Help! My Cat is not bearing any weight on her front right leg

My perfectly healthy 16-month-old cat Samantha is not bearing any weight on her front right leg. I first took her to the vet a few months ago for lameness in the same leg, and after an X-ray the vet concluded it to be blunt trauma in her shin area. She was on antibiotics and pain medicine, and I noticed improvement the very next day. 

This time around I noticed a slight limp. I took her to the vet - and the vet said it could be arthritic from an injury that did not properly heal (I found her as a stray outside and now she is strictly indoors) or a bone shard may be in her elbow from an improper landing. Nothing is visibly wrong with her paws, nails, etc.

The vet did not do any x-rays at the time, but prescribed 3 dosages of Onsior (Robenacoxib). When I would give her the medication, she would limp on her front paw, putting some weight on it (so it seemed to help).

However since then (it's been 7 days since her injury and 5 days since her vet visit) her injury seems to have gotten much worse (which is very different from her prior injury). She is not putting ANY weight on her limb now. She has a follow-up appointment in 3 days, and I'm between jobs right now so I'm financially strapped. I just want her to be back to her old self again. Any advice is really appreciated  

Unfortuneatly there is very little we can that I think we can offer except to state the obvious which is that she is in pain, at least if she tries to put weight on it which is why she doesn't. It may improve by the vet visit, but given how bad it's become I'd ask your vet for an earlier appointment.

Will do- made her an appointment for tomorrow morning at 9:15 here's her leg as of now

Excellent! Keep us updated!

I took Sammy to the vet and she tested positive for FIV today very sad day. The vet believes that a minor cut or abrasion turned in to an infection causing her pain- and since she has a weakened immune system, she was unable to fight it.

KellioKat said:

I took Sammy to the vet and she tested positive for FIV today

very sad day. The vet believes that a minor cut or abrasion turned in to an infection causing her pain- and since she has a weakened immune system, she was unable to fight it.

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Cats can live very long and normal lives with FIV! Don't despair.  We can provide you links to help. 

http://bestfriends.org/Resources/Pet-Care/Cats/Health-And-Care/FAQs-About-FIV/

http://www.vet.cornell.edu/FHC/health_resources/brochure_fiv.cfm

Yes, cats can live very decent lives with FIV.

I do not know your cat nor have I seen her, and your vet has But.....I would be doing another radiograph if I were you. I don't know about the diagnosis. Did she have a fever? Just curious. Was she given antibiotics this time? Was there a scrape that you could see? When he took the original radiographs did anything show up at all?

Your vet is obviously going to know more since he examined your cat etc. I am just curious.

I know it is hard to be strapped for cash when your cat has a medical problem. Usually rechecks are discounted and radiograph rechecks are also usually at a reduced rate.

How did they diagnose the FIV? Did they send the sample into the lab and give you the results the next day or did they tell you the same day? Did they tell you to retest in a certain amount of time?

Also did they give you anything for pain for the kitty?

I would be cautious of any long term anti-inflammatory.

Let us know

Thanks. It is not a death sentence. Not FIV. But do continue to keep your cat indoors like you have been doing . And by the way your cat is adorable and looks very well loved.

Here is Samantha ... She's quite the ham
As far as the fever goes it was 103 but the vet said it was high every time I brought her in.... Even when she tested negative for the virus on 8/37/13. After testing negative, she had the vaccines for FVRCP, FeLV & Rabies on 10/4/13. She then received booster doses of the FVRCP and FeLV vaccines on 10/19/13.

As far as the radiographs go the first one done on 9/28/13 just showed swelling / inflammation around her right shin. The one she just received on 6/6/13 showed no bone abnormalities etc. But obvious swelling around the upper arm- no obvious abrasions, scratches or skin injuries. They injected her with Burprenorphine 0.3mg at the vet for pain. They also prescribed her Clavamox 62.5 mg tablets (2x day) for 2 weeks and 3 doses Meloxicam 1.5 mg (1x day) for 3 days for pain.

They did a Feline Snap Test at the vet and I received the results in about 15 minutes. They did not tell me to retest as of this point.

She does not have any other symptoms of FIV at this point but it was odd that she kept getting injured for seemingly no reason. I want to think that she potentially does not have the virus but tested positive because of the vaccines. I have a follow-up appointment on Monday, but if it does turn out that she has the virus I am open to treating it however I can depending on cost (there is a new treatment available called LTCI).

Hi

Buprenorphine is safe and effective in cats.

