Jasper Has Injured His Paw - What Can I do?

[Bonkers]

   A few days ago I noticed that Jasper was holding up his right leg whenever he was in the sitting position. I had my friend from the Humane Society come and take a look at it yesterday. Although she is not a vet she has much experience in dealing with sick or injured animals. She concluded that somehow he had injured his 3rd digit on his paw. Also said that his pads looked to be a little dry.

  I have no idea how he may have damaged his toe. He is declawed so there are no nails to cause any issues and he is never allowed outside. I have an appointment with his vet tomorrow but am hesitant to take him as he stresses out to the max and turns into devil cat to the point where they have to handle him with gloves. Of course I tried to find some info on the net but most information deals with cuts, items stucks in the pads or problems with nails.

  If anyone has any experience with foot injuries in cats and/or what I might be able to do at home to help Jasper, I would be very appreciative of any suggestions!

  Just don't ask me to wrap it as I have already tried that and have the scars to prove it.....

[Hannie]

You already know that I don't know a lot about cats but I did see this:

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080315204657AAZCGZd

Needless to say, most everyone says to take the cat to the vet but we already know that.

Just as a point of interest:  Hannah was not putting any weight on her right rear leg on Sat & had trouble lying down or getting up........so off to the vet we go.  If it had been any other day, I may have waited a day to see if it got better but I didn't want to have to take her to emergency & pay three times what my vet charges.  He could find nothing wrong.  I had already checked the pads & felt the leg for swelling & also found nothing but I don't know enough to identify anything else.  The usual:  no jumping or running & walks on leash only.

I sure hope it gets better w/o having to stress him out further with a trip to the vet.

[GreyGhost]

I would guess he may have sprained it somehow. We all know the things that can happen. If he is not putting "any" weight on it then it could be a fracture. That would take alot but can't rule it out. If he is limping on it I would guess a sprain or maybe a bone bruise. I know everyone says stay away from prednisone but it has its place and for short time use it isn't harmful.

If you are close to your vet you can call and explain it all and he may give some meds and let it ride for a week or so to see if it gets better. If it doesn't get better then its best to take him in. You can also ask for a mild tranq. to give sweet jasper before the appointment so he can be calm and not wound up. I know alot of people that do this and its not harmful. its actually better for the cat. less stress and all.

[Bonkers]

 GG, What are the concerns about using Predisone?

 Not sure whether I can get to the vet before his appointment. Would you know whether the vet would be able to make a diagnosis from just an exam or would xrays be needed?

 I guess I will just wait untill morning and take it from there.

 Thank you Hannie and Greyghost for all your help.

[coontuffy]

Goodness Bonkers, I am so sorry to hear about Jasper.......

If your friend said his paw pads look a little dry, is there perhaps a crack where the pad comes into the toe?  I have had experiences with dry, cracked pads on kitties.  Often these cracks are leading towards the toes and sometimes tiny pieces of litter get stuck in them, causing pain and potential infection.

You Bonkers, would absolutely be able to see this if you can get Jasper nice and comfy snuggied in you lap.

The other thing could be a soft tissue injury to the paw itself.  Soft tissue injuries do not necessarily produce swelling and if there is no swelling they generally will not show up on an x-ray.  Soft tissue injuries are able to be felt/palpated and there is generally no treatment other than telling kitty to rest.

Vets are so silly.......the only way to "rest" a kitty is to glue him to the floor.........

Bonkers, do you have a heating pad that you can set on low for Jasper for him to rest his foot on?

I'm not a big fan of prednisone, but if absolutely necessary, a kitty should always be given prednisilone as opposed to prednisone.  Kitties do not have the enzyme to convert the prednisone to prednisilone, so only if necessary, the best is prednisilone.

Concerns about prednisone are that it suppresses the immune system.
If kitty is a diabetic, it can louse up the glucose levels.
Pred also really delays the healing process, both in humans and furkids
Thes are my issues with pred.

Sending prayers and positive healing energy for Jasper and his worried meowmie.

[Bonkers]

  Today I am having second thoughts about even taking him to the vet. I am just so concerned that the stress along with the exam will aggravate his problem even further.

  I looked at the pads on his paw again this morning and did notice what appears to be a very small slit on his main pad. There is also a small flap of dead skin hanging there. 

  Could this be the problem?

[GreyGhost]

Yes it could be. If he cut it then that would hurt. Misty occasionally cuts her pad running and will hold it up later. Very sensitive.

[GreyGhost]

GG, What are the concerns about using Predisone?

 Not sure whether I can get to the vet before his appointment. Would you know whether the vet would be able to make a diagnosis from just an exam or would xrays be needed?

 I guess I will just wait untill morning and take it from there.

 Thank you Hannie and Greyghost for all your help.

