Treatment for dislocation of the shoulder joint in a cat. Sprained ligaments in a cat: learning to identify and treat

Active and playful furry pets often become hostages of their own restlessness. Poor maneuvers, jumping from heights and sometimes abuse lead to various injuries. Veterinarians call various dislocations in cats one of the most common reasons for visiting the clinic.

Causes of dislocation

The reasons why a cat can get dislocated are divided into:

For traumatic or acquired
To congenital.

Congenital dislocations in cats occur due to abnormal joint structure or impaired mobility. Such pathologies make themselves felt at the age of 6 months and older.

Reference! Persian, Himalayan and Maine Coon breeds are genetically predisposed to congenital joint pathologies.

Sometimes the cause of a dislocation lies in a chronic disease that the cat has, during which joint and bone tissue is destroyed. These diseases include osteoporosis and osteomalacia.

A cat may twist its paw or dislocate its tail if it makes an unsuccessful jump or falls from a height. Collision with an obstacle at high speed, car injuries or cruel treatment of a cat often lead to dislocation of a healthy joint.

An animal can get injured on its front and hind legs while playing with a small child. Such dislocations are most often diagnosed in small kittens whose legs are roughly pulled. Fights with relatives or other animals can also cause a traumatic dislocation.

What types of dislocations exist in cats?

With any type of dislocation, the cat experiences severe pain.

Depending on the time when the cat received the dislocation, injuries vary:

fresh or recent, which were received less than 3 days ago;
not fresh – the dislocation occurred about 2 weeks ago;
neglected - the animal was injured more than 3 weeks ago.

Dislocation in a cat can be complete or incomplete:

In case of complete dislocation, the ends of the bones forming the joint do not touch each other; in case of incomplete dislocation, they do.
Incomplete dislocation is also called subluxation.

Dislocation can be simple, when the soft tissues and skin remain intact, or complex. A complex dislocation is accompanied by rupture of ligaments and tendons, and fractures inside the joints.

Symptoms of a dislocation in a cat - how to recognize

A dislocation is the displacement of bones relative to each other without damaging them. By shifting from their anatomical position, bones can damage soft tissue, adjacent tendons, blood vessels and ligaments.

A dislocated limb looks unnatural.

You can recognize a dislocation in a pet by the following symptoms:

with a congenital dislocation, the animal is lame on one leg;
with a traumatic dislocation, the cat cannot fully lean on the surface;
The pet experiences pain from touching the damaged area;
Not only the gait changes, but also the behavior of the animal: sleep becomes restless, the cat tries to lick the site of the dislocation;
The dislocated part of the body is usually asymmetrical. A dislocation may be indicated by its unnatural position, the protruding part of the displaced bone;
With a complex dislocation, ruptures and hematomas are observed in the damaged area.

How to identify a hip dislocation

The hip joint in a cat is quite simple, but despite this, it is the strongest and most mobile. Dislocation of the hip joint (dislocation of the femoral head) is a relative displacement of the femur relative to the pelvis, accompanied by rupture of the round ligament and overstretching of the joint capsule.

An animal that has damaged the hip joint cannot step on the affected limb, which, as a rule, becomes shortened.

Attention! Dislocation of the femoral head is one of the most severe.

Dislocation of the front or back paw

Habitual dislocation causes a lot of inconvenience to the animal.

A dislocation of the front paw in an animal has a similar clinical picture to a dislocation of the hip joint. The cat cannot lean on the affected limb. A dislocated hind or front paw looks asymmetrical, and there is swelling at the site of the dislocation.

Tail dislocation

The tail gives the cat grace, serves as a kind of balancing device and is an extension of the spine. A cat can dislocate its tail in a fight or when hit by a car. Even the most caring owner can accidentally injure a cat by stepping on its tail or pinching it in a door. Externally, a dislocated tail appears crooked. His mobility decreases, the cat experiences pain.

How to give a cat first aid

Owners of furry pets, having discovered signs of dislocation in their animal, often feel confused and do not know what to do. Only a veterinarian can provide proper first aid to a cat.

Attention! Do not try to correct the dislocation yourself; you will cause pain to the animal and make the situation worse.

The actions of the cat owner in case of dislocation should be as follows:

If possible, immobilize the injured limb: apply a splint, fix the paw with a ruler or a small board.
Limit the animal's space by placing it in a cage, carrier or box.
Do not touch or knead the damaged area.
If you find a fresh sprain, apply ice to it for half an hour.
Severe pain can be relieved.
Before visiting the veterinarian, do not try to feed or drink your cat. The animal may need anesthesia.

Pain from a sprain can be controlled with medications.

Almost all injuries are accompanied by severe pain. The owner can independently reduce it by anesthetizing the animal. Special veterinary drugs are well suited for this purpose:

nalbuphine,
butomidor.

If you don’t have them at hand, you can inject analgin by injecting 0.4 ml intramuscularly (dose for an average cat). Popular tablet painkillers: Baralagin is best not given to cats. They call.

The danger for the animal is traumatic shock, which can lead to vasospasm. This phenomenon negatively affects the functioning of the liver and kidneys. Antishock therapy helps eliminate it. An injured cat should be given corticosteroid drugs, for example, prednisolone (0.3-0.5 ml intramuscularly). At the veterinary hospital, anti-shock therapy will be continued using drip infusion.

A cat that has dislocated a limb needs urgent transportation to a veterinary clinic. There she will receive professional help: an x-ray and, if necessary, surgery. The older the dislocation, the less likely it is to be reduced non-surgically.

Diagnostics in the clinic

An X-ray is the most informative type of research for a dislocation.

Before diagnosing a dislocation in a cat, the veterinarian conducts a series of studies, which include:

collecting anamnesis to identify the nature and cause of the injury;
visual inspection and palpation;
X-ray examination, which is the most effective and reliable method.

Reduction of dislocation in hospital

A caring owner, when his pet is injured, is first puzzled by the question of how to treat the dislocation. Treatment of dislocations in cats can be conservative (closed) or surgical (open).

Conservative reduction of a dislocation is performed under general anesthesia, as this procedure is very painful. In addition to sleeping pills, the animal is given medications that relax the muscles.

After the joint is returned to its original position, the limb is fixed with a splint or bandage. The animal must wear it for 10 days. After the dislocation has been reduced, the cat must undergo a rehabilitation period, during which the owner will follow the doctor’s instructions and recommendations.

The animal's physical activity during the recovery period should be moderate. The duration of rehabilitation depends on the severity of the injury.

For reference! To check the success of the procedure, the reduced limb is flexed and extended, moved to the side and a control x-ray is taken.

Operation in advanced cases

Surgery is necessary for advanced or complex dislocations.

After receiving an injury, the dislocation must be corrected as soon as possible. Delay in receiving medical help leads to muscle contraction, the formation of a dense blood clot and scar tissue. These changes make it difficult to reduce the dislocation using a closed method. In such cases, the question arises about surgical treatment of advanced dislocations.

During the operation, during which the animal is asleep, an incision is made in the joint area, through which fibrin clots and destroyed parts of the joint are removed. The joint returns to its original position; this will require force or special levers. A joint reduced openly also requires fixation and temporary immobilization.

Sometimes a cat requires surgical fixation of a joint:

for dislocations of the hip or wrist joints, it is carried out using special pins;
for elbow and ankle - screws and wires.

Congenital dislocations in furry pets are usually eliminated using the open method. After a minor dislocation, the animal recovers within 3-4 days. The cat can use its paw, but has a slight limp. Full recovery from severe dislocations takes about 3-4 weeks.

Why is an advanced dislocation dangerous?

An advanced dislocation is dangerous due to suppuration, amputation and sepsis.

Timely seeking help from a veterinarian helps to avoid possible complications:

Neglected dislocations can lead to serious consequences.
An animal that is in constant pain will become aggressive and disobedient.
The paw will not heal properly, leaving the cat lame.
A severe dislocation can lead to muscle atrophy and paralysis of the limb.
The resulting swelling and inflammation can cause blood poisoning, which can lead to amputation of a limb at best, or the death of the animal at worst.

It is practically impossible to avoid acquired dislocations. No owner will be able to follow on the heels of a restless pet, who strives to climb higher or make a bold leap.

