Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Risk factors for death in traumatized cats at a Brazil vet hospital
By Nascimento, Débora C et al.·Published in Journal of feline medicine and surgery·2022·School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Brazil·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Clinicoepidemiological profile and risk factors associated with mortality in traumatized cats admitted to a veterinary teaching hospital in Brazil.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of 89 traumatized cats were admitted to a veterinary hospital in Brazil, with many suffering from blunt trauma due to accidents like falls or being run over. Most of the cats were young, male, and mixed breed, with a significant number being indoor pets. The study found that cats with lower body temperatures and those who had been run over or suffered chest trauma were at a higher risk of dying. The researchers emphasized the importance of quick and effective treatment for these injuries to improve survival chances.
People also search for: cat trauma treatment · why is my cat cold after an accident · signs of serious injury in cats
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate possible risk factors for death in traumatized cats based on the clinicoepidemiological profile, the Animal Trauma Triage (ATT) scale score and the Modified Glasgow Coma Scale (MGCS) score at the time of presentation to the hospital. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study involving cats admitted to the emergency sector (ES) and the surgical clinic sector (SCS) of a veterinary teaching hospital (VTH) in northeastern Brazil over a 12-month period (2018-2019). Probable risk factors associated with non-survival after trauma were analyzed by calculating the prevalence ratio. The prediction of non-survival was evaluated by analyzing the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve employing the ATT scale score, MGCS score and rectal temperature. RESULTS: In 1 year, 89 traumatized cats were admitted to the VTH, of which 90% (n = 80) were young, 54% (n = 48) were male, 79% (n = 70) were intact, 59% (n = 53) were indoor cats and 92% (n = 82) were considered as mixed breed. Blunt trauma was the most prevalent cause of injuries, reported in 76% (n = 68) of the cats. Accidents involving falls (30%; n = 27) that affected the pelvic limbs (50.6%) were the most commonly reported. The prevalence of death among cats admitted to the ES was 9.44 times higher than that of animals treated at the SCS. Trauma as result of being run over and chest trauma were associated with a higher probability of death. Most of the animals that died had a lower rectal temperature than those that survived. The ATT scale score, MGCS score and rectal temperature were predictive of mortality. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Rectal temperature, ATT scale score and MGCS score were effective predictors of an unfavorable prognosis and point to the need for emergency procedures. Hypothermia, being run over and chest trauma were associated with a higher risk of mortality. Our findings highlight the importance of prompt and effective care for these conditions.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34259571/