Primrose’s Recovery: How a Cat Kept Her Tail Against the Odds

Written By Emily Boyd RVN

Last November, Primrose an 8 year and 10 month old cat—suffered a painful tail injury that left her tail completely limp. After urgent veterinary care, X-rays revealed a suspected dislocation at her first coccygeal vertebra (the base of the tail). She was in considerable pain, and tail amputation was a real possibility.

Primrose’s journey to recovery combined both conventional and complementary therapies:

Veterinary Assessment and Pain Relief

Her initial care included:

• Pain management to keep her comfortable

• Radiographs to diagnose the issue

• Monitoring for neurological signs and tail mobility

With no immediate improvement and continued pain, her care team explored supportive therapies to avoid amputation.

Acupuncture with Carole

Primrose began weekly acupuncture sessions with Carole.

This helped:

• Manage her pain

• Stimulate nerve activity

• Support healing at the injury site

  
  

Over time, these sessions led to small but meaningful progress—she began to lift her tail slightly.

Physiotherapy and Laser Therapy with AJ

To build on her progress, Primrose also started physiotherapy and laser therapy with AJ:

• Laser therapy reduced inflammation and encouraged cellular repair

• Targeted physio helped strengthen muscles and improve tail control

  
  

These therapies, alongside ongoing pain relief, continued for six months.

The Outcome

Thanks to a combined approach of veterinary medicine, acupuncture, physiotherapy, and lots of patience, Primrose made a full recovery. She is now pain-free—and most importantly—she kept her tail.

Integrative care can offer real benefits for pets recovering from complex injuries. If your cat is facing a similar issue, talk to your vet about combining conventional treatment with complementary therapies like acupuncture and physiotherapy.