Section: Overview
Automobile injury or trauma is defined as an injury sustained when a cat is struck by a moving vehicle such as a car, truck, snowplow, train or motorcycle. Injuries may also occur as the result of human abuse, falling from a height, or animal attacks.
The impact of traumatic injuries ranges from minor to life threatening and any body system may be affected. Common injuries include but are not limited to:
Shock
Skin bruising, abrasions and lacerations
Head and facial injuries
Spinal cord injuries
Broken bones
Pulmonary contusions (bleeding into the lungs)
Pneumothorax (air in the chest cavity)
Internal bleeding due to a liver, spleen or kidney injury
Ruptured bladder
What to Watch For
Abnormal behavior
Inactivity
Hiding
Crying, whining
Bruising
Skin abrasions
Lacerations
Pale gums
Increased respiratory rate
Difficulty breathing
Lameness or obvious broken bones
Diagnosis
Diagnostic tests are necessary to recognize trauma/automobile injury, and exclude other diseases. Tests may include:
Complete medical history and physical examination
Complete blood count (CBC)
Serum chemistry profile
Chest radiographs (X-rays)
Abdominal radiographs
Electrocardiogram (EKG)
Treatment
Treatments for trauma/automobile injury depend upon the extent of the injury and may include the following:
Hospitalization
Intravenous fluids
Oxygen therapy
Pain medication
Antibiotics
Anti-arrhythmic drugs if the heartbeat is irregular
Blood transfusions if there is significant blood loss
Surgery
Home Care and Prevention
If you suspect your pet has been struck by a motor vehicle or has suffered any other type of trauma, you should seek veterinary care immediately. The lack of external wounds does not rule out substantial injury.
Your veterinarian will likely recommend exercise restriction during your pet's first few days to weeks at home depending on the injuries sustained. Animals with chest injuries require one to two weeks of exercise restriction. Animals with fractures of the extremities require four to six weeks of limited and supervised exercise. Animals with mandibular (jaw) fractures must be fed soft food until the fracture heals.
Your veterinarian may want you to cage rest your pet to allow some fractures (such as those of the pelvis) to heal. This means that you will need to confine your pet to a small area containing a bed and food.
Keep bandages clean and dry. Check wounds for redness, swelling or discharge. See your veterinarian if you have any questions or problems.
Return to your veterinarian for follow-up or suture removal if needed.
Animals with spinal cord injuries and hind limb paralysis may require assistance with a sling or harness to walk outdoors.
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Laceration in Cats
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The diaphragm is the muscle that separates the abdominal organs from the heart and lungs, and a defect in the diaphragm allows abdominal organs such as the liver, stomach and intestines to enter the chest...
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Pneumothorax is the abnormal presence of air within the chest cavity, which restricts the lungs from inflating normally during inhalation. Air is normally confined to spaces within the lungs.
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Head trauma is a blunt or penetrating injury occurring to the head, most commonly caused by motor vehicle accidents. Other causes include blunt trauma (such as being hit by bats or swings or being stepped...
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