About a year ago our cat was looked at by a vet. He got all his shots and was given a brief eye exam. The left eye in the lower left hand corner has a spot. The spot is a brown discoloration about a millimeter. The vet said it could have been a birth defect but it got a little bigger. Since then he has an injury on the left hind leg on the outer side. He is a black and white cat. Some of fur looks to have been bitten off or fallen off. When standing his foot turns out at an angel and he has slight limp. There is some sort of scab on it. It is sensitive to the touch as well. Also, in the past 2 years he has drank a lot of water excessively. He wont drink out of his cat bowel unless absolutely necessary. When we use the restroom, he cries until we turn on the faucet for him to drink. He laps the water up for at least for 1-2 minutes. It’s like he is dying of thirst.I was hopping you could guide my husband and I on what to do with our cat.
Our other cat is an older male and not experiencing any of these problems.
Dr. Marie replied:
Hi Jennifer...sorry to hear that Baxter is having some problems.
Regarding the eye, we will commonly see spots in the eye that are nothing to worry about. Some animals get something called an iris freckle. Another possibility is an iris cyst that looks like a black bubble suspended in the fluid of the eye. While we can see tumors in the eye they are usually very fuzzy and inflamed.
I am fairly concerned about the other symptoms you mentioned. It sounds like Baxter may have an infection in his leg. Does he go outside? If so it is possible that he has been bitten by another cat. If he has an infection it will not get better unless he goes on antibiotics that need to be prescribed by your vet.
Regarding the thirst, if there is an increase in thirst this can be a sign of something serious such as diabetes or kidney disease.
It's hard to tie the increased thirst in with the leg problem. However, if he has diabetes then he will be more prone to getting an infection.
It really does sound like a vet visit is necessary. Your vet will look at the wound and decide whether it needs antibiotics or if it is a more serious injury. They will likely also want to do some blood and/or urine tests as well.
I hope he is ok!
Dr. Marie.
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Disclaimer: Although Dr. Marie is a qualified veterinarian, the information found on this site is not meant to replace the advice of your own veterinarian. AskAVetQuestion.com and Dr. Marie do not accept any responsibility for any loss, damage, injury, death, or disease which may arise from reliance on information contained on this site. Do not use information found on this site for diagnosing or treating your pet. Anything you read here is for information only.
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Veterinarian, Dr. Marie created this site to be able to provide quick, accurate veterinary advice online. She would love to help with your pet's problem!
Dr. Marie is a veterinarian who practices in a busy animal hospital in Ottawa, Ontario. She created Ask A Vet Question as a resource for good, accurate veterinary advice online. Dr. Marie treats dogs, cats, hamsters, guinea pigs, and rats. She has been a vet since 1999.
Is an online vet visit just as good as a trip to your veterinarian? No! But, many times, asking an online veterinarian a question can help save you money. While Dr. Marie can't officially diagnose your pet or prescribe medications, she can often advise you on whether a vet visit is necessary. You can also ask Dr. Marie for a second opinion on your pet's condition.