GotoAID Cats - Chest Injury

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Chest Injury

A chest injury is usually due to a blunt trauma like a fall or car accident or a wound that penetrates all the way through the chest wall. Pets may struggle to breath if their lung function is compromised so seek emergency medical help as quickly as possible to prevent their injuries from worsening. First aid will keep your pet more comfortable or at least alive and breathing until you get help.

Symptoms

Pain	Difficulty Breathing
Bleeding	Open Mouth Breathing

Steps

Check ABC’s of life support--Airway, breathing, circulation. Can you see, feel, or hear your pet breathing? If your pet is not breathing, begin rescue breathing immediately.

If your pet is non-responsive and has stopped breathing, be prepared to give artificial respiration by closing your cat’s mouth with one hand and gently breathe into your cat’s nostrils.

Administer 10-20 breaths per minute for cats. With each breath, one should see the chest slightly rise. (Avoid breathing too hard or over-inflating the lungs.)

Keep breathing for your cat until he/she is able to breathe on its own or until veterinary help is available.

Check that your cat’s heart is still beating by feeling for the heart on your cat’s chest and/or feeling for your cat’s pulse. (The pulse is easily felt in the femoral artery located on the inside of the thigh.)

If no pulse or heart beat is felt, begin CPR.

Check for bleeding.

Apply a clean cloth or gauze pad to the bleeding wound with firm direct pressure. If blood soaks through the pad, apply another pad over it and apply pressure. Do not remove the pad or cloth underneath it.

If the lung is punctured, you will hear a “sucking sound.” Apply gauze to the bleeding puncture wound. Secure the gauze with adhesive tape.

Place a plastic bag over the gauzed area of lung puncture. Secure the plastic bag on 3 sides only with tape.

Treat and check for signs of shock. (Signs of shock include weakness, pale or grey gums, body temperature changes, & rapid breathing.) Slightly raise your pet’s back end to increase blood flow to the heart. Keep your pet warm with a blanket if cold. If your pet is hot, cool down with cold compresses to the chest and abdomen.

Seek veterinary care immediately.

Warnings

DO NOT remove initial cloth as it will remove the clot trying to form

Pets can die from shock in 10 – 20 min unless they get veterinarian help

Make sure to get your pet to the vet as quickly as possible

Tips

Signs of shock may include weakness, collapse, pale or grey colored gums, irregular breathing, high heart rate, weak pulse and body temperature changes (e.g. very cold or very hot).

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Suggestions

Chest Injury

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