My cat's back leg is injured

by JAMIE ANN
(LANCASHIRE)

Hi Doctor,

I took my cat to the veterinarian last Friday (25th Feb 2011) as he came inside after being out at night and was limping and holding his back leg up. He wouldn’t walk on it and, when I tried to look at it, he hissed and scratched me. He never does this. He is very well mannered and a pleasant, loving cat. The veterinarian looked at it and said that it wasn’t broken and I should keep him in for a few days and it should heal.

I followed her advice and kept him in and it did seem to heal. After 3 days he seemed okay again, so I let him go back outside.

Today (Thursday 3rd March 2011), he has come in this morning with exactly the same thing, although it seems to be a lot worse. I don’t know if to take him to the veterinarian again as they are very expensive and she may just say the same again. However, I think that there is something definitely wrong with his leg.

Any advice on what it could be?

Thanks
Jamie Ann


Dear Jamie Ann,

I would recommend bringing your cat to a veterinarian again. With cats that go outdoors, there are a number of possible causes for your cat’s symptoms, but the most likely cause is that he suffered some kind of trauma, such as a fall, being bitten or scratched by another animal, or having something stuck in the pads of his foot.

It is possible that his injury improved, but after being active again outdoors, he traumatized his previously injured leg. It is also possible that there was an initial undetectable bite wound that has had time to develop into an abscess by now and is painful and needs to be treated.

If x-rays were not taken to confirm the lack of a fracture at the initial veterinarian visit, I would recommend they be performed now.

Best wishes,
Dr. Neely