Poor Kattie! Limping and took to vet!

Well I noticed Kattie limping this morning pretty dramatically on her left front paw. I examined her and didn't find anything obviously wrong, although she had a small callous on one of her foot pads. The thing that made me worry was that she was declawed before I got her( I hate declawing) and was worried that it was a complication of that even though she is 7and the surgery was done many years ago. I know that she and Oscar were fighting over the window perch last night and maybe she jumped down wrong or something.

Anyhow, no swelling or punctures or anything dramatic. She was walking so gingerly and then would hold up the paw. Well I went to this site as I was doing a google searchhttp://www.pawsneedclaws.com/Declaw_Information.php and it made me feel even worse, as I have no idea how the surgery was done be it lasers or the old fashioned brutal way.( I worked as a vet tech and saw many complications from botched declaw surgerys, thankfullly not our own but as second opinions)

Anyways, I took her in to our vet and they examined. She hates her feet being touched anyways and wasn't anymore vocal on one more than the other. Plus we made her walk around and sure enough she barely limped . We didn't do xrays as there weren't obvious breaks or bone injuries. The vet looked and didn't find any claws regrowing or bones poking through (I've seen that happen when in practice a couple of times). So we decided to give her a low dose of metacam ( I know the contraversy so will keep an extra eye on her. She had recent labwork and everything was a ok). I guess rest and time will tell if something more needs to be done. I feel like I am overreacting, but I have seen all the issues that can come from declaws and such, and wanted to be sure that that wasn't the case.

I had a cat that was also declawed when she came to me. She started limping when she was about 8 or 9. Turned out to be arthritis. We treated it with Cosequin for many years.

She is doing better this evening. Not walking as gingerly, and she did her usual routine inspection of the apartment lol.( every evening she walks around the apartment going room to room making sure everything is where it should be, and then she settles in her bed for more napping. It's funny how I know all my pets' routines. She seems ok for now. I guess i might have been overreacting, but she seemed pretty uncomfortable this morning. Not enough to affect her appetite though, she ate well this morning and her dinner after we got back. I think I worry more because I know all the worse case scenarios for the most benign ailements. Gosh a few months ago my older dog started to limp out of the blue and I am worried out of my mind thinking of all the terrible things that a simple limp can indicate. I even thought oh my god he could have bone cancer. It actually was a thorn in his foot from stepping near a black berry bush. They grow like weeds up here and the thorns are nasty. Needless to say, my dog is fine and I am sure Kattie is too. It is just all the complications I saw at my work of declawed cats. I am a little crazy when it comes to my babies.

Hello,

I can relate to your/your kitty's situation!!

My young girl Bitsy, this past winter, was being her usual silly self and she was up on the mantel of my fireplace (it's a really deep mantel, about 2 feet deep) and she was jumping down onto the floor but to do that, had to first jump onto my home stereo tower speaker. Well she did but the speaker toppled over and she ended up on the floor, looking rather embarassed! I then noted she was limping, holding her front paw up when walking. I was mortified! I had to wait 3 hours to get her into the Vet. I couldn't feel anything out of alignment in compared to her other front leg, there was nothing "obviously" wrong to me. Anyway, took her in. Vet felt everything. Said no fracture apparent. No swelling. He didn't even feel the need for an xray. Did want to give her a shot of Metacam. I was hesitant, like you, because of the controversy with it....but my understanding is that Metacam injectable (given as a needle as opposed to the liquid oral form of it) is okay in a cat if it's a one-time thing....so I agreed. Well, when we got home, no more limping! LOL. Not sure how things so quickly/miraculously resolved but they did. She's never had a problem since. Hope everything works out for your kitty, I'm sure it will.

I wouldn't think that the injury could be from the declaw, considering you said it has been so many years. She most probably just hurt her paw slightly jumping. I hope she gets feeling better!

Originally Posted by the_food_lady

...(He) Did want to give her a shot of Metacam. I was hesitant, like you, because of the controversy with it....but my understanding is that Metacam injectable (given as a needle as opposed to the liquid oral form of it) is okay in a cat if it's a one-time thing...

