Why is my stray cat lifting its paw, has mange, and skin issues?

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It is hard to be 100% from the picture but it looks like she is missing a toe or has had some previous trauma to that paw. If she is eating and isn't limping then it could be normal for her. If your neighbor is planning on adopting her and caring for her long term she will need a Vet visit to be dewormed, vaccinated and spayed. The Vet can check out the paw. I wish you the best!

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. I would suspect that this could be from another cat, some other animal or a puncture wound from a sharp object. It sounds as though the lesion is infected with your description. I would recommend soaking the foot in a mixture of betadine and water until you have a light brown solution. Soak the foot with this solution twice daily for 10 minutes at a time. If the foot does not improve, I would recommend having a veterinarian take a look at this so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. 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.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This may be due to an allergy, infection or inflammation for instance. It would be best to make sure that for example there is not a foreign body or something causing discomfort and possibly an infection and pain. I recommend you have her evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They would be able to check for this possibilities and treat accordingly. Have a good night!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This could be a benign or malignant growth. This could even be an abscess. There is no way of knowing what it is just based on its appearance. This is often differentiated by a test called a fine needle aspirate (FNA) which is a pain free, inexpensive and easy procedure which in most cases will help reach a diagnosis. Sometimes a biopsy is needed for a definitive diagnosis. Usually this unfortunately cannot be treated at home since we do not know what it is. I recommend that you have her evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. I am really hoping for something benign. Good luck and have a good day!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is likely due to an ear condition such as ear infection or ear mites for instance making him itch and cause self-trauma. However, this could also be something like allergies. This cannot be diagnosed just based on a picture and would require a veterinary evaluation. I recommend you consider taking him to a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. The issue could be identified and treated. Good luck and have a great day!

Hello. This is quite concerning. This may be some kind of autoimmune reaction or a severe intraocular infection. The eye really needs to be examined with the right equipment, either an ophthalmoscope or slit-lamp scope to see beyond the cornea into the deeper chambers of the eye. Coatie really needs to be seen, probably by a veterinary ophthalmologist, but you can start with your regular vet. I hope you can have her seen soon to prevent further damage that may lead to permanent loss of vision. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hello. I cannot say for sure what this is without a hands on exam and some simple tests, but your veterinarian would be able to solve this for you pretty easily. Mange in a puppy this young is not common, but a simple and quick skin scrape would determine if it is mange. More likely, it is a skin infection- this may be bacterial or fungal. Your veterinarian can also check this. Fungal infections can be very contagious (Ringworm), so it is important that you have this puppy looked at as soon as possible. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach