What to do at Maine Coon injuries (a tail fracture, paws, dislocations and other injuries). Maine Coons are by nature active and curious animals. Regardless of the pet’s place of residence (apartment, house, plot), an accident can happen anywhere. In any emergency, the owner needs to remain calm and have a clear plan of action to help the injured Maine Coon.
EMERGENCY ACTION PLAN
First aid is a set of actions that are taken at the scene of an accident to alleviate the suffering of an animal and save its life before the arrival of a veterinarian or delivery of an injured pet to a veterinary clinic.
Before you start acting, assess the situation around you: is there any danger and threat to the life of the owner and pet (fire, traffic, electric current, etc.). If the risk of danger is high, you need to call rescuers and wait for professional help.
If access to the animal is not difficult, you can start first aid. Remember that professional assistance can only be provided by specialists with veterinary education. In other cases, this is pre-medical care, during which medications cannot be used. Without special knowledge, you can harm the animal even more.
INITIAL EXAMINATION OF THE INJURED MAINE COON
Before you begin to provide first aid, you need to assess the condition of the animal and conduct an initial examination. In what order is the initial examination of the Maine Coon carried out:
- Checking your breathing and pulse
Look at the chest of the Maine Coon. If there is breathing, then this can be seen by the descending and rising movements of the chest wall. You can check for breathing by gently placing your hand on the pet’s chest.
The heartbeat can be felt if you put your fingertips to the chest on the left just above the elbow (3-5 intercostal space).
- Examination for the presence of bleeding
The presence of external bleeding can be understood by the presence of blood next to the affected pet or soaked wool, which oozes blood.
Internal bleeding is recognized by signs such as: pale mucous membranes of the mouth, rapid breathing, lethargy and apathy, pads on the paws and the tips of the ears are cold, clouding of the pupils, fainting.
- Examination for injuries
An injured animal, as a rule, experiences pain, so its movements are constrained, and its behavior may be uncharacteristic. Often during an injury, the animal gets dirty, so the coat can be dirty, wet or stuck together. There may be traces of blood on the coat, which indicate a wound.
The injury of the limb can be noticed by its uncharacteristic position (dislocation, closed fracture with displacement).
If the Maine Coon has returned home and you have not seen the moment of injury, how do you understand that the cat needs veterinary care? Even if the wounds look minor, pay attention to the pet’s behavior and the following signs:
- the cat is overexcited, pupils are dilated,
- meowing is too frequent, the cat hisses or growls,
- the animal refuses food and water,
- the pet behaves anxiously, does not find a place for itself, is not given in hand or, conversely, is apathetic.
If there are one or more signs, take the pet to the veterinarian.
HOW TO PROPERLY TRANSPORT A MAINE COON WITH AN INJURY
In order not to worsen the condition of a pet with an injury, it is necessary to approach the transportation of a Maine coon very carefully. Because of the pain, the pet may show aggression: bite or scratch the owner.
There are several general rules for transporting Maine Coon with damage:
- the carrier must be firm
Use a pre-prepared carrier. If there is no such thing, carry the Maine Coon in a drawer, box, bag. The main thing is that the bottom is solid. - do not bend the maine coon’s body
Approach from the side of the animal’s back, put your hand under the chest, the second — under the back of the body. Transfer to the carrier. As a last resort, if there is nothing, carry it on your hands. - cover the Maine coon with a blanket
The cat will be warmer, which will help reduce the likelihood of traumatic shock. - drive carefully, do not make sudden movements
Try not to shake the carrier, do not tilt it. This can aggravate the injury and cause additional pain to the cat.
FIRST AID FOR VARIOUS MAINE COON INJURIES
Basically, first aid to a cat is to eliminate the impact of a traumatic factor and take the pet to the veterinarian as soon as possible. It is not recommended to give Maine Coon medications, as this may disrupt the overall picture when examined in a veterinary clinic. A specialist will already give painkillers and anti-shock injections to the injured animal in the clinic.
FIRST AID FOR FRACTURES
Maine Coon can get injuries in the form of fractures when falling from a height, after unsuccessful jumps, due to the negligence of the owner, from hitting a car, etc.
In fractures, the integrity of the bone is violated. There are two types of fractures:
- closed — when the integrity of the skin is preserved,
- open — the skin is damaged, forming a wound.
What are the main symptoms and signs observed in bone fractures:
Fracture of the skull bones: impaired coordination of movements, vomiting, drowsiness and lethargy, uncontrolled movement of the eyeballs, the cat refuses to eat, lethargy, loss of consciousness, convulsions, blood from the nose and mouth, coma, death.
Jaw fracture: asymmetry of the muzzle, open mouth, increased salivation, food falls out of the mouth, pain when chewing.
Spinal fracture: paralysis of the hind legs, impaired coordination of movements when walking, the cat falls when overcoming simple obstacles, incontinence of urine and feces.
Paw fracture: the cat holds the injured paw in the air, limps, often licks the paw, the limb is swollen, you can feel a hematoma, feels pain when touched.
Tail fracture: immobility of the tail due to paralysis, curvature.
Rib fracture: frequent and heavy breathing, mouth open, loss of appetite, the cat hides in a quiet dark place, if a broken rib pierced a lung, there may be blood from the mouth, sounds during breathing (wheezing, whistling, gurgling).
In case of any fractures, the Maine Coon should be taken to the veterinarian as soon as possible. What can be pre-medical actions for fractures:
- try to provide the animal with rest as much as possible,
- apply cold to the damaged area,
- treat the wound with an antiseptic (chlorhexidine, hydrogen peroxide) with an open fracture,
- provide a solid surface for transporting the cat,
- in case of spinal injury, secure the cat during carrying with a wide belt or cloth,
- fix the injured limb.
