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Pet Forum / Miscellaneous / Animal Health / December 2004Cat limping - when to go to vet?
This is a question I wouldn't be asking except that my money problems are extreme. I'm going bankrupt but my attorney has been very ill so its been several months that I've been avoiding collection agency calls. This is the one situation I've been dreading. If something happened to me, even if I had no insurance the hospital couldn't refuse me care if I had no money. But the same doesn't hold true for veternarians. Not that this is an emergency. I never allow my three cats to go outdoors. I first thought there was something wrong with my cat (Rosie) two or three days ago, but I only caught a glimpse of her so wasn't sure if there was something wrong. Its only today that I've found she is limping, favoring her left rear paw. Though she's a very affectionate cat, she's also extremely difficult to manage physically, so trying to look at her foot to see if she has a cut on her paw is virtually impossible. But if somebody has an idea on how I can get a look at Rosie's paw I'd like to know what it is. Since its a rear leg that's injured, I can't imagine that she strained, sprained it or otherwise jumping down from a height. Not only is there nothing for her to jump down from any more than three feet (one meter) high, but if she would injure a paw that way it would be a front paw and not a rear paw. Since my suspicion is that she's either strained or sprained the joint, or has a cut on her foot, I'm wondering how long to observe her to see if there's improvement before arranging to take her to the vet. She shows no signs of discomfort except for the limp. But one of my (former) cats had an ulcerated cornea due to cancer, and he didn't show discomfort then. Its very hard to tell in my experience when a pet is in pain, or so I believe. I'll probably call the vet tomorrow and ask these same questions. Unless I find out that she has a cut on her foot or the veternarian sees a cut on her foot, I'm sure he'll want to get x-rays of her leg and hip. I expect taking her to the vet will cost $60 minimum, but the x-rays will cost another $60. Beyond that I don't know what to expect. I know I'll find the money to take her to the vet, no matter what. But if it seems unnecessary to go to the vet with her, it would help me in the long run since my disability benefits are little more than I need to cover my rent, food for me and the cats, utilities, and auto insurance. I've saved a little for attorney fee's. Because of my disability I was able to find an attorney to help me with my bankruptcy who would only charge 2/3rds of what a normal attorney would charge, plus I'll have to pay court costs. I don't want to say my cat's health is less important than any of these other things. But it may be a minor injury. As it is, I have so many problems besides this that I've been drinking and taking tranquilizers most of the time for the past five days. Can anyone offer any useful advice? Please withhold any criticism, as I feel bad enough already. Thank you. Jeff- Really sorry you are having such troubles. Cats generally do not show their pain unless or until it is extreme. Could you possibly wrap the cat in a bath towel -imobilize all but that leg- so you can examine that foot better? Maybe your Vet would consider installments if the cat needs costly treatment? If it helps, people are wishing you well. www.mimiforsyth.com > Since my suspicion is that she's either strained or sprained the joint, or > has a cut on her foot, I'm wondering how long to observe her to see if > there's improvement before arranging to take her to the vet .......you're going to have to figure out a way to examine her. A cat-only vet I went to once had a way of wrapping cats up in a towel to immobilize them. You have any other compliant cats you can practice this on? Does anyone know if there's a pix of this technique on the web? IIRC, you lay the cat on her back on a towel on a flat surface about 1/3 of the way from a long end, bring one long end of the towel under the front legs and tuck it under the body, wrap the other end over one front leg, take it around the back of the body and over the other front leg (bend the legs down close to the body) then tuck the loose end underneath the rest of the wrap. I don't remember how you secure the other end of the towel where the hind legs are (probably folded up somewhere in the middle of this procedure, but at least this separates the front paws so they can't push the towel out with both front legs and escape. It could be something like an absess from a claw puncture and not something structural. I found a kitten once that had a high fever - after 2 weeks of treatment she was finally better and it was then I discovered a little scar on her foot. I think it was a puncture wound and since there's so little flesh on the foot the infection probably became systemic instead of forming an absess. For limps and such on animals I can examine, I usually wait 3 days and if they're still limping we go to the vet. That, of course, is barring any physical findings - like a