PART 2 — CURRENT CONDITION UPDATE

Pumpkin is now resting indoors, and his veterinary team has been able to get a clearer picture of what was causing him to favor his back leg.

X-rays did not show a major fracture. Instead, the examination found significant soft-tissue inflammation around his left hind leg, along with a small damaged area on one paw pad that had become painful from repeatedly walking and sleeping on rough, wet surfaces. Because Pumpkin’s history before he appeared behind the apartment complex is unknown, we cannot say exactly how the injury occurred.

For now, the most important treatment is rest. Pumpkin is receiving veterinarian-prescribed pain relief and anti-inflammatory medication, while the irritated paw is being cleaned and monitored closely for infection. His activity is intentionally limited so he cannot repeatedly jump onto furniture or aggravate the leg while it heals.

His dehydration has also improved. During his first several hours inside, Pumpkin showed interest in food but ate cautiously. He is now finishing small portions of wet food throughout the day and has begun drinking independently rather than relying entirely on additional fluids.

One particularly reassuring change has been his movement. Pumpkin still walks with a mild limp, especially after waking from a long nap, but he is placing more weight on the affected leg. He can comfortably walk between his bed, food dishes, and litter box, and he has been using the litter box normally.

Emotionally, Pumpkin remains cautious.

For the first day, he spent much of his time tucked into the back of a covered bed and became tense whenever someone reached toward him. We have been allowing him to control the pace of interaction rather than pulling him out of hiding.

That patience is beginning to make a difference. Pumpkin now lifts his head when a familiar caregiver enters the room. He has also started grooming his front legs and chest again, something he showed little interest in doing when he first arrived.

During a quiet visit recently, he even leaned forward to sniff an offered hand before settling back onto his blanket.

The next step will be another veterinary evaluation to make sure the swelling continues to decrease and that the paw pad is healing properly. If his limp does not continue improving as expected, additional imaging may be considered.

Pumpkin still has healing to do, and we are taking his recovery one day at a time. But tonight, he isn't returning to a collapsing cardboard box in the rain. He has a dry bed, regular meals, medical care, and a quiet place where someone is watching over him.