Attitude has hurt her foot

It seems like she has hurt her toes. It's her right hind leg. I don't know how she hurt it. I can't afford the e-vet. She cries when we try to touch her toes. It doesn't look like she ripped or broke anything visible. She is not wanting us to hold her and has been quite vocal and physical about it. She just ran/limped up the hallway. She's licking it a lot and doesn't seem to want to use it but will. Understandable since cats walk on their toes.

It's midnight and the vet doesn't open until 7:30 do you think I can wait? I am unemployed so Care Credit is not an option.

Is there anything I can do to try and keep her comfortable until I get her to the vet?

Taryn

Taryn, you need to get her, and examine her paw... Try to wrap her in a towel, talk to her gently, but you really need to see what it going on... It might be something in there that needs to be removed. If she is limping, licking and being vocal like that, it is because she is in some real pain... We all know cats hide pain, so do not take this lightly.
You probably can wait until tomorrow, since you are not seeing blood and if it is broken the E-vet would probably send you back home to your vet with some pain medication to get it fixed there, as it would be too costly to do it with them.
Do you have scorpions in your home? Have you ever seen one? How is she acting otherwise?
If she gets lethargic, starts breathing fast, or acting weird in any other way besides limping and licking her paw, do not wait until tomorrow - go immediately.

I looked at the paw(and so did Paul, that's how we know it's her toes that seem to be painful), there are no foreign bodies in it. That's what we thought at first that she had something stuck to her paw since she was shaking it while moving and kind of freaking out. We don't have scorpions here in the mid-west, we have spiders but I don't see any evidence anything bit her. Like I said there is no visible injuries, deformities or anything else obviously wrong with it. I have noticed the leg having spasms.

She's laying inside the closet, hidden away, so she is hiding, but she isn't licking her foot or anything, she's just laying in there, which they sometimes do even when perfectly fine and she's in a location that they lay in when it tickles their fancy to go into the closet. Like I said she did seem to like run/limp up the hall but she has been doing that every time she moves. I know it has to hurt(and is probably really scary), cats walk on their toes and hers are hurt.

Should I try to restrict her movements tonight or should I just let her go where she wants to. I can confine her to the bathroom or even the carrier if you think that would be better.

It is so hard to see my baby hurting. I think it hurts for her to even be picked up.

Taryn

I would not confine her... Let her rest in the closet and take her in first thing in the morning... But do keep a look on her throughout the night-

I heard a crash and went to make sure Paul hadn't managed to slip/trip and fall and kill himself(he didn't) and I petted Attitude in the closet and she came out for a short time(maybe 5 mins) then decided she wanted to go back to hiding in the closet. I'm not sure if she was purring from pain or because she was loving the attention I was giving her.

I'm watching her, and have cleaned up the outside cats' carrier since it's bigger than theirs to use to get her to the vet so she can lay in whatever position is comfortable for her.

Man, I wish my cats could get insurance, these vet bills are going to crush me.

Taryn

I hope Attitude is ok hun

I don't get it, she seems all better. She isn't acting like she's in pain, isn't limping and is being Attitude and sitting normal with no leg spasms. I'll have to see her lay down to know if she's laying normal. She was still hiding in the closet and seemed reluctant to come out so she's still going to the vet but it's like it never happened.

Like I said I'm still taking her to the vet what happened last night was not normal and I'm not taking any chances.

Weird but I'm still worried, she needs to see the vet as soon as I can get her in.

Edited to add, she just stood up on her back feet to jump on top of the carrier and then jumped down without issue. Like I said I just don't get it. She let me pick her up, isn't licking it and apparently is in no pain, she even let me handle it without getting mad or acting like she was in pain. Now I'm not sure if I should take her to the vet.

Taryn

It could have been a really bad cramp. I get cramps in my feet and lower legs all the time. The worst ones for me are when a ligament will tighten up, pulling my pinky toe out away from the rest of my foot. My whole leg will shake too.

