Cat trauma and injury triage

Pit viper bites are venomous bites from snakes of the crotalid family. Crotalids include rattlesnakes, copperheads, and cottonmouths (water moccasins). All known or suspected snake bites in cats require emergency veterinary attention.

Septic arthritis is rare in cats and is described as joint inflammation triggered by infection. Septic arthritis occurs when a joint becomes infected by a bite or puncture wound. Rarely, infection spreads through the bloodstream and infects multiple joints.

In cats, gums normally appear to be smooth with a salmon-pink color. Red gums or gums spotted with a brown, bright pink, red, or purple coloration are caused by hemorrhage of the mucosal surface called petechiae or ecchymosis.

Gagging, or retching, describes muscular contraction of the throat that appears similar to the initial stages of vomiting or coughing, but is distinct from both these processes. Causes of gagging include hairballs, eating excessively fast, nausea, inflammation of the throat or the esophagus...

Biting electric cords can result in electrocution, which ranges in severity from mild burns to life-threatening cardiac arrest. Many cats develop fluid in the lungs (pulmonary edema) within 36 hours of the initial shock.

Jaw fractures are a common presentation in cats, and often result from direct trauma such as car accidents, falling from a height, weakening of the jaw due to bone infection, or tumors. Typical symptoms include oral pain, swelling, reduced ability to eat food, and oral or nasal discharge which is often blood-tinged.

Weakness describes a lack of power and energy available to the body. In cats, evidence of weakness includes fatigue after activity, difficulty executing athletic movements, asymmetry in the position of the body, difficulty rising, muscle shaking, and difficulty holding up the head.

Foxtails and other grasses produce seeds that have evolved to stick to hair and penetrate skin as a dispersal mechanism. Grass awns penetrate the body through the skin or tissue around the eyes, but are also often found in the mouth, nose, or ears.

Blepharospasm is a term that describes repeated, spasmodic movement of the eyelids, commonly referred to as squinting. Blepharospasm is a broad symptom that is seen as a feature of different underlying diseases in cats, including injury, infection, inflammation, and developmental abnormalities.

Patellar luxation is a condition that affects the kneecap, causing it to dislocate either towards the inside or outside of the leg. In cats, this disorder is usually hereditary and develops gradually with age.

Hip dysplasia in cats describes abnormal development of the hip joint, resulting in excessive movement of the joint within its socket. Hip dysplasia is a lifelong, degenerative condition, where excessive movement of the joint gradually wears away bone and cartilage in the affected joint.

The larynx, or voice box, is the part of the throat located at the entrance of the trachea (windpipe). Laryngeal paralysis can cause partial or complete upper airway obstruction, which can lead to breathing difficulties.

Gastric dilatation and volvulus (GDV) is a syndrome where the stomach stretches (dilatation) and twists (volvulus), cutting off the blood supply to the stomach and other vital organs. GDV is a very dangerous situation leading to tissue death and circulatory shock, and without intervention is rapidly fatal.

Panting is not a common symptom in cats. Rapid, open-mouthed breathing, which is normal in dogs, might be a symptom of a severe, potentially fatal, illness in cats. There are many possible causes for panting in cats, some of them more dangerous than others.

Feline Aortic Thromboembolism (FATE) is a life-threatening condition in which a blood clot lodges in the saddle: the final section of the aorta that provides blood to the hindlimbs of the cat. The cause of FATE is most commonly heart disease, and in rarer cases cancer or other causes.

Hypothermia is defined as low body temperature. In cats, this is when body temperature drops below 98°F (36.6°C). Normal body temperature is between 101-102°F (38.3-38.8°C) in cats. Hypothermia can be life-threatening, and prompt medical attention is required to ensure positive outcomes.

Feline osteosarcoma (OSA) is a type of cancer that arises from uncontrolled growth of bone cells. OSA is the most common type of bone cancer in cats. The underlying cause of OSA is unknown, but previous trauma, bone infection, or radiation are thought to be possible contributing factors.

An aural hematoma is an accumulation of blood between the cartilage and skin of the ear. Aural hematomas in cats present with a visible thickening of the ear flap.

Elbow dysplasia in cats is a group of abnormalities that affect the elbow joints of the front limbs. In cats, elbow dysplasia is very rare but can lead to lameness and drastically affect quality of life.

Loss of consciousness in cats is when the animal is not aware of its surroundings and is not awake. Unconscious cats are responsive only to strong, unpleasant stimuli such as a toe pinch, but not to sounds or touch.

Frostbite is a rare condition in cats that results from loss of blood flow to parts of the body as a result of extreme cold. The body restricts blood flow to the extremities when exposed to severely cold temperature.

Trigeminal neuropathy is a disorder of the cranial nerve that controls the jaw muscles. It is extremely rare in cats. The underlying cause is not yet understood.

Feline nasal discharge is comparable to sneezing and coughing- a common bodily reaction to irritants and pathogens. Discharge can vary in appearance depending on the cause, and warrants veterinary intervention when the cause is unknown or if it has been happening for some time.

Masticatory myositis is a condition of unknown origin where the muscles needed to chew become inflamed, making it painful to open the mouth or eat food. It is so rare in cats that there is no clear consensus among the veterinary community as to whether it is a feline condition at all.

Cherry eye is a colloquial term used to describe prolapse (popping out) of the gland of the third eyelid in cats, thought to be caused by weakening of the fibers that hold the gland into place.

Scooting is a behavior where the pet sits, lifts its rear legs into the air and uses its front legs to drag the anal area across the floor. This is a normal behavior in response to itchiness, but becomes a medical concern if it is excessive or accompanied by other symptoms, especially around the perineal area.

Blue gums are the most noticeable symptom of cyanosis. Cyanosis is the blue or purple discoloration of mucous membranes or skin caused by poor oxygenation.

Burns can be caused by heat (thermal), friction (mechanical), or chemical reactions.

Head tilt refers to an abnormal posture of the head, where the head is tilted to one side with one ear lower than the other.

Joint swelling in cats is the enlargement of one or more joints.