Meloxicam is no longer FDA approved for use in cats except as a one time dose in very special circumstances as it can cause serious kidney disease.  Not all vets seem to be aware or concerned.   See the link below.

http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2013/05/01/meloxicam-dangers.aspx

Injuries like you describe are not connected to FIV status.....

@LDG has a cat with FIV, and she's very very good at research on subjects like FIV.  She might have some thoughts on this.

Good to know- she's only had Meloxicam doses 3 or 4 times in her life - she has one more dose that I'm supposed to give her tomorrow but I guess I won't. The other medicine they put her on was Onsior.

I'm so sorry for what your beautiful girl has been going through!

Was she vaccinated for FIV? Because cats vaccinated for FIV will always test positive for FIV.

If she actually has FIV, there is no better site than http://www.fivtherapy.com

Basically, FIV cats live normal lives. They need regular dentals as gingivitis and stomatitis are common problems. Any time they become ill, they need aggressive treatment. But feed the healthiest diet you can (I feed raw), and keep their immune systems healthy with probiotics and bovine lactoferrin (20mg per pound divided into 2 doses daily: I give Chumley 1/2 of one Jarrow 250mg lactoferrin capsule 2x a day), and that will help slow down progression of the virus. You can also look into the thymus peptides discussed on the site. I cannot afford them, so I buy Nutricology Thymus, one of their glandular supplements, and I sprinkle the capsule on his food once a day.

Hope this helps!

FYI, very, very, very few cats ever progress to the point of having symptoms related to their FIV status (other than the issues with their teeth), let alone progressing to the AIDS stage. You might want to join the FIV-healthscience yahoo group, run by Joel Kehler, the founder of the FIVtherapy.com website.

She was vaccinated after testing negative when I first found her. Thank you for all of your advice- I will definitely try the supplements you recommended . I will join the group as well!!

You aren't supposed to give the Onsior with the meloxicam/ metacam are you? I would be really careful with the metacam. If it doesn't resolve quik I would get a referral to a specialty vet, one that does surgery or an internal medicine vet.. I worry that the inflammation could be something other than the effect of an injury.

You can do a Western Blot test to confirm the FIV snap test. Something you might want to discuss with your veterinarian.

Either way it is a good idea to retest in 6 months.

Hope your kitty is doing better.

She is very very cute.

She was previously prescribed Onsior, and then at the last vet visit they prescribed her Clavamox (antibiotic) and Meloxicam (I gave her one dose). I can ask about the western blot test too- and I will definitely retest in 6 months

KellioKat said:

She was vaccinated after testing negative when I first found her. Thank you for all of your advice- I will definitely try the supplements you recommended . I will join the group as well!!

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As I said, if she was vaccinated for FIV, she will test positive for FIV due to the antibodies from the vaccine. She does not have FIV.

Hello LGD! I decided to post her full medical history here just to show you what she's been through since I found her

SAMANTHA KIRKWOOD

OVERALL HEALTH NOTES

Found Samantha as a stray on 8/27/13. Estimated DOB 2/27/13.

She was underweight, she had fleas, and had an abscess on her back leg. 

Since 8/27/13 Samantha has been an indoor only cat with no interactions with any other cat. 

_________________________________________________________________

During her first vet visit on 8/27/13: 

(Dr. Nancy Adams, Banfield Pet Hospital, 2310 Ferguson Road Cincinnati, OH)

(6) LBS

• Tested Negative for FIV/FelV/Rabies
• Was prescribed Clavamox (62.5 mg/ml drops bottle 2x day for 2 weeks)
• Was given Meloxicam (0.5 mg/ml) 1.5 dosages
• Received flea treatment (Revolution Single Dose)
• Had her wound cleaned and flushed
• Had a fecal sample given (no intestinal parasites)
• She had a high temperature (103) and was noted to have dental disease.
  • NO NOTED SIDE EFFECTS FROM ANTIBIOTICS / MEDS

_________________________________________________________________

During her second vet visit on 9/28/13: 

(Dr. Rick Jackson, Banfield Pet Hospital, 156 Pavilion Pkwy, Newport, KY)

(8.22 LBS)

• Vet found lameness / pain in her right leg
• A radiograph showed no abnormalities
• Was prescribed Clavamox (62.5 mg/ml drops bottle 2x day for 2 weeks)
• Was given Meloxicam (0.5 mg/ml) 1.5 dosages
• She made a quick recovery and stopped limping very soon after administering medication.
  • Still noted dental disease 
  • NO NOTED SIDE EFFECTS FROM ANTIBIOTICS / MEDS

