Cat attacked by dog

by Carolann
(UK)

My 12 year old Bengal cat has been attacked by a dog. He is at the veterinarian and on a drip, and will have x-rays tomorrow. The vet says he thinks the sternum could be broken/has come away. What prognosis should I expect? Should my cat be able to recover from this sort of injury?

Thank you

Carolann


Dear Carolann,

I'm very sorry to hear that this happened to your cat. Unfortunately, I do not have enough information to be able to provide an idea of your cat's prognosis.

A fractured sternum could puncture a lung, there could be internal bleeding, or a number of other contributing factors could effect your cat's prognosis. However, it is possible that your cat will recover from his injury. Without seeing his x-rays or examining him myself, though, there is no way for me to know for certain. The best thing to do would be to ask your veterinarian for his/her opinion.

Best wishes,
Dr. Neely