Pinched Your Cat's Tail? Here's Why You Must See A Vet
Most cat owners know that a cat's tail is extremely sensitive. However, not everyone goes to the vet when a cat's tail gets hurt. If your cat's tail has been pinched under a foot, in a door, or in any other way, you could be putting their health at risk if you neglect to take them to a veterinarian. Here's why tail injuries are such a problem.
Potential Fracture
A cat's tail contains a portion of their spine, including the vertebrae that make up their backbone. When these bones are fractured or broken, they can interrupt signals flowing to and from the rest of the body along the spine. This means that a cat who experiences a bad break in the tail can actually experience partial paralysis.
Even if your cat doesn't seem paralyzed, that doesn't mean that they won't end up that way. If their tail was fractured and you don't get medical help, the fracture could worsen and cause a full break, inflicting paralysis later on.
Risk of Swelling
The breaking of your cat's bones isn't the only reason why they could be in trouble. When severe injuries occur, the damaged part of the body often swells as blood pours into the area from broken blood vessels. If this swelling becomes severe enough, it can cut off circulation to your cat's tail. Not only can this potentially trigger temporary paralysis if the signals traveling through the spine are cut off, but it can also cause tissue death.
Circulation is cut off when tissues swell. Without blood flow, part of your cat's tail could need to be amputated in order for them to avoid experiencing gangrene. Getting to the vet right away will ensure that your vet can bring down the swelling and prevent your cat from losing part of their tail.
Additional Injury Risk
Finally, your cat is at risk of experiencing additional injuries after their tail is hurt, even if it isn't severely damaged. Your cat's tail may appear limp after an injury. This is because moving it likely hurts. However, if your cat isn't using its tail normally, jumping, climbing, and leaping may be difficult. Your cat could potentially fall and get hurt while trying to perform its normal activities.
Taking care of your cat's tail should be your number one priority right now. Get in touch with a veterinarian office like Angel Pet Hospital and seek medical help for your kitty before things become severe.
