My cat's leg twists after splint removal. Is this normal for recovery?

Great question! The only way to tell is by having an x-ray done by your veterinarian - this will show exactly what is wrong with the bone, and will also give the information needed to determine whether it can be fixed or not. I would recommend taking the kitten to your vet for an exam and x-rays as soon as you are able to - he/she will be able to advise you further on what can be done to help the kitten, depending on what the x-rays show.

It depends on the type of break and where it occurred on the bone. Kittens heal really quickly, and a 4 day old kitten doesn't have much actual bone formation quite this early. It may heal funny or it may heal perfectly normal. There isn't a good way to splint a leg in such a tiny kitten that won't affect the normal growth of the surrounding bones. In the worse case, if the bone heals oddly, amputation is an option.

The only way to know if Yuki's leg is fractured is to have him evaluated and x-rayed by the vet. However, cats are amazing animals, and many fractures will heal naturally with time. But only with a vet visit will you be able to provide Yuki with appropriate pain control and help him stay more comfortable while he recovers. It's important to keep Yuki rested, and prevent excessive running/jumping. I recommend confining Yuki to a small room with no furniture to jump on, and keep his litterbox and food/water close by, so he has everything he needs with minimal movement. Hope this helps.

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 am so very sorry Willow broke her leg! I certainly understand being distraught and upset over this, it is an upsetting situation. Kittens have a great blood supply to their bones due to their growth, and broken bones tend to heal very well; in fact, cage rest is sometimes all that is needed. And yes, splints are often not needed! It can heal without a splint. Kittens can be good at hiding their pain, but one way to tell is if she is eating and drinking. A kitten in pain will not eat or drink, and if she is eating and drinking, that means she is feeling good, so she won't be in pain. If you do have concerns, however, you can give your vet a call to discuss things. I hope this helps!

Poor Kitter! It depends on the severity of the break. If it's something like a hairline fracture, it can heal on it's own without surgical intervention. It would be very important, however, that he's on pain medication to prevent him from being painful. It sounds like you aren't happy with the vet's assessment, and without seeing him in person, I can't say if this fracture needs further treatment. I recommend taking him into another vet for a second opinion. This may help you feel better about the course of treatment for him. Good luck, I hope this helps!

You can't splint a conscious cat, he must be put under general anesthesia for that. in most cases splints in cats are not successful, broken legs usually need to be repaired surgically. the only thing you can do until you bring him to the vet is putting him in a confined cage to limit his movement and prevent him from making the damage worse.