Veterinarians advise pet owners who live in apartments to close windows and not let cats out onto the balcony. The games of a cat and a small child need to be supervised, because the baby can unknowingly cause harm to the animal. Take care of the health of your purring pet, and he will respond with affection and affection.

In the video, a veterinarian talks about injuries in cats:

“Dislocation” is the most common diagnosis given by owners to their suddenly lame cat. And it doesn’t matter that sometimes it’s difficult to even understand which paw the patient is limping on. And is he limping at all? But the word “dislocation” is somehow on everyone’s lips and in their minds.

Why is this happening?

There can be several reasons for dislocations. Basically, a distinction is made between traumatic and congenital dislocations. In order for a healthy joint to dislocate, significant effort must be applied, so the main causes of traumatic dislocations are car injuries, falls from great heights, collisions with an obstacle at high speed, getting a limb stuck during movement, and violent games. The most common traumatic dislocations are the hip, elbow, and in cats, the temporomandibular and wrist joints.
Congenital dislocations and subluxations develop due to genetic defects and abnormal joint structure. Often these pathologies are recognized at a fairly mature age (6-8 months and older), sometimes as an accidental discovery.

What does it look like?

The main symptoms of dislocation are lameness (for congenital dislocation) or complete lack of ability to support the limb (for traumatic dislocation). After an injury, the animal jumps on three legs. Externally, a careful examination reveals swelling, asymmetry and deformation of the contours of the damaged joint (compared to the limb of the opposite side). When the lower jaw is dislocated, the misalignment of the teeth is clearly visible.
Palpation (palpation) with traumatic dislocations is usually difficult. When palpating and attempting to make movements, very severe pain is revealed. A characteristic symptom is elastic (“rubber”) fixation of the joint, which normally works like a well-lubricated hinge. You can also feel the friction of bone on bone, grinding, clicking, displacement of anatomical landmarks (for specialists).

What to do?

If your pet is injured and you suspect a dislocation, follow these recommendations:
Do not try to straighten the dislocation yourself - it will hurt!
Before visiting a doctor, try to immobilize the animal and the injured limb. To do this, you can place it in a limited space (cage, box, enclosure, car, leash). It is necessary to avoid using the sore paw, do not knead it, do not tug or shift the animal again.
It is advisable to place ice in the area of damage (as determined - see above) for 20-30 minutes (wrap something from the freezer in a towel and apply).
Do not feed the animal - anesthesia may be required.
Take the animal to a doctor as soon as possible. If you have a choice, go to a clinic where there is an experienced orthopedist, an X-ray, and an operating room.

How to find out for sure?

The doctor makes a diagnosis based on the entire complex of information: medical history (significant injury), examination and palpation data, and x-ray examination. The latter is the only reliable research method for some dislocations.

How to treat?

The main treatment for traumatic dislocations is reduction (closed or open - surgical) and fixation. Reduction of the dislocation should be done as urgently as possible (based on the patient’s condition). If reduction is delayed for more than 1-2 days, muscle contracture (shortening) develops, a dense, fixed fibrin (blood) clot forms in the joint cavity, and scar tissue forms. All this makes closed reduction difficult and sometimes impossible. In addition, during this time, the articular surfaces and surrounding soft tissues can be significantly damaged.
Open reduction is done when closed reduction is not possible. In this case, surgical access is made to the damaged joint, fibrin clots and destroyed fragments of articular structures are removed from its cavity. After this, with the help of special levers (and sometimes significant physical effort), the joint returns to its original position. Reduction of a dislocation by any method requires general anesthesia and complete muscle relaxation.
After reduction - closed or open - the joint must be fixed or immobilized. For this purpose, all kinds of immobilizing bandages or splints are used. In some cases, surgical fixation of the joint is used - with special knitting needles for dislocations of the hip or wrist joints, screws and wires for dislocations of the elbow and ankle joints.
If the dislocation is not corrected either after 2 or 20 days, the consequences can be disastrous. A persistent, insurmountable muscle contracture develops. Scar tissue firmly fixes the joint elements in the wrong position. The articular surfaces are destroyed. With such changes, it is not always possible to save the joint. To help the animal, instead of reduction, it is necessary to do arthrodesis (rigidly fuse the bones that form the joint) or resect (remove) the joint.
Treatment of congenital dislocations is usually much more complicated (than traumatic ones) and is almost always surgical. Although in some cases (congenital dislocation of the patella in dwarf dog breeds), treatment may not be required at all.
We hope that you will never need the information provided. If trouble happens and your pet gets sick, don’t waste time on long correspondence and consultations on the Internet - go to the doctor!
We wish you and your pets health!

A joint dislocation in a pet is a shift in the relative position of the bones without compromising their integrity. It is accompanied by damage to the soft tissues surrounding the joint: ligaments, capsule, tendons of nearby muscles, and blood vessels are torn. Congenital subluxations and dislocations are a consequence of abnormal joint structure. They are recognized by older cats, often completely by accident.

You can suspect a dislocated joint based on the following symptoms:

Lameness (with congenital dislocation).
Unnatural position, swelling of a limb on which the animal cannot lean (in case of traumatic dislocation).
A careful examination allows the owner to notice swelling, asymmetry and deformation of the contours of the damaged joint, and misalignment of teeth when the lower jaw is damaged.

If you suspect your cat has dislocated a joint, you should not try to reset it yourself. You need to call a veterinary emergency room or go to the clinic. Before the examination, you should not touch the injured limb; it is advisable to give the animal pain relief and apply a cold compress.

Dense fibrous connective tissue, consisting of many fibers, is almost always in “tension” (a tense state). The following types of ligaments are distinguished in the animal’s body:

Strengthening – envelop the joint from the front side, limit the angle of flexion of the joint.

Inhibitory – connect the bones on the back side of the joint, limit the angle of extension of the limb.

Guides – set the amplitude and angle of joint movement.

Fixing – hold the internal organs in a physiologically correct position.

When we talk about sprains, we mean injuries to the ligaments of the joint capsules of the limbs. The ligaments that hold the internal organs are also stretched, for example, when falling from a great height and hitting the ground. Connective tissues are literally permeated with nerve endings, so violation of the integrity of the ligaments is always associated with severe pain.

For convenience, ligament injuries were divided into sprains and ruptures. However, in both cases the pain is associated with rupture of the fibers, in the first case the damage is partial, in the second the ligament is completely separated. With a favorable combination of circumstances and timely assistance, fibrous tissue grows together quickly and without medical intervention. The worst-case scenario is hemorrhage into the soft tissues due to increased local pressure.

Causes of dislocation

A fracture is a violation of the anatomical integrity of the bone and adjacent tissues. It can be acquired or congenital and occur under the influence of external force or pathology, respectively.

If we talk about congenital pathologies of the bone structure, they are diagnosed in only 1-2% of the total number of visits to veterinary clinics with fractures. The reasons for the birth of kittens with limb fractures are intense labor, osteoporosis, rickets, osteomalacia in the expectant mother.

Veterinarians distinguish two types of acquired bone injuries based on the cause of their occurrence: pathological and traumatic. The first group includes fractures that occurred as a result of osteosarcoma, osteomalacia, etc.

Traumatic fractures occur not only due to various injuries received as a result of falling from a height, being run over by a car, or fighting with an opponent, but also due to unprofessional obstetric care.

Unlike a fracture, a dislocation is a violation of the anatomical location and a change in the physiological functions of the joint. The bone remains intact. Dislocations are also divided into two categories: acquired and congenital. The causes of dislocations are similar to those of fractures.

Not a single animal is insured against acquired dislocations and fractures. Breeds such as Persians, Maine Coons, and Himalayan cats are predisposed to congenital joint pathologies.

INJURY is the main cause of dislocation. As a rule, bone displacement occurs not at the site of physical impact, but remotely. For example, a dislocated jaw in a cat may be the result of a blow to the back of the head. For kittens and young pets, the so-called “pulling” dislocation is not uncommon - the result of inept or rough handling.

For example, a dislocation of a cat's paw occurs at the moment when the pet is about to run away from an annoying child, and the baby deftly catches the fleeing cat by the paw: with a jerk, the bone comes out of the joint. By the same principle, dislocation “from pulling” occurs if the owner lifts the kitten from the floor, holding it by the front legs.

