Severed tendon. Crate required or not?

[CurlyCatz]

Oh No not my gorgeous lad, he's still so lush 

I've not had any experience that i can recall of just tendon damage so wouldnt have known although i'd have suspected perhaps yes.

However good to hear that he's getting better, i would say soft tissue injuries (& bones I suppose to a degree) normally heal so quickly in cats.

My guess would have been he'd jumped down onto the lid of a tin can / sharp metal / wire / slate etc  or perhaps glass as you say.

Please give Red an extra pet from me when you next see him 

[Rosella moggy]

Thanks Dawn. Latest news is he is at last making good progress. Neither crate nor "bucket" around his head have been used so initially bandages and castes didn't last long. He has however kept bandages on since last Friday and, apart from being "a bit sad and quiet atm" per his mom, he is doing well. He will doubtless cheer up when he can go out again. His mom thinks maybe a broken window pain in greenhouse in nearby allotments may have caused it but who knows.

[Dawn (DiddyDawn)]

I would have thought a crate would be better so he is restricted.  I had a tendon cut in my hand a couple of years ago and I was in plaster fo a few weeks, at least with humans you can tell them not to use it but with a cat you can't.  It takes a while for tendons to heal and if he starts racing round it's possible he will cause more damage.  I hope he is okay and makes a quick recovery 

[Sue P (Paddysmum)]

Poor Red, he's such a beautiful looking cat too (even if he is a wussie!  I wouldn't want to be gummed to death neever! )  He does look a bit like Cody, doesn't he?

I suppose it depends whether being caged will make him more restless or stressed, but whatever is advised, I do hope he heals very speedily and will back to normal toot sweet. 

[Rosella moggy]

Cheers BC and Christine.

We did check the front garden Christine when we found the small pool of blood under my car on drive but you're right we should check more thoroughly including the back. Red wanders quite a distance though and, despite his build, he is a terrible wimp so tends not to go in our back garden much in case toothless Freddie gums him to death!  It is however a worry that there's something out there that has caused such damage and hope he gives whatever it was a wide birth in future. It's the top of his paw not the pads so assume must have happened when he pulled his paw away from underneath something. I've emailed neighbour to see if vet had any idea what may have caused such a deep wound.

[blackcat]

Bob did himself a similar injury - the tiny bone anchor for the tendon snapped. He was in plaster for 6 weeks to stabilise the injury. A crate would be a great idea as it will restrict his activities. If he is anything like Bob he will want to jump up on furniture etc, at least and this will slow the healing process considerably. Hope he gets well soon!

[Christine (Blip)]

I have no idea about the crate but just wanted to say that I hope he makes a speedy recovery, Rosella.  One thing: if Red hangs around your gardens, it might be worth checking to see if there's anything sharp lying around that he could have done this on?

[Desley (booktigger)]

Will be interesting to see what the vet suggests.

[Rosella moggy]

No idea which is best Mark but I know of a dog that had to be put in a dog crate when not supervised when a similar thing happened to him and then read about SP's Thomas also having to initially spend time in a crate with severed tendon so just wondered what the norm is. He is going to be kept inside for sometime crate or no crate. Hopefully neighbour will ring our vet in the morning to confirm what's best.

[Mark]

I just wondered if it would be better to keep him in but do away with the crate if possible as it's not much fun - I can understand it being a neccessary evil for a broken pelvis but not sure if it is neccessary in this case if it is bound well?

[Gill (sneakiefeline)]

Ahhhhh good , I pleased he got some good treatment. Prob if its all bandaged up and not giving him a problem he hould be Ok....not sure about wandering and adventuring about outside though 

[Rosella moggy]

Neighbour was quite impressed with vet Gill.  Actually sounds like the one we took Gandolf to a few years ago and she seemed very competent.

The cut was very deep so Red had to have a GA and get stitched up including tendons.  He is also bandaged up which needs to be removed and wound checked in 3 days per vet.  Red will be well cared for by neighbour (he is a well loved boy) but a bit concerned that crate not mentioned if that is commonly thought to be appropriate?  Red is a bit of a wanderer so isn't going to like being couped up esp in a crate of course.  I also mentioned 4 drops of rescue remedy in a bowl of water if he needs to be calmed down a little.

[Gill (sneakiefeline)]

I suspect that she may need to see the vet tomorrow too!

Do you know what treatment the emergency vet gave and whether it is strapped up?

[Rosella moggy]

She saw emergency vet today Desley who suggested she brings Red to usual vet in 3 days time.

I have suggested she rings her (our) usual vet tomorrow morning and ask about using the crate. 

[Desley (booktigger)]

I would imagine a cage is necessary to make sure he can't do too much too soon. Might be worth her askng just in case he forgot to mention it.

[Rosella moggy]

My near neighbours' beautiful ginger and white cat Red has had an accident. Don't know how but has severed his tendons in right front paw.

I did a search and see that similar thing happened to Smudgepickles' Thomas sometime ago but SP has not been on this site for a long while. Thomas it seems was required to stay in a crate for sometime but emergency vet did not mention using a crate to my neighbour. She has just been advised to keep Red safe in a room with food and litter tray so he is currently locked in a bedroom. I'm concerned that once the GA fully wears off he will be climbing and jumping about. Any experiences to share? 

Here he is in happier times