The Naked Scientists
Toggle navigation
Login
Register
Podcasts
The Naked Scientists
eLife
Naked Genetics
Naked Astronomy
In short
Naked Neuroscience
Ask! The Naked Scientists
Question of the Week
Archive
Video
SUBSCRIBE to our Podcasts
Articles
Science News
Features
Interviews
Answers to Science Questions
Get Naked
Donate
Do an Experiment
Science Forum
Ask a Question
About
Meet the team
Our Sponsors
Site Map
Contact us
User menu
Login
Register
Search
Home
Help
Search
Tags
Member Map
Recent Topics
Login
Register
Naked Science Forum
Life Sciences
Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution
Why can't you bandage a cat?
« previous
next »
Print
Pages: [
1
]
Go Down
Why can't you bandage a cat?
2 Replies
11494 Views
0 Tags
0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.
thedoc
(OP)
Forum Admin
Moderator
Hero Member
510
Activity:
0%
Thanked: 21 times
Why can't you bandage a cat?
«
on:
15/08/2012 08:30:02 »
Jenny Plumb asked the Naked Scientists:
Hello,
I wonder if you can answer a weird phenomenon experienced by a cat recently. A friend's cat was injured just behind its elbow and had to be stitched by a vet.
On enquiring why they did not bandage the cat to protect the wound, the vet said that they had been told not to bandage cats there because they fall over and cannot get up!
Intrigued, we loosely wrapped a scarf around our friend's cat and he immediately fell over on his right side and could not get up. On taking off the scarf he stood up and walked across the room. The experiment was repeated and again the cat fell on his right side and could not get up. Other animals seem to be bandage there with no ill effect so what makes a cat unable to stand up or walk when a bandage is applied there?
Thank you,
Jenny Plumb
Woodham Walter,
Essex
What do you think?
«
Last Edit: 15/08/2012 08:30:02 by _system
»
Logged
CliffordK
Naked Science Forum King!
6596
Activity:
0%
Thanked: 61 times
Site Moderator
Re: Why can't you bandage a cat?
«
Reply #1 on:
15/08/2012 14:57:38 »
Looking up
Cat Leg Bandage
on Google, I see numerous images of cats with bandages.
Cats do incessantly groom so I would think that there would be issues with cat grooming and bandages. This website indicates that
cats will quickly pull off their bandages,
and suggests a cone or similar device to prevent them from grooming.
The knee joint is important for walking. Disable the knee joint, and one must compensate with the hips (or shoulder for front legs). Thus it may take some time to get used to, but most animals should be able to learn to compensate.
Perhaps your scarf was excessively bulky, so not only are the joints less flexible, but there is also excess weight and bulk, making moving the legs difficult. You might try more of just a bandage, or a tighter wrapping of a lightweight rag.
Logged
cheryl j
Naked Science Forum King!
1478
Activity:
0%
Thanked: 6 times
Re: Why can't you bandage a cat?
«
Reply #2 on:
17/08/2012 01:38:45 »
I would think it has to do with grooming for the most part but I was told once that cat wounds heal from the inside out, instead of forming a scab and granulation layers over the top.
Logged
Print
Pages: [
1
]
Go Up
« previous
next »
Tags:
There was an error while thanking
Thanking...