CHRONIC DISEASES are the cause of the so-called. spontaneous dislocations. As a result of the disease, joint tissue or the articular ends of bones are destroyed - a long, sometimes imperceptible process. Then, completely unexpectedly and for no apparent reason, the articular end of the bone is displaced. For example, a dislocated paw in a cat can happen while sleeping, stretching, jumping out of bed, i.e.

The most common cause of hip dislocation is serious mechanical injury. They do not always act directly on the joint, but destruction of its capsule and ruptures of the supporting muscles will not add health to the cat either. In this case, the load on the round ligament increases sharply, and the body is not always able to cope with it. A dislocation occurs, which in this case means the head of the femur coming out of the acetabulum.

So, if a cat gets hit by a bicycle or falls from a balcony, the body’s shock-absorbing systems cannot cope with critical loads, as a result of which the joint is destroyed with a simultaneous rupture of the round ligament (the worst thing is that it is difficult to restore). But these are not all the reasons.

The practical experience of the world's leading veterinary clinics clearly shows that almost all purebred cats are susceptible to hip dysplasia to one degree or another. This situation is aggravated by poor breeding work, which is why many sick animals are actively used for reproduction purposes, passing on defective genes to their descendants.

Often cats are injured far from home, so they arrive “back home” not in the best condition. The animal jumps on three legs, the injured limb is tucked inward or generally dangling, traces of trauma may be visible on the pet’s skin, due to which the dislocation occurred. The cat experiences severe pain and can literally “scream” from this.

In particularly severe cases, the injuries are so serious that the cat’s leg is supported only by muscles. It is very easy to find out about this - in such situations, the cat’s paw can literally “rotate”, being bent inward or outward. It looks very unpleasant, and often indicates complete destruction of both the femoral head and the acetabulum.

How is the diagnosis made? It is very simple, since clinical signs and data from a simple external examination are sufficient for this. But in this case, it is often necessary to use general anesthesia, since due to the severe pain experienced by the cat, he will definitely not sit quietly. In addition, in serious cases of dislocation, the wound is full of bone fragments and bone dust, so radiography is definitely needed to establish the scale of the consequences of the dislocation.

A diagnostic x-ray will also show the direction of the dislocation and also help determine the presence of concomitant fractures.

In addition, if the cat has severe wounds or other similar injuries, they should be treated first so that the animal’s condition is completely stabilized. In other cases, performing an operation to eliminate the consequences of a dislocation is simply dangerous, since the pet’s body may not survive it.

Symptoms of dislocation

In case of fractures and dislocations, the animal exhibits general clinical signs: pain, impaired motor function (lameness), swelling of the damaged area.

There are three types of fractures - closed, open, and displaced. Serious damage also includes cracks.

Signs of an open fracture in a cat:

violation of the integrity of the skin;
the bone is broken, its ends are displaced and protrude;
tissue rupture in the fracture area;
bleeding;
strong pain.

A closed fracture without displacement is characterized by the following symptoms: the broken bone is in its usual position, the skin and tissues swell, turn blue, and turn red. In a displaced fracture, the bone diverges in different directions, and the soft tissue is partially damaged. There is a danger of internal bleeding.

A crack can easily be confused with a bruise. The bone remains intact, its edges do not diverge and are held in place by the intact area. The cat may move carefully, but it may be in pain.

A simple dislocation is recognized by the following signs:

skin and tissue remain intact;
lameness;
inability to lean on the surface;
pain when touching the injured limb;
The dislocated part of the body is asymmetrical.

A complex dislocation, accompanied by rupture of ligaments and tendons, is characterized by the appearance of hematomas in the injured area.

Clinical signs and diagnosis

The fact that the pet has been injured is immediately obvious, but a visit to the veterinary clinic is necessary. After examining your pet and conducting a series of diagnostic tests, the veterinarian will determine the extent of the damage and prescribe appropriate treatment.

Necessary diagnostic methods include general and biochemical blood tests, x-rays in two projections, and cardiac echocardiography. In some cases, an abdominal ultrasound is required.

Microtrauma to the fibers causes severe pain, but if the cat moves the limb within an acceptable amplitude or is at rest, the discomfort is significantly reduced. External signs include:

Reduced activity, the animal sleeps more.

Appetite decreases, but does not disappear. For example, a awakened pet will eat well if you bring a bowl to its bed.

In the context of limb sprains, lameness is observed.

An obvious sign is that the cat “neglects” washing its fur, which is why in the very first day the “fur coat” becomes disheveled and unkempt.

The nature of the pain is shooting. If your pet twitches and squints when stepping on a paw, it is logical to assume a sprain.

Another of your tasks is to exclude a more complex injury - a crack or fracture of a bone:

With a sprain, the cat can sleep; if the bone tissue is damaged, the animal becomes restless, dozes superficially, but does not rest fully.

When sprained, the pet will be able to move its fingers and partially bend the damaged joint.

While feeling the paw, watch the animal's reaction. Very carefully press on the bone; if it is a fracture or crack, you will understand everything by the pet’s violent reaction.

If you suspect a bone injury, take your animal to the veterinarian for a cast. It would be useful to provide first aid: fixing the limb with a rigid splint, cooling the injured area, painkillers (no more than 1/2 of the prescribed dose).

Treatment of dislocation

Simple fractures are treated with conservative methods. These include pain relief and elimination of pain shock. Immobilization using splints and splints is used to restore damaged bone. For pain relief, drugs such as Traumeel and Butomidor are used. Splints and braces are removed only after the veterinarian gives permission to do so.

For complex types of fractures, surgery cannot be avoided. Osteosynthesis involves removing small bone fragments and realigning large ones. Surgical intervention using fixing metal structures should be carried out immediately after diagnosing a fracture.

Pins, plates and spokes made from a special alloy with titanium remain in the animal’s body for life.

The regeneration process will be helped to speed up by drugs that improve osteosynthesis, vitamin therapy, and physiotherapy.

If a cat has been diagnosed with a dislocation, treatment includes pain relief and realignment of the injured limb, followed by the application of a fixing bandage. In severe cases, surgery is indicated.

As for the prognosis for fractures and dislocations, in most cases it is favorable. The only exceptions are spinal fractures with damage to the spinal cord structure. If the fracture causes rupture of large vessels of the limb or peripheral nerves, then for the cat this ends in the loss of the limb.

Dislocations should not be underestimated: if the damage is not treated, it can subsequently lead to complex muscle deformations and destruction of articular surfaces. As a result, the cat will limp for the rest of its life.

If your pet has dislocated a joint, it is important to urgently seek professional help and contact our clinic. We carry out all procedures in a modern operating room equipped with diagnostic equipment or come to you with the necessary instruments and medications. Our veterinarians will do everything to alleviate the animal’s suffering, will accompany him during treatment, monitor his progress, and help him quickly return to an active life.

In order not to aggravate the situation, the damaged part of the body must be fixed as is, without trying to return it to its natural position. It doesn’t matter what the owner is faced with - a complex dislocation of the hip joint in cats or a banal dislocation of a finger - a veterinarian should be contacted as soon as possible.

Surgery to treat a dislocation is required only in extreme cases. Usually it is enough to return the bone to its place (manipulation under anesthesia), apply a fixing bandage and undergo a course of drug therapy. In addition to painkillers, general strengthening drugs, sedatives, healing agents and agents that accelerate the restoration of cartilage tissue are prescribed. The cat should be restrained, not allowing it to jump, climb to heights, etc.

Post-operative care for animals

In the best case, the entire injury will be reduced to micro-tears of the ligament fibers and will not require specific treatment, you just need to provide the pet with rest and care. Connective tissues quickly regenerate and your pet will come to its senses within 2–3 days.

If you are “lucky” and the sprain is associated with a dislocation of a joint or a broken bone, you will need the help of a doctor, and immediately. The damaged bone is set, and a fixing bandage or plaster is applied to the limb. Your task is to monitor the general condition of the animal and the injured limb - swelling, temperature, level of activity.

If the joint is left dislocated, a “false joint” will form, causing the cat to have a permanent limp. Only in rare cases, when the damage is limited to an uncomplicated dislocation, can the latter be simply reduced. But in such a situation, the likelihood of relapse is high, and therefore they often resort to surgery.

