My cat has a broken pelvis. Can she heal naturally or need surgery?

It's a little difficult to see in your copy of the x-ray, but it looks like the left femur might be fractured. If the broken bone is above the knee then a cast won't help because it's not possible to stabilize the fracture. If they have recommended pain medication and rest I think that probably is the best option with a broken hip - kittens can heal quickly and it's possible that he will have decent function in the leg. If not, then a surgery called a femoral head osteotomy might be an option once he's big enough for surgery.

I don't find that to be the case at all. Most cats heal very well and quickly after surgery. Ultimately it is up to you on how you wish to proceed but I personally would do the surgery. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Hi and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Poor kitty. Without doing an exam there is no way to completely determine if surgery is an option. That said, even if surgery is an option, that is not surgery that most general practitioner or shelter veterinarians would be able to do or have the appropriate equipment for. If surgery was an option, typically MRI is first needed to assess the spinal cord, then surgery would be performed by a board certified surgeon. The cat would then need extensive physical therapy and even if everything goes perfectly, there is no guarantee of return to function. In most cases this scenario would cost many thousands of dollars. Many owners and shelters cannot afford that level of care, so alternatives such as cage rest and pain management may be tried or euthanasia may be needed in some cases. I'm sure it is not a case of the shelter vet being unwilling to help this cat, but that the resources are not available. In the case of limb fractures, often amputation is a quicker and more cost effective option to save an animals life than orthopedic repair. Many fractures require pins or plates and screws which needs an orthopedic surgeon and would cost thousands to repair and has a much longer recovery time (requiring foster homes willing to do physical therapy). Even with owned pets, many owners cannot afford a $5000 fracture repair or do the follow up care, but amputation can save their life. The majority of dogs and cats do well with 3 legs. Thank you for your interest in helping these pets. It sounds like the shelter vet is doing a good job for these animals.

Yes, surgery is required, the bones cannot heal as the leg is unstable and the ends are not touching. The bones could be manipulated back into place and secured with pins or amputation could be considered

Unfortunately the x-rays isn't attached to this question, so I can't fully answer your question. Typically, however, I will agree with the vet's assessment because they are the one who can see Floofer in person and make the best and most accurate assessment. Since a fracture pelvis can heal naturally, a vet will recommend trying that if they feel it's a viable treatment option. In this case, if the vet is recommended surgery, then likely a natural healing is not possible. Leaving it without surgery in this case could cause the pelvis to heal incorrectly, it may not be possible depending on the severity and place of the fracture in the pelvis (certain fractures in the pelvis cannot heal naturally and require surgery), and/or leaving it to heal naturally could cause damage to the nerves affecting his ability to walk correctly. If you'd like me or another expert to see the x-ray, please feel free to post again with the x-ray attached. Otherwise, you can take Floofer to see another vet for a second opinion. I hope this helps!

The thigh bone is a delicate location, your cat will need surgery to have it repaired. it's hard to tell you how bad it is and if he will fully recover as there are many types of fractures, some of them simple, other very complicated.

I am so sorry to hear Princess is in pain! Bones take 6-8 weeks to heal if they don’t move at all- like in a cast or splint. You cannot speed up healing. Without a cast or splint the bones will move and delay healing and keep her in constant pain. She also needs pain medication daily for the breaks. If you cannot afford the proper treatment, I would contact rescue groups to take over her care. I hope you can find her some relief soon. Kisses to Princess!