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QUESTION: there is this one cat that cant really walk or run on the left back leg. it got hurt i dont know exactly how but its leg is disconnected from the leg and the leg just kind of shakes when it walks, and also there is like a bump where it seems to be disconneted. i dont have the money for a surgery but please help me in some way, some tips or something. thank you
ANSWER: Since I have no idea which leg you are talking about, back or front, and I don't know what has happened, there isn't much I can do online.
You usually cannot splint a leg successfully without hurting the cat unless you are experienced at it.
You can at least take the cat to the vet to see whether or not it is broken. They can splint it for less money than a surgery.
But again, I have no idea which leg or part of the leg you mean.
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: its the left hind leg. something hit the cat because the leg is inside of the hip and it wobbles easy. if i press hard on it or touch the part where its seemingly disconnected the cat moves away. the cat needs help. i dont know the proper way to do it. should i jerk the leg and get it back into place or not to. they need to take an x ray to see what happened, because something heavy hit the cat hard and like knocked the leg into the hip. so the leg is stuck there and its not really usable. please help
It sounds as if the femur is broken. There is nothing you can do for this cat. It needs a vet and soon! I have no clue if this is a stray or your cat. If it is your cat you owe the cat the responsibility of taking care of him. Pet ownership is a responsibility and it does cost money. You cannot jerk the leg and fix it. You will certainly get bit, really hurt this cat even more or worse. And yes, the cat was probably hit by a car. That is the most common cause of broken bones in pets.
You can ask the vet about using pet insurance to help out with the cost. Or apply for CareCredit which many vets carry.
Either way this cat needs to be seen by a veterinarian tomorrow.
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Answers by Expert:
Jana Connell RVT, CVT
Expertise
PLEASE READ BEFORE SUBMITTING TO ME: I am NOT a vet and do NOT diagnose diseases. That is only for a licensed Veterinarian to do. I will give you suggestions and steer you toward calling your vet for help. You can call the vet's office and talk to the technician there or the vet at times. Don't be afraid to call them! If you have a serious issue with your pet please post it to one of the veterinarians in here- I will tell you the same thing in my answer. IF your pet is injured or in an emergency situation, CALL YOUR VET- Do not wait and post in here. Just call the vet's office and get them in to see the vet right away. Critical treatment time is lost if you seek answers here when you should have your precious pet at the vets!! Don't sit at home waiting for an answer when your pet is critically ill or injured!! I can answer most questions about small animal and wildlife care as well as small animal nutrition. I can also answer questions about all phases of dental care for small animals. I DO NOT answer questions about birds (unless it is wildlife or songbirds) or HAMSTERS/GERBILS/CHINS/GUINEA PIGS/REPTILES/FROGS/RABBITS/PET BIRDS OF ANY KIND so please submit these questions to the appropriate sections. I, as well as other experts in here, do NOT do homework questions- that is for YOU to do! Please respect these rules for all of us. Thanks!
Experience
I have over 35 years experience in the field of veterinary medicine. I specialized in small animals and did wildlife rehab for over 25 years, mostly raptors, squirrels and opossums. I am a Small Animal Nutritional Consultant with 6 certificates from Hills Pet Foods, CNM and Purina.
I also specialized in Small Animal Dentistry which is a field I truly love.
Organizations
Audubon,World Wildlife Federation, American Society of Veterinary Dental Technicians.
Education/Credentials
Licensed with California and Oregon, RVT and CVT.
Certified Veterinary Dental Technician
Have over 500 logged hours of Continuing Education Credits(that means I keep up to date!).
Awards and Honors
Nominated for Expert of the Month for the last 5 years.
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