Angel is limping, something wrong!

Angel had his teeth cleaning appointment yesterday, w/ one small extraction. Came home, everything has been fine.

I gave him his pain meds at 10:00 pm before bed. They gave him buprenorphine, which I hate because it keeps him awake, & he doesn't sleep & get the rest he needs. Poor baby has been up sense yesterday!  I checked on him to see if he was sleeping when I got up at 2;00, & he was fine, but awake. He was sitting up at the time, so was o.k.

I heard him use the litter box at 3:30, so o.k. I got up at 4:00 to go to the bathroom, checked on him again, & he was laying down. 

he got up & was limping on his left leg.  He was moaning & groaning when I tried to touch it. He will only lay on his right side.

He is trembling a little, I could feel it when I petted him between his shoulders. 

I called the emergency vet, & they said they were so busy, it would be a 3 or so hour wait, anyway, so instead of stressing him out going there, I am waiting for his vet to open at 8:00.  It's now 6:15. I already left the vet a message that we would be there as soon as they open!

I just feel so bad, I know he is hurting. I have no idea what could have happened. I never heard him jump off anything, etc..

In fact, I even tried a few times last night to either put him up on the bed, or on the couch, but he always jumped down, & went back to the floor. 

He was fine then. Walking normal. He never tried to jump up on any furniture last night, but was fine. No limping. 

I just hate this waiting!  

He has never limped from any shots before so, I don't know whats wrong, but something definitely is.

Okay, this is KILLING me! It's 6:40 & he just went to the litter box & squated, more on his right leg, extending his left a tiny bit. He didn't go, got back out, & went & laid down. 30 more minutes & I can leave to get there a little before 8:00. 

This is making my stomach upset!

Awww .. Sorry to hear that Angel is not doing well. I wonder if on account of the medication, he stumbled in the night and twisted his leg?

Do you know if they used any kind of intravenous on the veins in his leg or gave him shots there? If the medication has worn off, he could be feeling the effects from either one of these things.

The trembling may be a combination of the medication and pain that he is feeling. I would make the suggestion to keep him warm until you can leave for the vets. And add a blanket or something similar to his carrier to keep him warm in transit.

I hope that whatever it is, it is fixable and he is feeling much better soon! I know this is easier said than done, but try not to worry too much.   

Did this just start? My new nursing brain would be going crazy; good on you for not taking chances and going straight to the vet. I'll be sending many warm vibes!

Thanks you guys!  Back from the vets. She did X-rays & didn't see anything, no swelling etc...  so she thinks it is just the soreness from the injection.

(IV was in the front leg) 

He wasn't limping before, (got home yesterday around 3:30, so about 12 hrs later).  I did give him his pain meds at 10:00 last night though, so I don't know?

I don't think he twisted anything, he was fine before, & not that out of it. Those meds just make him stay awake & zoned out, so would just sit or lay there staring into space.

 The vet said even though it hadn't been 12 hrs, maybe his pain meds were wearing off. I asked for something different so he could sleep. At this point, on the other meds, he has been awake for around 24 hrs. She gave me some Tramadol to give him. Because he is so sensitive, she said to only start w/ a 1/8 of a pill. directions are 1/8-1/4 a pill every 8-12 hrs. 

The vet told me she watched him walk around a bit to see it, & then when he laid down he stretched his left leg out as to say, "It's this one." 

That's my smart boy!

He hasn't been limping as bad sense we've been home so that's good!  

Between yesterday & the X-rays today, I have spent quite a bit there!  "Thank God for Care Credit!" Literally! 

He has a freshly washed bed, & he is under my bed instead. 

I think I might go lay down too, or I'm going to be really tired later. I've been up sense 4:00am! 

Angels mommy said:

 
Thanks you guys!  Back from the vets. She did X-rays & didn't see anything, no swelling etc...  so she thinks it is just the soreness from the injection.

(IV was in the front leg) 

He wasn't limping before, (got home yesterday around 3:30, so about 12 hrs later).  I did give him his pain meds at 10:00 last night though, so I don't know?

I don't think he twisted anything, he was fine before, & not that out of it. Those meds just make him stay awake & zoned out, so would just sit or lay there staring into space.

