Cat with a Limping Front Leg (Paw)

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Patricia Corron - 01 Oct 2003 18:57 GMT

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

Reply to this Message

kaeli - 01 Oct 2003 19:46 GMT

> 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.
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Reply to this Message

Karen - 01 Oct 2003 19:51 GMT

> Hey Everyone,
>
[quoted text clipped - 36 lines]
>
> 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

Reply to this Message

m. L. Briggs - 02 Oct 2003 06:04 GMT

>Hey Everyone,
>
[quoted text clipped - 36 lines]
>
>Patricia Corron

Did you check her claws carefully. Some years ago my Siamese (RB) had
one claw grow back into the pad. I was unaware of it for quite
sometime, because she hated me to touch her paws. When the Vet cut it
loose she felt much better.

Reply to this Message

-L. - 02 Oct 2003 06:53 GMT

> Hey Everyone,
>
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> I noticed the other day that his right front paw was being held up and
> he had a limp

Is he declawed? If so, it may be a regrowth, and he needs to be seen
asap at the vet.

If not, I'd give him a few more days to see if it subsides - it may be
re-injury to a sprain. If he continues to be lame, take him in.

-L.

Reply to this Message

Barb 1 - 02 Oct 2003 22:06 GMT

I had a Siamese years ago and this was how her cancer presented itself. She
was over ten years old at the time. I hope your problem is much simpler.

Barb
I can only please one person a day.
Today is not your day.
Tomorrow doesn't look good either.

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