My cat limps, can't jump; vets disagree on her joint problem.

Hi! Thanks for entrusting us with Nika's care today! Lameness can be a sign of a few things that range from a muscle sprain to even a fracture. This may be weakness as she recovers from her sickness but likely not. I recommend that you have her evaluated by your veterinarian so that this can be further assessed which will likely include radiographs. Treatment will be dependent on findings though at the very least pain control medications can be prescribed. Good luck! Hoping for a speedy recovery!


Hello. It is very likely that Chloe experience a small vertebral or pelvic fracture at this time, or even suffered a little nerve damage. Most of the time we do not recommend very much treatment other than a short course of anti-inflammatory medication & rest/confinement. Since she is still showing some symptom, it is possible she is still in a little pain, so it is best to try to curtail her jumping. We do have to be careful with any pain medications in cats, but a trial with some of the available ones would show if there is something that we may be able to do for her. X-rays may show something & you can certainly opt to do more advanced imaging such as a MRI, but it does seem as if there was some damage done back in January. Your vet will probably want to reexamine Chloe. Hopefully, she will put her on medication to see if it relieves her symptoms. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. Based on the x-rays, I do not see any immediate concerning changes. However, on the right leg where the elbow is, it appears that there may be an increased density (bone sclerosis) of what we call the cortical bone. This may indicate early disease or something is beginning to affect the bone. I would recommend providing adequate rest for her for the next 4 weeks as well as give an anti-inflammatory to reduce any inflammation / pain she may be experiencing. I would recheck the x-rays in 4 weeks to see if there has been any change with the bone. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further!

I'm sorry Shadow is limping! No, it's not likely the vet injured her during the first visit. When we do a lameness exam, yes we do manipulate the legs but not enough to cause injury. If she does have spinal issues, it does make sense that she will show varying degrees of limping at times. I'd recommend having x-rays done on her spine to see if she is suffering from spinal problems. Unfortunately, kidney failure is very common in senior cats. It can be managed symptomatically, but it cannot be cured.

Hip disease is more common in older cats, it's usually due to arthritis but can be caused by other joint conditions as well. you will have to take her to the vet in order to get it checked, the vet might need to do an xray to evaluate the severity of the condition.

Poor girl. It soundsl ike Masha may be experiencing arthritis. Pets can get arthritis in their joints and also along their spine (spondylosis). You can try giving her joint supplements (Cosequin over the counter) to see if this helps with her mobility for the next week or so. However, if she is still not able to regain her mobility, a vet visit is needed to have her spine and leg radiographed to properly diagnose the underlying problem. I don't suspect that her lameness issues have anything to do with her history of FLUTD. I hope this helps and best wisehs getting Masha some relief from her joint pain. I would not recommend giving her any over the counter pain medication because these are quite toxic to cats in particular. Your vet should be able to prescribe something to alleviate her discomfort that is safe and effective. Best wishes and take care.

How old is he? If he is past 1 year old, I would be concerned that he may have a fracture of the tibial crest. That is the large bone below the knee. The hips also don't look 100% normal. Without doing an exam on him myself and knowing exactly where he is painful, it is difficult for me to just look at the radiographs and give you a diagnosis. Also, every veterinary surgeon charges differently for different procedures and it is also very depending on location and cost of living. My advice to you would be to go in for the consultation with the surgeon so they can give you more details on what is wrong with him and the best course of treatment. Be sure to ask for estimates for the procedure and if you cannot afford what they are recommending, simply ask what the next best, more affordable option would be. Cats are quite resilient and sometimes they can heal with strict confinement, but I would see what the surgeon thinks. I hope this helps and he starts to feel better soon.