_________________________________________________________________

During her third vet visit on 10/4/13:  

(Ohio Alleycat Resource, 5619 Orlando Place, Cincinnati, OH)

(8.3 LBS)

• Was put under general anesthetic to be spayed, however previous spay incisions were found once shaving her belly (she was previously spayed)
• Was vaccinated for: 
  • Rabies
  • Feline Rhinotracheitis-Calici-Panleukopenia Vaccine (modified live virus)
  • Feline Leukemia Vaccine Fel-O-Vax LV-K (killed virus)

_________________________________________________________________

During her fourth vet visit on 10/19/13: 

(Dr. Rick Jackson, Banfield Pet Hospital, 156 Pavilion Pkwy, Newport, KY)

(8.3 LBS)

• Received follow-up boosters of FVRCP and Feline Leukemia virus
• Was given Revolution (single dose) for flea control (I purchased extra to administer monthly)

_________________________________________________________________

During her fifth vet visit on 5/31/14:

(Dr. Elizabeth Sandfoss, Banfield Pet Hospital, 156 Pavilion Pkwy, Newport, KY)

(8.6 LBS)

• Took her due to lameness / pain in her right arm 
• Was prescribed Onsior (Robenacoxib) 6 mg tablet  (1x day for 3 days)
• Dental disease was still noted

Samantha was showing lameness AGAIN on her right leg (ODD).

The vet initially thought it was an improper landing on (affecting her shoulder) and/or a fracture that never healed correctly.

GAVE SAMMY DOSE OF REVOLUTION @ HOME ON 6/5/14

_________________________________________________________________

During her sixth vet visit on 6/6/14:

(Dr. Elizabeth Sandfoss, Banfield Pet Hospital, 156 Pavilion Pkwy, Newport, KY)

(8.6 LBS)

• Moved Samantha's appointment up because she was doing much worse. Noticeable swelling around her upper arm joint above elbow. She was not herself. 
• Radiographs were preformed again, and they showed no abnormalities. 
• She was prescribed Clavamox (62.5 mg tablets 2x day for 2 weeks)
• Meloxicam (1.5 mg daily 1x day for 2 days) for pain. (ONLY ADMINISTERED ONE DOSE)
• She was also injected with Burprenorphine (0.3 mg) for pain during her visit. 
• Tested positive via Snap Test for FIV
• High Temperature of (103) VET TECH said that was her temperature every time so maybe it is normal for her???
  • NO NOTED SIDE EFFECTS FROM ANTIBIOTICS /MEDS

_________________________________________________________________

Reasons for initial re-testing for FeLV/FIV:

Lameness on right leg 2 times within a year - no cuts or abrasions were found. Was unsure of how my perfectly healthy cat was injuring herself. 

She eats only Petsmart Authority Brand wet food (try to feed her dry but she does not like it as much), uses natural litter, is an only kitten, and is emotionally happy and healthy.

_________________________________________________________________

PROS:

She continues to gain weight, and all other aspects of health are normal (except for dental disease which she had when I initially found her and she tested neg for FIV).

She received the vaccinations which would show antibodies for the disease even if she does not have it with the standard FELINE SNAP TEST.

Her only symptom (leg lameness) is not associated with FIV specifically and since there were no open wounds etc. it is hard to say how it happened but both instances were effectively treated with antibiotics.

Her first symptoms occurred 1 month after I first took her to the vet and she has been perfectly healthy for the past 9 months without any other symptoms.

She was someone's pet - she was previously spayed and perhaps very healthy / vaccinated. She was still a kitten when I found her and never showed any health problems.

I think that she will need to have a Western Blot Test to determine if she actually has the virus.

CONS:

Each time I've taken her to the vet she has a high temp (103)

When I first found her she had a wound on her leg - possibly from another cat but not sure BUT still tested negative for everything during her first vet visit

The vaccinations could have made it worse if she was carrying the disease but it was undetectable during her first visit? Not sure.

So she didn't receive an FIV vaccination. That was something said in the PM, but apparently is incorrect.

Both FeLV and FIV take time to develop measurable antibodies. So if she had been bitten within a month of being rescued, the SNAP test done in the office may not have detected it. That is certainly possible. This is how many FIV kitties wind up in indoor-only homes, and sometimes the FIV status isn't discovered until years later.

Yes, the only way to confirm is with the Western Blot. Or you can just assume she has it. The supplements given to slow down the progression of the virus are actually healthy supplements for any cat.