As a rule, it is necessary to completely replace the femoral head with a synthetic implant. The sooner the operation is performed (no later than 72 hours from the moment of dislocation), the easier the postoperative period will be. At the end of the operation, the injured leg is “packed” into a compression bandage, which prevents recurrence of the dislocation.

It is necessary to constantly monitor the behavior of the cat, which should be limited in its movements as much as possible (it is better to put it in a small room or in a transport cage), it is necessary to check the condition of the sore leg and bandage. To relieve emerging pain, sedatives are prescribed. To speed up healing, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and multivitamin complexes can be used. If there is a possibility of developing an infection, broad-spectrum antibiotics are prescribed.

The animal's mobility should be limited for approximately two weeks (minimum period). The duration of the postoperative period depends on the skill of the veterinary surgeon, the quality of treatment and nutrition, but in any case, full recovery can be discussed no earlier than six months after the operation.

At this time, the animal requires especially careful care. The injured leg should be examined daily by a veterinarian to ensure normal healing and to take timely action if something goes wrong. You need to feed your cat high-quality, fresh food, preferably with added vitamins. If this is not done, treatment may be useless (a relapse will occur or a false joint will form).

FIRST AID FOR OPEN FRACTURES

Give a painkiller injection.

Cover the wound with sterile gauze pads.

Bandage it.

Apply and bandage a splint on top.

Contact your veterinarian immediately.

As you can see, you will have to learn how to give your cat injections. Don't be alarmed, there is nothing complicated about it. Next, I will explain the technology of this simple matter. Why does a cat need to be given painkillers for fractures and dislocations? Because any injury can lead to traumatic shock. This is the body's reaction to severe pain, and the state of traumatic shock poses a serious danger.

Home care

If you have witnessed your cat being hit by a car or falling from a great height and you suspect a fracture, you should put a splint on the injured paw. This procedure will immobilize the broken limb. A flat board or, in the absence of one, thick cardboard folded several times can be used as a tire.

The splint must be applied in such a way as to be able to fix two joints close to the fracture, below and above. The structure should be wrapped with a bandage in several layers. After this, you need to take the victim to a veterinary clinic.

For open fractures, the wound is closed with sterile gauze, and a splint is applied on top.

If you are sure that your cat has a dislocation, then under no circumstances try to straighten the injured limb yourself! With your inexperienced actions and ignorance of cat anatomy, you can cause irreparable harm to your pet. Apply an ice pack to the affected limb, apply a tight bandage, and take your pet to a veterinarian.

To alleviate the cat's condition and relieve it from traumatic shock, many owners inject the animal with an anesthetic. However, veterinarians do not recommend doing this at home. Without feeling pain, a cat can cause even more harm to itself.

In addition, analgesics distort the symptoms of injury. Finally, sedation will be required during the X-ray examination, and pre-administration of pain medication will negatively affect the health of the pet.

The animal should be transported to the veterinary clinic lying down in the back seat of the car. The pet should be placed on a horizontal surface - plywood, board, car panel - and secured in the area of the shoulder blades and pelvis with a rope or belt.

The owner’s task is to provide the pet with the most comfortable living conditions during the treatment of fractures. A cat's mobility can have a negative impact on its well-being, so freedom of movement should be limited. The ideal option would be to place the animal in a cage for 2-3 weeks.

This design should be quite free, but at the same time not allowing the pet to move a lot. You need to put a tray and bowls of food and water in the cage.

Prevention measures

Of course, you won’t always be able to control your pet to prevent it from getting run over by a car or falling out of a window. However, no one can cancel compliance with basic safety rules. Make sure that the cat does not climb tall trees, close windows and vents during your absence.

After each walk, inspect your pet for injuries. If you suspect a fracture or dislocation, contact your veterinarian immediately.

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is a hinge-like joint between the head of the temporal bone and the articular surface of the lower jaw. In women, the socket of the temporal bone is flatter than in men, this is the reason for more frequent dislocation in women.

The peculiarity of this joint is that the joints on the left and right must work synchronously, since they are a single system, otherwise the jaw will dislocate. To understand the principle of damage, it is necessary to consider the anatomical structure of the joint.

The joint is formed by the ellipsoidal head of the lower jaw; the head enters the articular mandibular fossa of the temporal bone. The size of the fossa is more than 2 times larger than the head, which allows for more amplitude movements in the TMJ. It consists of two departments:

Anterior or intracapsular. This section is limited in front by the slope of the tubercle of the joint, behind is the petrotympanic fissure, outside is the root of the process of the zygomatic bone, and medially is the axis of the sphenoid bone - all these formations are limiting blocks and stabilizers that prevent dislocation of the TMJ;
Posterior or extracapsular. The place where the articular surfaces are most adjacent to each other, due to increased load and excessive friction, the space is filled with a special fiber, which is characterized by high elasticity and resilience to perform a shock-absorbing function that prevents shaking of the adjacent structures during operation of the joint.

The joint cavity is divided into 2 chambers, which have their own synovial cavities, which are articulated with each other by interarticular cartilage or disc. The disc is a connective tissue formation formed by cartilaginous fibrous tissue, due to which it is a flexible formation that is involved in the movement of the lower jaw back and forth due to the displacement of the disc.

The joint ligaments are divided into extra- and intracapsular. The main function of intracapsular ones is to fix the disc, and extracapsular ones are to stabilize the joint itself, thereby limiting the movements of the lower jaw, which prevents the formation of dislocation.

The tough, fibrous tissue that envelops a joint is called a ligament, not to be confused with a tendon, which attaches muscle to bone. According to their functional purpose, they are divided into articular (guide, inhibitory, strengthening) and fixing ligaments.

The function of the latter is to fix the internal organs in the body cavity, reducing the amplitude of vibration when the limbs hit the ground.

From a physiological point of view, every step or jump of a cat is a blow that is softened by the shock absorption of the joints. The ligaments that strengthen the joint have a certain margin of strength and are torn or torn due to a number of reasons:

Injury - a jump with an unsuccessful landing, a fall from a height, a dislocation, any excessive load on a limb.

Malformations or weakening of ligaments due to injuries.

Lack of microelements, vitamins, metabolic disorders - ligaments are regenerated at a low speed, which leads to their premature wear.

Destruction of connective tissue due to the progression of pathologies.

According to severity, ligament ruptures are divided into complete and incomplete. The fibrous tissue of a healthy cat regenerates quickly and if the ligament has not been completely cut, the injury can be repaired without surgery.

In the generally accepted understanding, injuries of this nature are associated with the limbs; strictly speaking, this is not true. Ruptures of vertebral ligaments or internal organs are much more dangerous than a paw injury.

Symptoms and signs

Acute dislocations are characterized by the following clinical symptoms:

The victim’s mouth is open, the joint seems to be “jammed”; you should not forcefully close or open your mouth, in order to avoid worsening the condition;
The patient's speech is slurred, difficult, hissing and whistling sounds are present;
Hypersolivation – increased secretion of saliva. It is a protective reaction, since saliva contains biologically active substances that destroy pathogenic microflora, and saliva also serves for mechanical cleansing of the oral cavity.
With a unilateral lesion, the patient’s face is expressed asymmetrically; with a bilateral lesion, a symmetrical arrangement of the lower jaw without distortions is possible;
During palpation, the doctor diagnoses “empty” sockets of the temporal bone, and a bulging of the skin under the zygomatic arch is visually observed - the head is located there;
The patient feels increased pain with involuntary movement, while trying to speak;
The joint is painful to feel, swelling is noted, a local increase in skin temperature and redness is possible;
If the vessel is damaged, there may be a sign of balloting (indicating the accumulation of fluid in the joint cavity);
If nerve fibers are damaged, skin paresthesia is possible: a feeling of numbness, itching, “crawling”, etc.

With chronic dislocation, the symptoms are significantly different: they are not characterized by a pain reaction, only discomfort, and no significant inflammation is observed. Patients practice self-reduction of the jaw due to the high frequency of attacks.

When a disc is dislocated, the jaw is mobile, but the movements are accompanied by clicks, the movements are painful, and the amplitude is limited. All signs of inflammation are noted.