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This study would beg to differ

A single dose of a rapidly-absorbed non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) was injected into the subcutaneous tissue of the interscapular region of a 12.5-year-old cat. A mild swelling was noticed at the injection site 6weeks later. This progressed into a 5cm diameter mass which was removed 6months after the injection had been given. An injection site sarcoma (ISS) was diagnosed histologically. As the cat had not been vaccinated for at least 12years, the previous NSAID injection was considered to be a possible cause of the ISS. Inflammation is thought to be important in the development of ISS. If injection of a rapidly-absorbed NSAID can stimulate sufficient inflammation to promote the development of an ISS, other non-vaccine injections may also have the potential to influence ISS development. This suggests that injection of both vaccines and non-vaccine medications should be minimised to reduce the risk of ISS development.

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Personally, I hope this is one more nail in the coffin of Metacam. While this form (inj) is licensed for cats in North America, I feel it is the beginning of significant kidney damage in our cats (common in spay/neuter work) and responsible for much of the kidney failure now being seen in younger and younger cats.

I wouldn't think that the injury could be from the declaw, considering you said it has been so many years

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From everything I've read, it's a very lucky cat who doesn't have any residual complication - yes, even years after amputation.

Sorry if I'm a little OT, Kattiekitty! Happy to hear that Kattie is feeling better

Well today she seemed better but stiffer than she was last night. She was putting full weight on the affected paw, but still seemed to step on it gingerly. The more I've been researching, the more I think it might be an onset of early arthritis possibly due to her being declawed. I was reading that declawed cats have an increase in arthritis because they shift their weight to avoid hurting their tender toes. They will walk more on their foot pad if that makes sense. This shifts their weight so that over time, their wrists and shoulders start to get arthritic. I believe this may be the issue with Kattie.
I have used glucosamine and other supplements to great affect on my 11yo dog. He acts much younger and plays with the younger cat and goes on his walks daily and is only occasionally stiff after overdoing it. I have also seen him off of it and their is a difference, so I want to try something for Kattie. Still looking though.

Originally Posted by Kattiekitty

Well today she seemed better but stiffer than she was last night. She was putting full weight on the affected paw, but still seemed to step on it gingerly. The more I've been researching, the more I think it might be an onset of early arthritis possibly due to her being declawed. I was reading that declawed cats have an increase in arthritis because they shift their weight to avoid hurting their tender toes. They will walk more on their foot pad if that makes sense. This shifts their weight so that over time, their wrists and shoulders start to get arthritic. I believe this may be the issue with Kattie.
I have used glucosamine and other supplements to great affect on my 11yo dog. He acts much younger and plays with the younger cat and goes on his walks daily and is only occasionally stiff after overdoing it. I have also seen him off of it and their is a difference, so I want to try something for Kattie. Still looking though.

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Don't want to hijack, but what glucosamie specifically have you used for the dog? We get one at a big box store, but I'm not sure how well it works....

I use osteobiflex triple advanced from walmart. It is for people with arthritis and has like 1500mg of glucosamine per dose. This is therapeutic level from what I've read, and anything lower for a dog of 55 pounds isn't going to work. Alot of the pet glucosamines only have around 500 mg so I didn't think he was getting enough plus it was more expensive.
There are different kinds of osteobiflex though and I avoid the one with extra vit d because I worry about overdose on vit d. The one I use also has chondroitin, msm, and hylauronic acid. Along with this he gets 1000 mg of salmon oil which has omega 3s which are good at reducing inflammation, vit e which balances out the fish oil as fish oil can deplete vit e if taken alone. Last gets ester c. Ester c is gentler than straight vit c and more effective. I read a study that said most pet foods lack the proper amount of vit c under the assumption that dogs and cats make enough of there own vit c and don't need it. Well they went on to say adding the ester c at proper levels, can help reduce inflammation, strengthen the immune system, as well as help with allergies and prevent certain types of cancers. Dogs with severe hip dysplaysia have been able to have their NSAIDs reduced or even eliminated on this regimen. Now, it may not work for everyone, but I believe it has helped my dog greatly. He has never been on NSAIDs and I want to keep it that way as long as possible. I know he may eventually need them, but so far he hasn't taken a lame step(aside from the blackberry thorn he stepped on ) I hope this helps anyone else out there interested in a supplementive rather than harsh medication approach to arthritis.

