Cat’s limp is a mystery

Q

Our ginger tomcat, who is two and a half, developed a limp in his right front leg about eight weeks ago. When he gets up the limp is pronounced, but after a few minutes he walks normally.

A course of painkillers for a week didn’t help and an X-ray was clear. Our vet has suggested doing nothing to see if it resolves itself before a further course of painkillers or referral to a specialist. What should we do next? A Your vet’s options are exactly the ones that I would give for your cat. Doing nothing (often called benign neglect) may allow the problem to right itself, although as it has been eight weeks this approach may not work.

However, there is no harm in trying a few weeks of keeping the cat in and resting him.

One week of painkillers has been tried so far and there are other painkillers, including ones only recently introduced. Another two weeks or so of painkillers might resolve the problem. If it does not, the third option remains.

A specialist will have seen unusual, difficult-to-diagnose cases like this, and have access to imaging facilities such as CT and MRI scans.

These may reveal abnormalities not seen in conventional X-rays, at least in the early stages.

There is a significant cost implication that you should discuss with your vet. But referral will hopefully result in a definitive diagnosis, as well as a treatment plan that your own vet can continue, along with specialist guidance when needed.

Q A dog that exercises in our local park has caught parvovirus and is being treated. I have a one-year-old crossbreed that was vaccinated as a pup. Is he at risk and what are the signs to look out for?

A

Parvovirus first appeared in the UK in the early 1980s in a devastating outbreak. Affected dogs became extremely lethargic, refused food, and quickly developed severe vomiting and diarrhoea with blood. Initially, until it was recognised as a new virus, many of the affected dogs were suspected of having intestinal foreign bodies.

Since then I have seen hundreds of identical cases and virtually all these dogs had not been properly vaccinated. Even with intensive fluid therapy some do not survive. Those that recover often need hospitalisation for a week or more.

So I think it is best to contact your vet now. She will tell you whether your dog had the complete original (primary) course of vaccination. If so, a booster is the best course of action rather than waiting to see if signs develop.

Properly vaccinated puppies with a booster at around one year of age should have a very high degree of immunity against parvovirus.

If for any reason there was a gap in the first vaccination schedule, (or no vaccine at all), a two-dose vaccine course would be advisable immediately.

This is because parvovirus is very resistant, surviving in the environment for many months. In an outbreak it is virtually inevitable that dogs will come into contact with it where they walk.