Purrs In Our Hearts - Cat Forum UK
Cat Health & Behaviour => Health & Behaviour General => Topic started by: weesilvie on October 26, 2012, 12:53:55 PM
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Hello all
I know, im only here when I want something...
Silvie has an arthritis-related injury to her front leg and the vet has given us Tramadol capsules to try. The vet tells me I can't empty them out into her food because it tastes too nasty. They've to be given twice a day. And the capsules are HUGE!
I would appreciate any tips and ideas for giving her these bloomin capsules, particularly as I'll have to do it on my own and I don't want to disturb her sore leg any more than necessary.
Thanks :)
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Would it be worth a try to empty them and mix them in something. Luna has had cystitis and my vet said I could try cranberry - it is hideously sour but she is happily taking it mixed in a bit of Webbox paste.
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Purrrrrrrsonally think vets should have more sense!
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Thanks. I'm reluctant to empty them out in case I waste them. :welcome:
I might try mixing it with something tasty to syringe in, if i have no luck with them whole. What is webbox, where can I get it in the UK?
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Hi
It's a flavoured paste and can be found in the treats section in a supermarket. I've found it in Asda and Waitrose so I'm guessing its fairly easy to get hold of.
Webbox do either a soft stick type treat which I got as my vet suggested the antibiotics were worth a try wedged into a pliable treat but I used the paste so it was a blob, then the tablet, then a sprinkle of cystaid then another blob and as that wasn't working straight away I tore up one of the sticks and put that on the top. I think it has something like licky lick on the box.
It was far far easier than wedging a tablet in something.
Good luck!
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Yes Licky Lix, my 2 dont like them mind...
Worming tablets I put inside a webbox stick and they get eaten pretty sharpish! But suspect they are smaller than the ones you are trying to administer
What about one of the syringe things you put tablets in? your vet or pets at home will have them? Not tried them myself tho
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Gill - you don't mean this is a bad drug, do you?
Emmy-lou - I hadn't thought of those things, I'll have a look to see if they fit capsules in. Thanks
Thanks for the webbox tips - I'll see what I can find in Asda later
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Nooooooooooo sorry if I gave that impression :hug: :hug:
Just meant that vets need to be so much more aware of their human clients needs and also how difficult it is to get anything huge into a cat that doesnt want.
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No problem, thanks Gill :)
Anyway, I have good news - I buried the whole capsule in her dinner and she ate it no problem! Can't help feeling like that was beginner's luck though! I did try the pill gun thing first - epic fail!
Vet did say one side effect could be that she'd be a little bit sedated. Can't imagine her being any more sedate than she usually is. My friend calls her a pipe and slippers cat!
I'll let you know how I continue to get on. Keep the tips coming - I'm not expecting my good fortune to last!
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I am currently using Salmon and chicken pate with great success for worming tablets and My Hyperthroid boy Max's tablets and it works a treat as they all think they are getting something special and wish I had thought about it years ago sadly only M & S stuff works here :shocked:
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Thank Liz, will bear that in mind. Funny how they know which the most expensive stuff is!
Has anyone else used tramadol with their cat? I'm not the most happy with how shes reacting to it. She had the first one at 5pm yesterday and was OK until 9pm, just sleeping on my lap. Got up to give her supper then and she's been a bit weird since - was sitting upright on my lap for ages before she sat down, eyes always open, eyes and pupils wide. I usually shut her downstairs at night because she wakes me up but decided not to last night to keep an eye on her. I went to bed and she didn't follow me which is highly unusual, she's usually all over me. Didn't see her all night, except when I got up to go for a pee. She wasn't even harassing me for breakfast! She has been excited for breakfast though, once I got into the kichen and has taken her next dose.
I think I'll phone the vet later on for some reassurance that this is ok and its worth pursuing. Anyone got any thoughts or experiences? I don't like this, she's not my usual Silvie.
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Update - phoned the vet and they agreed this isn't an appropriate reaction and I've to go and collect something different for her at lunchtime.
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I too have a problem re tablet giving,my boy had an abscess burst(by vet)so have to give him tabs twice daily,he's too clever to accept them wrapped up!so have to have a coule of goes each time,just putting him maybe on bed,then when he opens his mouth to complain,chuck it in!lol then holding his mouth shut 'til it's gone.
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From googling, is there any chance the dose was maybe too high? Am wondering if the "HUGE capsules" are canine doses by mistake? Just a thought. Make sure you enquire closely on dosage.
I haven't come across tramadol being used in cats altho seems common enough for cats with arthritis when you google. Don't like the sound of ...
Has anyone else used tramadol with their cat? ............... she's been a bit weird since - was sitting upright on my lap for ages before she sat down, eyes always open, eyes and pupils wide.
