What are Simple Fractures?
Cats commonly experience simple fractures from minor accidents, like falls or being stepped on. These fractures often affect the legs, pelvis, or tail and are more frequent in young, active cats with developing bones or senior cats with brittle bones. Malnourished cats may also be at risk due to weakened bones. If you suspect your cat has a fracture, seek veterinary care immediately. When transporting your injured pet, handle them carefully to avoid additional pain or injury.
A simple fracture is a bone break with no displacement or multiple fragments, resulting in just two bone pieces.
Symptoms of Simple Fractures in Cats:
A simple fracture is when the broken bone remains in place without displacement. While not as severe as fractures with displacement, multiple fragments, or bones breaking through the skin, it still causes significant symptoms in your cat, including:
- Difficulty putting weight on the injured limb(s).
- Limping or unusual walking.
- Swelling around the fracture area.
- Signs of pain, such as vocalizing distress.
- Rapid breathing and potential signs of shock.
Causes of Simple Fractures in Cats:
- Falls.
- Abuse.
- Household accidents.
- Motor vehicle accidents.
Sometimes fractures can happen from minimal stress or regular use due to bone weakness caused by cancerous tumors or a metabolic disorder that depletes calcium from the bones.
Other factors that predispose a cat to fractured bones include:
- Young cats with developing bones.
- Older cats with fragile bones.
- Malnourished cats with weakened bones.
- Overweight cats with increased stress on their bones.
Hairline fractures often occur in the middle of long bones, where applied leverage is more likely to cause injury due to the structural weakness of these bones.
No comment