Leg issue

molly22

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Smokie is 14 and walks a little stiff. A few months ago my new kitten was smelling his leg really strangely. I looked and there was an old scab and his skin was red. His leg also seemed thicker than the other. I took him to the vet and he couldn't figure it out. He said his leg looked bruised but I'm pretty sure he didn't injur it. Vet even took pictures because he was so perplexed. Said to come back if it doesn't go away.
It did seem to get better but today I see this. Does anyone have a clue? If I touch near it he just licks. Here's a pic. I'm calling my vet but since he already has no clue I'm checking here as well!
 

jennyr

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It is difficult to see because of his fur but does he have lumps under the scabs? There could be an abscess there. I would take him back to the vet
 

puck

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IF that is discharge oozing down the back of his leg, a mass, potentially an abscessed wound, ruptured and that was the source of "strange swelling" your vet couldn't figure out. Both masses and abscessed wounds are very common...if it is in fact one of those he should have been able to aspirate the center of it at a minimum during your previous visit, to give you a better answer and start effective treatment.

If an abscess, mild sedation and a good flushing of that wound is in order. If a ruptured mass, potentially sebaceous cyst, for example, same, still needs a good flush and cleansing. And some aspirates/cells sent to the pathobiologist pronto.

Regardless, he sounds pain management deficient, and would loved some buprenorphine on his mucous membranes while coping with his leg, and potentially arthritic joints at his age. After this leg wound/mass is addressed and resolved, consider discussing long term pain management with your vet, such as Metacam and Adequan injections (8 wk series) for your boy, he'll thank you for it if he does have osteoarthritis at all. Vets undertreat cat pain and arthritis, mainly because signs of discomfort aren't reported in history from its family, and in a hospital cats are very stoic and in survival mode, less likely to show their pain.

If you gave your vet the chance to examine him once and something that common and obvious was missed, you may want to consider a better attentive vet, more patient care and service oriented. Good Luck with your baby, and hope he's on the mend soon!
 
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molly22

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I took him to the vet on Friday and this time he was confident he knew what it was. Eosinophilic granuloma. He took a sample of the skin and tested it. He asked if Smokie has had any changes and sure enough he has. Last December we switched him to Royal Canin GI which has helped him greatly with his stomach sensitivity issues. Also for the past few months we've been rotating his Nature's Variety wet food with Purina gravy lovers. I'm thinking maybe he's allergic to the wheat gluten in the Gravy Lovers so we stopped that immediately and if that doesn't work well try the Royal Canin next.

The vet gave him an injection of Depomedrol and Covenia. The redness and weeping are already gone. The vet said it's odd to see this in older cats so it has to be the food switch.
Also after Googling the Depo shot, it seems it helps with arthritis as well. Smokie has been on Cosequin supplements for about 8 months but still always has that "old stiff" walk to him. I will research the Metacam injections. Thanks! puck puck
 

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I took him to the vet on Friday and this time he was confident he knew what it was. Eosinophilic granuloma. He took a sample of the skin and tested it. He asked if Smokie has had any changes and sure enough he has. Last December we switched him to Royal Canin GI which has helped him greatly with his stomach sensitivity issues. Also for the past few months we've been rotating his Nature's Variety wet food with Purina gravy lovers. I'm thinking maybe he's allergic to the wheat gluten in the Gravy Lovers so we stopped that immediately and if that doesn't work well try the Royal Canin next.

The vet gave him an injection of Depomedrol and Covenia. The redness and weeping are already gone. The vet said it's odd to see this in older cats so it has to be the food switch.
Also after Googling the Depo shot, it seems it helps with arthritis as well. Smokie has been on Cosequin supplements for about 8 months but still always has that "old stiff" walk to him. I will research the Metacam injections. Thanks! puck puck
I am glad you are making progress with finding out what is wrong. Can I suggest you do not go the Metacam route - there are other pain killers and anti-inflammatories that are safer to use. If you research it you will find it h as been linked to kidney failure in cats, though some vets still prescribe it 'off list' as it is effective as a pain reducer.
 
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molly22

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I am glad you are making progress with finding out what is wrong. Can I suggest you do not go the Metacam route - there are other pain killers and anti-inflammatories that are safer to use. If you research it you will find it h as been linked to kidney failure in cats, though some vets still prescribe it 'off list' as it is effective as a pain reducer.
After a bit of googling I see it has a "black box" warning for the chance of death. I think I will steer clear of it. Thanks for your concern! I appreciate it [emoji]128522[/emoji]
 

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Your vet gave Covenia? Please keep an extra careful watch on him, because if he were to have any reaction to it, since it is injected, it is not able to be reversed. I am surprised that it was given since Covenia is known to have caused quite a few cats to pass on. I for one, will not have it given to my cats. I don't want to alarm you, I just want you to be aware of this. As for the wound, could you spray Vetryicin on it or Protasia? Those are two good brands for wound spray.
 
