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Cat with a Limping Front Leg (Paw)
Hey Everyone,
This is my first time posting and I need a little bit of advice. I have a five year old neutered male named Eddie. He is a strictly indoor cat, but does venture out on the balcony. I noticed the other day that his right front paw was being held up and he had a limp. The limp was strange, after he got up and about from resting it would be a very intense limp. After he was able to move around a bit his limp was almost gone. I checked for fever, cuts, scratches, red or swallen paw, bumps, any noticeble broken areas or bones and nothing seems to be a miss. Even when I touched his leg or put pressure on it he would not act in pain or even pull away. So I called my vet, and the advice given to me was that he might have a sprain and to watch him over the next couple days to see if his condition improved. After two days his condition seemed to be completely back to normal as if nothing was wrong at all. But just last night he started having his limp again, and now it is even worse. The limp is now to the point where he is hopping and not using his leg or foot except to stand for tiny moments, the rest of the time he holds his paw up and not allowing it to touch the ground. Also when he is resting or sleeping he curls his hurt foot/leg under him. I also noticed he started sneezing but that might be something different, I noticed he had a tiny red spot on the split of his nose, that could make his nose aggitated. I made a homemade splint for his leg to ease any pain for him, until he can be brought in to see the vet. Does anyone have any advice or has anyone had this same problem before and can you let me know what happened? Thanks I really appreciate everyone's help on this matter. Patricia Corron |
In article ,
enlightened us with... Does anyone have any advice or has anyone had this same problem before and can you let me know what happened? Thanks I really appreciate everyone's help on this matter. I sprained my ankle a few weeks ago. It would get better, and then just as I thought it was fine, some little something would re-sprain it, as the tendon was still weak. So, it could still be a sprain. It could also be arthritis. Or he may have fractured a bone in the leg or shoulder or pulled any of the tendons in the leg. However, pressure on any part of the spine or brain can cause intermittent limping. A disc out of place in the back, something pressing on a nerve, brain swelling, etc can cause problems with movement. Lyme disease, distemper, and other diseases can cause similar problems, too, but they usually have more symptoms than just a limp. Things to check: Does he have a fever? How is his appetite? Do his eyes (pupils) respond properly to light (contract/expand), and at the same time (both eyes)? If not, could be neurological damage. How is his balance? If you hold him upside-down, can he right himself? If not, could be neurological damage. Check reflex - if you hold him over a table, does the paw try to grab as he passes over it? To do this, hold him about a half-inch away from the table and run the TOP of the paw against the side of the table. The paw should lift up to set on the table. If not, could be nerve damage. Does he react (badly) if you run your hands over his back, especially his upper back near his shoulders? Could be pressure on a nerve or a fracture. Check reflex - if you grip the lower leg and squeeze (firm, but gentle), the tendons should contract, causing the paw to squeeze shut. Test this on your own forearm so you see the reaction you're looking for. If your cat acts as if he is in pain when you do this, he probably pulled one of the tendons. Remember, you don't have to squeeze hard. Just firm and even pressure on the forelimb. You mention a vet appointment - that is pretty much what I'd advise. ------------------------------------------------- ~kaeli~ All I ask for is the chance to prove that money cannot make me happy. http://www.ipwebdesign.net/wildAtHeart http://www.ipwebdesign.net/kaelisSpace ------------------------------------------------- |
In article ,
enlightened us with... Does anyone have any advice or has anyone had this same problem before and can you let me know what happened? Thanks I really appreciate everyone's help on this matter. I sprained my ankle a few weeks ago. It would get better, and then just as I thought it was fine, some little something would re-sprain it, as the tendon was still weak. So, it could still be a sprain. It could also be arthritis. Or he may have fractured a bone in the leg or shoulder or pulled any of the tendons in the leg. However, pressure on any part of the spine or brain can cause intermittent limping. A disc out of place in the back, something pressing on a nerve, brain swelling, etc can cause problems with movement. Lyme disease, distemper, and other diseases can cause similar problems, too, but they usually have more symptoms than just a limp. Things to check: Does he have a fever? How is his appetite? Do his eyes (pupils) respond properly to light (contract/expand), and at the same time (both eyes)? If not, could be neurological damage. How is his balance? If you hold him upside-down, can he right himself? If not, could be neurological damage. Check reflex - if you hold him over a table, does the paw try to grab as he passes over it? To do this, hold him about a half-inch away from the table and run the TOP of the paw against the side of the table. The paw should lift up to set on the table. If not, could be nerve damage. Does he react (badly) if you run your hands over his back, especially his upper back near his shoulders? Could be pressure on a nerve or a fracture. Check reflex - if you grip the lower leg and squeeze (firm, but gentle), the tendons should contract, causing the paw to squeeze shut. Test this on your own forearm so you see the reaction you're looking for. If your cat acts as if he is in pain when you do this, he probably pulled one of the tendons. Remember, you don't have to squeeze hard. Just firm and even pressure on the forelimb. You mention a vet appointment - that is pretty much what I'd advise. ------------------------------------------------- ~kaeli~ All I ask for is the chance to prove that money cannot make me happy. http://www.ipwebdesign.net/wildAtHeart http://www.ipwebdesign.net/kaelisSpace ------------------------------------------------- |
