Kitten's foot swollen and painful. Is aspirin safe for pain relief?

It is probably an abscess. You can try soaking the foot in warm epsom salt water for 5 minutes 3 times per day. That may help draw the infection out. Honestly though, most of the time oral antibiotics are also needed to get this to heal up completely. She definitely looks like she does not feel well so if you can eventually get her to a vet that would be really great.

Poor Mavis! No, do NOT give aspirin or any other human over-the-counter pain medications, as these are extremely toxic in cats. Unfortunately, there is nothing you can get over the counter that would be safe to give her. If she's holding up the leg completely and/or seems really painful on it, then I would recommend having her seen tonight at an emergency clinic for an exam and possibly x-rays. If this isn't possible, then I would take her to your regular vet tomorrow morning to be seen if she's still limping.

It looks like Johnny has an abscess. What he really needs is to have it flushed out and get on some antibiotics. If you absolutely can’t get to the vet, you can try soaking the foot in epsom salt solution. Mix 1 tbsp epsom salt into 1/4 cup warm water and submerge the foot for 5 mins two to three times daily. You will also need to warm compress the leg at least twice daily to help drain the puss. (Use a warm wet washcloth in a plastic bag and apply moderate pressure- you want the puss to come out.) Johnny MUST stay indoors until his leg is healed. Leave the wounds open to air- do not try to bandage the leg. Also remember that pain medications for humans (Tylenol, aspirin, ibuprofen) should NEVER be given to cats as they can be very toxic. Good luck to you and Johnny!

Unfortunately there are no OTC medications for this issue that would be safe to give Boots. The swelling could be caused by many things, including a small fracture, muscle strain, puncture wound, infection, insect bite reaction, problems with lymphatic flow, etc. Check her skin and between her pads for any punctures, wounds, or bruises. You can try gentle massage to help move any fluid present and an ice pack wrapped in a thin towel for 15 minutes at a time. If the swelling doesn't go down soon, she should be checked out by a vet.

Nino's paw could be swollen due to trauma, like getting stepped on, an insect bite, an infection or an issue with his paw bones. If it continues to appear swollen he should be examined by a veterinarian as he may need antibiotics or other medications. Do not give him any human medication as it can be very toxic to kittens.

Please have your kitten seen by a vet right away. That wound looks extremely painful and will require pain medication and antibiotics. The kitten will need to have the wound cleaned out by the vet and will likely need sutures/bandaging of the area. Pain medication meant for people can be toxic to kittens and should not be used without checking with your vet. If you cannot keep the kitten and don’t know anyone who will take on his care and vet expenses, please contact local animal shelters and rescue groups so that he can get vet care asap. Thanks for trying to help these cats!

Hi, thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. The kitten needs medication, I recommend taking it to a veterinarian as it sounds like it needs antibiotics and possibly pain medication as well. Do not give any human medications as many are toxic to cats. Depending on exam findings, the vet may recommend xrays as well if they suspect significant trauma to the leg. Best of luck, I hope she recovers quickly.