As long as she is eating the canned food mixture, she is getting nutrition. You have to do what's best for your cat and help the jaw heal, even if that means temporarily no dry food. The vet recommended the slurry of baby food, wet cat food and chicken broth.
How to take care of a cat with a broken jaw?
Cat with a broken Lower Jaw 1 Be in communicado with your vet often... they can offer many hints and tips and most really genuinely care about your animals wellbeing ... 2 When it comes to food and water try ANYTHING get your cats favourites, make something up ... 3 When your cat is drugged on pain meds... ... More items...
What happens if a cat breaks its jaw and wont eat?
The lower jaw (the mandible) usually fractures right in the middle of the chin which is very painful and renders the pet unable to use its jaw to eat. Fortunately for most cats, they heal very well when the jaw is wired back together.
What kind of fracture does a cat have in its jaw?
Upper and lower jaw fractures generally happen when a cat’s jaw is subjected to blunt force or trauma. This can cause the fragile mandible (lower jaw) or the more sturdy maxilla (upper jaw) to fracture. Any type of break is classified as a fracture. It can be as small as a hairline crack or as devastating as a severe comminution (a bone shatter).
How can I Help my Cat recover from a broken leg?
Your cat should resume eating soft foods in one or two days after being released from vet care. Pain medication is often prescribed to help your pet get through the recovery period. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories are also given to help reduce swelling and general inflammation in the fracture area.
What can you do for a cat with a broken jaw?
Mandibular symphysis fractures This is the most common type of mandibular fracture in cats. Fractures of the mandibular symphysis can be treated with the use of a cerclage wire which is placed around the two side of the lower jaw to align the bones.
Can a cats broken jaw heal on its own?
We often hear from pet owners who were told by their veterinarians that their pet's fractured jaw will resolve or heal on its own. But this is not true! In some cases, the bone will close, but it rarely does so in the correct place.
Can a cat drink with a broken jaw?
Some patients with jaw fractures need a feeding tube in which a liquified diet can then be administered with a syringe. Feeding tubes often sound intimidating or extreme to many pet owners. However, most pets tolerate feeding tubes very well.
How long does a broken jaw take to heal in cats?
Healing typically takes 4 to 12 weeks, and thus, requires good owner compliance during the treatment period to aid in healing. Wax is often prescribed to be applied over irritating wires used during surgery.
What happens if a broken jaw goes untreated?
It is important not to leave broken bones untreated as this may well result in difficulty with eating and drinking. Factures of any bones in the jaw will alter the way your mouth opens and closes, treatment will prevent risk of infections, dental decay and long term conditions such as arthritis.
How does a cat break its jaw?
Trauma is the most frequent cause for jaw fracture in cats. Automobile accidents, animal fights (especially cat and dog fights), blunt trauma, dental (tooth) extraction complication, falls and gunshots represent cases Dr. Kressin has managed. These injuries can be devestating for cats and their owners.
How serious is a broken jaw?
A dislocated or broken jawbone requires immediate medical attention. A severely broken jawbone can affect your breathing, especially if there are other facial fractures. If you have surgery to wire your jaws shut, you should carry wire cutters with you at all times.
Is Nutri Cal good for cats?
Nutri-Cal is a great-tasting, high-calorie supplement for dogs and cats. It helps ensure finicky, debilitated, or aging pets consume enough nutrients. It's also a perfect source of accessible, easy-to-digest calories for working and hunting dogs who need extra fuel.
What can I give my cat for a sore mouth?
If your cat is suffering from stomatitis, then either switch to a soft canned food or moisten your cat's dry food with water, so it forms a mash. Some cats may even find it difficult to eat canned food; in this case, you may have to puree canned food until their gums heal.
Does catnip help cats with pain?
For cats that have a positive experience with catnip, it can help reduce anxiety and even relieve pain. Some veterinarians have recommended using catnip to help with separation anxiety if your cat will be home alone for an extended period of time.
Is it OK to give my cat baby aspirin?
Aspirin in high doses gives a cat hepatitis, gastric irritation, and respiratory problems. Basically, giving a cat aspirin is very risky. But paracetamol is worse, because cats can't get rid of it. You should never ever give a cat any paracetamol.
Do cats heal fast?
Conclusions: Significant, previously unreported differences in cutaneous wound healing exist between cats and dogs. In general, cutaneous wounds in cats are slower to heal. Cats and dogs also appear to use different mechanisms of second intention healing.
Can cats dislocate their jaws?
Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) injuries in the cat frequently result in luxation and are commonly seen with other maxillofacial injuries (1–3). A luxation is a condition in which the articular surfaces of a joint are completely dislocated (2,4).
