Cat’s lame leg needs vet visit
I own a 17-year-old cat who has been lame on her left front foot for three months now. My veterinarian does housecalls like you do and she has suggested that my cat be evaluated with x-rays to determine more accurately what the cause might be for the lameness. There is clearly no fracture, and my cat seems otherwise to be quite content. I am hesitant to transport the cat to a local hospital for several reasons, the primary of which is that she gets extremely stressed out whenever she is transported probably because she knows that it typically means she is going to a veterinarian. My vet has given me both gabapentin and buprenorphine to manage my cat’s pain, but nothing seems to work that well. What might be going on? Are there any other medications that I can give my cat for the pain?
My cat also has respiratory issues, high blood pressure and some kidney compromise. What do you suggest? The vet has given me the buprenorphine a few times based on my requests but is losing patience with me at this point. I need your help and thoughts as to what to do next.
Given the limited information that you present, there may be several things going on with your cat’s leg. There could be a sprain that has never healed well enough, and it is not as if you can get the cat to stop jumping up or down, which may only reinjure what is damaged.
There may be a degree of arthritis and there may be a need to find out what works. However, before anything else is done, I concur that a proper diagnostic workup should be done even if that means the cat being stressed to go in to have radiographs or other other tests. complicating Despite the issues that you mention, knowing specifically what is going on will allow for a better treatment plan.
There are other medications besides those mentioned that can be used for osteoarthritic pain. NSAIDs like meloxicam can be given and while long term use has risks, it may be what you have to give for her quality of life. Adequan is another drug that you can discuss with your veterinarian. Buprenorphine is an opiate and should be limited in use for legal reasons, as well as others. Opiates should be used in limited amounts and very sparingly. Tramadol is another drug that can be given but the bitter taste provides a challenge. There are also several supplements that can promote better joint health. Gabapentin and NSAIDs, such as meloxicam, might be your best bets but start with the diagnostics and go from there. Lastly, I have learned that one can increase gabapentin dosing more than most are aware of and that might be worth a try. Good luck!