[cambridge] Cat Maintenance?

[tamaranth]

Anyone familiar with cat-injuries* and free today for a bout of cat inspection? ozymandias_cat is limping and in some distress. This is pretty sudden and I can't see anything wrong, but he resists examination and I'd rather double-check before paying £vast to vet.

*injuries to, not injuries by

Comments

[woolymonkey.livejournal.com]

No useful knowledge here, sadly, but I has a book. It's one of those flow-chart type ones: 'All four legs still attached to body yes/no?' It usually ends up telling you to see a vet, but it can be useful to see if the recommended interval is 48 hours or Right Now! If you phone me, I can run through the questions with you and see where it ends up.

PS Clarendon St vet is 24 quid for a consultation, plus whatever for treatment--he's good and hard to beat on price.
(Reply to this)

[tamaranth.livejournal.com]

Problem is I can't, single-handedly, get a decent look at the problem. (Can, however, tell that all legs are still attached. And fully operational in Defense Mode.) Will head for vet this evening if no improvement! But thanks for offer of walkthrough.

[woolymonkey.livejournal.com]

Everything on the sudden lameness page (Nyeh nyeh--Oz is SO LAME! Snigger. --Leicester and Humbug) seems to end with vet in 24 or 48 hours, so waiting til tonight sounds sensible.

It wants to know if he's licking his paw as well or just limping--licking would indicate damaged paw (24 hours). Most of the other possibilities go to 48 hours except for elderly cats or if the leg is obviously swollen or out of shape.

Clarendon St do a drop in at 6pm, but I think only until 6.30.

[tamaranth.livejournal.com]

I suspect he's just jarred it jumping off the bins, or something. No licking, and no obvious swelling. I'll see how he's doing by late afternoon ... will probably go to local vet, though, if only because they have his records (and that *may* be the paw he dislocated before I had him).

[woolymonkey.livejournal.com]

Dislocated hip is one of the options in the book: 'sudden limping on a hind leg, especially in older, overweight cats'. Another one for 'see vet within 48 hours'. It drops to 24 hours if you think there's back pain.

[tamaranth.livejournal.com]

this was dislocated elbow, apparently as a result of Vastness! And I think it was on front leg. Will try to find original Blue Cross documentation.

[uitlander]

Unless they're clearly in pain give it 24-48 hours, cats can pull muscles too and occasionally his Lordship has limped for a day or so before going back to normal. If they are visibly/audibly in pain then a vets visit is on the cards, it could be a break or fracture.

Try gently moving the limb while holding them. If they start to object as soon as you touch it, its time for the vets.

[tamaranth.livejournal.com]

He starts to object as soon as I touch him: but this is par for the course, he is not usually a cuddle-able cat.

Something is hobbling heavily up the stairs ...

[lil-shepherd.livejournal.com]

It could also be a thorn in his paw. (One of my cats once got a thorn in her nose and catching her to pull it out was the problem as she flew screaming around the garden.)

I don't think you live near enough for me to drop in, but I would say that if they are still limping tonight, the vet is the best idea.

[tamaranth.livejournal.com]

Yes, catching 'em is problem #1!
I'd wondered about a thorn but can't get him still for long enough to be sure.
Caro WINOLJ is coming over later to help me wrangle: hopefully between us we will have enough limbs to match him, and be able to get a good look.

[ladymoonray.livejournal.com]

NOt helpful at all, but poor Oz! Hope he gets better v soon, and without a vet bill.