It doesn't make sense that silly humans are the only ones to get cramps. If she had her own version of what my mom called a "charlie horse" leg cramp, she would have all those same symptoms you described. Just a thought and I hope it helps. good luck at the vets.

Weird! I am certainly glad that she is feeling better though, poor thing.

Originally Posted by SamhainBorn

It could have been a really bad cramp. I get cramps in my feet and lower legs all the time. The worst ones for me are when a ligament will tighten up, pulling my pinky toe out away from the rest of my foot. My whole leg will shake too.

It doesn't make sense that silly humans are the only ones to get cramps. If she had her own version of what my mom called a "charlie horse" leg cramp, she would have all those same symptoms you described. Just a thought and I hope it helps. good luck at the vets.

Click to expand...

That sounds like how she was last night with her entire leg shaking but it seemed like all her toes hurt but I'm sure a cramp could do that.

ohh, just remembered I need to give her eye medicine.

Taryn

Could the penicillin shot possibly cause what happened last night. I just thought about her getting one at the vet's yesterday while I tried convince her the eye ointment wasn't going to kill her(she does liquid meds like a champ, sadly she's used to them.) Not sure which leg they gave it in or if she got it in the butt. I think they got her in the rear.

I don't ever want whatever that was to happen again. I think that is the most fear I have had in my life, besides when my kid had pneumonia and another time when he couldn't walk(he magically recovered from that right before I took him to the doctor.)

Taryn

Ah-ha! It is probably from the shot Taryn! Have you ever taken a penicilin shot? Hurts like hell and you leg can feel like lead afterwards.
Since she is fine, I would just keep an eye on her, and call the vet to report what happened. You are unemployed, and you might need this $$$ for something more serious with the kitties later. Get the money you would spend today, and put it in a little box for them, this way next time you have some.

I think I need a new vet. If my language gets bad I'm sorry I just left another site where we can say whatever I want and let's just say I used quite a few 4 letter words. The Interferon is expensive as heck so they are going to research what to do. The vet said he'll 'give' me the research for free. Excuse me, you were going to CHARGE me for that. He also was rushing through it he didn't even hear me say that I had a question, either that or he did and ignored me.

I'm broke, I don't even have enough money for my own medication. I just don't know if I can do this anymore. I love them but they are breaking me financially. Attitude has been nothing but sick with her eye, having to take Nuts and get him neutered made it worse, and then the vet calls and won't even answer a question for me and also says he'll do the research for me for free. I told him straight up I was so broke I couldn't even afford my own medications. He knows what I've been shelling out recently in vet bills.

I'm stressed out, I'm broke and I don't even know how I'm going to get my medication for the month.

Do I need a new vet or do I give them a break and give them another chance and just think it's an off thing. If I call with issues with Attitude and medication reactions I always get a call back(from a different vet than the one I talked to) and they go over what needs to be dine and they TALK to me and actually listen and answer my questions. The vet seemed to be rushing yesterday. He has always been a great vet(and he asked to make sure Nuts was ok after his neuter when I brought Attitude in) so I'm wondering if he's having a couple bad days. He has never been like this before.

Do I need a new vet or do I just make sure to ask to not see this particular vet again or do I assume he's just not having a good week, month, year, whatever and give him another chance. Like I said he has seen Attitude and Nuts for routine appointments and I think a few of Attitude's eye infections(she has had so many I forget which vets have treated her for them, I think all of them have) and he has always had time for questions. He also took good care of Abby her final years so I know he cares. I'm just extra sensitive, I'm almost out of my own medication and don't have enough money to get more, and I'm broke.

If I was a drinker I'd go get drunk, but I'm not so I guess I'll just go smoke a cigarette.