Sounds a bit like Noni when she came home from her recent dental which worried me but she was back to normal within a few hours. Hope all OK now :hug:
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Thanks all
I now have something different which is likely to cause us more bother than the capsules! It's a liquid, Vetergesic, which I have to syringe under her tongue or onto her gums to be absorbed. Has to be done slowly and can't be done with food or it won't be absorbed. This will be fun!
The reaction to the tramadol is quite scary - she's ok, but seems a little confused, not sure what she's doing. Think it will take until tomorrow for her to get it out of her system. Not nice to watch. Fine excuse not to do my housework though - don't want to disturb her!
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I am now worried about the meds and have just done a search about vetergesic and cant find anything about it except in its injectable form.
It maybe a good idea to pm Rosella cos she has access to NOAH I think its called which gives all information about animal drugs, I have never been able to use it.
I am sure that Napoleon was given a very small amount of vetergesic cos it was thought metacam would not be safe for him but it went in his food.
I am not sure why your vet us using this rather than metacam which you can add to wet food and most cats like cos its sweet.
The down side to metacam is that its not suitable for cats with kidney problems althoiugh sometimes one has to weigh up the life span of the cat against a pain free life.
Do you know your vet well atre they experienced with cats? Are they a small animal vet or a farm vet.
Afraid I would be very worried about what they are prescibing for your cat and would tend not to give this vetergesic without loads of questions and the main one being why not metacam.
I think you need to change the title of the thread to ask people about vetergesic cos am sure that it can beused differently and it can be injected.................not sure I would trust your vets thoiugh!!
I can change the title if you dont know how to to.............change title of first post and then do a new post and that will change it.
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Thanks Gill - have tried changing the title, hope it works :)
Great minds think alike, I've got the same Google search results you have over the past could of days. I did manage to read the NOAH entry for Vetergesic but it only talks about the injectable form.
And apologies, I should have made clear before - Silvie is already on Metacam, has been for a few years, with no problems (she gets a blood test every year to check organ function). She usually has a maintenance dose for the arthritis but it wasn't enough on its own for this injury. We've upped the dose of that to the max and she's also on Seraquin.
The vet did say that I could start the new drug tonight but I think I am more inclined to wait until I'm sure she has the Tramadol out of her system before trying anything new. I think she might be starting to come round - she jumped up on to my lap brielfy a minute ago. She's hardly been near me since last night. I usually have trouble getting her off my lap! Think Tramadol must be hallucinogenic - it's like she's seeing things!
I'm supposed to be going away for a few days on Monday. Don't think I want to start the new drug before I go - what if she reacts badly to it again? And how am I going to get someone else to administer that liquid?! If she hasn't fully recovered from the tramadol tomorrow, then I won't be going anywhere.
Anyone got any experiences of oral Vetergesic to share?
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my cat Ginger [who has lymphoma] has liquid vetergesic twice a day. He can't have metacam as a pain killler as he is on steroids as well. has had no side effects from the vetergesic apart from being intially a bit sleepy on the dose so the amount was decreased. I must admit I struggle to get it down him [but thats only because I don't do it often enough - normally my OH gives it to him].
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Thanks Cazzer - good to know someone else is having no problem with it.
I have also now spoken to my sister who is a nurse and has much experience of administering Tramadol and various such drugs. Admittedly to people, not animals! But she has reassured me that Silvie should have come down well from the Tramadol by tomorrow, so I'm feeling a bit better about it all. And like I might still be able to go on my wee holiday!
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I do hope it6 all goes well for her and it sounds promising :hug: :hug:
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Thanks :)
She's definitely starting to look a bit better now - her tail has been wedged firmly between her legs all day but she's starting to wave it about now. Her pupils are still looking not unlike Puss in Boots from Shrek when he does his thing, but all small steps in the right direction are good ones!
Will keep you updated :thanks:
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I'm not saying this link is reliable but I came across it this morning and it does link tramadol to hallucinations that would indicate dosage needs adjusting. That's why I recommended quizzing vet on dosage.
http://www.vetinfo.com/tramadol-side-effects-in-cats.html#b
Glad you find NOAH easy to use and so sorry that Silvie is already on top dose of metacam and seraquin. I assume you have read about green lipped muscle too which can ease pain from arthritis. I haven't come across Vetergesic but Tanya's website (my little bible when looking after our Fred RIP from CRF last year) is quite reliable and she says this ...
http://www.felinecrf.org/treatments_antibiotics_painkillers.htm
Buprenorphine (Buprenex, Vetergesic)
Buprenorphine is a narcotic which is thirty times more potent than morphine. Trade names include Buprenex (USA) and Vetergesic (UK).
