Broken Bone in a Kitten

Causes

• Kittens are small and easily harmed, even if the harm was not intentional. That being said, there are many causes of broken bones in a kitten. For example, children can be a danger to kittens, notes Caring Together. Improper handling, such as dragging the kitten around by a leg or the tail, can result in one or multiple broken bones. Squeezing the kitten too hard or playing rough can also result in broken bones. Other accidental causes include stepping on the kitten or shutting the kitten or its tail in a door. Aside from this, other causes include intentional harm, such as being hit by a car or a baseball bat, which is inhumane and considered animal cruelty in many states. In some instances, freak accidents, such as the umbilical cord wrapping around the leg during birth, can cause the kitten to have a broken leg bone.

Signs of a Broken Bone

• The owner may notice several symptoms of a potentially broken bone in her kitten. A kitten may howl, cry, moan or even growl if the affected area is touched or petted. If a limb is broken, the kitten may limp or simply disregard the limb and not use it at all. Swelling or bruising of the area may also be visible. Lastly, if the tail is broken, then the kitten may be unable to move or lift the tail. A broken tail may also be accompanied by involuntary urination, loss of rear leg coordination, bloody urine, pain or loss of feeling in the tail, according to Marvista Vet.

Diagnosis and Treatment

• To confirm the presence of a broken bone in a kitten, the overseeing veterinarian will likely run x-rays. The x-rays will tell the veterinarian exactly where the break is and how severe it is. Once this information is known, the veterinarian can then take the proper steps toward treatment. Treatment often involves a cast, though in some situations, such as a broken tail bone or rib bone, a cast may not be an option. In these instances, the veterinarian will come up with a personalized treatment plan to best optimize the healing process. PetEducation.com says this could include the use of pinning, steel plates, splints and various medications such as pain killers.

Healing Time

• Kittens are fortunate in the fact that their bodies heal quicker than an older cat. In fact, a broken bone in a kitten may heal in as little as five weeks. If that same bone were broken in a senior cat, it may take 12 weeks or more to fully heal. This gives the kitten an extreme advantage in overall healing times.

Complications

• In some situations, such as if surgery is needed, complications can potentially occur. This could include infections or improper healing. If any complications occur, it is important to make an appointment to bring the kitten into the veterinarian's office as soon as possible. In a small kitten, an infection, especially in the bone, can spread quickly and may result in death if not promptly treated. If a bone in the tail is broken, other issues may also arise, including permanent loss of use of the tail, permanent damage to the tail or spinal cord, or permanent loss of feeling.