There is a term: "falling cats syndrome". The point is that as spring begins we open windows and doors of balconies to enjoy sunshine. Cats in their turn immediately begin skipping merrily along windowsills and handrails hunting flies and birds. And here it begins.
THE CONSEQUENCES of fall can be different. I can't help saying that cats are among the luckiest mammals regarding this, still very serious injuries may happen. I remember one cat, which fell from the 24th floor - not on the haystack and even not on the soil but right on the pavement. He got off with bruises and the lip bitten through and stayed cheerful and had a good appetite. Another "paratrooper" came to a very bad end. He fell off the third floor, got on a tree and hurt backbone, so his hind limbs failed. Apparently, he didn't manage to land on all four paws. To all our clients we suggest to fulfill very simple but effective measures to prevent such flies: as soon as you fasten wood or metal stripes onto edge of window and handrails of balconies the cat acquires a nonskid point of rest.
Dislocations and fractures may happen even inside apartments. There are very nice and by sight very weightless dogs - Italian greyhounds. They are used to jumping down suddenly when masters hold them in their arms and often break a limb in the area of funny bone. Once somebody brought us a puppy of rottweiler with a double fracture of lower jaw. The tragedy happened in bathroom when the holder left the room for a moment, and the puppy feeling a certain discomfort tried to get out, slipped and striked his head against the tile.
The first thing the holder should do if suspects a fracture is to immobilize the injured limb. The most optimal for small and middle-sized animals is to apply splint made of cardboard of different width. Cut out a piece of cardboard by size as the injured paw and fold it in form of square tube. Wrap up the injured paw in cotton wool and put the paw inside the tube. In this way the transport immobilization of limb is accomplished. The term "immobilization" means providing of immobility (rest) in case of different injuries. If the animal is big, one may strengthen the splint with a lath of appropriate size or other rigid material. A splint of cause must follow all natural bends of limb. On no account one must not transport an injured cat or dog without immobilization because bone fragments may damage vessels and nerves. After you've made an immobilization you should call for a veterinary specialist, or better get the animal to a veterinary hospital.
There are simple and complicated fractures. In case of simple fracture in the area of shin or forearm it will be enough to put a plaster. But if the fracture happens in the area of hip or shoulder, it is necessary to apply pins that are inserted in a spinal canal of the damaged bone. If the fracture is complicated, with several fragments, special metal plates are used on which separated parts of bone are gathered. In particular cases we have to use Ilisarov apparatus. In our opinion, dogs and cats, and sometimes birds are more difficult patients then people, because at mere opportunity to use the injured limb they begin to jump and hop as if nothing has happened. Therefore after you fixed the injured paw, it is necessary to limit animal' movements, go for a walk only on the lead and watch your pet not to make to much fun at home.
Anyway I wish you and your four-legged friends not to get into such troubles.
Translated by Tatiana Karpova (Moscow)
(MSU, Biology faculture, Dep. zoology and ecology).