wound,deformity, obvious pain when you touch them or a fever which would make me take them right away. you really need to touch her to see if she's got a fever too. post back after you've had a look at her. buglady take out the dog before replying >From: "buglady" buglady99@bigfootdog.com >> Since my suspicion is that she's either strained or sprained the joint, or >> has a cut on her foot, I'm wondering how long to observe her to see if [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] >them. You have any other compliant cats you can practice this on? Does >anyone know if there's a pix of this technique on the web? Here's some techniques. http://www.doctordog.com/catbook/cathand.html Regards > Here's some techniques. > http://www.doctordog.com/catbook/cathand.html My GOD! That poor Siamese! What is this, Kitty Bondage Doctor?? He must have to deal with some really wild cats. > > Here's some techniques. > > http://www.doctordog.com/catbook/cathand.html > > My GOD! That poor Siamese! What is this, Kitty > Bondage Doctor?? He must have to deal with some > really wild cats. Hehe. Okay, I wasn't going to look, but this made me. As someone who was pretty severely injured while handling a young feral tom, I thought the page was pretty informative. The cat in the photos was probably chosen for its compliant nature. I'll bet that cat gets treated royally. > > > Here's some techniques. > > > http://www.doctordog.com/catbook/cathand.html [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > page was pretty informative. The cat in the photos was probably chosen > for its compliant nature. I'll bet that cat gets treated royally. Yes, maybe so. You know what got me? That cardboard thing you are supposed to secure the cat to before pilling it. I imagine getting the cat into that bondage device would be harder than pilling it, if it was a fiesty cat! I do understand that there are animals that must be restrained, but the good "Doctor Dog" appears to enjoy his work just a bit too much! >> Here's some techniques. >> http://www.doctordog.com/catbook/cathand.html > > My GOD! That poor Siamese! What is this, Kitty > Bondage Doctor?? He must have to deal with some > really wild cats. LOL You that that stuff was bad? That Siamese was just laying there half asleep for most of it. You should see what it looks like when the cat is actually resisting! BTW, great site Toucanlady.  SignatureMar ----------------------- > > http://www.doctordog.com/catbook/cathand.html > My GOD! That poor Siamese! What is this, Kitty > Bondage Doctor?? He must have to deal with some > really wild cats. ..I have 3 cats that are offspring of a feral mother. She's lived in my house for over 6 years and I still can't touch her. She taught all of them to bolt at the least sign of trouble. While all her offspring are well socialized they do not liked being picked up off the floor and restrained. I think a lot of cats don't really like the vet and too many people get into a battle royal with cats, determined to control them and afraid of being bitten. (You should see the page I found with vet techs discussing cats - yikes - I'll never let them take a cat out of the room again to draw blood.) This is a pretty good page on restraining animals to work on them. They stress that less is more and mention talking calmly to the animal while they're working on them. http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/courses_vm568_97/sam.html ........I coudln't find any explicit instructions on the towel method. The cat bag shown at site above was pretty cool, but I'll tell you that this cat practice really had the towel thing down - cat was wrapped up in a flash before they knew what was going on. I don't have the latest version of Real Player and the MPEG took forever to download, so didn't watch this, but there's a video of the towel wrapping method here. www.fritzthebrave.com/gallery/inhaled.php ........ran across an article on lab cats and they mentioned Clipthesia - placing spring clips along the dorsal midline of the cat - cats becomes immobile - works in 50% of cats. Doesn't cause pain and works long enough to get blood and other minor procedures accomplished. buglady take out the dog before replying I know what you mean about letting them take the cat out of the room for blood draws. My regular vet knows that I can handle my cats when needed and restrain them from biting her. But I had an occasion where my Skippi who has severe asthma had to see an emergency vet while we were in Florida. They needed to draw blood and I told them let me go back and hold her because she's going to fight like hell. They didn't listen!!!! You know the scenes in cartoons where the cat scatters the counter and trashes the place. That was the scene she made. I heard a squall, then a gasp from the vet and then saw her run the counter through the door way knocking everything thing off in her path. The only other difference is that the idiot who had a hold of her ended up with a bite completely through her thumb. I can't say that I felt bad for her because I tried to insist that they let me hold her from the start but they didn't listen. You can bet then they went to get