With a congenital dislocation, the main symptom is lameness, and with a traumatic dislocation, the main symptom is a complete inability to lean on the limb. After an injury, an animal jumps on three legs, and upon careful external examination, one can notice deformation and swelling of the contours of the damaged joint.

If the lower jaw is dislocated, then the misalignment of the teeth is noticeable. When palpating a traumatic dislocation in a dog, severe pain is detected. A characteristic symptom of dislocation is elastic, rubber-like fixation of the joint. You may also feel bone-on-bone friction, clicks, and grinding sounds.

Helping the dog

Surgical diseases often have a clear clinical picture, which allows diagnosis to be made by simple examination and palpation. Symptoms of a sprain in a dog, the treatment of which is predominantly conservative, are no exception.

Depending on the external clinical signs, the veterinarian can also identify the severity of the pathological process currently occurring in the area of the injured joint:

I form – mild. Several individual fibers in the ligaments are damaged and partially torn. The dog can walk, but is not able to run or jump. There is lameness, swelling of part of the circumference of the limb and pain is noticeable in the area of the affected joint, but they are usually insignificant.
Form II – moderate. One or more ligaments are partially torn - a large number of fibers are involved in the rupture. The bones remain intact and severe lameness is observed. The swelling usually extends around the entire circumference of the limb, and the dog shows an active response to the pain. Such symptoms of a sprain in a dog require treatment and force the animal to lie down or sit more often.
III forms – severe. One or more ligaments may be completely torn, leaving the joint almost completely immobilized. Often this form is accompanied by a serious dislocation of the dog’s paw, the symptoms of which include severe pain, swelling of the limb from the site of injury with a downward descent. The animal cannot walk, but keeps its paw in a rigid state.

As can be seen from the description of the forms of the disease, a sprain in a dog is characterized by the same symptoms, increasing from a mild form to a more severe one, which directly depends on the strength of the physical impact on the joint area.

As for treatment, the first form, as a rule, does not require any intervention - the pathological processes go away on their own within a few weeks. An exception may be the situation when the sprain occurs in young dogs, since even mild injury to the ligaments can affect the further growth and development of the musculoskeletal system of the joint and the limb as a whole.

In the second form, a professional examination by a veterinarian is recommended, however, in many cases, owners can help their pet themselves, which we will discuss in the next paragraph, devoted to the treatment of sprains in a dog.

Actually, the doctor will perform the same manipulations, which means it will be possible to significantly save on treatment.

With a traumatic dislocation, the main symptom is the complete absence of supporting abilities on the limb. With congenital dislocation - lameness.

When a paw is injured, the animal moves on three paws; an external examination reveals swelling of the soft tissues, asymmetry and changes in the contours of the injured joint compared to a healthy paw.

Misalignment of teeth may indicate a dislocation of the lower jaw.

Also, with traumatic dislocations, palpation (palpation) is difficult. When trying to move and palpate, very severe pain can be observed. A characteristic symptom is elastic fixation of the joint. A specialist can detect bone friction, clicking, grinding, and displacement of anatomical landmarks.

Normally, ligaments and joints must withstand the weight of the dog, jumps, falls, rolls and other active loads. In young puppies, during active growth, the connective tissues do not have time to strengthen and adapt to the weight of the dog.

The phenomenon is observed in large puppies with massive joints - Caucasian and Central Asian shepherds, St. Bernards, Great Danes; German shepherds and hunting breeds are also at particular risk.

In addition to the abnormally rapid growth rate, possible causes of “weakness” of the ligaments include:

Lack of calcium and other microelements responsible for the regeneration of connective tissues.

Signs of a dislocation in a dog include the animal squealing, refusing to step on the injured paw, a change in the normal shape of the joint, and an unnatural position or different lengths of the limbs. A sprained paw may be longer or, conversely, shorter than a healthy one.

If the dog does not have a dislocation, but only a sprain, then the paw joint does not change its shape, but swells and becomes very painful.

Despite the variety of types of fractures and similar surgical injuries, clinical signs in domestic animals have characteristic features. As a rule, the animal experiences severe pain, the site of injury swells, and motor function is impaired.

If it’s just a bruise on the front or back paw

Contusion of the soft tissues of a limb most often occurs as a result of trauma. Damage to lymphatic and blood vessels leads to lymphatic extravasation and hematomas in the subcutaneous tissue.

Visually, the owner of the furry fidget can observe swelling of the bruised area. There is no violation of the integrity of the skin. Upon examination, the anatomical configuration of the joint and bone is not disturbed.

A bruised limb is accompanied by gait disturbance. The cat limps, tries not to step on the sore paw, and diligently licks the injured area.

The animal is anxious and reacts painfully to touch. When palpated, the pet shows excitement and even aggression. When palpated, the integrity of the bone is not compromised, and no sounds of crepitus are detected.

Open or closed fracture

Open surgical trauma with loss of bone integrity is accompanied by the following symptoms:

With closed bone fractures, the owner can observe the following clinical signs:

The cat is in severe pain. The animal may meow loudly or scream. Pain syndrome is accompanied by aggressive behavior. A pet can bite even its beloved owner. Pain is observed both in a passive state and when the animal moves. However, in rare cases (in case of shock, in case of spinal cord injury), there may be no pain due to injury.
Movement violation. A fracture of a limb is accompanied by loss of its musculoskeletal function. The cat does not step on the injured paw and moves on three limbs. Cracks, as a rule, are not accompanied by a pronounced loss of the supporting function of the limb.

Change in anatomical configuration. The degree of change in the physiological contour of the injured part largely depends on the type and nature of the fracture. The configuration of the injury site is also a consequence of reflex muscle contraction, hematoma formation, lymphatic extravasation, and inflammatory edema.
Mobility of the bone outside the joint is typical in the case of complete fracture of the limb. The symptom appears with diaphyseal fractures of the long tubular bones of the animal’s limbs.
When palpated, a crunch and crepitus are detected at the site of injury due to friction of bone fragments. The sign is characteristic of a fresh fracture. Crepitation is not a mandatory symptom of bone damage, since soft tissue and blood clots may be present between damaged bone structures.

Varieties

It is necessary to distinguish between subluxations and dislocations. So, TMJ subluxation characterizes partial loss of the head from the articular cavity of the temporal bone. While a dislocation of the temporomandibular joint is a complete release of the head of the mandible from the articular cavity. Dislocations of the jaw joint can be divided according to the time of formation into:

Spicy. Unreducible dislocation up to 10 days after injury;
Obsolete. The visit to a specialist occurred a week and a half after the dislocation occurred.

Based on the number of adjacent formations involved, the injury is divided into:

Simple. Isolated dislocation;
Complex or complicated. Damage to the ligamentous apparatus, joint capsule, skin, muscle fibers, vascular and nerve formations.

Jaw dislocation is also divided into:

Traumatic dislocation of the jaw - formed as a result of external impact on the joint;
Habitual dislocation of the jaw (also called chronic dislocation) is a relapse of the traumatic event due to excessive overstretching of the ligamentous apparatus and their failure, which is why the main function of stabilizing and limiting joint movements suffers.

Depending on the nature of the traumatic impact, the damage can be divided into:

Unilateral and bilateral dislocation;
Posterior, lateral or anterior dislocations - depending on the direction of the exit of the head from the articular fossa of the temporal bone.

It is necessary to distinguish between joint dislocation and disc dislocation. The latter occurs due to disruption and weakening of the connection of the cartilage with the head of the lower jaw, or as a result of spasm (contraction) of the lateral pterygoid muscle.

Forms

Symptoms of a sprain depend on the severity of the injury. Thus, the displacement of the heads of the bones may be incomplete, the articular capsule remains intact. In this situation, conventional reduction may help. Common symptoms of a sprain may include:

In severe cases, the limb dangles on only ligaments and muscles, and can rotate around its axis.

The affected joint becomes severely swollen and distended due to the release of synovial fluid into the soft tissue.

The animal does not step on the limb; if the joint is not crushed and some mobility of the paw is preserved, the pet tries to tuck it under the chest.

Also, with simple dislocations, severe lameness is observed.

If the damage is serious, the cat simply hides in the far corner, meows and groans hoarsely, and refuses to eat.

