swollen front and back leg

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melba tee

melba tee

Member Since 2014
I just noticed Melba's front and back leg on his right side are swollen about twice normal size. It was fine this morning.

He is already living on borrowed time. What could this mean?

When I got home from work, he was soaked in pee from lying in his litter box, so I bathed his hind quarters in the sink and blow dried him. When I picked him up I could hear his joints snap. He doesn't seem to be in any pain. He is purring now.
 
Is the limb cold? That would suggest a blood clot, though typically the cat is in extreme pain.

Does the limb repond if you move it around- push up from the foot, squeeze a toe, stretch it?

A vet visit is suggested.
 
It feels cool compared to the other leg. But he has been lying on the other leg and that may have made it warmer.

He responds when I touch it. He is not in pain. He has a lot of fluid in his belly. Maybe this is more fluid?

Vet is closed now. Will call in the morning. Not much they can do for me, though. They suggested I put him down three months ago. Melba is not ready yet.
 
If it might be circulatory-related - perhaps lymphedema? - gentle, light strokes from food to belly may help slightly shift the fluid away from the legs.
 
If he has fluid on his belly then this is likely also fluid. My GA 'heart' kitty, Scruffy, would do that when his meds weren't working well. It sounds like exactly what you're describing. He too wasn't in pain when it happened. It usually meant I needed to double up on his lasix for a couple of days. We did the 'heart dance' together a year after the vet said let him go.

Lots of HUGS and prayers!
 
I have some furosemide (Lasix) that was prescribed for him in July when he had fluid in his chest. I only gave it to him twice because of his potassium deficiency. My vet said to use it sparingly because it will lower potassium. At that time I was not able to give him his full potassium supplement orally. However, I noticed the drug did cause constipation.

Since then he has had a feeding tube installed and gets his full dose of potassium daily. I can also give him extra water if he becomes dehydrated.

I just read up on the drug online and it said it may react with insulin. http://www.petmd.com/pet-medication/furosemide
 
The pill seems to have worked. Melba's feet have shrunk to near normal size. However, he still has a big pocket of fluid between his shoulder and his elbow.

I will be calling the vet today.
 
Hi Wendy,

I'm glad that you found something to help Melba. Keeping fingers and paws crossed that your vet will be able to build on the improvement. cat_pet_icon
 
ok... so I gave him furosemide last night and tonight his blood glucose is high. So I did some internet research and found out that furosemide can cause blood glucose levels to rise.

arghhhh
 
We went to the vet Thursday. He was so swollen and bloated I was actually embarrassed to let them see him. He was soaked in urine and they bathed him. He had gained over two pounds of water weight. His blood tests weren't too bad. My vet was expecting worse.

Melba was put on Fortekor, Vetmedin and a tripled dose of Furosemide. He has been peeing like crazy and today he is actually normal size and his blood glucose was down to 7.9 (225 US) even after I gave him half a can of gravy lovers fancy feast.

However, he has been lying in his pee and I am constantly washing and drying him. I am hoping we can lower the dose of diuretic.
 
Diuretics can drop potassium levels, which may result in weakness. Too low potassium can result in death. I may be premature, but please check with your vet asap.
 
Melba takes a potassium supplement. He gets 1/2 tsp tumil K twice a day. His potassium was 4.2 on Wednesday.
 
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