Mikey's paw is swollen and he has a fever

Mikey somehow hurt his paw, i don't know if he got in a fight and has an abcess or landed on it wrong and hurt himself that way. I can tell he has a fever - he feels hotter than normal. I tried to take his temp. by putting a thermometer under his front leg and it showed 104 f.

is there anything i can do to make him comfortable over night? he was feeling good enough to eat a can of fancy feast tonight but there is no way for him to get to a vet before morning. is there any guesses as what he could have done to himself?

A thermometer under his front leg would not be accurate - it needs to be a rectal temperature and I don't recommend doing that yourself.

Is there an emergency vet you can ring up to get advice? Can you examine the paw? Can you see puncture marks? Can you see any scrapes or swelling? Will he let you squeeze his paw? Can you (very gently) stretch his leg out?

If it's showing 104F under the arm, chances are the temperature was actually higher... Mikey probably should have had emergency treatment last night.


How is he doing now? Since you say the paw is swollen and don't know what happened, you might want to mention the possibility of sting or bite to the vet. There's plenty of venomous insects and arachnids that wouldn't necessarily kill a cat, but would cause swelling at the injection site, pain, and a fever.


That he gets to feeling better.

He did go to the vet this morning with my mom; she works in the lab at the vet.

They hadn't checked him yet when i called, apparently didn't have time this morning...i really don't quite trust that. his paw keeps swelling more, how can they wait? seriously they have been so slow this week, and they can't find time to check him now.

there aren't any emergency vets here. there aren't actually much for poiseness insects/snakes or anything here, i don't think there are any.

There are only two states in the U.S. that don't have any poisonous snakes. And I think any animal (or human) can have a reaction to even non-poisonous insect bites.

But if I were to make a bet on it, it would be that he got a scratch or cut on his paw and it got infected just in the normal course of events.

the eastern part of the state i live in has rattlesnakes, however western half doesn't (unless very rarely you get a hay delivery with one in it yuck!).

so, the vet couldn't find anything, i don't really trust that. what else would make his paw swell up if nothing apparently happened? they said to give him clavamox and see what happens.

he can straighten out his leg, however he doesn't like the front part of his paw to get touched. makes me think he got in a fight with another cat or scratched his leg somehow, so i don't trust that "they couldn't find anything".

Originally Posted by furryfriends50

the eastern part of the state i live in has rattlesnakes, however western half doesn't (unless very rarely you get a hay delivery with one in it yuck!).

so, the vet couldn't find anything, i don't really trust that. what else would make his paw swell up if nothing apparently happened? they said to give him clavamox and see what happens.

he can straighten out his leg, however he doesn't like the front part of his paw to get touched. makes me think he got in a fight with another cat or scratched his leg somehow, so i don't trust that "they couldn't find anything".

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I wouldn't trust they did a thorough exam either. Did they ex ray the leg? DId they take his temperature? Fever and swelling are common symptoms of infection. You need to find another vet who will give a thorough exam.......

they were going to x-ray the leg "if there was time". he went to work with my mom because she works at the vets in the lab...don't know how she would take it then if i wanted him to go to a differant vet. they did take his temp and said he was fine. he is going on clavamox...however why would they prescribe him something when they don't know what is wrong. it is an antibiotic so it should help with an infection hopefully.

the only other vet in town is really pro declawing, you call and ask for an appointment and they ask if you want your cat declawed while its there. they really push declawing, and really try to get you to say yes. honestly i think it is best to avoid that vet.