Sorry for all this garbage I just needed to get this off my chest. I'm angry at everything right now. I haven't felt like this since Attitude was diagnosed. I'm p***ed off and sad and everything else all at the same time. I'm going to stop now or I'm going to go insane and scare you all with what I have to say.(the last time I did that was on a BB right after Attitude's diagnosis that I have been on for 5 years and they wanted to know if I was taking my medication and if I wasn't on the verge of a mental breakdown.) It didn't help when someone suggested I get another kitten, a healthy one. It wasn't about A kitten, it was about THE kitten that I had known since she was a tiny black and white fuzzball with no teeth.

Taryn

OK, called the vet, it was the shot that caused it and if she's fine now there is nothing to worry about.

Taryn

That's what I thought.... and exactly what I posted....

I love them but they are breaking me financially. Attitude has been nothing but sick with her eye, having to take Nuts and get him neutered made it worse, and then the vet calls and won't even answer a question for me and also says he'll do the research for me for free. I told him straight up I was so broke I couldn't even afford my own medications. He knows what I've been shelling out recently in vet bills.

Click to expand...

I'm angry at everything right now. I haven't felt like this since Attitude was diagnosed. I'm p***ed off and sad and everything else all at the same time. I'm going to stop now or I'm going to go insane and scare you all with what I have to say.(the last time I did that was on a BB right after Attitude's diagnosis that I have been on for 5 years and they wanted to know if I was taking my medication and if I wasn't on the verge of a mental breakdown.)

Click to expand...

Now Taryn, don't take me wrong on this but you need to calm down. This is the second thread I see you completely over your head overwhelmed, losing it...
You put yourself in a situation and you need to face the consequences with some level of cool. You have in your hands 2 cats that are sick. No matter how healthy they look, they have Leukemia, and chances are, they will have many MANY healthy issues throughout their lives. You knew this when you took them in, and here you are.
I have no doubt it is overwhelming, you are unemployed, and I remember when I was on the same situation. The thing is, when you freak out like that, nothing gets done. Nothing gets solved.
You need to save some money NOW for these cats. Do you smoke? Quit. That money goes to the kitties. Any extra money at all, put it in a pot to the kitties - a dollar a day - can you do that? Cut down the entertainment. If you have cable TV, cut it off... Whatever you can do to put money aside for these kitties.
You have to put money aside, you have to plan for emergency situations, knowing that your cats will have them.
Taryn, sorry, but this is the reality... FeLV is not a simple disease, it is one of the most devastating feline diseases out there - you know that. They will have to go to the vet often for no fault of their own and you cannot be frustrated like that. Your job is to take care of them, to protect them... You need a cool mind to do that.
Please Taryn, think about this with an open heart...

I was in a bad spot earlier, I was processing too much information at once and I felt helpless at the situation. I was fine within an hour, called the vet to get my question answered, Paul offered to chip in so I could get my medication(that is what I was scared about, I get violently ill if I run out of my medication due to withdrawal) and I wasn't mad at the vet, he prolly didn't hear me say I had a question and it was no big deal I just called them and got my question answered. The interferon being too expensive and then the vet not answering my question was the straw that broke the camel's back. The vet called at the exact worse time, if he had called 5 min earlier or 5 mins later I would have been fine, it was just at that exact moment when he called I was already worried about getting my medication(I pay almost $300 a month for my medication, and not having enough really had me worried as I'm sure you can understand.)

Paul buys my cigarettes, I live with my parents(legally, I actually mostly live at Paul's), I have no bills(except maybe $5 a month, or whatever amount they decide I can afford on my scholarship since I'm poor, Y dues) but my only income is child support. I'm basically a giant leech. I don't have health insurance, I'm not on public assistance even though I qualify. I hate not being able to support myself, it's embarrassing. I'm 31 years old and live with my parents.

It's just been a rough month, I'm frustrated about Attitude's eye and I'm scared of what will happen if they can't fix it. That is a very valid concern that any pet owner that had an animal with a chronic eye infection would have.

Like I said the vet called at the exact wrong moment. I'm sure you've experienced that yourself.

