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Our Siamese cat was just declawed, and she pilled off one of the bandages the day we brough her home. I re-wrapped it higer on her leag and taped it at the top to her hair so that it would not slide off. She came to me the next morning with the bandage completely unwrapped except for where I had taped it to her leg. I cut-off the tape, but she has been walking on three legs for a day now, and will not use the leg I had taped. I have watched her, and the muscles in her leg seem to function ok. She can extend her leg but she will not walk on it. The bandage was snug, but I did not think it was to tight, and I did not notice any swelling when I cut-off the tape. She didn't seem to be in any pain when I cut the tape off, and sat there for me nicely. What do you think? Thank you.

Submitted: 39 days and 2 hours ago.

Category: Cat

Value: $15

Status: CLOSED

Pet's Sex: Female
Pet's Age: <1

Posted by Drew 39 days and 2 hours ago.

Answer

Hi, thanks for your question. I'm sorry to hear that your cat is having this issue. Some cats can get infections in the toes, after a declaw procedure, especially if they pull off the bandages and are being too active (walking around the house instead of being restricted to a small bathroom, for example). I would have to suggest having your veterinarian re-examine the toes, to see if there's any sign of infection. I would advise, at a minimum, that pain medication be prescribed, such as Buprenorphine and/or Metacam, for a few days, and an antibiotic if needed. Activity MUST be restricted for at least one to two weeks, to allow for proper healing from this type of procedure.

39 days and 2 hours ago.

Reply

The declaw was done this past Monday.

She pulled off the bandage on Tuesday evening after we picked her up.

She would not use the leg all day Wednesday after I cut-off the tape, and hasn't really been that active because she has been hurting.

I think that time frame is too soon for infetion to set in. She licks the foot and it looks fine, no bleeding or discharge of any kind.

Posted by Drew 39 days and 2 hours ago.

Answer

There can be signifcant inflammation present, even before a true bacterial infection is able to cause any damage. This is why I suggested pain medication and anti-inflammatories, and antibiotics ONLY if needed.

39 days and 2 hours ago.

Reply

My concern is that even though I thought it was ok the bandage may have been to tight, and inhibited the circulation in her leg. The tape was on for approximately 8 hours.

Accepted Answer

If the bandage was too tight, you would see the foot all swollen up like a baseball glove - it's quite shocking to see how swollen they can get from a bandage that's too tight -- it sometimes happens in the hospital when we have an intravenous catheter taped in too tightly, but the swelling resolves within a few hours and no permanent damage would be expected from a tight wrap being in place for 8 hours.

Accepts:
Expert:	Drew
Pos. Feedback:	100.0 %
Answered:	10/15/2009

Veterinarian

Feline Medicine and Surgery

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There can be signifcant inflammation present, even before a true bacterial infection is able to cause any damage. This is why I suggested pain medication and anti-inflammatories, and antibiotics ONLY if needed.

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My concern is that even though I thought it was ok the bandage may have been to tight, and inhibited the circulation in her leg. The tape was on for approximately 8 hours.

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There can be signifcant inflammation present, even before a true bacterial infection is able to cause any damage. This is why I suggested pain medication and anti-inflammatories, and antibiotics ONLY if needed.

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My concern is that even though I thought it was ok the bandage may have been to tight, and inhibited the circulation in her leg. The tape was on for approximately 8 hours.

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Pet's Sex: Female
Pet's Age: <1