At the slightest attempt to palpate the injured paw, there is an outbreak of aggression caused by a strong pain reaction.

The causes of dislocation are almost always standard – severe mechanical trauma. Sometimes this is caused by a hereditary predisposition, as well as advanced cases of joint diseases (arthritis, bursitis, etc.).

d.). An important predisposing factor is improper, inadequate nutrition.

Even less often, a dislocation is congenital (but more often this means an injury received by a kitten directly during birth).

What to do?

The algorithm for providing first aid to a victim with suspected dislocation of the lower jaw includes the following points:

Calling the EMS brigade;
The patient is prohibited from speaking, trying to open or close his mouth; for more reliable immobilization, the jaw is tied with a scarf or scarf; reinforce from bottom to top and front to back with two pieces of fabric;
Cover the mouth, which is always open during a dislocation, with an absorbent cloth, which will protect against dirt and dust, and also reduce salivation - the separation of saliva;
If possible, it is allowed to administer an anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic drug intramuscularly to relieve pain and reduce inflammation;
It is recommended to place an ice pack at the site of the suspected dislocation to reduce the swelling and inflammatory component due to reflex vasoconstriction.

Which doctor should I go to?

If you have dislocated your jaw, it is best to consult a doctor at the maxillofacial surgery department. Maxillofacial surgeons are best acquainted with the pathology; only they are able to eliminate habitual dislocation, which requires surgical intervention for treatment.

Dentists also often encounter pathology, since during dental procedures jaw dislocation is possible and doctors are obliged to provide assistance on the spot. If the injury occurred at night, the ambulance crew will most likely take the victim to a 24-hour emergency room.

There, traumatologists will be able to determine the nature of the injury using an x-ray and set the jaw.

If the symptoms still confirm that your beloved pet has a dislocation, under no circumstances should you try to straighten it yourself. This is not only dangerous for your cat, but also very painful.

Before taking the animal to the doctor, try to fix the sore limb and immobilize the animal. A cage or box is suitable for this, which will help limit the space and ensure that the pet is inactive. Avoid putting any stress on the injured paw and do not touch, pull, or move the animal.

It is advisable to apply something cold to the damaged area for 20-30 minutes; any item from the freezer, wrapped in a towel, will do for this purpose.

Your pet may need anesthesia, so it is best not to feed it.

In case of an open form of injury, first of all, it is necessary to remove protruding foreign objects, dirt and sharp bone fragments from the wound channel, and stop the bleeding. This can be done by pressing a clean cloth wrapped around your finger against the wound.

If a large vessel on the hind limb is damaged, the bleeding is stopped by squeezing the artery on the inside of the thigh. If bleeding and damage to the front paw are detected, the artery under the elbow joint is clamped.

The wound must be treated with an antiseptic solution: hydrogen peroxide, chlorhexidine, miramistin, potassium permanganate solution.

Fixing the limb

After treating the wound and stopping the bleeding, the owner should begin fixing the damaged limb. A small board, a wide ruler, or a plastic panel will be suitable as a tire. The fixation device should be slightly longer than the limb itself.

The damaged paw should be secured to the splint using a bandage, belt, belt, or tape. The bandage should be tight, but not squeezing the blood vessels. Bandaging is not carried out in the area of an open wound.

Pain reliever for injury

Pain relief can smooth out the clinical picture of the injury. In addition, the pet will need sedation for X-ray examinations, and pre-administration of an analgesic will adversely affect the cat's health.

Causes of sprains

Mostly congenital and traumatic dislocations occur in dogs. Congenital ones develop due to the abnormal structure of the joint, that is, a genetic marriage. These pathologies are often recognized by chance and quite late - at 6–8 months of age and older.

The most common are congenital dislocations of the elbow joint, patella (especially in dogs of dwarf breeds), and incomplete dislocation of the hip joint. To dislocate a healthy joint, significant force is required, so traumatic dislocations occur as a result of:

falling from a great height,
auto injuries,
collision at high speed with an obstacle,
wild games,
sudden limb getting stuck while moving

Most often, traumatic dislocations occur in the area of the elbow and hip joints, as well as the patella. There is also a certain middle variant of dislocation.

A minor injury to a healthy animal leads to dislocation of a genetically predisposed, underdeveloped joint. Most often, this occurs with dislocation of the hip joints, as well as dislocations of the cervical vertebrae and patella in dogs of dwarf breeds.

Often the cause of a sprain in a dog is excessive physical pressure on the joint of the limb. This phenomenon can be the result of an unsuccessful jump, fall, blow, body turn, and so on.

In addition, there are so-called risk factors that increase the likelihood of ligament damage in cases where the physical impact on the joint does not exceed the permissible norm. In other words, even a slight jump or movement of the dog on the stairs can cause a ligament rupture.

These risk factors are:

Rapid growth of large breed puppies. These representatives of the canine world always have the problem of uneven mutual growth of individual anatomical areas of the body. Bones always grow faster than muscles and tendons, which greatly disrupts the general physiology of movement. As a result, even minor impacts can tear ligaments in these dogs.

Diet unbalanced in microelements. Calcium and magnesium are the main elements involved in the growth and physiology of the musculoskeletal status of not only young but also adult animals. With their deficiency, increased bone fragility and reduced elasticity of tendons and muscles are observed.
Some congenital and acquired diseases, for example, rickets, significantly disrupt the body’s metabolism and thereby weaken the dog’s musculoskeletal system.
Some anatomical disorders of bones and muscles. For example, improper fusion of the bone base after healing of an old fracture.
Overweight animals.
Climbing stairs. This is a particularly common problem among young animals kept in apartments in multi-storey buildings.

There are different reasons. But initially it is necessary to distinguish between traumatic dislocations and congenital ones.

The most common causes of traumatic dislocations are car injuries, falls from great heights, excessive play, fights with other animals, collisions with objects while moving, and paws getting stuck in various places.

Most often, traumatic dislocations of the hip, elbow, wrist, temporal and mandibular joints occur in cats.

Genetic changes and abnormal joint structure are the causes of congenital dislocations and subluxations. These pathologies can be identified already at the age of 6-8 months, and sometimes chance helps to recognize them.

The first type are reinforcing ligaments that wrap around the joint from the front, limiting the angle at which the joint bends. The second type are inhibitory ligaments, which connect the bones at the back of the joint and limit the angle at which the limb extends.

The third type of ligaments are guide ligaments, which set the angle at which the joint will move and the range of motion. The fourth type is the fixing ligaments, which allow the internal organs to be held in the position that is physiologically correct.

When we talk about a sprain, we mean an injury to the ligaments of the joint capsules. As a rule, this applies to the limbs.

Those ligaments that hold the animal’s internal organs can also stretch. As a rule, this occurs when an animal falls from a great height and, accordingly, with a strong impact on the ground.

It must be said that connective tissues are simply riddled with nerve endings, so when the integrity of the ligaments is broken, it always causes severe pain.

For ease of classification, ligament injuries were divided into two large groups – sprains and ruptures. However, in both cases, the pain is always caused by rupture of the fibers.

The whole difference is that in the case of sprain, the fibers are torn only partially, while in the second case the ligament is torn completely. If the animal is lucky and receives timely assistance, the fibrous tissue heals very quickly and without any veterinary intervention.

It should be noted that among the uninitiated public, such injuries are most often called tendon strains. However, this is not true. The tendon attaches to the bone of the muscle, while ligaments strengthen the joints and hold them together.

INJURY is the main cause of dislocation. As a rule, bone displacement occurs not at the site of physical impact, but remotely.

For example, a dislocated jaw in a cat may be the result of a blow to the back of the head. For kittens and young pets, the so-called “pulling” dislocation is not uncommon - the result of inept or rough handling.

By the same principle, dislocation “from pulling” occurs if the owner lifts the kitten from the floor, holding it by the front legs. Or he pulls the kitten towards him, dragging him by the hind limbs - the dislocation of the cat’s hind paw in this case is often complete, with displacement and damage to adjacent tissues.

CHRONIC DISEASES are the cause of the so-called

spontaneous dislocations. As a result of the disease, joint tissue or the articular ends of bones are destroyed - a long, sometimes imperceptible process.

