Help - kitten foot was wrapped in umbilical cord

[calicokat]

Hello all, hoping someone might have some advice. Seems like I'm the Kitten Midwife in my neighborhood, and usually it's no problem

One of the neigbor's cats had kittens overnight, maybe early this AM? I saw them around 10 am. There were 5, but 4 were tangled by umbilical cords. I was able to seperate all of them and clip the cords. But one kitten's foot seems to have taken the brunt of it, it was wrapped many times and the foot was cold, swollen, and kinda blue. I freed it, and massaged some. It seems to have pinked up a bit and if any, it might have swelled a tiny bit more (maybe because blood flow is returning?) He's still dragging it, and I don't see it flexing or wiggling toes like his other foot yet.

Is there anything I should try? Called the vet and he said without seeing it, he couldn't say if it would be ok, we'd have to wait and see. But I thought I'd try my trusty Chicken friends and see if anyone has had this happen, and could give me a suggestion or two.

 

[tharrell]

I think it probably depends on how long it was wrapped, and how tightly. I hope the little one turns out ok! It's funny you say your the cat midwife for your area because I call myself a mid-woof because everyone turns to me for whelping advice with their dogs, lol!

 

[thechickenchick]

I have had 2 experiences with this, one turned out good, the other did not.

I had a cat give birth while I was gone for the weekend. By the time I found kitty her foot was dead. That night the Mama chewed the foot off! There was bone and ligaments showing. I was scared of infection and unsure what to do. I ran the tiny thing to the vet. She said just to keep an eye on it for infection. It actually healed just fine. I kept that kitten and named her Teeters, because she teeters when she walks.

She gets around just fine because she learned how to walk without it. She is now a mom herself. She also had a baby born with 2 feet tangled up. Again by the time I found them both back feet were gone. The poor baby died from infection. I tried antibiotics and neosporin but I lost the battle.

Good luck with your baby. If I can help, let me know.

 

[Katy]

I just had to have a kitten's front leg amputated from the elbow down because it became caught in some wire. When I found it it was swollen and cold. Unfortunately it never did pink back up at all and by the time the week-end was over it was starting to rot. She is getting along fine now almost 3 weeks after her surgery. I'd say if it's pinking back up you've got a chance that the leg will be ok.

 

[patandchickens]

I have no useful advice other than to take the kitten to the vet sooner rather than later if there is any question of the foot tissue possibly dying, as blood poisoning can set in and be serious enough in an adult cat let alone a kitten.

But it's interesting you should describe this, because I am wondering now if that may explain my first cat. He had 4 toes (all but the thumb toe) missing from one forefoot, slightly oddly, as if they'd been chopped off in a straight line fairly close to where they attach to the paw. It was hard for me to imagine it being a birth defect but also hard to imagine it as an injury since I got him at 7-8 wks old (stray) and it looked no different than it did for the whole rest of his life - it was not half-healed or anything like that. He is long gone now but I've always wondered what could've caused it - the only explanations I could think of involved really unlikely scenarios of torture or animal attack. I wonder, though, if he could've had the cord around the lower part of his foot and the toes died and sloughed off when he was still just a newborn kitten. Hmm. FWIW, he was completely *fine* with his toeless foot -- the shelter I adopted him from never even noticed it, and said if they had he'd have been put to sleep (after which of course I just *had* to adopt him <g>), and although vets said to expect arthritis in later years, he lived to be 15 without ever seeming sore on that foot.

Sorry to digress, and good luck with the kitten!

Pat

 

[calicokat]

Pat - that might very well have been your answer. The cord is like a tourniquette when it's that tight. I bet he was a cutie though.

I'm trying to upload a pix, but will likely have to wait until tomorrow when I'm at work (darn dialup!) The foot is still pink and swollen tonight. I haven't seen movement exactly, but at the same time, somehow it doesn't seem like the dead weight it was this morning either - hard to explain, but I hope it means it will be better.

Of course, I'm already calling him (or her) Sasquatch (sp?) tee hee!

 

[gypsy2621]

If the kitten has pink/white toe nails press at the very back of the nail gently with your finger nail release and see if there is blood flow back.( you are looking for capillary flow back. just like with human nails.

in a few days you will know if the damage is permanent or will be fine, if blood flow was restricted enough the kittens foot will turn black and a few days will fall off.
No there isn't nor will there be pain if this happens there will be no blood either.
good luck with the kitten.

Edited because my fingers are faster than my brain tonight.

 

[calicokat]

I got lucky - the pix finally loaded. These are his feet - you can tell the hurt one. I really feel optimistic about him

edited to add: It looks like a line still on his leg, but it's not really still there - maybe a shadow or indentation from where it was wrapped earlier.

 

[Katy]

I would think if it pinked back up you've got a good chance with it. Do the pads feel warm?

 

[gypsy2621]

Quote:
It doesnt appear he will lose the foot. with a nicely pink the foot is he is going to be fine as soon as the swelling goes down.
love the color.