I have a two year old cat who was hit by a car after he got out last Thursday July 10th...He has a dislocated hip...that needs surgery.
The doctors won't do the surgery as of yet because they fear he might have some brain damage from a blow due to the accident.
He has been very lethargic. We don't know if there is damage or not in that he has been put under (gas) twice and has been given pain medication. He could be very depressed too. He has tried to walk. Can both urinate and deficate. Has cleaned himself and was very perky on Monday, but has been redisent ever since.
Has anyone gone through such a ordeal and offer me any help. We could get an MRI but that is a hour and a half trip to the closest place and just not sure what to do. The vet says his prognosis is not good, but we want to give him every chance of making it.
Obviously this has been very hard on our family as he is a very warm and loving pet. He wasn't killed in the accident so we somehow feel like he's destined to survive.
thank you!
Alf's dad.
Question on my cat after injury.
Re: Question on my cat after injury.
WEll I think I would opt for the MRI to determine internal injuries and if he can withstand the surgery on his hip. Dislocations are extremely painful!!
My cat had a bad knee and had an operation is like new.
I do hope that your baby does not have internal injuries and can have his hope fixed. Please update ok.
Mona, Honeybun and Chloe
My cat had a bad knee and had an operation is like new.
I do hope that your baby does not have internal injuries and can have his hope fixed. Please update ok.
Mona, Honeybun and Chloe
Re: Question on my cat after injury.
Thank you Mona...for your responce. We are hoping and praying for Alf. Hope you will too!
Dave (Alf's Dad).
Dave (Alf's Dad).
Re: Question on my cat after injury.
Don't concern yourself with the pelvic fracture at this point..it can be repaired later when kitty is stabilized. At this point, the key is reducing brain swelling/hemorrhage and treating bacterial infections. I assume x-rays were taken to detect internal injuries and organ injuries, but if not, get that done immediately. If they were taken on Thursday, you might want to consider getting another one to monitor for any pleural effusion, diaphragmatic hernia, chest wall injury, organ enlargement, hemorrhage, lung punctures, etc. Brain injuries are treated with steroidal approaches, it is usually a better prognosis when steroids are given within the first 4-6 hours after the initial trauma. May need to extend that during this time, plus antibiotic support.
I'm concerned why he was anesthetized twice.....I'm assuming for external injuries, but why the second time? Head trauma patients often cannot withstand anesthesia until signs of recovery are noted.
I don't think an MRI is necessary unless he is not responding to current treatment, steroids, or that the swelling is not subsiding. An MRI will probably only tell you there is inflammation, and you'd be treating it as you are now anyway. Don't think it's necessary at this point, and you can't risk sedation for that procedure.
Not knowing current signs of improvement, your vet's treatment approach, etc, I hesitate to advise further, but if this is not an emergency veterinary facility, I would get him transferred to one immediately for 24 hour care and for more advanced treatment if necessary. (transferred only if he is currently stabilized)
The extent of brain injury will determine the prognosis. How it responds to treatment, how kitty's vitals are improving, how he responds to stimulation, therapy, etc. Again, I don't know what your vet's treatment approach is, but once the swelling subsides, there are several things one can do to help speed recovery. One is physical therapy, another is bonding, more is nutritional support, antibiotic support, fluid support, additional meds to aid other associated problems or injuries. The pain medication could actually be sedating him, your vet needs to re-evaluate the pain med approach and maybe reduce it so he can determine signs of improvement. An approach of oral or injectable pain meds such as butorphenol might be better than opiate/morphine class drugs in the event he is too sedated for your vet to gauge response.
Again, if your kitty is not in an emergency clinic with 24-hour observation, please see about getting him transferred immediately.
I would like to offer encouragement, I've seen hundreds of cases of HBC make full recoveries, but it does depend on the extent of the injuries, especially head traumas. Speak to your vet in further detail about more treatment options, or transfer kitty to a more knowledgeable vet pronto.
I'm concerned why he was anesthetized twice.....I'm assuming for external injuries, but why the second time? Head trauma patients often cannot withstand anesthesia until signs of recovery are noted.
I don't think an MRI is necessary unless he is not responding to current treatment, steroids, or that the swelling is not subsiding. An MRI will probably only tell you there is inflammation, and you'd be treating it as you are now anyway. Don't think it's necessary at this point, and you can't risk sedation for that procedure.
Not knowing current signs of improvement, your vet's treatment approach, etc, I hesitate to advise further, but if this is not an emergency veterinary facility, I would get him transferred to one immediately for 24 hour care and for more advanced treatment if necessary. (transferred only if he is currently stabilized)
The extent of brain injury will determine the prognosis. How it responds to treatment, how kitty's vitals are improving, how he responds to stimulation, therapy, etc. Again, I don't know what your vet's treatment approach is, but once the swelling subsides, there are several things one can do to help speed recovery. One is physical therapy, another is bonding, more is nutritional support, antibiotic support, fluid support, additional meds to aid other associated problems or injuries. The pain medication could actually be sedating him, your vet needs to re-evaluate the pain med approach and maybe reduce it so he can determine signs of improvement. An approach of oral or injectable pain meds such as butorphenol might be better than opiate/morphine class drugs in the event he is too sedated for your vet to gauge response.
Again, if your kitty is not in an emergency clinic with 24-hour observation, please see about getting him transferred immediately.
I would like to offer encouragement, I've seen hundreds of cases of HBC make full recoveries, but it does depend on the extent of the injuries, especially head traumas. Speak to your vet in further detail about more treatment options, or transfer kitty to a more knowledgeable vet pronto.
..........Traci