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rear left middle toe
I have four cats and one started to limp on her left rear leg about two weeks ago. I noticed how the claw on her middle toe was always protruding and pointing upward. I took her to the vet and he gave her the once over saying "It looks like another cat has caught her from behind and caught her middle toe." He injected her with inflammatory medication and I had a weeks worth of anti biotic pills to give her. I asked if it could be broken but he said "Even if the toe is broken, we tend not to do anything because the other toes at either side act as a perfect splint. Now after two weeks her claw is still fully protruding but pointing more forward and she is putting no weight on it at all. Could it be the claw causing the problem and is there a way it can be eased back into the sheath? Any advice would be appreciated before I take her back to my local vet.
Wow, I didn't know cats could have such an illness connected between the claws and the lungs! I knew I was right about taking kitty back to the vet, but I never imagined that it would be anything like this!
I hope your kitty is getting better and doesn't actually have the dreaded lung cancer that I know you're concerned with. Glad kitty can finally go outside again.
I hope your kitty is getting better and doesn't actually have the dreaded lung cancer that I know you're concerned with. Glad kitty can finally go outside again.
COMMUNITY LEADER
I can imagine how happy your kitty was to go outside again. I dread having to ever keep Jade in the house as she has never used a litter box here.
This is why I love this forum. I would never ever have dreamed a claw or toe infection could be indicative of lung cancer. I will be watching Jades toes closely!
This is why I love this forum. I would never ever have dreamed a claw or toe infection could be indicative of lung cancer. I will be watching Jades toes closely!
LOL I doubt it, her claw was still there but wouldnt retract.
Went to the vet this morning and he examined her toe. His comment was "hmm not bad" and "she can now go outside". She was well excited when I finally gave her access to the cat flap. With regards to the choice of doing a chest xray the vet said...
"We can find no splinter or anything trapped in her toe causing the infection. In cats, if a toe or toes are infected it can be a sign of cancer, particularly in the lungs. We did a chest xray and it certainly doesn't look normal". He believes the pressure of the infection was forcing the toe out of its sheath and because there was no obvious external damage, he believes it to be an internal thing. I questioned if it could be a chest infection, but he just sighed and said "it could be but highly unlikely, I would prepare for the worst". He seemed happy today to learn she is eating/drinking more and very active.
I have read about lung cancer in cats on the internet but she has shown none of the usual signs such as coughing or bringing up blood. She is not short of breath and very active. Maybe it's in early stages. The antibiotics in her system last 14 days but when the biopsy returns he will be able to match the antibiotics more to the infection.
Went to the vet this morning and he examined her toe. His comment was "hmm not bad" and "she can now go outside". She was well excited when I finally gave her access to the cat flap. With regards to the choice of doing a chest xray the vet said...
"We can find no splinter or anything trapped in her toe causing the infection. In cats, if a toe or toes are infected it can be a sign of cancer, particularly in the lungs. We did a chest xray and it certainly doesn't look normal". He believes the pressure of the infection was forcing the toe out of its sheath and because there was no obvious external damage, he believes it to be an internal thing. I questioned if it could be a chest infection, but he just sighed and said "it could be but highly unlikely, I would prepare for the worst". He seemed happy today to learn she is eating/drinking more and very active.
I have read about lung cancer in cats on the internet but she has shown none of the usual signs such as coughing or bringing up blood. She is not short of breath and very active. Maybe it's in early stages. The antibiotics in her system last 14 days but when the biopsy returns he will be able to match the antibiotics more to the infection.
Why did they decide to do a chest xray? Does she have any swollen lymph nodes? She may have caught her claw on a fence or something. If I were you, I would definitely get a second opinion on the lung cancer diagnosos. On a side note, my indoor- outdoor cat, Aramis, must have come in contact with some unknown villianous cat who gave him scratches, not too bad, but as I examined him further, I found a cat's claw embedded in his back. Wasn't your cat, was it?
