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Front leg injuries range from mild and simple to treat to complex and serious. Regardless, it is important to seek medical care if your cat has experienced any type of harm to their forelimbs.
A number of different things can lead to your cat sustaining a front leg injury. Issues with the forelimb can occur due to some form of trauma like a road accident or fall, or even landing wrong after a jump. If you notice something off in your cat's gait such as a limp or a hesitation to bear weight, then they may have suffered a forelimb injury.
Front Leg Injury Average Cost
From 327 quotes ranging from $200 - $1,800
Average Cost
$850
A variety of signs exist to indicate that your cat is dealing with a front leg injury. Listed below are some of the symptoms they may exhibit:
Types
There is a variety of injuries that can cause trauma to the front leg, and they are as varied as the symptoms your cat can present. Some of the more common ailments include:
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A few things commonly cause injuries to a cat’s front leg. Some can be extremely severe, while others can be treated rather easily. No matter, if your cat experiences any of the following, it is important to seek professional treatment to assure they heal properly:
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Due to the broad range of causes and types of leg injuries, a veterinarian will be sure to conduct a comprehensive examination to determine just how to handle your cat's injury. One of the first steps a vet will take is asking for a complete medical history. This can help determine if the issues with your cat's front legs are due to illnesses such as arthritis.
Next, your cat will undergo a complete physical examination. During this evaluation, your cat may be sedated in order for the tests to be performed adequately and without causing further stress to the animal. If your cat has been bitten or has an open wound, your vet will check the site for any infections. Blood work may be done as well to determine your cat's overall health. Another primary test conducted is a standard X-ray; however, the scan may not always indicate exactly what is wrong.
Your vet may also wish to check for instability which is done by overextending the damaged limb, otherwise known as a stress radiograph. This particular test is usually done in the case of damage to the ligaments such as the case with carpal hyperextension. In the case of a major trauma, it can sometimes lead to internal damage. If this is the case, further tests will be conducted such as a CT scan.
You can assist in the diagnosis process by keeping track of the symptoms your cat has presented and how long these signs have been occurring.
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Once a diagnosis has been discovered, it is important that you follow your vet's treatment plan in order for your cat to heal.
Immobilization
Depending on the injury, stabilizing the limb can help improve your cat's condition. To keep it immobilized, a bandage or splint will be used. Sometimes, this is only a temporary treatment to prevent further damage while a more definite treatment is sought. The use of just a cast or splint within a bandage can successfully treat certain front leg injuries. This immobilization can sometimes last as little as four weeks or longer than six.
Surgery
In the case of a major front leg injury, your vet will recommend surgery. They may insert pins or wires through the skin/bone that often noticeably poke out of the skin. In some cases, these are all removed upon the bone healing. In other cases, things such as pins or screws that are placed on or inside the bone are kept in as long as there are no further complications.
Another surgery your vet may perform concerns joint fusion, or what is known as 'arthrodesis.' This can be temporary or permanent. This procedure can cause a decrease in motion, but even cats that undergo a partial arthrodesis can have greater function. However, some can develop or retain some lameness.
In the event of a severe injury that has caused the front leg to become useless, or if all other options to fix it has been exhausted without success, your vet may recommend amputation. This is a serious option in which your vet will thoroughly examine your cat's overall health to be sure no other treatment can be taken, as well as whether or not their remaining limbs can support them.
Infection Treatment
If the front leg is infected due to cases such as an animal bite, then your vet may want to place your cat under anesthesia first in order to treat the infection. The afflicted area will be disinfected, and if an abscess has formed, then the pus will be removed and the wound promptly flushed and sterilized. Prompt treatment with antibiotics once an infection is noticed can help prevent the development of an abscess.
Medication
Beyond antibiotics to treat infections, your vet may prescribe a couple of different medications depending on the primary treatments. Anti-inflammatory medication will greatly assist in handling swelling as well as any fevers that may arise. To manage your cat's pain, your vet may inject painkillers while the pet is hospitalized. Once sent home, further oral pain medication can be given according to the plan laid out by your vet.
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It is always important to keep a close watch on your cat once they have been treated for a front leg injury, and the time it takes to fully recover depends on the severity of the damage.
If your cat has been bandaged, it is necessary to properly observe and care for it daily. You should follow up immediately with your vet if you notice things such as your cat showing major signs of discomfort with the bandage, any sort of odors or sores, or any swelling around the bandage such as in the toes. Also, be sure to keep the bandage clean and dry, and avoid modifying the splint in any way. Your vet will walk you through the proper way to change the bandages, and you should keep to a regular schedule.
Following any treatment, especially surgery, it is essential that your cat is well rested and that activity is restricted. You can confine your cat to a single room, but be aware that they can jump from various surfaces, so be sure to remove anything that they can leap on or off of. Your vet may recommend 'cage rest', something that many owners and pets alike find difficult at times. In spite of any feelings on the matter, it is important to follow the vet's instructions if they have ordered your cat to be in a crate while healing.
Your cat may also arrive home with an Elizabethan Collar to prevent chewing on the area, something typically used for up to two weeks. This is mainly in the case of amputation. Limiting your cat's activity following this treatment is vital until they have recovered.