the blood the 2nd time I was the one holding the cat. Celeste > > > http://www.doctordog.com/catbook/cathand.html > [quoted text clipped - 33 lines] > buglady > take out the dog before replying I'm sorry but I have to step in here. I am a vet tech. So all this talk about no ALLOWING us to take your animals to the back to take blood kind of hurt. If you live in the states, it is against AAHA regulations to let you touch/hold your animal while at a vet clinic. The vet MUST have a tech in with them at all times. They are liable if your animal bites you. A lot of animals are better when their owners aren't there. In my clinic, if an owner tells me that the animal is better with them, I still am there with my hand by its head/neck just in case. The only thing that I really do with just the owner is trim nails. And I've even had to tell some of them to start holding them or I'll muzzle or take to the back. We have seen really really really really bad cats (heck mine is a horror show when I bring him in - MOM means nothing to him!). I don't know what the techs you were talking about were saying but we've never like beaten any animal or anything! The worst thing that may happen is if they are completely freaking out and making pin cushions out of us is to put them in the surgery or xray room and close the door. Both have windows so we can still see them, but it gives them a chance to calm down. I wouldn't call them idiots just because they took your cat to the back. Its Standard Operating Procedures. We can't let you get hurt. I've been in a room with an owner and her cat was horrible. Another tech was in with it while the doctor pilled and gave it injections and the cat cried, didn't wiggle or squirm, just cried. The owner did the ol' "YOU'RE HURTING HER!" put her hand to the cats face and got a chunk taken out of it. The tech told her to stay away because the cat was hissing and is known to be a bad cat by us and owners. It was totally the owners fault. I would feel incredably guilty if an owner got bit when I was in doing something with an animal. We're just doing our jobs - don't harp on us. > If you live in the states, it is against AAHA regulations to let you > touch/hold your animal while at a vet clinic. The vet MUST have a tech > in with them at all times. Fortunately, the vets I deal with ignore such "regulations". SignatureJohn Hasler john@dhh.gt.org Dancing Horse Hill Elmwood, WI USA Yes fortunately. I always hold my animal for the doctor. If my dog/cat were to bite someone, I'd rather it be me than the vet or the tech. I always help. > > If you live in the states, it is against AAHA regulations to let you > > touch/hold your animal while at a vet clinic. The vet MUST have a tech > > in with them at all times. > > Fortunately, the vets I deal with ignore such "regulations". >Yes fortunately. >I always hold my animal for the doctor. If my dog/cat were to bite someone, [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] >> >> Fortunately, the vets I deal with ignore such "regulations". Same here, although the vet usually (not always) has a tech with him/her. However, if my vet insisted on taking my animals 'in the back' without me present for everything, he wouldn't be my vet anymore. My Greyhounds are blood donors, and the techs wouldn't dream of not having me there when the dogs give blood. They know from experience that the dogs are calmer in my presence. Mustang Sally > I've been in a room with an owner and her cat was horrible. Another > tech was in with it while the doctor pilled and gave it injections > and the cat cried, didn't wiggle or squirm, just cried. The owner > did the ol' "YOU'RE HURTING HER!" put her hand to the cats face and > got a chunk taken out of it. Bwahahahahahaha. > I would feel incredably guilty if an owner got bit when I was in > doing something with an animal. Not someone like the goober above, right? Jeez, I'd have been practically collapsing with laughter if I ever saw anything like that. That's probably why I wouldn't make a very good vet tech :-) If you would have paid attention to my entire post you'd see that I also put that if we can trust the owner and know that they can hold their animal without biting us than we'll let them help. I don't know where all of you are from but in Ontario, there is a privacy act enforced by the CVO. We can't discuss any case with anyone that the owner didn't give concent for. That means that you're legally not allowed to go to the back room because there are other animals kept in out surgery room and its bacially against the law for you to see them. And you have to also realize that I also said that we'd be legally responsable if you did get bit. We're protecting our a$$ basically. I don't know what clinics you people go to but we don't beat animals in my clinic. That's imoral and against the law as well. Since this post is relating to my post: If you would have paid attention to my entire post, you'd see I never said squat about beating animals. I also said I would rather get bitten than my vet or a tech. If I'm putting myself into that situation, I'm definitely not going to sue. Some idiots may but my vet knows I'm not. Animals