The health of cats, as you know, is good, and they rarely get sick. However, sometimes in this regard, such pets still deliver problems to their owners. For example, a cat is limping on its front paw - what to do in this case? Do I need to carry the animal to the veterinarian? Or is it better to wait until everything is decided by itself?
The main causes of lameness
In 99% of cases, a similar nuisance occurs in cats due to trauma. The causes of lameness can also be:
- osteochondrosis;
- arthritis or arthrosis;
- elbow dysplasia;
- osteomyelitis;
- infection;
- pretense.
In some cases, a cat's paw can recover without taking any action. In others, the animal must be shown to a specialist.
Why is a cat limping on its forepaw: trauma
As already mentioned, it is for this reason that the cat begins to limp on its paw most often. If the owners have noticed that it is difficult for their pet to step on the forepaw, they should just remember if there has been anything recently that could cause injury. A cat may limp, for example, after an unsuccessful jump. Also, the animal’s paw can begin to hurt after someone steps on it, pinches it with a door, etc. In addition, quite often a similar problem is observed in those cats that are allowed to walk outside. A pet can get injured from other animals, after an unsuccessful jump, etc.
Lameness due to injury can be either mild or severe. In any case, a pet should he have such a problem in the first place to inspect. If lameness is caused precisely by an injury, a wound or swelling will most likely be detected on the paw. In that case, the owner of the animal should just wait a day. Most likely, the cat’s injury, if it can nevertheless step on its paw, will pass after this time.
If after a day the cat does not stop limping, it should be attributed to the veterinarian. The doctor will examine the animal, make the correct diagnosis and prescribe treatment.
The reasons why the cat began to limp on its forepaw may be:
- cuts and punctures;
- fractures and dislocations;
- splinters.
Also, a cat, for example, with an unsuccessful jump can break a claw. In this case, the animal will experience rather severe pain for a long time in the future and, accordingly, will begin to limp.
Arthritis and arthrosis
A similar problem usually occurs in fairly old animals. In this case, lameness, of course, does not appear suddenly. At first, it becomes only a little difficult for a pet to step on its foot. Then the problem gets worse.
If with arthritis the cat is limping on the front paw, what should I do in this case? If there is such a problem, the pet will need to be shown to a specialist. Unfortunately, it is almost impossible to cure arthritis or arthrosis in old animals. The doctor is likely to prescribe only maintenance therapy.
Elbow dysplasia
This disease is found in both young and old cats. Particularly susceptible to him, unfortunately, thoroughbred thoroughbred animals. Kennel owners often use this method of breeding expensive cats as inbreeding. In this case, kittens are born with pronounced pedigree traits. However, inbreeding significantly increases the risk of hereditary diseases in the offspring. One of such ailments is dysplasia of the elbow joint.
The symptoms of this ailment in a pet can manifest at a very early age. However, the most noticeable limp in a cat with such a problem becomes 2-3 years of life. Of course, it is impossible to allow such animals to be bred. Also, the cat must be referred to the veterinarian.
Like arthrosis, it is unlikely to cure dysplasia in a pet. However, the doctor will still choose a treatment regimen that will make the cat's life more comfortable. The main symptoms of this disease in cats, in addition to lameness, are:
- crispy sounds when moving;
- X-shaped curvature of limbs;
- stiffness of movements when standing up.
Osteomyelitis in cats
If a domestic cat is limping on its forepaw, this may indicate that he has developed this dangerous disease. The disease in this case also manifests itself gradually. Osteomyelitis is a disease associated with bone necrosis, accompanied by a purulent-inflammatory process.
Most often, this unpleasant disease occurs in cats under the age of 2 years. Moreover, pets of the Persian breed are considered the most susceptible to it. Veterinarians attribute this to a hereditary predisposition. Osteomyelitis is usually treated in a complex manner - by surgical intervention, as well as medications.
Lameness due to infection
If the cat began to limp on its forepaw, it is possible that it was infected with calcivirosis. This disease of an infectious nature is very easily transmitted from a sick animal to a healthy one. For prevention, many cat owners give them vaccinations against this ailment. Animals that have not been vaccinated with calcivirosis can get sick very easily.
In addition to lameness, signs of this ailment can be:
- respiratory failure;
- conjunctivitis;
- discharge from the nose;
- damage to the joints of the paws;
- the presence of ulcers on the mucous membranes.
This disease causes inflammation of the anterior articular chambers. That is why the cat is limping on the front paw. What should owners do in this case? With calcivirosis, the animal, of course, should be shown to a specialist. The treatment in this case is assigned a comprehensive - therapeutic and symptomatic.
Another infection that can cause a cat’s limp is a fungus. In this case, dermatophytes often affect not only the pads of the animal or its skin, but also the claws or joints. Lameness in cats in this case develops due to inflammation.
Pretense
Sometimes it happens that there is no visible damage to the animal, but still the cat is limping on its front paw. The reason in this case may simply be the nature of the animal. A pet that has a slight pinched paw or, for example, stepped on it, may be offended. In this case, the cat, even if he does not feel any discomfort in the paw, begins to limp demonstratively only in order to express his indignation to the owners.
If lameness is simply an emotional cause, there is likely to be no damage to the animal’s paw. In this case, after a couple of hours the cat will get tired of playing, and he will stop limping.
In which cases a cat should be referred to a veterinarian
When is specialist help needed? Then, when the animal has at least one of the following symptoms:
- the cat cannot walk at all or moves with great difficulty;
- when you touch the paw, the pet meows and abruptly pulls it;
- the cat does not step on the paw, urging it when moving.
Also, a specialist is worth a visit if the cat’s limp is accompanied by loss of appetite, fever, fatigue, lethargy, or aggression. These are already very disturbing symptoms.
The cat is limping on the front paw. What to do in this case, how to provide the pet with first aid?
As already mentioned, a limping animal must be left alone for one day, and then taken to the veterinarian. Also, if an examination reveals a bruise, cold can be applied to the affected area for 1 minute, wait 20 seconds and again applied for 1 minute. This operation should be repeated for 5 minutes.
If the owners suspect a cat has a fracture, he needs to try to fix the paw. In this case, the animal must be taken to the clinic in an immobilized state. You can try to provide first aid to a cat even if it has a minor wound. In this case, the affected area must be carefully cleaned from dirt with a cloth dampened in soapy water. After this, the wound should be treated with a solution of furatsilina and take the animal to the veterinarian.