Found a Kitten with Broken Vertebrae here in China

I was walking in the park (I live in China so these things happen often and nobody will intervene) when I came across a kitten crying loudly and flailing around in the ground. He cried so loudly and for the next hour in which I transported him first one place and then to the vet he did not stop crying. He has jerky uncontrollable movements, seems not to be able to move his back legs, at least not in a way that looks voluntary, and his head flails around though he can kind of get it to the food which I gave him when we got home. He seems to be about 8 weeks old, and I took him to the vet, where they did an x-ray and they said he had "crushed" (this was the word my friend used to translate) one of the vertebrae in his neck and that they could give him something for pain and take him home and watch him and bring him back the next day and he might live or he might not but they wouldn't euthanize him because they think he might be okay. Just that his condition is critical right now. Not speaking Chinese well enough for that conversation and not exactly trusting the vet implicitly (they handled him without regard for the possibility of a spinal injury), I am not sure what to do now. He flails around so much that you'd think he'd do more damage that way. He gets no comfort from being held, probably because it hurts. They gave him an injection to stop the pain (not sure how long it will last, and I didn't get anything to give him at home). I gave him some food softened in water and he was so hungry. His head was a bit out of control so he kept nose-diving into it, but he managed to eat. The thing is, if his prognosis isn't good, I just want to euthanize him. I'm not sure I can deal with this kind of injury being so far from a good vet and not able to speak the language well enough to deal with it (did I mention I already have 5?), but if it's likely he'll recover, then I don't want to euthanize him. I just don't know. Do these x-rays or behaviors mean anything to anyone out there? (That white thing in the bottom of the first x-ray is the vet's hand.)

I'm sorry, I'm just going to say nevermind to this post. He's in so much pain, in spite of whatever shot they gave him at the vet. So I'm taking him in to the better vet in a few minutes. Maybe they will say he can be saved, but I don't expect so.

Thank you for trying to save this poor baby. Please keep us posted if you can.

I took him to the vet tonight because his cries were so sad and awful. And who knows, maybe a person did it to him, and he is terrified of people, I don't know. But I was so scared he was going to hurt himself the way he was trying so frantically to move in his box and I couldn't comfort him by holding him because it seemed to cause him so much pain. Thankfully I know a really kind (and also cheap) vet who couldn't bear to put him down without observing him first so he is keeping him overnight and watching him, and if he isn't improved with whatever he tries, then he will put him to sleep. I am really amazed at the compassion of the vet for a little stray kitten. I haven't noticed many people here caring like that about cats. At least I am not watching him suffer feeling wretched because I can't alleviate his pain. I'll find out tomorrow what the vet will do.

If you hold such a kitten, its probably better to have him wrapped up.  This way, being helpless, he ceases the struggle (with some UNluck, some continue to struggle...).  Anyway, much better than held by sheer force.

Good you do have found this friendly vet.

I agree, if there is no good remedy, it is most kind to end the pains, and let him go.  This is too a help of sort for which he is grateful.

Tx a lot for caring!

Warm hugs and *vibes!*

bandabacks said:

 
I took him to the vet tonight because his cries were so sad and awful. And who knows, maybe a person did it to him, and he is terrified of people, I don't know. But I was so scared he was going to hurt himself the way he was trying so frantically to move in his box and I couldn't comfort him by holding him because it seemed to cause him so much pain. Thankfully I know a really kind (and also cheap) vet who couldn't bear to put him down without observing him first so he is keeping him overnight and watching him, and if he isn't improved with whatever he tries, then he will put him to sleep. I am really amazed at the compassion of the vet for a little stray kitten. I haven't noticed many people here caring like that about cats. At least I am not watching him suffer feeling wretched because I can't alleviate his pain. I'll find out tomorrow what the vet will do.

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Good luck- you are so kind to do this. I agree with the last poster if you get to keep him wrap in a towel to keep him still. Sending you good thoughts.

Thank you for trying to help him.

Sometimes there is nothing we can do, but it's so much better to be picked up and taken to a vet than just left on the street to suffer.

Keep us posted, I hope you get some good news.

Yes, thank you for caring for the little guy. Hopefully, he'll be alright. If not though, don't be afraid to let him go to ease his pain.

Just a quick note to say that the vet said he recovered completely and was adopted by a family. I still count my lucky stars that we ever found such a good vet.

bandabacks said:

 
Just a quick note to say that the vet said he recovered completely and was adopted by a family. I still count my lucky stars that we ever found such a good vet.

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What wonderful news!! Yes, some vets have angel wings tucked under their white coats

catwoman707 said:

 
What wonderful news!! Yes, some vets have angel wings tucked under their white coats

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Yes!  What wonderful news and good on everyone that helped that kitten.

That's great. 

We hadn't heard from you for so long that I thought maybe the poor little thing didn't make it.

So nice to hear about a happy ending.

YAY!!