COMMUNITY LEADER
Aww...she sounds very unique and special :) Try hard not to panic and be sad until you know the results of the biopsy. I am very glad to hear kitty is putting more weight on her foot. I'm sure she feels much better with the infection drained and all cleaned up. Very happy to hear she is eating more too...that is a good sign!
I will anxiously await your update and be ever so hopeful and pray whatever is showing up on the xray will be nothing to worry about.
Hang in there :)
I will anxiously await your update and be ever so hopeful and pray whatever is showing up on the xray will be nothing to worry about.
Hang in there :)
Thank you Jade, I appreciate your post, it is hard :(
I have to take her to the vet friday am, to have post op check but it's unlikely that her biopsy will be ready before next week.
I keep telling myself the vet could be wrong but the xray showing something abnormal in the chest is scary. I get tears in my eyes when I play with her now. She is limping on her foot now but putting more weight on it. She is eating more now so I hope her weight will pick up again. Out of all our cats, shes my favourite, when I talk to her she sits in front of me, looking straight into my eyes while listening.
I have to take her to the vet friday am, to have post op check but it's unlikely that her biopsy will be ready before next week.
I keep telling myself the vet could be wrong but the xray showing something abnormal in the chest is scary. I get tears in my eyes when I play with her now. She is limping on her foot now but putting more weight on it. She is eating more now so I hope her weight will pick up again. Out of all our cats, shes my favourite, when I talk to her she sits in front of me, looking straight into my eyes while listening.
COMMUNITY LEADER
Hello Ed,
How is your kitty today? I can imagine how shocking that phone call was and I will be hoping the biopsy doesn't bring any bad news and your vet is just guessing.
My husband is like you...just simply adores our cat and will lay on the floor and play with her until she's done which can be up to an hour lol. He will do Anything for her!
I'm so sorry for the worry that must be on your mind. Please give an update when you know the results, okay? :)
How is your kitty today? I can imagine how shocking that phone call was and I will be hoping the biopsy doesn't bring any bad news and your vet is just guessing.
My husband is like you...just simply adores our cat and will lay on the floor and play with her until she's done which can be up to an hour lol. He will do Anything for her!
I'm so sorry for the worry that must be on your mind. Please give an update when you know the results, okay? :)
"You seem to have many problems with your cats"
I do? what makes you say that? I have four cats, a dog and a cockateil and I have one problem with one cat. How many problems constitute as 'many'?
Maybe it isn't your cats, but your ability to care for their welfare and your paranoia?
Why the personal attack? what the heck have I done apart from state what the VET said and confirm it by a website? A chest X-ray has shown abnormalities which the vet does not believe to be an infection.
Perhaps you can share research which would show in what way I have neglected one of my cats in order for it to get lung cancer. I can't find any.
I am very upset about my cat being ill and to be accused of maybe not caring for their welfare is quite a blow. Perhaps I was wrong to join this forum.
I do? what makes you say that? I have four cats, a dog and a cockateil and I have one problem with one cat. How many problems constitute as 'many'?
Maybe it isn't your cats, but your ability to care for their welfare and your paranoia?
Why the personal attack? what the heck have I done apart from state what the VET said and confirm it by a website? A chest X-ray has shown abnormalities which the vet does not believe to be an infection.
Perhaps you can share research which would show in what way I have neglected one of my cats in order for it to get lung cancer. I can't find any.
I am very upset about my cat being ill and to be accused of maybe not caring for their welfare is quite a blow. Perhaps I was wrong to join this forum.
You seem to have many problems with your cats....
Maybe it isn't your cats, but your ability to care for their welfare and your paranoia?
There are so many causes for a cats claws and paws to need medical attention!
If i told you my pinky toenail grows up instead of straight or down, can you diagnose a health problem with me? (they do actually grow upwards).
Maybe it isn't your cats, but your ability to care for their welfare and your paranoia?
There are so many causes for a cats claws and paws to need medical attention!
If i told you my pinky toenail grows up instead of straight or down, can you diagnose a health problem with me? (they do actually grow upwards).
