cat can't put weight on front leg

He went for a kip then we noticed he was reluctant to put the right front paw down. My perfectly healthy 16-month-old cat Samantha is not bearing any weight on her front right leg.

First Aid For Limping Cats Vca Animal Hospitals

A sprain is usually a minor injury to the ligaments in the limbs of a cat.

. However being an outside cat he may have a tiny bite wound on the foot which we often have a VERY difficult time finding without completely shaving the area or he could have a sprain muscle strain as a result of falling or. Our cat jumped off the fridge and did something to his back leg. The vet thought it might be a pulled muscle or a shoulder dislocation that went.

He is still eating and drinking. Place the cat in a pet carrier while supporting the head and hips. He can hobble around but he doesnt really put much weight on it.

If theyre ribs look or feel like your knuckles then you have a skinny cat. Hissing or biting at you. Immediate attention is necessary if your cat wont put weight on the leg is holding the leg at an awkward angle or has been limping for more than 24 hours.

If the ribs feel like your palm then theyre likely overweight. Foot and Nail Injuries. He is sleeping a lot but no fever as his nose is wet.

Your cat should be seen by your veterinarian for a physical exam and x-rays to check for broken bones. Medicate only as per the vets advice. Today he is full of hair nails and whiskers are back weighs 11pounds.

Limping is a general term that refers to a walk with reduced weight-bearing on one or multiple legs. He does not have any cuts or bites on him but he does go in and outside. However veterinarians can prescribe safer pain medications for your cat.

Not putting weight on leg. A partial tear may become a complete tear making it impossible for your cat to put any weight at all on the affected leg. Make sure to transport your cat in a carrier so that he is secure and doesnt further injure himself on the car ride.

Some injuries heal naturally while more serious trauma may need medical treatment. Noticeable bruising or swelling. Broken bones for example often need to be set in a cast.

He is a diabetic and had eight teeth pulled. There is no sign of any injury to him the pads of his paw are pink and warm and he let me feel his shoulder leg and paw with no complaints but he isnt splaying his toes when I touch the pads. My 14-year-old cat hurt his front leg jumping off a counter.

If the carrier has a removable top take it off and gently lower the cat into the carrier. Our cat was limping a bit when we got home tonight. In some cases they may put light pressure on the injured leg allowing only their toes to touch the ground and in other cases they will hold the leg above the ground and completely cease using it.

In this case a thrombus or a blood clot lodges at the aortic bifurcation where the vessel splits into the two arteries that supply the rear limbs blocking or compromising the blood flow to the rear legs. For example your cat decided to do a sudden stunt and jumped out in front of your moving vehicle or leaped down from a high windowsill. While some cats can be non-weight bearing because of an infection from a cat bite this usually takes a couple of days to develop so I dont think this is it.

Thats why its quite common to see a cat with a limping front leg. Hes overweight but pretty active at least until now. Contact your vet immediately for an emergency appointment if your cat develops a sudden limp cant put weight on a leg or is in severe pain.

Rooksby Wed 04-Jan-12 195855. Cant jump and can hardly walk on it. Cats can even burn their paw pads by jumping onto a hot surface such as a stovetop.

Torn ligaments are difficult to heal and often require surgery. Cats cannot be given over-the-counter human pain medications. You know your cat best contact your vet if you are concerned.

Foot and nail injuries are another common cause of cat limping. Allow her to rest in low-to-the-ground spots. If they feel like the back of your hand then their weight is just right.

Visible deformity or open wound. Sprains are also the most common cause for a cat to begin limping after receiving an injury. This is the 3rd day he has been this way.

Refusal to put weight on the leg. Flesh wounds damaged claws stuck thorns and splinters can make a cat reluctant to put weight on its legs. I first took her to the vet a few months ago for lameness in the same leg and after an X-ray the vet concluded it to be blunt trauma in her shin area.

He was hairless no nails no whiskers had buckshot in his leg and weighed 1 12 pounds. Check out this video from dvm360 that demonstrates the hand test. Find out whether you are eligible for free or low cost PDSA veterinary treatment using our eligibility checker.

His front legs made contact first with the hard surface after falling and they were most at risk of getting sprained. If your cat is limping there is a good chance that your cat is in pain. Other causes for limping or not putting weight on a leg include severe sprains or strains torn ligaments dislocated joints and infections.

This month will be two years that I Found my cat. Although there can be a number of causes one of the most common and painful in cats is a saddle thrombus. Up to 25 cash back My cat is not putting weight on his right back leg.

Up to 25 cash back If hes using the leg intermittently it seems unlikely that theres a fracture since that would not allow for weight bearing. It is possible there is a hip or pelvis fracture or even a hip dislocation. He was crossing the street and kept falling down.

Lay the cat down with the injured leg up. Make sure to seek veterinary treatment for your cat if he is injured. If you suspect that your cat has a broken leg its important to get your pet to the vet as soon as possible.

In case it is replacing their food with ones that support joint health might help. When you arrive at the veterinary clinic leave your cat in the carrier until a technician or veterinarian can assist you. Sometimes cats playfulness knows no bound.

Feel your cats ribs located behind their front legs. She was on antibiotics and pain medicine and I noticed improvement the very next day. Unfortunately there is no over the counter medicine for pain that is safe for cats.

When we touch his leg he pulls it back and meows or swatts at us. When cat owners see their pets refusing to put weight on the injured limb crying out or favoring that limb they should make an appointment with the veterinarian. A vet will run various diagnostic tests including radiographs to determine if arthritis is indeed the reason behind your cats limping.

Why Is My Cat Limping Petmd