in article , Patricia Corron
at wrote on 10/1/03 12:57 PM: Hey Everyone, This is my first time posting and I need a little bit of advice. I have a five year old neutered male named Eddie. He is a strictly indoor cat, but does venture out on the balcony. I noticed the other day that his right front paw was being held up and he had a limp. The limp was strange, after he got up and about from resting it would be a very intense limp. After he was able to move around a bit his limp was almost gone. I checked for fever, cuts, scratches, red or swallen paw, bumps, any noticeble broken areas or bones and nothing seems to be a miss. Even when I touched his leg or put pressure on it he would not act in pain or even pull away. So I called my vet, and the advice given to me was that he might have a sprain and to watch him over the next couple days to see if his condition improved. After two days his condition seemed to be completely back to normal as if nothing was wrong at all. But just last night he started having his limp again, and now it is even worse. The limp is now to the point where he is hopping and not using his leg or foot except to stand for tiny moments, the rest of the time he holds his paw up and not allowing it to touch the ground. Also when he is resting or sleeping he curls his hurt foot/leg under him. I also noticed he started sneezing but that might be something different, I noticed he had a tiny red spot on the split of his nose, that could make his nose aggitated. I made a homemade splint for his leg to ease any pain for him, until he can be brought in to see the vet. Does anyone have any advice or has anyone had this same problem before and can you let me know what happened? Thanks I really appreciate everyone's help on this matter. Patricia Corron I would take him in for an xray. Two things spring to mind. Arthritis and an injury that has caused an abcess below the surface (happened to a friends cat). I would get him in ASAP!!! Karen |
in article , Patricia Corron
at wrote on 10/1/03 12:57 PM: Hey Everyone, This is my first time posting and I need a little bit of advice. I have a five year old neutered male named Eddie. He is a strictly indoor cat, but does venture out on the balcony. I noticed the other day that his right front paw was being held up and he had a limp. The limp was strange, after he got up and about from resting it would be a very intense limp. After he was able to move around a bit his limp was almost gone. I checked for fever, cuts, scratches, red or swallen paw, bumps, any noticeble broken areas or bones and nothing seems to be a miss. Even when I touched his leg or put pressure on it he would not act in pain or even pull away. So I called my vet, and the advice given to me was that he might have a sprain and to watch him over the next couple days to see if his condition improved. After two days his condition seemed to be completely back to normal as if nothing was wrong at all. But just last night he started having his limp again, and now it is even worse. The limp is now to the point where he is hopping and not using his leg or foot except to stand for tiny moments, the rest of the time he holds his paw up and not allowing it to touch the ground. Also when he is resting or sleeping he curls his hurt foot/leg under him. I also noticed he started sneezing but that might be something different, I noticed he had a tiny red spot on the split of his nose, that could make his nose aggitated. I made a homemade splint for his leg to ease any pain for him, until he can be brought in to see the vet. Does anyone have any advice or has anyone had this same problem before and can you let me know what happened? Thanks I really appreciate everyone's help on this matter. Patricia Corron I would take him in for an xray. Two things spring to mind. Arthritis and an injury that has caused an abcess below the surface (happened to a friends cat). I would get him in ASAP!!! Karen |
in article , Patricia Corron
at wrote on 10/1/03 12:57 PM: Hey Everyone, This is my first time posting and I need a little bit of advice. I have a five year old neutered male named Eddie. He is a strictly indoor cat, but does venture out on the balcony. I noticed the other day that his right front paw was being held up and he had a limp. The limp was strange, after he got up and about from resting it would be a very intense limp. After he was able to move around a bit his limp was almost gone. I checked for fever, cuts, scratches, red or swallen paw, bumps, any noticeble broken areas or bones and nothing seems to be a miss. Even when I touched his leg or put pressure on it he would not act in pain or even pull away. So I called my vet, and the advice given to me was that he might have a sprain and to watch him over the next couple days to see if his condition improved. After two days his condition seemed to be completely back to normal as if nothing was wrong at all. But just last night he started having his limp again, and now it is even worse. The limp is now to the point where he is hopping and not using his leg or foot except to stand for tiny moments, the rest of the time he holds his paw up and not allowing it to touch the ground. Also when he is resting or sleeping he curls his hurt foot/leg under him. I also noticed he started sneezing but that might be something different, I noticed he had a tiny red spot on the split of his nose, that could make his nose aggitated. I made a homemade splint for his leg to ease any pain for him, until he can be brought in to see the vet. Does anyone have any advice or has anyone had this same problem before and can you let me know what happened? Thanks I really appreciate everyone's help on this matter. Patricia Corron I would take him in for an xray. Two things spring to mind. Arthritis and an injury that has caused an abcess below the surface (happened to a friends cat). I would get him in ASAP!!! Karen |
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