External injuries may include fractures, dislocations (bones moving out of place) and wounds. In some cases, there may be no injuries seen externally but internal damage has occurred. Internal injuries may include bleeding, organ rupture and bruising. Your vet may need to do further tests to detect internal damage.
Some cats that are hit by a car sadly do not survive to receive veterinary treatment. However, for those that do, the prognosis is perhaps better than you might think. In one study of 128 cats that were hit by a car, 112 were alive when they arrived at the vets. For these 112 cats the chance of survival was 84%.
Signs of injury include: Shock is very common following trauma and results from an inability of the heart to pump enough blood to the internal organs. Symptoms of shock include pale gums, increased respiratory rate and heart rate, weakness, low blood pressure, weak pulses, low body temperature and collapse.
As you can see, when it is hot outside, heat stress can progress rapidly to a debilitating and potentially fatal case of heatstroke for a dog or cat left in a parked car for as few as 10 minutes.
Being in heat is not typically painful for cats, although they may feel some discomfort or agitation. When your cat in heat makes a loud, howling sound, you may assume they're in pain. But rest assured, the increased vocalization (known as “caterwauling”) is just your cat's way of attracting a potential suitor.
Internal bleeding: Where an animal has pale gums/mucous membranes, is weak or lethargic, has a low body temperature and/or has extensive bruising, seek veterinary attention immediately.
When there is internal bleeding, these membranes will become pale, ranging from a soft gray to white in color. You may notice loss of visible blood vessels on the whites of the eyes, and your cat's pretty pink nose may turn white.
Overhead movements or certain noises may frighten an abused cat, triggering a long-term memory of prior trauma. It's possible your cat will carry that unpleasant memory for the rest of his life.
Signs of shock include rapid breathing (which may be noisy), rapid heart rate with a weak pulse, pale mucous membranes (gums, lips, under eyelids), severe depression (listlessness), and cool extremities (limbs and ears). Your cat may vomit.
“Cats tend to hide their symptoms, which is probably due to survival instinct,” Eckman said. “Most signs of illness or injury are subtle, including sleeping more than normal; not getting up to greet you, if that is normal behavior; or laying and sleeping in the same position for long periods of time.”
Hitting a cat can lead to hand-shyness, fear of the owner, and potential injury for both the owner and the cat. Depending on the problem, the cat will likely continue to perform the undesirable behavior in your absence since it learns that it can perform the behavior without punishment when you are out of sight.
Each heat generally lasts several days with the average length being seven days, although it can range from 1 to 21 days. If the queen (an intact female cat) is not mated during estrus, she will go out of heat for a short period of time, usually about seven days, but it can range from 2 to 19 days.
It usually takes about one to two weeks for your cat to recover from a soft tissue injury, but you should restrict activity until several days after limping is gone.
Cats who are painful may withdraw from their usual family interactions, may become less engaged in their surroundings, and may start hiding. You may notice decreased eating and/or drinking. You may also notice changes in sleeping patterns. Some may sleep more, while others may sleep less.
Heat/ice, laser therapy, chiropractics, physical therapy, massage, and acupuncture can also be very helpful in treating cat pain. In many cases, these services may even be provided in your own home. There are also many ways to modify your home and your cat's space to better accommodate them.
Sometimes, internal bleeding from trauma stops on its own. Ongoing or severe internal bleeding due to trauma requires surgery to correct the problem. When internal bleeding is severe, emergency surgery may take place within minutes after arrival at the hospital.
For severe internal injuries, the healing process can be slow. Confining your cat to a crate may be necessary during this time if injuries are extensive enough. If a benign tumor has been removed successfully, generally the prognosis is good with a full recovery possible.
Unfortunately, there will not be any way for you to lessen or stop your cat's internal bleeding. You must get your kitty to the veterinarian right away for supportive care, diagnosis, and treatment. Head to the veterinarian immediately if you suspect internal bleeding.
If your dog or cat is has a serious injury resulting in a large bleeding wound you must contact your local vet as soon as possible. With any bleeding wound the main aim of first aid is to prevent excessive blood loss that can lead to shock.
Dogs in hot cars can suffer from potentially fatal heat stroke in as little as 15 minutes. Dogs die in hot cars as they can overheat very quickly and struggle to cool themselves down, even when a window has been left open or water has been left in the car.
Never leave your cat in the car on a warm day, not even for a few minutes. Temperatures inside a car can rise rapidly, even if the windows are cracked. For example, on an 85-degree day, the indoor car temperature can reach 102 degrees in 10 minutes, and 120 degrees in 30 minutes.