Originally Posted by Kattiekitty

I use osteobiflex triple advanced from walmart. It is for people with arthritis and has like 1500mg of glucosamine per dose. This is therapeutic level from what I've read, and anything lower for a dog of 55 pounds isn't going to work. Alot of the pet glucosamines only have around 500 mg so I didn't think he was getting enough plus it was more expensive.
There are different kinds of osteobiflex though and I avoid the one with extra vit d because I worry about overdose on vit d. The one I use also has chondroitin, msm, and hylauronic acid. Along with this he gets 1000 mg of salmon oil which has omega 3s which are good at reducing inflammation, vit e which balances out the fish oil as fish oil can deplete vit e if taken alone. Last gets ester c. Ester c is gentler than straight vit c and more effective. I read a study that said most pet foods lack the proper amount of vit c under the assumption that dogs and cats make enough of there own vit c and don't need it. Well they went on to say adding the ester c at proper levels, can help reduce inflammation, strengthen the immune system, as well as help with allergies and prevent certain types of cancers. Dogs with severe hip dysplaysia have been able to have their NSAIDs reduced or even eliminated on this regimen. Now, it may not work for everyone, but I believe it has helped my dog greatly. He has never been on NSAIDs and I want to keep it that way as long as possible. I know he may eventually need them, but so far he hasn't taken a lame step(aside from the blackberry thorn he stepped on

) I hope this helps anyone else out there interested in a supplementive rather than harsh medication approach to arthritis.

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That's GREAT, thanks!!! So the Salmon oil, the vitamin e, and the Ester C...those are all human forumlated as well? How do you get him to take them? My dog is a lab mix, and is over 12 years old. Thank goodness hips are not displastic, but they do bother him a bit. And it's getting to be the "season" for more aches and pains...

I've also got a border collie that has seasonal allergies, wondering about the Ester C for him too.

Our very arthritic old cat gets a shot of Adequin (SP?) once a month and a quarter of a low-dose aspirin every three days. He is due for his injection tomorrow and I notice he's been pretty stiff these last few days so it's just in time. I've been very pleased with the results of it.

Our old dog is currently on Metacam. Due to his size the Adequin was cost prohibitive right now. It was going to cost roughly $300 to get it started and then about $65 or so a month so until we could save up enough to get him on it.

All the supplements I give are human grade. I get them at walmart. The osteobiflex is in a blue box near the vitamins and supplements section. The salmon oil and vit e are both the same brand, I forgot which, but they are in a green bottle. The ester c is actually ester c brand. I prefer the 500 mg so I can split it between morning and night. When it was all given in the morning as one dose, it would cause diarrhea. Doing a split helps that.
The most expensive of the drugs is the osteobiflex at 30 dollars, but it goes on sale quite a bit. All the others are pretty cheap. All told, I believe this regimen is cheaper and more potent than the synovi3g that he was on prior. I believe also switching to a grain free diet has helped as well, both with his allergies and his joints. Again this is all more preventative as he doesn't need actual NSAIDs. I started him on glucosamine supplements back when he was 5. He injured his right knee and we knew arthritis would develop as he aged. Well the knee hasn't bothered him at all, and although he is creaky occasionally he is never lame. Just today we went on a 2 mile hike with significant hilly areas and he handled it just fine. It could also be genetics as well, but he is shepherd and husky and shepherds are poster children for hip and joint issues. Who knows, but it's worth a shot. Oh, also I give the pills by mouth by popping them down. Being a vet tech, I'm used to it and he will eat around them if I don't. Also I have seen a serious reduction in his allergies with these pills, but also with the grain free diet too. Right now everyone is slightly itchy because something is blooming but normally it isn't a problem.