How serious is a broken jaw?
A dislocated or broken jawbone requires immediate medical attention. A severely broken jawbone can affect your breathing, especially if there are other facial fractures. If you have surgery to wire your jaws shut, you should carry wire cutters with you at all times.
How much does it cost to fix a broken jaw?
Without health insurance, diagnosis and treatment for a broken jaw typically includes the cost of the X-ray, a facility fee and a doctor fee for a typical total of less than $1,000 for a minor jaw fracture that requires rest and pain medication up to $10,000 to $30,000 or more for a severe jaw fracture that requires ...
How long does it take for a cat to eat after a mandible repair?
The wire is kept in place for approximately one month, then the cat is anesthetized again and the wire removed. Most cats begin eating within 1-2 days of the repair, and only rarely do we have to place a feeding tube in so they can ingest adequate calories. If there are no other problems almost all cats heal completely.
Why does my cat's jaw break?
It is not uncommon for a cat to break its jaw due to a traumatic incident; usually falling from a height or being hit by a car. The lower jaw (the mandible) usually fractures right in the middle of the chin which is very painful and renders the pet unable to use its jaw to eat.
How to tell if a dog's jaw is broken?
The pet is drooling, the jaw hangs down, and it is unable to eat. There are frequently other signs of trauma present somewhere on the body. Palpation of the jaw (under anesthesia) reveals the extent of the problem.
Why is the roof of my cat's mouth bruised?
This radiograph gives an inside view of the wire. The roof of the mouth (the hard palate) is bruised because this cat was hit by a car. Fortunately the hard palate was not fractured, so no further treatment was needed. The tongue was severely bruised also.
Where is the wire placed for a fractured jaw?
A special stainless steel wire is placed around the lower jaw. To be anchored properly, and to stay in place until healing is complete, the wire must pass through the underside of the jaw. The surgeon then aligns the 2 fractured pieces and gently tightens the wire.
Can a bruised tongue stop a cat from eating?
Luckily the bruised tongue healed within a few days and this cat started eating soon. If not, we would have put a feeding tube in.
Diagnosis
Your veterinarian will perform a complete physical examination of your cat, and carefully assess the mouth and jaw. Many broken jaws can be diagnosed based on presenting symptoms, however, facial x-rays will be necessary if the fracture is closed and to assess the extent of the break.
Treatment
Surgery to repair and realign a broken jaw. If a midline fracture has occurred, your veterinarian will wire the two sides back together. A front to back break will require wiring or plating to hold the pieces together.
Aftercare
Your veterinarian will prescribe painkillers and antibiotics to manage pain and prevent/treat a bacterial infection, administer as directed.
How long does it take for a cat to recover from a fractured jaw?
Recovery of Upper and Lower Jaw Fractures in Cats. Your cat should resume eating soft foods in one or two days after being released from vet care. Pain medication is often prescribed to help your pet get through the recovery period.
What causes a cat's jaw to break?
Upper and lower jaw fractures generally happen when a cat’s jaw is subjected to blunt force or trauma. This can cause the fragile mandible (lower jaw) or the more sturdy maxilla (upper jaw) to fracture. Any type of break is classified as a fracture. It can be as small as a hairline crack or as devastating as a severe comminution (a bone shatter).
Why is my cat's jaw so painful?
Both upper and lower jaw fractures are very painful for the cat and they require immediate treatment. The lower jaw is more susceptible to fractures as it is made up of of two bones that have fused together, a process called symphysis. Often, because jaw fractures are linked with major trauma, the cat will be suffering from other, ...
What are the symptoms of a maxilla fracture?
All fractures need immediate veterinary care. Reluctance or refusal to eat. Swelling around the mouth. Bleeding from the mouth. Wounds in or around the mouth. Excessive drooling.
Why is the cat's jaw wired shut?
Interarcade Wiring. The jaw is essentially wired shut to prevent movement and encourage proper alignment. The cat can only consume liquids and pureed foods throughout the healing process. A postoperative visit is required to remove the wire so the mouth can function again.
How is a wire inserted in the lower jaw?
A long, slender wire is inserted through the lower jaw but remains under the tongue and then protrudes back through to the under side of the jaw. It is then bent properly to prevent snagging.Postoperative care is required to remove the wire.
What is a cat's fracture?
Any type of break is classified as a fracture. It can be as small as a hairline crack or as devastating as a severe comminution (a bone shatter). Your cat may only have subtle swelling, or its entire mouth may hang open. Protect yourself and your pet.