Our cat Ophelia is a torte about 2 years old. She is an indoor/ outdoor cat who likes to climb. We noticed she was favoring her left hind leg. She was still using the leg but letting it stick out to the side and very sensitive to any touch near the leg.
My fiance took her to the vet but with odd results. The examination was described as prolonged 'man-handling' and after an x-ray, no diagnosis was made and since returning home her leg is far more sensitive, she barely lets it touch the ground and just lays in one spot. Her eyes are alert and she purrs but can barely walk.
They sent her home with an oral pain killer (buprenex/ Buprenorphine) and no other treatment, saying if the leg doesnt recover naturally they would like to try an inflamatory which has risks involved which we would rather not take.
Does anyone have any ideas?she was indoors for at least two days before we noticed anything. perhaps its just a sprain or stress to a tendon or muscle? (the x-ray didnt show anything)
2007-07-27 10:35:11 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Cats
The manhandling was probably to see if the joint was out of place (they can pop knees and elbows same as we can) and flexing to see the range while trying to feel if anything is grating (damaged cartiledge) or hindering free movement. I know it hurts, but they need to assess the joints and bone structure.
X-rays are good for bones, but not soft tissue in the leg.
They probably eliminated the possibility of a floating or out of place knee cap (my cat has this, it's a floating patella I think they called it, she walks with an arched back when it slips to one side enough to hurt). They eliminated any cracked, splintered or broken bones via the X-ray.
That leaves cartiledge damage or muscle tears. The pain killer would cover both, and it will take time. If she needs a stronger pain killer, ask the vet for one, especially in the first few days if you see she's having a hard time of things. Give her attention that doesn't jar the leg, and bring food to her occasionally so she doesn't need to move to go eat something.
The vet will need an update (phone call) about her condition in 4 or 5 days, they may decide to do another exam to see if something is swelling.
2007-07-27 13:58:33 · answer #1 · answered by Elaine M 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Bring her indoors if you can. DON'T wrap it, that may make it hurt worse. Call the vets to make an appointment and get in as an emergency appt. if you want, or get there exactly at 4:30. But do get her in. Human pain killers are toxic to cats. Don't give her anything, it would not be safe. If you can soak the leg in warm salt water that may help, but if she objects then don't do it. Just keeping her indoors where she can't go very far will help restrict her movements.
2016-04-01 05:25:41 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'd take my cat to another vet. It sounds as if your cat needs treatment other than pain meds. I would think they would have done a basic blood work up to make sure nothing is wrong that didn't show up on x-ray. You are right that it could be a sprain or something like that that wouldn't show up on x-ray but I think I'd want a second opinion.
2007-07-27 10:45:37 · answer #3 · answered by Angie C 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, I know this is a sensitive topic, but 1) the cat was indoors for at least 2 days before you noticed any problem 2) the vet says she was "manhandled", not that she must have slipped and sprained her leg, or something like that.
I think the vet is trying to suggest that someone in your household hurt her, deliberately.
Please don't be mad at me for this interpretation. It is only that, an interpretation of how the vet phrased it. I work at a v et hospital and am familiar with how vets say such things.
2007-07-27 11:03:57 · answer #4 · answered by Kayty 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Get a second opinion and anti inflammatories are not a bad way to reduce the inflammation. When give properly the risks are minimal.
If she was man-handled then try and make her an indoor cat. She ran into a cat hater.
2007-07-27 10:43:36 · answer #5 · answered by chicki 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Get a second opinion if you feel you need it. Sounds like she could have hurt herself in play or just being a normal cat (landing wrong in a jump and so on). But if you're worried, defiantly go to another vet and see what they think.
2007-07-27 10:48:58 · answer #6 · answered by skye_blue_05 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Get a decent vet and also, don't let her back outside...but it is probably a sprain from her outdoor adventures...
2007-07-27 11:19:28 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Definately get a second opinion. There is obviously something wrong with her that your vet didn't see.
2007-07-27 10:39:25 · answer #8 · answered by Audrey A 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
try another vet. Ask them to test her for lyme disease.. Hope all goes well..
2007-07-27 10:48:45 · answer #9 · answered by Katie C 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
IF A HIGHLY INTELLIGENT PERSON WHO HAS DEDICATED HIS/HER LIFE TO THE STUDY AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE HEALTH AND WELFARE OF ANIMALS CANNOT DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM AFTER HAVING EXAMINED THE POOR CREATURE WHAT POSSIBLE HELP CAN A BUNCH OF SADDO COMPUTER GEEKS GOT OF GUESSING WHATS WRONG BY JUST A WRITTEN DESCRIPTION
STOP WASTING YOUR TIME PLAYING ABOUT ON A COMPUTER AND FIND A BETTER VET / SECOND OPINION TO PUT THE POOR THING OUT OF IT'S MISERY!
2007-07-27 10:43:33 · answer #10 · answered by andy t 6 · 0⤊ 5⤋