Elderly cat breathing difficulties when purring

[juliagoolia]

Any help...

 

I am wondering if we need to take our chicken to the vets? They have been with us since tuesday and have been fine. This morning my dad has been up first and opened the eglu. As no one came out he looked and thinks that Harriet had a leg stuck between the roosting bars. Matilda has climbed over her to get out and the was follwed by Harriet who has just flopped to the ground where she stayed.

If you picked her up the leg itself looks ok but her left foot looks like she is trying to ball it up and when she tries to move it seems to be this leg that she can't move herself. Also she seems to be panting. She is still drinking and eating though.

 

Any ideas

 

Juliagoolia

[Olly]

Sorry, no ideas - if it's broken then she'll need to see a vet, if it's a sprain then she should recover, but I don't know how you tell the difference. I think a vet is probably needed to make a diagnosis.

 

The fact that she's eating and drinking is good but panting sounds as if she may be in pain. Can you find a vet open today?

[Janty]

I have to say that if it was my girl, I would take her inside for a while to observe her but then if the problem persisted, I would take her to the vets.

[juliagoolia]

Thanks for those..

 

She has stopped panting now. I am guessing that is because we have stopped messing her around. She didn't seem to cry out in pain when I touched her leg though.

I can't bring her into the house as we have cats. I have put her back into the run and she seems to be calmer. In the meantime I think I'll try and find a vet that is available.

 

Thanks again

 

Juliagoolia

[Egluntyne]

Have you examined it closely,? Any deformity or obvious grating of bone?

 

If yes, then she definitely needs a vet asap.

 

Any swelling, bruising or redness?

 

She may have just had a nasty sprain. Arnica pilules, 30c, 3 or 4 times a day will help with any bruising.

 

The balling of the foot might be due to her twanging the nerves.

 

I'd put her in a box and bring her indoors and let her rest. She will only try to keep up with her companions otherwise and aggravate it.

 

If she shows no improvement, and is not weight bearing tomorrow, then a trip to the vet would be a good idea anyway.

[juliagoolia]

I have examined her leg as best I can but I am no vet. I couldn't find anything that looked different to the other leg. I can't see any bumps, lumps or grazes and everything still looks the same colour.

I have called the vet and they are closed as expected but they do have a 24hr service so I think we'll keep her quiet and see how she goes.

 

Strangely I feel a lot calmer already. It is great to know that you are all out there.

 

Thank you so much

[Omletina Kyckling]

One of my girls broke her leg back in October, and didn't seem to feel pain when you touched the leg - we took her to the vet the following day (I didn't notice it until late at night and she didn't seem troubled by it) and they put a splint on it - she had to wear this with huge bandages for a month and made a full recovery, and you'd never know she'd ever had any problem at all the way she races around.

 

If she's the same tomorrow, you will need to take her to a vet (ours don't specialise in chickens but were willing to try and very good) as she may need a painkiller/anti inflammatory or similar.

[juliagoolia]

Just thought I'd let you know. Harriet is now able to take her full weight and is standing fine. She is a little wobbly when she tries to walk so seems to have sensibly decided not to. Every now and again she stands up and tests it but she seems fine.

 

Thanks again to all those who responded.

 

Juliagoolia

[Egluntyne]

That is good news.