FIRST AID FOR THERMAL BURNS
Maine Coon can get a burn during a fire, from touching heating devices, from getting under boiling water.
There are four degrees of severity of burns:
Grade 1: damage to the upper layer of the skin (redness and painful swelling form at the site of the burn);
Grade 2: damage to the deep layers of the skin (wool falls out in the damaged area, the skin turns brown, bubbles with transparent contents appear);
Grade 3: deep damage to the muscles and bones with the formation of a scab (burnt skin turns black, there is no wool, there are burst bubbles);
Grade 4: charring of the burned part of the body.
First aid for burns
1 degree:
- cool the burn site with cool water (under a stream or in a bath) for about 5 minutes;
- rinse with a weak solution of potassium permanganate;
- carefully dry the burn site;
- make sure that the Maine Coon does not lick and scratch the burn site;
- contact a veterinarian to prescribe treatment.
2 degrees:
- cool the burn site with cool water for 10 – 15 minutes;
- rinse the burn site with a solution of potassium permanganate;
- gently dry;
- apply a bandage from a sterile bandage and take the cat to a veterinarian, he will provide professional assistance and
- prescribe treatment.
3 and 4 degrees:
- cool and treat the damage, as with a 2 degree burn;
- cover the burn site with a sterile cloth;
- urgently call a veterinarian or take the injured animal to the clinic yourself.
Burns of the 3rd and 4th degrees usually do not hurt, but they are very life-threatening, since the rejection of dead tissues causes severe intoxication.
What not to do with burns:
- lubricate the damage with fat, oil, creams and ointments on a fat basis;
- apply ice;
- treat damage with alcohol;
- opening bubbles;
- self-medicate.
Only a veterinarian can assess the condition of the maine cougar, predict the risks and prescribe the right treatment. Therefore, even if the problem does not seem serious, it is better to show the injured animal to a professional.
FIRST AID FOR FROSTBITE
Cats are prone to frostbite in winter due to prolonged exposure to frost.
There are also four degrees of severity of frostbite:
Grade 1: pallor of the skin,
Degree 2: after being in the heat, bubbles with bloody fluid inside appear,
Grade 3 and grade 4 are less common, they are characterized by tissue necrosis.
First aid for frostbite:
- transfer the Maine Coon to a warm room,
- apply a cotton bandage to the damaged area to prevent rapid warming,
- offer the pet warm water or heated wet food.
In case of frostbite, it is forbidden to rub the damaged areas and tighten the bandage tightly, this will disrupt blood circulation. Take the animal to the veterinary clinic.
FIRST AID FOR WOUNDS
Wounds in Maine Coons can appear during a fight with other animals, when jumping carelessly over a sharp surface, from interaction with sharp objects. Depending on the depth and area of damage, first aid for wounds will be as follows:
Shallow wounds: take the Maine Coon to a safe place, treat the wound with antiseptic.
Penetrating wounds, but without severe bleeding: moisten a gauze bandage in antiseptic and close the wound with it. Show the pet to the veterinarian.
Wounds with heavy bleeding: apply a pressure bandage, after covering the wound with a sterile cloth. If a major artery is damaged, a tourniquet will have to be applied to stop heavy bleeding. Be sure to write a note with the time of the tourniquet and take the cat to the clinic as soon as possible.
FIRST AID KIT FOR MAINE COON
There are no special requirements for the contents of the first aid kit. You can buy it ready-made or complete it yourself. Use a plastic container or any convenient box for filling. Keep the first aid kit in a place where you can quickly get it and use the contents. What to put in the first aid kit:
- a veterinary passport with all the information about the pet,
- contacts of the veterinarian and the clinic, so as not to look for information in an emergency,
- materials for applying bandages: cotton wool, bandages, adhesive plaster, sterile wipes,
- a tourniquet to stop bleeding,
- scissors, tweezers,
- veterinary thermometer,
- syringe (small enema) for washing wounds, pipette, tweezers,
- antiseptics for wound treatment.
It is impossible to treat Maine Coons with medicines without the appointment of a veterinarian, this can lead to deterioration or death of the pet. Therefore, keep in the first aid kit only those medications that were previously agreed with a specialist for specific cases with your cat. For example, enterosorbent, if the cat has sensitive digestion.
MAINE COON CARE DURING INJURY HEALING
After providing assistance in the veterinary clinic, the period of recovery of the cat after injury begins. If the damage turned out to be severe, there is a possibility that the pet will be left in the hospital of the clinic for constant monitoring and assistance in case of complications.
In outpatient treatment, the owner is directly involved in the treatment and recovery of the pet, as far as the animal allows. What is required from the owner during the recovery of the Maine Coon:
- Restrict the freedom of movement of the animal: do not let it go outside if the pet lives in a private house. Provide free access to the tray and bowls with food and water.
- Follow all the instructions of the veterinarian, visit the vet clinic for examinations.
- Monitor your medication intake.
If the cat tries to tear off the bandage or licks ointments for healing, she will have to wear a special collar that does not allow this.
In addition, the veterinarian can prescribe a diet. During the recovery period, it is important to get all the necessary vitamins and mineral supplements.
If antibiotics were prescribed to the cat during treatment, it is worth worrying about the intestinal microflora of the pet. After taking antibiotics, probiotics will help normalize the balance of intestinal microflora.
The further recovery of the pet depends on the timely actions of the owner and the provision of first aid. Therefore, it is important for the cat owner to keep a plan of action in mind and not to panic.