more than likely have to remain on)? >Any advice? Thanks in advance for your help! We had our cat in a cage for 4 weeks with a broken pelvis around 10 and a half years ago - it was traumatic a the time for all of us, but he made a full recovery in that 4 weeks and has been fine ever since. As an aside - tell your friend to get insurance - it's not that expensive and their would no longer be an issue about getting the best possible care for her pet (in this case, surgery, if that is what the vet recommends). Best Regards John McCabe To reply by email replace 'nospam' with 'assen' > As an aside - tell your friend to get insurance - it's not that > expensive and their would no longer be an issue about getting the best [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > Best Regards > John McCabe The problem with this advice is that insurance will not cover pre-existing conditions. It might help for future problems, but not for this one (and not for any future problem that is in any associated with this break). MaryL > To reply by email replace 'nospam' with 'assen' >> As an aside - tell your friend to get insurance - it's not that >> expensive and their would no longer be an issue about getting the best >> possible care for her pet (in this case, surgery, if that is what the >> vet recommends). >The problem with this advice is that insurance will not cover pre-existing >conditions. I never said it would help with this particular condition but if your friend is happy to look after a pet, he/she *must* be prepared to ensure that the pet gets treatment when it needs it. If that means paying monthly instalments for a number of years then so be it, but if your friend is going to skimp on the right treatment because "he/she can't afford it" then they shouldn't be keeping pets. >It might help for future problems, but not for this one (and >not for any future problem that is in any associated with this break). As long as the cat's leg is treated properly now there probably won't be any future problems associated with the break, but if your friend messes around too much now it could cause long lasting problems that he/she will never be able to pay for! What is going to happen, for example, if your friend found a way of avoiding caging the cat but it lead to the leg being amputated in the future? Now I *know* how much that costs, and it is a lot of money! Would you rather see the cat put to sleep just because it is the cheaper option? Insurance means you don't have to make that choice. Best Regards John McCabe To reply by email replace 'nospam' with 'assen' > >> As an aside - tell your friend to get insurance - it's not that > >> expensive and their would no longer be an issue about getting the best [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > ensure that the pet gets treatment when it needs it. If that means > paying monthly instalments for a number of years then so be it, Sorry ... I ministerpreted your message. The rest of your message was probably intented for the OP, not me (that is, it's not my friend who has the problem ... but it is very easy to get these long threads mixed). MaryL >The rest of your message was probably intented for the OP, not me (that is, >it's not my friend who has the problem ... but it is very easy to get these >long threads mixed). Of course, you are quite right - sorry about that. Best Regards John McCabe To reply by email replace 'nospam' with 'assen' |
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