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molly22

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Your vet gave Covenia? Please keep an extra careful watch on him, because if he were to have any reaction to it, since it is injected, it is not able to be reversed. I am surprised that it was given since Covenia is known to have caused quite a few cats to pass on. I for one, will not have it given to my cats. I don't want to alarm you, I just want you to be aware of this. As for the wound, could you spray Vetryicin on it or Protasia? Those are two good brands for wound spray.
He's had Covenia a few times before with no adverse reactions but thanks for your concern. I know in some cats it can be bad so I'm glad Smokie takes it well. Also, the last time his leg did this I did spray it with Vetryicin but it didn't seem to help. The two drugs he got Friday already stopped the weeping and redness. Now that I know it's most likely a food allergy, I can hopefully stop this from ever happening again and not have to worry about more Covenia.
 

nansiludie

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I am very glad to hear he has handled it well. If he does ever have a flare up of this sort, could you see if they'd give you clavamox or orbax instead of covenia injections? I was wondering if you could ask about trying Onsior for pain,  which is a NSAID. It is a tablet type medication but the pills are flavored and small.
 
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molly22

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I am very glad to hear he has handled it well. If he does ever have a flare up of this sort, could you see if they'd give you clavamox or orbax instead of covenia injections? I was wondering if you could ask about trying Onsior for pain,  which is a NSAID. It is a tablet type medication but the pills are flavored and small.
I will check into other alternatives if the vet wants to give more antibiotics. As for pain meds, I will definitely research Onsior. That's why I like this forum. Everyone is so helpful! For now I think we'll hold off on any pain meds unless he stops jumping up and down or if he seems in pain. I know kitties hide pain but I'm pretty sure he's ok for now.
 

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After a bit of googling I see it has a "black box" warning for the chance of death. I think I will steer clear of it. Thanks for your concern! I appreciate it [emoji]128522[/emoji]
But, for palliative care and pain management, consider how limited feline pain management options are, and that there are websites against convenia, any and all vaccinations, subcutaneous fluids, and other flaming conflicting info about very commonly used, therapeutic treatments for cats that improves their and their people's lives daily in the real world. Every medication has the potential for side effects or adverse events.

Anectdotally, when monitoring labwork for chronic use every 6 months for the slightest change, and stopping if a cat has vomiting or diarrhea, just as doctors recommend people stop their NSAID if the evercommon GI side effect seen, I have not, knock on wood, ever had a chronic use Metacam patient be adversely affected by their NSAID; other coinciding factors or diseases affect them, but their meloxicam NSAID is what owners' attributed better tolerance and calm, improved activity/navigating, and brighter happier cats to. I have closely observed hundreds in hospital for weeks of recovery with no adverse event on metacam, again at appropriate dose and frequency.

My own cats, 3 total, have been on it long term post orthopedic surgery or OA diagnosis, down to every 3 day dosing, with absolutely pristine blood chemistry their whole lives. In the end, cancer took all of them, but not until into a sweet old age. Doctors, both regular med and specialty, with whom I've worked, need it and use it in their limited analgesia/pain control arsenal for their patients without regret. We do check blood chem on all cats prior to starting any NSAID, which their only options are Metacam, Onsior (great for post op, as can only admin x3days), and aspirin in the days of old, when veterinary specific options weren't available.

I also have renal failure cats, diagnosed years before osteoarthritis, start metacam as a palliative care option when there was a decline enough in mobility, but still enjoyed eating and had good stable slightly elevated renal values. Some were on it the rest of their years, at the lowest effective dose possible, and were more comfortable and well managed, when their inflammation and pain were both treated. Buprenorphine is good for pain, but limited to a certain plane of pain management as it is not anti-inflammatory.

On emergency I see typical NSAID toxicity due to overdose, when a pet's meds are left within reach, and they chew the bottle or package and ingest anywhere from just mild GI toxicity amount to renal toxicity amount, but pets tend to get into our meds we leave lying around more than their own, as statistically owners are great about putting away their pet meds, but leave that bottle of Aleve, Ridalin, Celebrex, Cymbalta, or even little blue pills handy just in case they need 'em fast/easily.... bad news bears.

Don't forget to ask about the Adequan or PSGAG injections, they are strongly efficacious statistically for OA cats! Good Luck!
 
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molly22

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So my cats leg issue has been coming and going. In May the vet thought it was Eosinophilic granuloma. We've tried elimination of foods, detergent, etc but this issue just comes and goes. Last week he licked it until it was raw but this week it's healed and looks fine. I have an appt Friday with a new vet because mine just wants to pump him full of antibiotics and steroids.
Does anyone else have a cat with this and if so is it just something that flares up once in a while that can be cared for at home? Are there any cat topicals for anti-itching? I feel like he needs a cone when he gets in these licking frenzies. I've tried hot spot spray but he just licks it even more because it's wet.
 
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