Most of the concerns about prednisone and prednisolone are the immune system suppresion like CT said and slow healing but those concerns only happen on long term use. To use it for a few days for acute injury is safe. Not only safe but it really is a miracle drug when used correctly. It helps healing and inflamation when used short term. it has is place in long term use but thats where you have to weigh the risks and benefits. Misty was on low dose for 6 months and had no problems at all and it helped her through and healed a rough skin issue.

Prednisolone should be used in any animal with liver issues since its not broken down by the liver. I prefer prednisolone for all animals.

The vets like to do radiographs but can tell sometimes just by an exam. I would see how he is doing in a couple days. Unless of course he won't walk on it at all and then it could be a small fracture. But it doesn't sound like that is the case from what you have said.

[Bonkers]

   I had a chance to get a better look at his paw earlier and saw that there were some dried up pieces of skin hanging from it. It almost looks like his paw had been sliced. I proceeded to use blunt tip manicure scissors and trim some of the dead skin off of his paw pad. I then called the vet and asked what I might be able to use and he suggested neosporin, although I might try to clean it with some diluted alcohol on a Q tip. I am still not exactly sure if this is the main reason for his limping but the vet said that pretty much whether his toe was broken or stubbed, that the only thing to do was give it time to heal. I then opted to cancel the appointment.

  I will give it a couple of more days and see if there is any improvement. If not, then I will go ahead and get a tranquilizer for him and take him in for an exam.

  I have some liquid Yucca schidigera Extract so I might add a couple of drops to his food. Yucca is a natural anti-inflammatory that contains steroidal saponins that are often used as starter substances in the production of synthetic steroid drugs.

[Sharon L.]

although I might try to clean it with some diluted alcohol on a Q tip.

On the advice that a vet tech once gave me, I tend to used hydrogen peroxide. Less sting and less toxic if licked off and ingested.

I have some liquid Yucca schidigera Extract so I might add a couple of drops to his food. Yucca is a natural anti-inflammatory that contains steroidal saponins that are often used as starter substances in the production of synthetic steroid drugs.

Not to abscond with your thread, but would this be helpful for a contact allergy? Every summer one of my cats gets a contact allergy with some unidentified substance. If caught early I've been given chlorpheniramine in combination with a small amount of children's benedryl ... but she then sleeps 23.5 hours of the day.  If I don't catch it early enough she literally rips chunks out of her skin and a steroid shot becomes necessary.

Would the Yucca extract help?

Thanks.

[Bonkers]

  Sharon,
 
  This may be something you would want to do some research on. This link contains info about the brand that I use along with its various applications.

"Reduces pain as well as bute and aspirin without gastric side effects. For arthritis, bone and joint problems, soft tissue swelling, digestive, bowel problems and colic. Tissue swelling reduces the blood flow through injured areas slowing recovery; toxins build up irritating the liver and kidneys. Yucca cleanses these organs, promotes blood flow and tissue repair, while preventing further degeneration and injured tissues. Reduces the "itch" of allergies, eliminating the need for steroid drug treatments. May reduce inflammation in brain areas responsible for seizure activity. Use topically for wound and hot spot treatment".


http://www.azmira.com/ProductHerbalExtracts.htm

[GreyGhost]

   I had a chance to get a better look at his paw earlier and saw that there were some dried up pieces of skin hanging from it. It almost looks like his paw had been sliced. I proceeded to use blunt tip manicure scissors and trim some of the dead skin off of his paw pad. I then called the vet and asked what I might be able to use and he suggested neosporin, although I might try to clean it with some diluted alcohol on a Q tip. I am still not exactly sure if this is the main reason for his limping but the vet said that pretty much whether his toe was broken or stubbed, that the only thing to do was give it time to heal. I then opted to cancel the appointment.

  I will give it a couple of more days and see if there is any improvement. If not, then I will go ahead and get a tranquilizer for him and take him in for an exam.

  I have some liquid Yucca schidigera Extract so I might add a couple of drops to his food. Yucca is a natural anti-inflammatory that contains steroidal saponins that are often used as starter substances in the production of synthetic steroid drugs.

That sounds like a good plan. Fish oil is also a anti-inflamatory. It couldn't hurt. I myself use Krill oil but most use fish oil.

Keep us posted.

[Hannie]

Bonkers:

How's the sore foot today?  Is he putting any weight on it? 

If it appears to be better, then it will probably get better on its own w/o having to see the vet (TG, huh?)

[Bonkers]

  When I awoke this morning his limping actually appearred worse than before. I was very disappointed that he did not seem to be improving.

  Before I left to run some errands I spent quite a bit of time inspecting his paw to see if there was anything I might have missed. He seemed to enjoy my gentle handling of his leg so I spent quite a bit of time massaging it.

  When I returned home this afternoon I saw that he is not holding it up as much when he is sitting and that he actually ate his food without laying down in front of his bowl.

  Was it the massage or the Yucca or just giving it some time to heal? I suppose I will never know but I just hope the improvement continues and that I did not jinx the situation by writing this.................

[GreyGhost]

Good news. Praying for it to continue healing.