 The vet said even though it hadn't been 12 hrs, maybe his pain meds were wearing off. I asked for something different so he could sleep. At this point, on the other meds, he has been awake for around 24 hrs. She gave me some Tramadol to give him. Because he is so sensitive, she said to only start w/ a 1/8 of a pill. directions are 1/8-1/4 a pill every 8-12 hrs. 

The vet told me she watched him walk around a bit to see it, & then when he laid down he stretched his left leg out as to say, "It's this one." 

That's my smart boy!

He hasn't been limping as bad sense we've been home so that's good!  

Between yesterday & the X-rays today, I have spent quite a bit there!  "Thank God for Care Credit!" Literally! 

He has a freshly washed bed, & he is under my bed instead. 

I think I might go lay down too, or I'm going to be really tired later. I've been up sense 4:00am! 

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Thank goodness it wasn't anything too serious that a few days rest won't cure. What a smart boy he is indeed.

Re. the Tramadol, that sounds like a good safe dose, but as with anything there can be side effects. Here is a page with some information, in case your vet didn't send you home with anything : http://www.vetinfo.com/tramadol-side-effects-in-cats.html

Hope he's feeling like his old self again, soon.

I'm glad it was something simple and not serious!

Thank you!  thanks for the link as well.  Yes, I think Angel being a sensitive kitty is why the vet recommended starting w/ only 1/8 of a pill. (That was fun to cut!) 

She said he probably might not need anything for very long at all.  The extraction was small enough,the buprenorphine given was only a 3 day supply, & said he may not need it all.

Now, the only reason I would give him anything is for his leg, it obviously was very sore. I think he will also be able to sleep now. Poor baby was up for 24 hrs!  

He must have smelled the piece of pill, even inside a little piece of pill pocket, because he wouldn't eat it. I even rolled it in nutritional yeast, which he loves & gets in his food everyday.

Then, I rolled it in on of his crushed treats. Nope! No deal! I finally had to fish it out & stick it down his throat. I hated doing that, but he had to have it. (that was @ 10:00 am).

He is finally sleeping under the bed. I'm sure he will be there a while. 

He is not a heavy sleeper, like some cats you can move or pick up & they stay asleep. If I just pet, or kiss him, he wakes up, even a little.

But, the last time he was on the buprenophine, & it kept him awake like that, when I skipped a dose, so he could get some sleep & rest, he was out! 

I will continue to monitor his leg, & hopefully, won't have to give him anything else. I'll see how he is walking/feeling in 8-12 hrs after that dose @ 10:00, & go from there.

 This is one of those times you wish your baby could talk! 

So far so good. He slept for about 3 & 1/2 hrs. Then got up & was ready for some food.     After eating, he heard a bird near my bedroom window, so he "jumped" up on the bed to try & see it. 

"Well okay!"  Good, glad the pain meds are working, & told him, I see he didn't need the step ladder I put bu my bed, just in case he wanted to get up there.

 He is back in his bed, in my room purring away, as I gave him kisses & scritches!    

That's a power nap! LOL! Good that he feels better.

re the pill-cutting...one of my bp pills is very small and because I've been a good girl and have been having some side effects my md agreed I could take half a day instead...when I protested she said to just crush the pill and divide it into 2 "lines" (my word, not hers ) and just put it on my fingertip and wash it down, while covering the rest for the next day.

well, I ended up being able to bite it in almost half but it "could" work for you if necessary (or u could try to bite off a piece and give it to him, I'm sure it wouldn't hurt either of you )

p.s...u might be having more pill trouble than normal because his mouth still hurts and/or feels wierd

HOPE HE GETS BETTER SOON!

Angels mommy said:

 
Thank you!  thanks for the link as well.  Yes, I think Angel being a sensitive kitty is why the vet recommended starting w/ only 1/8 of a pill. (That was fun to cut!) 

She said he probably might not need anything for very long at all.  The extraction was small enough,the buprenorphine given was only a 3 day supply, & said he may not need it all.

Now, the only reason I would give him anything is for his leg, it obviously was very sore. I think he will also be able to sleep now. Poor baby was up for 24 hrs!  

