Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

Jaw and head injury, can anyone offer helpful advice?

Our 5 month old cat was attacked by dogs on Christmas day. She is an outdoor cat. We were able to save her. There are no vets in the area of the world where we are living.

She was bleeding through her nose and eye. After her initial shock she is breathing normally. She is lethargic but is walking about. Her head is swollen and her jaw dislocated, or at least I think so. I also think she has a concussion. Sounds like liquid or blood squishing if you touch it.
She cannot eat or drink. I have fed her with a syringe. She went to the bathroom twice since the accident. Her top and bottom jaw seems to be okay, not broken, from what I can feel. They are totally misaligned.

I've put warm compresses on her head and next to her body. There is a lump on the side around her stomach area.
If we stroke her she purrs and has been purring and making sounds like she used to. She doesn't seem to be in pain, no yowling. She has opened the eye which she was bleeding out a little. Now it remains shut. From what I could see is that there is a scratch on the white eye covering.

Is it possible to realign the jaw by ourselves? Should I just let her be? How many times a day should I feed her.
Our main concern is the jaw. I don't know if it would make things worse if w try to realign it.

We have other cats two adults and another kitten, same age. When we feed the others she sniffs at the food and makes licking motions but cannot eat.

Any help would be much appreciated.
34 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
Avatar universal
sorry but this is a group of islands. I am no where near the mainland of Africa. It is a flight away. So this is not possible.
@savas if I would be so brave as to try and relocate the jaw myself. What could I use for drugging the cat. She has bitten before out of fear. I know she would put up a fight. But if I don't find anyone who can help me. I would like to know the options. I can't let her starve or dehydrate.
The jaw feels lumpy. I don't feel any sharp edges. She has tried herself to relocate it but was yowling and complaining because of the pain. By opening as wide as she could. Putting her paws to the front of her nose trying to fix it.

Thank you for your condolences and empathy. I'm really desperate. I don't want her to suffer.
Helpful - 0
228686 tn?1211554707
Oh; I would suggest having the human doctor take a look, as it sounds like there is one. In your type of town, it isn't unusual for them to help with pets.
Helpful - 0
228686 tn?1211554707
I will tell you that your cat's chance of survival with her jaw like this is very slim.

If you do decide to try a realignment (assuming it isn't a break), then my best advice is to be quick and decisive in the action.

I've popped a shoulder back into place and it's a very violent procedure. This is a case where erring on the side of "rough" is the way to go, as people almost always hesitate and fail in their first attempt and just cause pain without result.

I'm trying to think of a way to describe just exactly how the jaw socket area should "feel" and it's just not easily done on the internet. The best advice I can give is feel along the affected area for any sharp edges that would indicate fractures.

If it's a sharp/jagged fracture...well, you should still try to reset the jaw, but the chances of a successful outcome aren't great.

If you do try to do this, then you'll need to immobilize the cat. Drugging it would be ideal, if possible.
Regardless, you'll have to cup the back of the jaw with your hand (palm), place you've other hand firmly on the back of the head, and using the base of the palm as a pivot, give a sharp jerk/pull up and to the side (in the direction you want the jaw to settle properly) while holding the head rock steady in place with the hand on the top.

But I'll warn you, this is a desperation move in this case, and frankly it isn't one I've ever done myself (on a jaw, that is, human or cat) so I can't speak for how easy it is or how well it works. I've only read about it in texts that are the equivalents of emergency in-the-field treatment for woodsman/hunters.

But I get the impression this cat will probably die in about a week if you don't do something.

Otherwise the eye will heal or not; the big issue is infection. You'll have to find antibiotics if it does infect. As far as the head swelling... that really depends on whether or not it's a straight contusion and swelling or if other complications arise.

This one is beyond me. While I know in theory about relieving pressure from swelling on the brain...I wouldn't begin to dare to suggest how or when to go about doing it.

Helpful - 0
495284 tn?1333894042
Are you even remotely close to the Onderstepoort Faculty??  It looks like it is at the University of Pretoria.  I have been googling everything i can think of here and it does look real grim in the area for any type of medical help. I am going to keep looking here.  sara
Helpful - 0
587315 tn?1333552783
First off, that was a boo boo ALL of those repeated posts.  The forum screwed something up.  Just wanted to clarify that.

I think that you should check out the health pages on this forum-located in the upper right corner of the screen under "e-mail".  Once you get there, click on the article that says syringe feeding.  It's very good.  But, I'm still not sure how much to give.  Try to research it.  I will look, too.  Also, can you get your hands on some kitten milk replacer called KMR?  It's got important ingredients in it-protein and fat, as well as vitamins and minerals.  Your kitten desperately needs it, since he can't eat at all.  You might get very lucky and dodge the infection.  But, in all honesty, without food and the right nutrition-there really is not much of a chance.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
There are no search results for Vets in my area. Cape Verde is a third world country. Still developing. The village doesn't even have an Xray machine for humans at the local examination station. I know it is difficult to imagine.
There is no emergency center for animals here. The web will not find one.

@PrettyKitty1
How much water does a kitten need to sustain herself? She has tried to drink but started to yowl because of the pain.
Helpful - 0

You are reading content posted in the Cats Community

Top Cats Answerers
874521 tn?1424116797
Canada..., SK
506791 tn?1439842983
Saint Mary's County, MD
242912 tn?1660619837
CA
740516 tn?1360942486
Brazil
Learn About Top Answerers
Popular Resources
Members of our Pet Communities share their Halloween pet photos.
Like to travel but hate to leave your pooch at home? Dr. Carol Osborne talks tips on how (and where!) to take a trip with your pampered pet
Ooh and aah your way through these too-cute photos of MedHelp members' best friends
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.