Dislocations do not always eliminate all movement. Your cat may just appear lame or avoid its usual weight bearing. In some cases, the muscles surrounding a dislocated joint will cause a limb to curl up or move into an unnatural position. This is the case, for instance, with many dislocated hip joints. [1] X Research source
Knee joints Hip joints Shoulder joints Elbow joints Tail joints
A cat that is in pain is likely to hide as well. If you haven’t seen your cat in awhile and that is unusual, you take the time to look for it to make sure it is okay. Even a calm, friendly cat can bite when it’s in pain, so be careful when approaching or handling the cat.
However, if your cat has had surgical treatment for certain dislocations it may not have further dislocations. For example, if your cat has a ball replacement for a hip dislocation it is not likely to get an additional dislocation. However, it may have lingering stiffness or mobility issues. [4] X Research source
If you notice the symptoms of a dislocation while your regular veterinary clinic is closed, it’s a good idea to take your cat to an emergency veterinary hospital. You do not want your cat suffering with pain for hours before treatment. This is an emergency situation, and delaying treatment can make it less likely your cat’s injury will be repaired properly.
You may be asked to help keep your cat calm while the veterinarian is assessing your cat’s condition and manipulating its joints. However, if the injury is serious and includes other trauma, it may not be appropriate for you to be in the room and you will be asked to wait in a waiting area.
For most dislocations, an x-ray is all the veterinarian need to confirm their diagnosis.
Both of these procedures will require that your cat be put under anesthesia. With an open reduction this is because it is a surgery and with a closed reduction it is due to the pain involved in moving the joint back into position.
Surgery is an especially good option for those cats with chronic cases of dislocation, such as those related to hip dysplasia. [7] X Research source
If your cat has its bones re-positioned into their proper place, you will need to keep the area bandaged and immobile for several weeks while the muscles and ligaments repair themselves. If your cat undergoes surgery, you will usually need to keep it in a cage for several weeks to keep the injured joint immobile. Joint dislocations may require several operations to repair if they are especially bad. This means that you will need to nurse your cat several times in order to get it healthy. [8] X Research source
As with all dietary supplements, discuss them with a veterinarian before giving them to your cat.