have privacy? ROFL That sounds so funny. Do the animals and owners have private waiting rooms? Wouldn't want someone else to know that you're taking your animal to the vet. here in the States, we have HIPPA for medical privacy and it's nothing more than a pain in the a$$. I have chronic health problems so I'm a frequent flyer at the drs office.... Feliz Navidad y Prospero Año > If you would have paid attention to my entire post you'd see that I also put > that if we can trust the owner and know that they can hold their animal [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > a$$ basically. I don't know what clinics you people go to but we don't beat > animals in my clinic. That's imoral and against the law as well. The "cat straitjacket" works once. The second time, any smart cat (and they all are smart) won't let it near. Towels remain good. www.mimiforsyth.com > The "cat straitjacket" works once. The second time, any smart cat (and > they all are smart) won't let it near. Towels remain good. And then there is the traditional boot. SignatureJohn Hasler john@dhh.gt.org Dancing Horse Hill Elmwood, WI USA > And then there is the traditional boot. ........even for a curmudgeon that's a bit over the top John. buglady take out the dog before replying > The "cat straitjacket" works once. The second time, any smart cat (and they all > are smart) won't let it near. > Towels remain good. ........what do you mean by straitjacket? - the cat bag? buglady take out the dog before replying I managed to get a look and I'm not sure that there is anything wrong with her toes. There is a slight pinkish line on the edge of her medial toe, but it doesn't look like a cut of any sort. Its probably normal and its only because her fur is a little thinner right there that I can notice it onthat toe and not her three others. Thanks everybody. I'm going to give the vet a call and try to get his/her opinion. > > Since my suspicion is that she's either strained or sprained the joint, or > > has a cut on her foot, I'm wondering how long to observe her to see if [quoted text clipped - 29 lines] > buglady > take out the dog before replying >> Since my suspicion is that she's either strained or sprained the joint, or >> has a cut on her foot, I'm wondering how long to observe her to see if [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] >this separates the front paws so they can't push the towel out with both >front legs and escape. My method requires a sweat shirt or pants with elastic at the wrist or ankle. I get the cat to crawl in until only his head comes out the cuff. It works well for pilling some cats and I can usually expose the part I need to see without getting torn to bits. I never was very handy with the towel trick:) >It could be something like an absess from a claw puncture and not something >structural. I found a kitten once that had a high fever - after 2 weeks of [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] >you touch them or a fever which would make me take them right away. you >really need to touch her to see if she's got a fever too. If there's no fever, arthritis is another possibility. I have a ten-year-old who is showing signs of arthritis but it's not serious enough yet to start treatment. >post back after you've had a look at her. BarB > Can anyone offer any useful advice? Please withhold any criticism, as I > feel bad enough already. Jeff--I flipped out because my little cat was limping--it was her BACK leg too--about a year ago. I took her to the vet and of course she showed no symptoms there, jumped from the floor to the table like a regular athlete. Then she winced and limped that night and I took her to the emergency vet clinic. Same thing--she showed no symptom. It turns out that she hurt herself jumping down or up from a new cat shelf--and it went away completely. So although you do need to look at that foot, perhaps you need not worry too much. As for looking at the foot, is there someone who can help you? You can roll her into a towel so she cannot bite or scratch, and, with help, look at her back leg and paw. My cat tries in earnest to rip us open if we go near her feet and this works--but onlywith two people, one to make sure she is wrapped and her head (gently but firmly) secured in such a way that she cannot turn and bite. (We do this on the floor. I squat and lay the wrapped cat on her side, and once her three feet are wrapped securely with the towel I simple lay my hand against the side of her face and gently but firmly pin it to the carpeted floor. We have to do this to trim her claws.) Good luck and I hope things get better for you. My cat is very wary of people other than myself. I live a rather isolated life and my cats see very few visitors. One of my three cats has never come downstairs in three years when I've had a visitor present. > > Can anyone offer any useful advice? Please withhold any criticism, as I > > feel bad enough already. [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > to the carpeted floor. We have to do this to trim her claws.) Good > luck and I hope things get better for you. |
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