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Treatment

Treatment will depend on the originating cause of the edema. For cats that have developed edema secondary to a bodily infection, the application of warm compresses is advised. In some cases, surgery or drainage may be necessary for treating the underlying cause. Severely edematous (swollen) limbs may require amputation if the condition cannot be resolved. Medication to treat the symptoms also depends on the underlying cause for the edema.

Living and Management

Monitoring after initial treatment on the cat will include complete blood counts, urine tests to check for protein concentrations in urine, and a series of biopsies of affected tissues, such as kidney tissues.

Lifestyle changes may be necessary depending on the cause of the edema. For example, a cat that has suffered from congestive heart failure should have its activity restricted during the recovery period. The prognosis for cats with peripheral edema depends on the underlying cause of the condition.

Prevention

Some causes of localized edema may be prevented with general safety measures, such as protecting your cat from hazardous areas like roads, where injury may occur, and preventing access to toxic substances and poisonous animals, such as snakes and spiders.