Buprenorphine should not be given orally because it is ineffective when given in such a way. It can be given as an injection, but in cats it is commonly given in intrabuccal form, i.e. it is squirted into the mouth towards the cheek. It is flavourless so most cats tolerate this well. When given into the cheek, buprenorphine is absorbed through the mucus membrane and usually takes effect quickly, within 30 minutes, with its effects lasting for eight hours (although Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine is currently researching a sustained release version of buprenorphine which lasts up to three days). The usual dose is 0.01-0.03 mg/kg if given into the mouth, so a 10lb cat (4.55kg) would receive 0.046- 0.136 mg up to three times a day. Since these are tricky amounts to calculate, many vets provide small syringes containing the correct dose and you just gently squeeze the contents into your cat's mouth towards the cheek.
Most people I've heard from find buprenorphine extremely effective with few side effects. The most common side effect is sedation and it may also slow breathing. You may see dilated pupils. It makes some cats purr more and become very affectionate, whilst other cats become restless.
Buprenorphine is cleared by the liver so it tends to be a good choice for CKD cats who need ongoing pain control. However, cats with CKD may eliminate it more slowly, so discuss with your vet whether to lower the dose. Be careful if you are using it with cyproheptadine (an appetite stimulant) because using both together may result in an increased sedative effect.
Unfortunately buprenorphine can be expensive. Although the 5ml vials tend to be cheaper, it is better to buy the 1ml vials because there is a preservative added to the 5 ml vials which gives the medication an unpleasant taste.
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Hi Rosella and thanks.
I haven't read about green lipped mussel - I will do and will ask the vet about it at our next check up. I will also check out those websites you mention when I put the laptop on later (easier to read than on the phone!)
I'm very pleased to say that the Silvie I know and love so much is returning, little by little :) Never have I been so pleased for her to cimb all over me in the middle of the night and poke me in the face causing me to have to get up and shut her downstairs, and then to hear her start yowling at some ungodly hour this morning! She's also starting to be able to relax a bit and close her eyes, just generally seems more comfortable. She has a way to go yet, her eyes aren't back to normal but they're less freaky than they were, she still has a bit of a twitch and she still cant seem to fully relax. I do now feel confident that we're well on the way in the right direction though :)
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I'm now home from my wee holiday and have been trying to give Silvie her first dose of Vetergesic. No success so far :/
Any tips for one who only has one pair of hands?!
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That's great news.
My only tip is the Webbox licky stuff. It got worming tablets down my two yesterday
Good luck !
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Afraid that's not going to work with this one - its supposed to be absorbed in the mouth so can't be given with food. Managed to squirt it all over her face this morning! She's too quick and smart for me!
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Don't know if it will make a difference but you can get syringes from Boots.
Came in very handy when I was trying to get my Chelsea to eat.
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I don't have any experience of oral vetergesic, Milly had hers by injection after her recent injury (she too is on daily metacam for arthritis/spondylosis), I just had to keep taking her back and forth to the vets for a few days as it needs to be given IM and doesn't last too long in the system...which is presumably why you've been given it in this form so it can be done at home. It did make her somewhat spaced out, giant saucer eyes and a bit drowsy but not to an extent that made me concerned. Hopefully you can work out a way to get it safely into your little one, and that she recovers well soon x x
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My OH can do Ginger very easily. I can't though. I'm afraid I wait until he is half asleep or a least a bit 'dopey' and then do it!
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Hello all
I was at the vets yesterday with my guinea pigs for a check up and took the opportunity to ask the vet about Silvie and her issues. I told her that I'd found the vetergesic impossible to administer properly. She asked me if I'd be happy injecting it. Afraid I don't fancy doing that, unless Silvie's life is depending on it! She said that the vetergesic can be given with food but that it just won't have quite as much effect as it won't have as mcuh contact with the gums etc for absorption. I will start trying this tonight.
I also asked what they might find if they X-rayed and what they might do about it. She said that arthritic joints might have a bit of extra growth around them and that can sometimes get chipped with the chips then floating around in the joint which can cause pain. However, these chips can sometimes dissolve on their own in a few weeks and they likely wouldn't consider surgically removing them anyway. I let her know my reluctance to put Silvie through being X-rayed if the likely result was confimring what we already suspect and that nothing could or would be able to be done about it anyway. I explained that I didn't think the injury was currently serious enough to warrant it all (Silvie can still jump up and down from the kitchen work surface when it takes her fancy, even if she does have a bit of a limp and sits with one paw held up!) Current cold weather also won't be helping. I think she understood.
The vet did suggest trying the Hill's Science Plan prescription diet j/d and sold me a couple of tins http://www.hillspet.co.uk/en-gb/mobility/cat.html - I'm happy to try that, nice and easy for both her and me! It looks and smells vile - like minced offal in gravy - but Silvie seems to like it! So I started that last night and will give it a proper go - says it can take around twenty one days to show results and you have to introduce it slowly over a week.