I found this
http://www.ehow.co.uk/about_5047724_cat-paw-disease.html?cr=1
snippet :-
Other Causes
Sometimes symptoms in a cat's paws point to other diseases. For example, the respiratory virus calicivirus symptoms include ulcerated pads and in between toes.
Another example is Lung-Digit syndrome which is a feline form of lung cancer that spreads to the cat's paws.
http://www.ehow.co.uk/about_5047724_cat-paw-disease.html?cr=1
snippet :-
Other Causes
Sometimes symptoms in a cat's paws point to other diseases. For example, the respiratory virus calicivirus symptoms include ulcerated pads and in between toes.
Another example is Lung-Digit syndrome which is a feline form of lung cancer that spreads to the cat's paws.
I have heard of many things as symtoms of different cancers in cats, but this is not one of them. I am not saying your beloved cats doesn't have cancer, just that it seems an unusual likely.
Losing 0.5 kg is not unusual for an active or older cat or even a cat that may not be completely comfortable living with other cats, especially if they are the one who is 'picked on.'
Keep an upright head and be vigilant in watching her. Cats give more clues than lab tests as to what is going on with them.
Will keep you and her in my thoughts
Losing 0.5 kg is not unusual for an active or older cat or even a cat that may not be completely comfortable living with other cats, especially if they are the one who is 'picked on.'
Keep an upright head and be vigilant in watching her. Cats give more clues than lab tests as to what is going on with them.
Will keep you and her in my thoughts
Well the vet examined her toe for a second time and diagnosed an infection inside and the pressure from the infection material was preventing the nail going back inside. He said anti-biotics will not handle such a large infection and it will be necessary to open it up for a clean out. Well she went in this morning.
The phone rang about an hour later and I had to sit down with the shock. Apparently they did a chest xray and it looked abnormal. I am told that infected toes are a usual sign of lung cancer. They have removed the nail, cleaned up the toe, given her strong anti-biotics and pain killers. A biopsy result from the toe will be available in 5 days but this will not be conclusive. I am so so upset. Im a tough bloke but when it comes to my animals im as soft as jelly. A month ago the vet said she was the same weight as 3 years ago (3.7kg) and now she is 3.2kg which is not a good sign. I really can't believe this is cancer, it's hard to accept. I'm praying so hard that it's an infection in the chest
maybe due to her weakened immune system trying to handle her toe. She has always been so fit, never breathing heavy, climbing over 6 foot fences with ease.
I'm really climbing the walls here and dont know what to do with myself, I have to pick her up in 2 hours time.
The phone rang about an hour later and I had to sit down with the shock. Apparently they did a chest xray and it looked abnormal. I am told that infected toes are a usual sign of lung cancer. They have removed the nail, cleaned up the toe, given her strong anti-biotics and pain killers. A biopsy result from the toe will be available in 5 days but this will not be conclusive. I am so so upset. Im a tough bloke but when it comes to my animals im as soft as jelly. A month ago the vet said she was the same weight as 3 years ago (3.7kg) and now she is 3.2kg which is not a good sign. I really can't believe this is cancer, it's hard to accept. I'm praying so hard that it's an infection in the chest
maybe due to her weakened immune system trying to handle her toe. She has always been so fit, never breathing heavy, climbing over 6 foot fences with ease.
I'm really climbing the walls here and dont know what to do with myself, I have to pick her up in 2 hours time.
Look at that paw, do you notice any swelling of that particular tow? How does the nail look? Does it look damaged?, What about the underpaw of the toe?
I have to agree with your vet, even with us humans there is nothing much that can be done with a broken toe because our other toes do act as a splint.
My worry would be a hip or upper leg trauma.
Often the hip is overlooked because it is one of the strongest in a cat, however, the joints are not as strong.
If still limping, get and x-ray! the problem might be further up than the paw.
I have to agree with your vet, even with us humans there is nothing much that can be done with a broken toe because our other toes do act as a splint.
My worry would be a hip or upper leg trauma.
Often the hip is overlooked because it is one of the strongest in a cat, however, the joints are not as strong.
If still limping, get and x-ray! the problem might be further up than the paw.
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