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tvpjournal.com | September/October 2015 | TOday'S VeTerinary PracTice cOnSider ThiS caSe Peer reviewed 41 a 15-year-old castrated male domestic shorthair cat presented with a 2-month history of progressive lameness, swelling, and pain in its right front paw. HISTORY The patient was an indoor only cat. no other animals in the household were showing clinical signs. he was anorectic and had vomited a few times after eating in the recent past. The previous attending veterinarian had taken radiographs of the affected paw and conducted a basic serum biochemical profle; however, results were not defnitive. Therapy for the pain and lameness, including butorphanol, was administered, and the patient received a vitamin and mineral supplement (Lixotinic, zoetisus.com). no apparent changes in the patient's condition were noted while receiving these treatments. PHYSICAL EXAMINATION On initial physical examination, the patient appeared depressed and painful. he was hesitant to bear weight on the affected limb, and sedation (acepromazine, 0.02 mg/kg iM, and hydromorphone, 0.075 mg/kg iM) was required to perform a full physical examination. Upon closer examination, the cat's right front paw demonstrated severe infammation, and a bloody, purulent discharge was present between the footpads and interdigitally. all of the nail beds varied from eroded to ulcerated (Figure 1). in addition, a small cranial abdominal mass was palpated, and a mild heart murmur was auscultated. The patient also had moderate dental disease. The remainder of the examination was normal. DIAGNOSTICS Laboratory Analysis complete blood count (cBc), serum biochemical profle, and urine analysis were conducted by the in-house laboratory. • cBc showed a mild nonregenerative anemia, neutrophilia with left shift, and mild lymphopenia, suggesting inflammation and stress. • Serum biochemical profile revealed increased blood urea nitrogen (37 mg/dL; reference range, 18–32), decreased potassium (2.9 meq/L; reference range, 3.2–4.5), and decreased calcium (8.4 mg/dL; reference range, 8.8–11). • Urinalysis values were within normal limits. Senior Cat with Front Paw Swelling & Pain Stephanie Apple, DVM Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine Sandra Diaz, DVM, MS, Diplomate ACVD Ohio State University Figure 1. ulceration of the nail fold (A); all digits were affected. A bloody, purulent discharge was associated with the areas of ulceration (B). A B