He must have smelled the piece of pill, even inside a little piece of pill pocket, because he wouldn't eat it. I even rolled it in nutritional yeast, which he loves & gets in his food everyday.

Then, I rolled it in on of his crushed treats. Nope! No deal! I finally had to fish it out & stick it down his throat. I hated doing that, but he had to have it. (that was @ 10:00 am).

He is finally sleeping under the bed. I'm sure he will be there a while. 

He is not a heavy sleeper, like some cats you can move or pick up & they stay asleep. If I just pet, or kiss him, he wakes up, even a little.

But, the last time he was on the buprenophine, & it kept him awake like that, when I skipped a dose, so he could get some sleep & rest, he was out! 

I will continue to monitor his leg, & hopefully, won't have to give him anything else. I'll see how he is walking/feeling in 8-12 hrs after that dose @ 10:00, & go from there.

 This is one of those times you wish your baby could talk! 

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You're welcome .. How is Angel doing today? .. The progress from yesterday sounds very positive!

Angel is one savvy kitty in finding that pill in all that you tried. Oh well, fortunately you won't have to pill for too long.

Hi,  Angel seems to still be doing better. He did seem like he still may need a pill a little last night, & frankly, I was worried if I skipped the next dose, (which would be midnight) that he might end up being in pain all night while I was asleep. SO, I went ahead & gave him one (sense it's only 1/8 of a pill anyway).  When I woke up @ 4:30 for a bathroom trip, he went & sat in the kitchen, so I knew he was hungry.

(He has only been eating smaller amounts, more often, like 1/8-1/4 a can ea. time) so I warmed up 1/4 of a can, & he ate it all up!     

If he needed the next dose, it would be 8:00 am, (8-12 hrs)  so I decided to wait & see how he was walking, hoping to not have to give him anymore at all.

Well, he has been fine all day. Still tired, but his walking is fine, & his pupils are back to normal size. It's 3:30 now, & he is in the room, in his bed, hopefully sleeping. I am trying not to go in there & bother him.

I'm not sure if he slept much last night.  I am hoping w/ most, if not all of of the meds worn off, he will get some sleep!   

@myctawasthebest:  I have a pill cutter, so cutting the pill wasn't that hard. It was just cut down to so small.  He just seemed to be able to smell it no matter how hard I tried to disguise it. :-/

Glad to hear he seems to be doing better.  I have 2 kitties on Tramadol for arthritis pain, my 14# cat tolerates 1/2 a pill every 12 hours where my 11# kitty can only tolerate 1/4 pill otherwise she gets psycho....eyes dilated huge and acts like she is dysphoric. 

Good update, It's 8:00 pm, & Angel has not had to have any more pain meds ALL day. none sense midnight, last night.   

He's been back & forth, resting in his bed, finishing a little bit of din,din at a time, & sitting up in the window again now. 

So glad he's better!   He looks very content sitting there watching the birds (or whatever's outside). I love his long slender tail. 

Vibes for his continued healing (and no more pain meds!) 

Thanks! 

I know how much you love your Angel, and I could definitely sense your worry. I'm glad to hear he is improving.

Angels mommy said:

@myctawasthebest:  I have a pill cutter, so cutting the pill wasn't that hard. It was just cut down to so small.  He just seemed to be able to smell it no matter how hard I tried to disguise it. :-/

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gotcha...I guess in the future the only other thing u can do is try to make sure the pill scent isn't on your fingers when u are trying to disguise it.

glad he's better, he's real handsome!

mycatwasthebest said:

 
gotcha...I guess in the future the only other thing u can do is try to make sure the pill scent isn't on your fingers when u are trying to disguise it.

glad he's better, he's real handsome!

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Thanks!

GoHolistic said:

 
I know how much you love your Angel, and I could definitely sense your worry. I'm glad to hear he is improving.

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Thanks! Yes, I am one over protective Meowmy, in love with my sweet boy!      

He is definitely feeling better. He was playing soccer w/ one of his mousies tonight! 

The meds just gave him a little diarrhea, but in very small amounts (like only 2 inch pools), so I think he is a little constipated too. I bought some pumpkin & added a tsp. to his food last nigh, & tonight.

Hopefully he will have a normal poop soon.