Make certain to have routine follow-up appointments with your vet. They can more properly check any dressings, remove sutures, and order X-rays to be sure the injury is healing.
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Front Leg Injury Average Cost
From 327 quotes ranging from $200 - $1,800
Average Cost
$850
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Ask a Vet
Not known
2years
Unknown severity
0 found helpful
Unknown severity
Has Symptoms
Days ago i noticed him walking abnormally but he had no injury or wound or swelling. Today he s limping more and he has swelling in his leg (front ) and shoulder . And he s been in pain but he can still jump to the window and walks a lot
Sept. 27, 2020
Owner
Dr. Michele K. DVM
0 Recommendations
Thank you for your question. . With out being able to examine him, it is difficult to say whether he has a sprain, a strain, an abscess, or a trauma. It would be best to have your pet seen by a veterinarian, as they can examine them, see what might be going on, and get any treatment that they might need.
Oct. 13, 2020
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Stray
Two Years
Unknown severity
0 found helpful
Unknown severity
Has Symptoms
My cat is not touching his front left paw on the floor
Sept. 26, 2020
Owner
Dr. Michele K. DVM
0 Recommendations
Thank you for your question. I apologize for the delay, this venue is not set up for urgent emails. If he is still having problems, It would be best to have your pet seen by a veterinarian, as they can examine them, see what might be going on, and get treatment for them.
Oct. 18, 2020
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Cat
Six Months
Unknown severity
0 found helpful
Unknown severity
Has Symptoms
Cat is limping don’t know if she’s in pain and don’t know if I should take him to the vet
Sept. 26, 2020
Owner
Dr. Michele K. DVM
0 Recommendations
Thank you for your question. I apologize for the delay, this venue is not set up for urgent emails. Since I cannot see her, if she is still having problems, It would be best to have your pet seen by a veterinarian, as they can examine them, see what might be going on, and get treatment for them.
Oct. 18, 2020
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Unknown
Four Years
Unknown severity
7 found helpful
Unknown severity
Has Symptoms
About last week my cat fell at a really bad angle and damaged her front paw. My mother gave her gabapentin to calm her down because I was not there to comfort her. She has been limping all week with very slight improvement and I can not find any noticeable bruise. She lets me touch all parts of the damaged leg so I thought it was not broken. I was wondering if it is normal for a cat to limp for this long or if I should take her to the vet.
Aug. 5, 2020
Owner
Dr. Michele K. DVM
7 Recommendations
Thank you for your question. If she suffered a strain, or a sprain, that can take quite a while to heal. If she seems generally comfortable and it is getting better, it may be fine to monitor her, as long as she is strictly indoors where she is safe. If it is not getting better and just continues to bother her, it would be a good idea to have her seen by a veterinarian, as they can examine her and take x-rays if needed. I hope that she is okay.
Aug. 5, 2020
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Kitten
6 weeks
Unknown severity
1 found helpful
Unknown severity
Has Symptoms
Most vets want to wait til 8 weeks this happened today.
July 28, 2020
Owner
Jessica N. DVM
1 Recommendations
Hello- Thank you for your question. Since she is limping and painful I would recommend getting an appointment set up with a veterinarian as soon as possible. They can perform x-rays to make sure there is not a fracture and if all is normal can prescribe pain medication to keep her more comfortable. I would try and keep her from running around and jumping so that she can rest the limb. I hope she gets to feeling better soon. She’s adorable!
July 28, 2020
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Flint
Tiger
3 Years
Serious severity
0 found helpful
Serious severity
Has Symptoms
Hello, I have a three year old cat and he fell out of a tree an he broke his leg in the shoulder area i am in a dilemma of weather or not i should amputate the leg or have the vet do surgery to put plating in the leg. what are the long term pros and cons of both amputation and plating?
Honey
Calico
18 Years
Serious severity
0 found helpful
Serious severity
Has Symptoms
Large lump found on the lower part of my cats front leg. It appeared pretty quickly and is the size of a grape. She is 18 years old and doesn’t seem to be in any pain.
Pawlet
Shorthaired tux
9 Years
Moderate severity
0 found helpful
Moderate severity
Has Symptoms
I have a 9 year old cat that started limping, and holding the leg up when sitting. Took her to vet yesterday, took x-rays. The x-rays showed a foreign body up by the top of the leg (femur, no swelling. A vet doctor of 30 years, said she has NO idea what it is and has never seen anything like it! X-rays were sent off to radiologist.Prayers
Midnight
Cat
3 Months
Moderate severity
0 found helpful
Moderate severity
Has Symptoms
A dog got ahold of my cat's front paw and degloved the paw. It's healing nicely but the vet is telling me that he believes the cat has nerve damage and doesn't feel a thing from the elbow down and wants to amputate. Is amputation necessary? It is so expensive.
Allie
Calico
8 Months
Mild severity
0 found helpful
Mild severity
Has Symptoms
My name is Heather, I have an almost 1 year old calico cat and recently her front paws both turned from white to grey wondering if this is normal? And if it's not what it might be. She is walking fine and doesn't seem in pain.
Front Leg Injury Average Cost
From 327 quotes ranging from $200 - $1,800
Average Cost
$850
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