Broken shoulders are quite rare in cats. However, if it does occur, a broken shoulder is a serious injury that should be checked by a veterinarian as soon as possible. If your cat has a broken shoulder, you'll need to diagnose the injury, keep it immobile until it can be taken to the vet, and provide the necessary care thereafter for 8 weeks or more. With proper care, most cats will be able to recover from these injuries.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Recognizing the Symptoms of a Broken Shoulder
Step 1. Watch for signs that indicate that your cat is sick
Pain is the first indication that your cat is in trouble. The cat will try to hide the pain. However, you can tell if you see the following symptoms:
- Crying, roaring, moaning or growling, especially when touched
- Can not eat
- Can't clean his own body
- Pale gums or rapid breathing (can indicate that the cat is in shock)
Step 2. Look for signs of lameness
When sitting, standing, or walking, the cat's weight is supported by its legs and shoulders. A cat with a broken shoulder will appear limp because when he walks, his weight is not supported by the broken bone. Watch for the following symptoms:
- Difficulty walking
- Lifting the injured leg
- The movement looks weird
Step 3. Examine the injured shoulder and leg
If you see bone sticking out of the skin, your cat has an open fracture and should be taken to the vet immediately to prevent the bone from becoming infected. The symptoms are:
- Bruising or blisters around the injured shoulder (commonly seen especially after being hit by a vehicle)
- Shoulders and legs look swollen
- The cat's paw is raised at a strange angle
Step 4. Check if the cat is bitten or not
Bites on the feet can cause lameness and swelling of the tissues. Both of these are similar to the symptoms of a broken shoulder. Before determining that your cat has a broken shoulder, always check for bite marks on the cat's body.
If you find a bite wound, wash it with saline and disinfectant and cover it with a bandage. Once you find the bite marks, take your cat to the vet
Part 2 of 3: Taking the Cat to the Vet
Step 1. Take the cat to the vet as soon as possible
A broken shoulder is a serious injury that requires immediate treatment. Most shoulder fractures require surgery to repair and immobilize the joint. In addition, trauma strong enough to break a bone can cause other injuries that are not immediately apparent. Stabilize your cat so they can be taken to the vet as soon as possible.
- Open fractures should be operated on within 8 hours. If any bone appears to be sticking out of its coat, the cat has a compound or open fracture.
- Most closed fractures should be treated within 2-4 days. However, since shoulder fractures usually occur with associated trauma, it's best to take your cat to the vet immediately.
- If you can't get your cat in right away, you should contact your vet for instructions.
Step 2. Place the cat in a box or cage to limit its movement until you can take it to the vet
Whether your cat has an open or closed fracture, movement can make it more painful and make the injury worse. Try to keep the cat from moving around much until you can take him to the vet.
Step 3. Place the cat in a small box or carrier bag when taking it to the vet
Again, the goal is to keep the cat from moving as much as possible. Put the towel in a box or carrier bag to make the cat more comfortable during the trip.
Step 4. Don't try to bandage the cat's shoulders
Open fractures should be covered with a clean cloth or gauze. However, whether the fracture is open or closed, you shouldn't try to bandage a cat's shoulder just to keep it from moving. Preventing a cat from moving its shoulders is very difficult and an injured cat is likely to fight back too. Compared to the benefits, the resistance your cat puts up with the shoulder bandaged is likely to do more harm than good.
Step 5. Cover the cat's open fracture injury with a clean bandage before taking her to the vet
Although it's rare, if your cat's shoulder has an open fracture, it's a good idea to wrap a bandage around the exposed end of the bone to prevent infection. There is no need to wrap the bandage perfectly. Simply wrap loose sterile gauze around the cat's shoulders to cover the bones. Try not to shift the position of the bones as much as possible.
- Do not try to push the protruding bone back into the skin.
- Take your cat to the vet immediately after closing the wound. Bones and wounds in cats must be sterilized, surgically corrected, and sutured.
