Kitten struggling to walk, back rounded. Is it a paw or back injury?

Hi ! Your kitten needs to see a vet ASAP, to understand if there is a proble with her pelvis or with her back. The longer she is left, the less chance she has to recover sadly. Also she is going to be in a lot of pain which is also a big concern. I hope she can be treated and she can go back to full health soon. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach !

Hello, thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. So sorry to hear this happened to Givenchy. You really need to get her to a vet for an examination. She could have fractured/broken the leg, dislocated it or even avulsed the brachial plexus (bundle of nerves in the armpit). These are not things you are going to fix at home. I'm sure she is in a lot of pain and getting some pain medication from the vet would be a nice thing to do for her too. Please get her to the vet. It doesn't sound like a simple sprain. You can cold compress it if she will allow you to but that won't take the place of a vet exam. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Poor Gracie! She could have fallen and broken her leg. She also could strained or torn a ligament. It's quite serious that she isn't walking on it and won't let you touch it. I would take her into a vet immediately for a lameness exam and x-rays. These tests will help diagnose what is causing this problem so she can be treated. In young kittens, it's important to get these problems checked out promptly to prevent any disruption to normal growth. This will also be very painful to her, and the vet can give her pain medications. Please do not give her any human pain medications, many are toxic to cats and are fatal if given. Only the vet can prescribe safe ones. Please take her into an ER vet clinic; if there isn't one in your area, there will be a vet on call for emergencies. The information to reach that vet is found on a clinic's answering machine or website.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Mayo! I would be sure she is eating, drinking and urinating. If she isn't urinating then she needs to be seen sooner than later. Otherwise if she is doing those things, just keep her confined so she doesn't jump or fall down the stairs. A large dog crate or baby play yard would work. I wish you the best!

This kitten will need to be seen by a veterinarian. It may be possible to orthopedically treat the kitten by applying braces or similar means to help it strengthen its front legs. It is necessary for the kitten to be examined and treated as it will not be able to walk properly on the front legs like this, making it prone to injuries and infections.

That does sound very worrisome. Unfortunately an injury to the spine is not something that we can diagnose by hearing the clinical signs. As you know, a back injury can be very serious. I recommend to get mittens in to see the veterinarian quickly. The doctor will be able to palpate the back and should get an idea as to if a back injury is likely. Pets can also get soft tissue muscle pulls, hip pain and a variety of other ailments that are not as serious as a spinal injury. The first step though is to get her checked out. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

It could be soft tissue damage from an injury causing limping but it could also be a result of an orthopedic issue. Kittens can also get viral infections like calicivirus that can cause limping. I'd recommend keeping Binks quiet by confining her to a small area and not allowing her to run, jump, or use stairs. If she continues to limp or any other abnormal signs develop she should be examined by a veterinarian as she may need X-rays or pain medication. Please remember there are no safe over the counter pain medications for cats so you will need to get these from a veterinarian. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach and I hope Binks is on the mend soon!