Taryn

Originally Posted by Taryn

I was in a bad spot earlier, I was processing too much information at once and I felt helpless at the situation. I was fine within an hour, called the vet to get my question answered, Paul offered to chip in so I could get my medication(that is what I was scared about, I get violently ill if I run out of my medication due to withdrawal) and I wasn't mad at the vet, he prolly didn't hear me say I had a question and it was no big deal I just called them and got my question answered. The interferon being too expensive and then the vet not answering my question was the straw that broke the camel's back. The vet called at the exact worse time, if he had called 5 min earlier or 5 mins later I would have been fine, it was just at that exact moment when he called I was already worried about getting my medication(I pay almost $300 a month for my medication, and not having enough really had me worried as I'm sure you can understand.)

Paul buys my cigarettes, I live with my parents(legally, I actually mostly live at Paul's), I have no bills(except maybe $5 a month, or whatever amount they decide I can afford on my scholarship since I'm poor, Y dues) but my only income is child support. I'm basically a giant leech. I don't have health insurance, I'm not on public assistance even though I qualify. I hate not being able to support myself, it's embarrassing. I'm 31 years old and live with my parents.

It's just been a rough month, I'm frustrated about Attitude's eye and I'm scared of what will happen if they can't fix it. That is a very valid concern that any pet owner that had an animal with a chronic eye infection would have.

Like I said the vet called at the exact wrong moment. I'm sure you've experienced that yourself.

Taryn

Click to expand...

Taryn,
Sorry you are going through that... Yes, I have been through it - just now, as I was unemployed for over a year, and Bugsy needed surgery, Hope fell violently ill, Lucky had to have a dental procedure as she stopped eating... all at the same time.... I had no family to move into with, as I have no one here in the US (all my family is in Brazil), I had no Paul to buy me cigs or food.... So I know very well what you mean...
What I am saying, is that you need to understand the situation you are in, accept it, and prepare for emergencies and vet visits, so that it doesn't completely kill you when it happens.
I know you can not get insurance... so get that money instead and put it aside every month.... You always say that you would love to have insurance... so, since you can't, put money in jar instead...
I am not judging you, but I am trying to open your eyes here that you need to 1-protect yourself for the event of an emergency, and 2-keep your cool when it happens... Otherwise you will not be able to do what needs to be done...
I understand first hand the desperation... believe me, I do.... Pretty well actually, since as I said, I have no family to really fall back to.
Anyways, That's all.... Hope you all get better there.....

My divorce and my decision to go back to college instead getting a job was what killed me. By the time I was done with college the economy tanked and I was SOL. I can get a job as an insurance salesman, but I use my own car, am not reimbursed for gas or mileage(and my car is a rolling trash bucket, but it gets me from point A to point B and it's paid off.) Oh yeah I forgot to mention, it's commission only. I can't be away from home driving all over the bi-state area away from Bobby, I'm sure you understand that. I can't just board my son or have a baby sitter come by once or twice a day to make sure he's ok. My parents would be willing to but that's not fair to them.

I haven't had a job since Aug 2004(stay at home mom, I a displaced homemaker, not to mention my gallbladder went south and I was sick as heck, thus had to quit my job, until I got it out when my son was 2) I've been divorced since Sept 7, 2006(my son birth was the only happier than my divorceday.)

I'm on monster.com looking for a job yet again, I just checked in here for a sec.

I left TX(Irving) once we started the divorce process, only coming back to have it finalized. I moved here in with my parents in IL and no one is hiring. It seems like I'm either over or under qualified when something does look good enough to apply for. I have to have employer health insurance, pre-existing condition makes me uninsurable except through an employer.

To be honest except for the fact that the school there were horrid I would have liked to stay in TX simply so Bobby had his dad nearby(not that Patrick would have anything to do with him, he gets to play Father of the Year twice a year and pretend he doesn't have a kid any other time.)

Taryn