Part 3 of 3: Caring for Cats After Surgery
Step 1. Make sure that the wound is completely healed
Surgical wound infections can be more dangerous than the fracture itself. Cats that are not operated on should also be looked after properly. Call your vet if your cat seems tired, restless, and can't eat or drink. Also call your vet within 4-6 hours if you find:
- Swelling of the legs or surgery scars
- Rash near the surgical wound
- Discharge or unpleasant smell from the surgical wound
- Bandage on wet surgery wound
- The bandage is detached from its location
Step 2. Check the surgical wound daily to make sure that the cat is not scratching or biting the stitches or bandages
If bitten or scratched, the wound may reopen or become infected. If your cat is bothering the surgical wound frequently, discuss the Elizabethan collar (cone) with your veterinarian so the cat doesn't touch it.
Step 3. Give the cat pain medication as directed by the veterinarian
To manage your cat's pain, your vet will likely prescribe a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug such as meloxicam and possibly an opioid for the postoperative period. Give the medicine to the cat according to the prescription instructions.
WARNING: Never give human drugs such as Tylenol to cats as they are toxic to cats and may be life threatening
Step 4. Compress the surgical wound for the first week after surgery to reduce swelling
Place a cold pack or ice cube wrapped in a cloth on the injured shoulder for the first week after the injury to reduce inflammation, swelling and pain.
Step 5. Confine the cat as directed by the veterinarian
Usually, this means “cage rest”, which is letting the cat rest in a cage filled with cat food and litter until the bone heals. Most cases of shoulder fractures heal within 8 weeks, but young cats can recover more quickly. The cat will likely need to be confined and rested in the cage for at least a month to eight weeks.
- To keep your cat from getting bored, provide lots of toys and occasional low-calorie treats. You can also take it out of the cage when you clean its coat every day.
- The cat will want to get out of the cage for a walk before fully recovering. However, don't let your cat use the injured leg until it's fully recovered. This is so that the recovery is not delayed and the cat does not suffer another permanent limp or injury. Continue to confine the cat as instructed by the veterinarian until his recovery is confirmed by X-ray.
Step 6. Purchase a cage of the right size if the cat is required to rest in the cage
The cage you choose should be large enough to allow 7-10cm of space above the cat's head and 7-10cm longer than the body when the cat stretches out. These measurements will help make the cat feel comfortable while recovering. However, the cage should not be so large that the cat can walk around as this is against the purpose of the cage.
The cage should also have enough space for a small litter box, as well as food and water containers
Step 7. Change the cat food menu
If your cat is anesthetized during the operation, you will need to feed it soft meat (chicken or white fish) three times. After that, choose canned meat that is rich in protein and can speed up healing. Avoid jelly-based cat foods and sauces as these contain less protein and can give your cat an upset stomach.
Also make sure to reduce the amount of food each day so that the cat does not gain weight during cage rest. Feeding a normal amount of food can make a cat gain weight
Step 8. Do physical therapy with the cat
If your cat doesn't use her injured leg for several months, her muscles will atrophy and slow healing. To optimize recovery, your cat will need physical therapy with the vet and at home. Some exercises that can be done at home are:
- Motion therapy. During the first month after the injury, flex and stretch the injured leg joint to keep it healthy. So that your cat's joints can be moved without causing pain, ask your vet to show you how. At first, the movement will not be too much. As you recover, you'll be able to move your injured cat's paw more.
- Massage therapy. After the first week, when the inflammation has subsided, massage the skin and muscles around the injured bone to prevent scar tissue from clumping together and reduce pain. The vet will recommend how often the cat should be massaged.
Step 9. Take the cat to the vet at the prescribed control appointment
If the cat has had surgery, the vet may have to remove the stitches. At the very least, the vet will do an X-ray to check the condition of his recovery so you know when the cat can return to normal activities.
Tips
- An injured cat will feel pain. This can cause even the calmest of cats to throw a tantrum when held. So always treat an injured cat gently and stop immediately if the cat seems irritated.
- Do not let the cat go outside after the 8 week recovery period is over. Because the cat has been in the cage for a long time, the cat will become weak and will have to re-energize. Let the cat run around the house for at least two weeks before letting it out.
- When the cat is able to move agilely, let the cat out of the house (if the cat is allowed to roam outside the house) but keep a close eye on it.
