My cat is lethargic and has a tender back leg. Is it a sprain?

Yes could definitively be a soft tissue injury, which probably will improve even without specific treatment but only with complete rest. If signs are not resolving in 48 hours I would recommend a check up as some anti-inflammatory and pain relief treatment will be necessary.

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Based on the information you have provided, and the attached pictures, I am also very concerned that Sprinkles may have sustained significant trauma, causing her to be non-weightbearing lame on her left hind leg. Whether she was hit by a car or potentially fell and injured her leg, it sounds like she is in a significant amount of pain. She also looks like she has abraded skin (a wound) on that leg as well, which is at risk of becoming infected. I recommend having her seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible to have her injuries addressed. He/she will perform a full physical exam to localize her pain and determine if she has other, more life-threatening injuries such as damage to her chest or abdomen. X-rays may be indicated if a fracture is suspected. Ultimately, pain medication and antibiotics can be prescribed to help ease her pain and prevent infection. Importantly, NEVER give pain medication that is intended for humans to your pet, as these can be fatally toxic. I hope this is helpful!

Hello. It is possible that this could be a strain, but most likely Darcy was bitten during the fight. It can take a few days for an infection to fester up so if she continues to hold the foot up, you should see your veterinarian. If an infection/abscess does develop, without antibiotics, it can open up & drain pus. I would try to have this looked evaluated at your earliest convenience. Thanks for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

If the lameness has persisted for 3 weeks and you notice that there is a difference in the shape of the shoulder area and leg position, I fear that the injury could be more serious than a sprain. Muscle injuries normally recover in 4-5 days of rest and antinflammatories. I would recommend to have him reassessed, there is a medication that can be given at home prior to the visit to help with the stress, I would ask your vet. Hope this helps !

Poor Oreo! It sounds like she has injured herself, and it could be due to a strain. I recommend resting her for the next 48 hours. No running, jumping, or playing. Keep her confined to a small room to limit movement, and do not allow her outside if she is allowed outdoors. If she still appears painful after this time, then I would take her into the vet for an exam. The vet can diagnose where the pain is coming from, and can dictate a treatment plan for it. She may also benefit from some pain medications, which the vet can prescribe. Please do not give him any human pain medications, as many are toxic to cats and are fatal if given.

It certainly could be a sprain, but he would need an examination and x-rays to be sure. I would recommend that you have Ziggy checked out by the vet. They may want to do x-rays all the way up the leg to the hip and spine to make sure there are no fractures.

The chance that there is a blood clot contributing to these clinical signs is very unlikely. Typically, when something like this happens, your cat would be in absolutely uncontrollable pain, screaming and crying like nothing you have every heard. You might also notice that the feet and limbs are noticeable cold. This doesn't sound like the case. In all likelihood, Autumn simply sprained or strained something and is now experiencing some discomfort as a result. One other cause of shifting or sporadic lameness in the limbs are tick borne diseases such as Lyme disease. While these are far more common in dogs, they can definitely occur in cats as well. Depending on your geographic region, the type of tick borne diseases that are most common will vary considerably. Hope this makes sense. Get Autumn into the vet for some examination if the symptoms don't subside in the next day or so. Just don't try and give any over the counter pain medication at home as there are none that are safe for cats.