Kitten Limping

Melissaeren

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My 4,5 weeks old kitten is limping and the vet said its probably broken but I don’t want her to limp for the rest of her life is there anything I can do?
 

verna davies

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Didnt the vet suggest something. The poor thing might be in pain. Do you know if she fell or something happened for her to hurt herself. Are you able to get a second opinion?
 

Kieka

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With kittens that young there isn't much you can do. They tend to be growing too fast for casts but are too small for surgery. The most I am aware of is a splint that you will need to see the vet frequently to refit/check or confined rest.

Is the kitten still with Mom?
 
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Melissaeren

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With kittens that young there isn't much you can do. They tend to be growing too fast for casts but are too small for surgery. The most I am aware of is a splint that you will need to see the vet frequently to refit/check or confined rest.

Is the kitten still with Mom?
Yes she is and she stuck her nail in the curtain so it happened ans it swollen Im scared she will limp ferever
 

lavishsqualor

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Don't vets usually require cage rest for something like this? If I were you, I'd ABSOLUTELY call my vet back and ask about pain control for the kitten. Your vet should have addressed this from the onset! I'd be finding a new vet.
:fuming:
 

Kieka

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Given the age of the kitten there probably aren't any safe pain medications and if she is nursing still cage rest could be hard. Kittens grow so fast that the biggest issue is keeping it from becoming deformed.

I think I would call around for a vet who is comfortable with neonatal kittens. If you can keep the whole litter in a smaller area that they can't get out of but Mom can that would be good too.
 

lavishsqualor

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Gosh, that sounds terrible! Surely there's something safe they can give a five week old kitten for pain. It totally freaks me out to think of a kitten with a broken limb just suffering.
:(
 

Kieka

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Gosh, that sounds terrible! Surely there's something safe they can give a five week old kitten for pain. It totally freaks me out to think of a kitten with a broken limb just suffering.
:(
Once the initial pain has passed the kitten probably isn't feeling it too much. Plus putting weight on it and feeling the pain will keep the kitten from over using the limb. It sucks in the short term of course but cats are just as much prey as predator they as long as they are eating and moving the pain is background noise.

Obviously, if we were talking an adult and known safety of the medication I would, and have, give pain medication. But the risk with a kitten is just high. Not only in safety of the medication in general but also if it makes the kitten lethargic and they eat less they can go downhill quick.

That's why a neonatal specialist should've consulted to make sure treatment is appropriate and safe given the kittens age.
 

Kieka

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And to stress it, I am not saying leaving the kitten in pain is acceptable if there is a safe alternative. But it likely isn't suffering unduly and the risk of pain medication is high in comparison. If we were talking a 4 month old kitten I'd be right on board with get a new vet right away. But 4 weeks is so much more sensitive and risky.
 

Genesis123

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I've had plenty of limping cats and kittens. They always heal themselves. (The limping ends.) A kitten, who twisted its foot/leg, stuck in a curtain, doesn't say "serious" to me. I've had baby kittens (4, 5 weeks old) fall from relatively high places and they've always recovered from their limps (perfectly).

Another thing I've learned is that if a cat or kitten wants to go somewhere, or do something, even if it's limping, it will. If the kitten is still walking on it, it couldn't be so serious (or painful) that it feels the need to stay off it.

I don't mean to sound uncaring (I love my cats to the N-th degree), but I have a lot of faith in their natural ability to heal. Just relax -- and let the baby rest when it wants. I'm putting my faith in "it will be OK". :)


P.S. And, please, make no mistake -- I know the worry, or concern, you're going through. I appreciate that -- been there, done that. (!!!!) I recognize it as someone who cares and loves their cat.
 
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