Then, completely unexpectedly and for no apparent reason, the articular end of the bone is displaced. For example, a dislocated paw in a cat can happen while sleeping, stretching, jumping out of bed, i.e. without physical impact.

Sometimes it takes even less force to force a bone out of its socket, such as when a cat's jaw dislocates while eating or yawning. Paralytic dislocations are a consequence of paresis or paralysis of adjacent muscles.

Diagnostics and therapeutic techniques

The injury to the limb is immediately visible. However, it is better to contact a veterinarian who will carefully examine the animal and prescribe an x-ray. As a result, he will determine the statute of limitations of the dislocation, the severity of the damage and prescribe treatment.

Diagnosis is simple - an experienced specialist will determine the presence of a dislocation based on clinical signs, as well as through a simple medical examination of the injured animal. However, if your dog is lame after a recent injury, it won’t hurt to tell your veterinarian.

To determine whether the dislocation is complicated by a fracture, and whether there is serious damage to the joint, it is necessary to conduct an X-ray examination of the limb. In some cases, ultrasound is also used (to determine the degree of injury to surrounding tissues), but in most cases it is dispensed with.

Blood and urine tests may be needed. This is done not only to identify possible infections (which is useful in case of purulent arthritis, for example), but also to find out whether the dog is able to survive general anesthesia.

How is elbow dislocation treated? There are two ways: simple reduction and surgery. In certain cases, the joint can be returned to its "original" location through a simple reduction that does not require prior excision of soft tissue.

This is an atraumatic procedure, but you still need general anesthesia, which relaxes the muscle tissue. But reduction is practiced only in mild cases, when x-rays show that there is no serious damage to the cartilage and bone.

That is why, in most cases of dislocations, surgical intervention is preferable; even this method is much more complicated. It may be necessary to restore not only the joint itself, but also the soft tissues surrounding it.

As a rule, during the operation, the head of the bone is set back into the glenoid cavity, and the ligaments, which should hold everything in a given position, are carefully sutured. In more complex cases, it is possible to install synthetic implants (this is done when there is nothing left to restore).

If a dislocation is suspected, a complete examination of the pet and light palpation may be sufficient to make a diagnosis (but even for this, the cat usually requires anesthesia). To assess the severity of the incident, specialists use radiography.

Again, in the case of serious, but closed, injuries (when the joint capsule and itself have turned into dust, but the skin is almost intact), an ultrasound examination may be required, since with its help it is possible to more accurately assess the condition of the organ and the surrounding soft tissues, number of small fragments.

It is often necessary to perform blood and urine tests, as they can help find concomitant pathologies or identify signs of inflammation in time. In addition, in case of serious injuries, it is necessary to conduct an ultrasound not only of the injured limb, but also of internal organs to exclude their traumatic damage.

How is elbow dislocation treated?

This largely depends on the severity of the initial injury and the condition of the animal. In the mildest cases, it is possible to manually correct the dislocation, after which a compression bandage is applied to the paw.

In addition, immediately after this, it is very advisable to take x-rays to make sure that the heads of the bones are exactly in their “rightful” place. Do not attempt to reset the joint yourself; this operation should be performed by a qualified professional to prevent further damage to the leg.

But not in all cases it is possible to get by with such simple actions. When the joint is severely damaged, surgery is necessary.

In addition, therapy in this case may include the following:

The sick animal is given complete rest.

If the dislocation is accompanied by a fracture, treat it first.

To speed up the regeneration process, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed.

Although the pain is relieved after surgery or joint realignment, sedatives may be required.

To prevent the development of traumatic edema in mild cases, the application of cold compresses is indicated.

Throughout the treatment, the animal needs high-quality food, complete in vitamins, macro- and microelements.

To speed up and facilitate the postoperative period, physiotherapeutic procedures are necessary.

The cat should wear the compression bandage for at least 10-14 days, in severe cases - longer.

If a sick cat is overweight, it needs to be put on a diet. The negative consequences of obesity are prolongation of regeneration time.

Treatment of dislocation

When treating sprains in dogs, there are two main points: first aid and primary treatment.

For mild to moderate severity, injury can be treated at home. But severe injuries will require surgery.

The back legs of dogs are often susceptible to sprains, since they bear the bulk of the load when jumping and running.

Let's look at what to do first when a dog has a sprained paw:

Place ice in a bag and apply to the injured limb to relieve swelling.
After 15-20 minutes, remove the cold and apply a tight bandage, securing the limb.
If the animal is suffering greatly, then show it to a specialist. Most likely, his injuries are more serious than they seem.

Attention! Do not give your animal painkillers, otherwise the pet will begin to move actively and may worsen the injury.

Now let's look at how to treat a sprain in a dog in the following days:

On the second day after injury, alcohol and warm compresses are desirable.
On the third day, light massage, thermal wraps and paraffin applications are recommended.
On the fourth, use ointments and gels with troxevasin. Phytoelite and Hydrocortisone ointments accelerate healing.

There are also surgical treatment methods used for old dislocations, when the structures of the joint have had time to pathologically change, as well as for degenerative changes in the joint associated with chronic diseases.

Lindeman method

The goal of such an operation is to increase the size of the articular tubercle by splitting it and introducing Teflon with fixation with a metal suture.

It is also possible to deepen the articular fossa, which is achieved by moving the articular disc to a vertical position anterior to the fossa. This method allows for reliable fixation of joint structures without the possibility of relapses.

Rauer method

The essence of the manipulation is to increase the articular tubercle using a graft. In such an operation, costal cartilage is used, which is inserted under the periosteum of the tubercle, which makes it possible to increase its volume.

To modernize the method, additional reduction of the joint capsule, improvement of fixation by suturing the fascia to the ligamentous apparatus, and also suspension of the lower jaw using a transplanted tendon are used.

After the dislocation has been reduced, the jaw must be fixed for the first time to avoid a re-occurrence of injury when the muscles are relaxed.

Prevention consists of being careful when opening the mouth, avoiding wide movements of the jaw when eating, screaming, or singing. If there is a predisposition to dislocations/subluxations, you must inform your doctor about this during dental examinations or preoperative procedures.

The first and second degrees of severity are considered a minor injury and do not require surgical intervention. If you notice symptoms of a sprain, apply ice wrapped in a bag and a thin cloth to the joint and hold for 15–20 minutes.

Immobilize the limb by applying a bandage made of an elastic bandage, constantly monitor the local temperature - the paw has become cold, which means the bandage is too tight.

Provide the animal with rest, consult with a veterinarian by phone on how to treat swelling if it occurs. Most often, treatment comes down to a 3-5 day course of an anti-inflammatory drug.

Treatment for a simple dislocation is also simple - you need to put the bones of the joint in place, but for this you need to know how the joint works and be able to do it. The reduced joint is strengthened with a splint for two weeks to avoid repeated dislocations.

It is best to entrust this matter to a veterinarian, and ease the dog’s suffering with the help of painkillers and a cold compress applied to the site of the dislocation.

And, of course, you cannot do without the help of a doctor if the dog’s dislocation is complicated, since in this case sutures and an anti-shock blockade will be required.

If a dog sprains a ligament, apply a wet bandage to the injured area, give it pain relief, and provide rest.

Treatment for a dislocated paw in a cat is a purely mechanical procedure called reduction. To realign a dislocated paw, a cat first needs to be given local anesthesia. Reduction begins by traction of the limb.

The reduction of the dislocation is completed by repeated flexion and extension of the paw, abducting it inward and outward, which brings the bone to its normal state. Usually, when the bone returns to the position required by the anatomy, a characteristic clicking sound is heard.

After the final reduction of a dislocated limb in a cat, it is necessary to perform passive movements and observe how the cat makes active movements. In order to prevent re-dislocation, an immobilizing bandage should be applied to the paw, which is not recommended to be removed for 10 days.

The longer a dislocation goes untreated, the less chance there is of a full recovery. An untreated dislocation often becomes a “habitual” dislocation where the bone periodically comes out of the joint with any minor impact on the injured area.

In addition to painkillers, general strengthening drugs, sedatives, healing agents and agents that accelerate the restoration of cartilage tissue are prescribed. The cat should be restrained, not allowing it to jump, climb to heights, etc.

Rehabilitation and recovery

Rehabilitation after reduction of a dislocation involves immobilization and complete unloading of the temporomandibular joints for two to three weeks. This is achieved by wearing a bandage that supports the lower jaw, special mouthguards that limit the opening of the mouth, as well as a diet with the complete exclusion of solid and hot foods.

You can also perform massages using hydrocortisone ointments, as well as creams and gels with an anti-inflammatory effect (Diklak-gel, DIP-relief and others). Recovery recommendations may include short courses of physical therapy to improve blood circulation and speed up recovery.

Consequences of a dislocation in a dog

If the dislocation is not treated, over time the damage will provoke complex muscle deformations, as well as disruption (destruction) of the articular surfaces. And the pet will remain lame for the rest of its life.

A simple dislocation that is corrected correctly has no consequences, but if it is not corrected, the dog’s dislocation becomes chronic and incurable. The same thing can happen if the bones of a joint are put back in place but not secured with a splint or bandage.

A dislocation in a dog is a fairly common injury, but in order to ensure that the animal is spared its consequences, it is strongly recommended that you entrust the treatment of a dislocation in a dog to a veterinarian.

Other TIPS FOR DOG OWNERS and simply USEFUL TIPS

The reasons why a cat can get dislocated are divided into:

For traumatic or acquired
To congenital.

Congenital dislocations in cats occur due to abnormal joint structure or impaired mobility, which is called dysplasia. Such pathologies make themselves felt at the age of 6 months and older.

Sometimes the cause of a dislocation lies in a chronic disease that the cat has, during which joint and bone tissue is destroyed. These diseases include rickets, osteoporosis and osteomalacia.

A cat may twist its paw or dislocate its tail if it makes an unsuccessful jump or falls from a height. Collision with an obstacle at high speed, car injuries or cruel treatment of a cat often lead to dislocation of a healthy joint.

An animal can get injured on its front and hind legs while playing with a small child. Such dislocations are most often diagnosed in small kittens whose legs are roughly pulled. Fights with relatives or other animals can also cause a traumatic dislocation.

What types of dislocations exist in cats?

Depending on the time when the cat received the dislocation, injuries vary:

fresh or recent, which were received less than 3 days ago;
not fresh – the dislocation occurred about 2 weeks ago;
neglected - the animal was injured more than 3 weeks ago.

Dislocation in a cat can be complete or incomplete:

In case of complete dislocation, the ends of the bones forming the joint do not touch each other; in case of incomplete dislocation, they do.
Incomplete dislocation is also called subluxation.

Dislocation can be simple, when the soft tissues and skin remain intact, or complex. A complex dislocation is accompanied by rupture of ligaments and tendons, and fractures inside the joints.

Degrees of bruises

Cat bruises can be classified into four grades.

First degree

A first-degree bruise is characterized by trauma to the inner layers of the skin and subcutaneous tissue. A small wound in the form of an abrasion or scratch may form at the site of the injury. The injured area swells slightly, pain is either insignificant or completely absent. Broken blood vessels may appear on the surface of the skin. Such bruises heal quite quickly, without additional treatment.

Second degree

A second-degree bruise is characterized by the appearance of hematomas, delamination and rupture of muscle tissue, as well as inflammatory edema. Such bruises can cause fever and increased heart rate and breathing.

Third degree

A third-degree bruise is much more life-threatening for a cat. This damage is characterized by a change in the appearance of the animal's skin. Such bruises include muscle and tendon injuries, fractures and cracked bones. Injuries are often accompanied by joint dislocation. The first time after a third-degree bruise, the animal experiences shock, then tissue necrosis may develop. If the injury was caused to the head or spinal column, the animal may experience nervous disorders.

Fourth degree

A fourth degree bruise is the most life-threatening for a cat. Such injuries are characterized by complete tissue proliferation and bone fragmentation. As a rule, an infection gets into the injured area, therefore, purulent-putrefactive processes (abscesses, phlegmon, sepsis) can develop. It is almost impossible to restore the damaged part of the body, so they have to be amputated.

Symptoms of a dislocation in a cat - how to recognize

A dislocation is the displacement of bones relative to each other without damaging them. By shifting from their anatomical position, bones can damage soft tissue, adjacent tendons, blood vessels and ligaments.

You can recognize a dislocation in a pet by the following symptoms:

with a congenital dislocation, the animal is lame on one leg;
with a traumatic dislocation, the cat cannot fully lean on the surface;
The pet experiences pain from touching the damaged area;
Not only the gait changes, but also the behavior of the animal: sleep becomes restless, the cat tries to lick the site of the dislocation;
The dislocated part of the body is usually asymmetrical. A dislocation may be indicated by its unnatural position, the protruding part of the displaced bone;
With a complex dislocation, ruptures and hematomas are observed in the damaged area.

How to identify a hip dislocation

An animal that has damaged the hip joint cannot step on the affected limb, which, as a rule, becomes shortened.

Dislocation of the front or back paw

Tail dislocation

The tail gives the cat grace, serves as a kind of balancing device and is an extension of the spine. A cat can dislocate its tail in a fight or when hit by a car. Even the most caring owner can accidentally injure a cat by stepping on its tail or pinching it in a door. Externally, a dislocated tail appears crooked. His mobility decreases, the cat experiences pain.

Diagnostics in the clinic

Tail dislocation

Before diagnosing a dislocation in a cat, the veterinarian conducts a series of studies, which include:

collecting anamnesis to identify the nature and cause of the injury;
visual inspection and palpation;
X-ray examination, which is the most effective and reliable method.

Video about treating a complex paw fracture in a cat

First and second degree bruises are quite easy to heal; injuries heal on their own. It is enough to apply cold to the injured area. With the third, it is necessary to behave quite carefully with the animal, carefully examine the injury to exclude all kinds of complications. If the animal goes into shock, it is imperative to use anti-shock measures, as well as novocaine blockades and various compresses.

Regardless of the type of damage, attention should be paid to the prevention of septic complications. The injured area must be lubricated with a 5% alcohol solution of iodine.

In any case, the animal should be shown to a veterinarian, who can prescribe the most appropriate treatment.

Operation in advanced cases

Sometimes a cat requires surgical fixation of a joint:

for dislocations of the hip or wrist joints, it is carried out using special pins;
for elbow and ankle - screws and wires.

Congenital dislocations in furry pets are usually eliminated using the open method. After a minor dislocation, the animal recovers within 3-4 days. The cat can use its paw, but has a slight limp. Full recovery from severe dislocations takes about 3-4 weeks.

First aid. What to do?

It helps with bruises, it’s not for nothing that they say it’s as durable as a cat, but not in the case of fractures. In this case, first aid is simply necessary.

Open paw fracture

In case of an open fracture, the first step is to stop the bleeding and treat the wound to avoid infection. It is important to remember to wash your hands thoroughly. You can stop the bleeding using gauze or bandage swabs.

Bleeding

In case of heavy bleeding, a tourniquet or something similar should be applied, i.e. tightly wrap the edge of the blood vessel that is damaged. If you don’t have any suitable material at hand, you can wrap your finger in a scarf and clamp the vessel. Keep this up until a blood clot appears, blocking the bleeding.

If bleeding is from the lower part of the hind leg, the artery on the inside of the thigh should be clamped. If bleeding is from the lower part of the front paw, the artery on the inside of the paw above the “elbow” should be clamped.

Then we treat the wound. Any disinfectant will do: iodine, brilliant green, peroxide. It would be a good idea to give the victim anti-shock and painkillers.

When the bleeding has stopped, the wound has been treated, the damaged limb must be fixed. Under no circumstances should you adjust it yourself. This can lead to muscle tissue rupture and painful shock. We fix the limb in the position in which it was at the time of the fracture.

Limb fixation

A piece of cardboard, a thin board, even a ruler will do. The length of the tire should be slightly longer than the paw, so that even if the cat wants to put it on the surface, it will not be able to reach it. Then the splint is bandaged. The bandage should be tight to immobilize the limb, but without pinching the nerve endings and blood vessels.

If bandaging seems like a complicated procedure, it is advisable to use an elastic bandage; it stretches to the desired width without pinching important ends. In case of an open fracture, we do not bandage the wound site, but leave it open.