I have also finally got around to looking up green lipped mussel which someone recommended - http://www.arthritissupermarket.co.uk/Pernaton-Green-Lipped-Mussel-Extract-350mg-caps. Silvie is due at the vets around Christmas time for her booster so I will ask the vet about it then, once we've seen how the Vetergesic and the new food is working - to check if it's OK alongside everything else (the diet, Metacam and Seraquin). I might also ask about acupuncture, although I have to admit that I am also reluctant to go down that road - not becasue I'm a sceptic but because it will mean taking Silvie regularly to wherever does it, which she will not like. I don't expect she'll enjoy it any more than going to the vets which she hates!
We'll see, I'll keep you updated :)
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Just a short update this time as I'll no doubt have more to add next week.
Was at the vet with Silvie this week for her routine check up, collection of drugs and her booster jag. It was a new vet I saw this time as the one we usually see is on maternity leave, but she she came well recommended. We discussed Silvie's injury and the vet let me feel both her elbows (Silvie's elbows, that is!) so I could note for myself the difference - the injured left one is much 'thicker'.
Up until now I have been reluctant to put Silvie forward for more conventional investigation and treatment as I've felt sure it will all show what we already know and that nothing more except what we're already doing could be done. However, I am now persuaded (and perfectly comfortable) that this injury has gone on too long and we ought to have a closer look at it. So, on Tuesday we have an appointment with a specialist orthopaedic vet. I think he will recommend X-raying her again. The trouble is that the initial X-rays which doiagnosed her arthritis were done at a different practice (where I lived previosuly), so the current practice don't have copies. Also, those X-rays indicated the problems to be with her rear legs/hips etc and this is her front leg. Regular vet said he also suggested doing a 'tap' on the joint whilst she's under for the X-ray, to rule out any infection in the joint (that's apparently taking a wee spot of fluid out of the joint to test).
Thank the lord Silvie is insured - the consultation alone will cost around £100 apparently, because he's a specialist and because his consultations are an hour long! I'll need to do some research and prepare a long list of questions for him to fill the hour up and get my money's worth!
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Good luck for Tuesday
:hug: :hug:
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Good luck with that - it all sounds as if things are moving in the right direction. Milly has her first acupuncture session on 20th Dec so I will let you know how I find that, too. Do please keep us posted x
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The x-rays from your previous vet should be available (you did pay for them so they are officially yours!).
Give them a call and ask if they would be able to e-mail them to your new vets (x-rays are generally held electronically these days).
I did this with Theo's x-rays, both the vet practices were happy to help as it did make sense, as it does in your case.
Good luck for Tuesday. :hug:
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Sheila is right but often specialists want to do their own xrays and tests and will not bother with the old ones. Worth trying to get them to your vets though ;D
Sending loads of good wishes for Tuesday and yes insurance although expensive is really needed at times like this :hug: :hug: :hug:
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Thanks all.
Yes, I agree with the X-ray suggestion. However, the old ones showed arthritis in the hips, knees, base of spine and base of tail - all at the rear end. The current injury is in her front left elbow. So new X-days will be required anyway. The old ones were done about five years ago too and I seem to remember that vet having a rather creaky computer system! So they may not be held electronically. Under the circumstances, I'm happy for new ones to be done.
The vet we saw this week suggested accupuncture before I could - she has it herself and approves. She also recommends the practitioner who works from their practice. Looking forward to hearing how fluffybunny and Milly get on :)
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Chloe is 4ish? and when adopted had a fractured pelvis and was told she will develop arthritis in the area.
I'm not too sure of the background of Silvie, but what i found with chloe what has kept her mobile is a combination of being on riaflex ( http://www.riaflex-equine.co.uk/ ) and having quarterly massages from an animal mctimoney -corley chiropractor/sports masseuse.
she is much more flexible two years on than she was when she was adopted.
it may also be worth looking into hydrotherapy? some places who do dogs may also do cats? I know hydro has really helped the dog as well....
: )
feel better silvie!
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Thanks Onyx. I like the look of those Riaflex products. Which one(s) is it Chloe has? Silvie is ten - no major injuries just a few minor congenital things which all add up to arthritis, plus this current minor but persistent elbow injury. She has Metacam (anti-inflammatory) and Seraquin (glucosamine and chondroitin) as well as Hills j/d diet. One thing i will discuss with the vet this afternoon is the optimum combination of drugs, supplements and diet for her.
I am deeply unpopular this morning - no breakfast allowed in case the vet wants to give her any treatment this afternoon!
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Hope all goes well at thew vets :hug: :hug:
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chloe is on canine joint care plus. I emailed Kate before i started, and she advised me that it is safe for cats. Obviously they don't need the dosage that the dog does! I think it is about a 1/4 of the scoop per cat per day?
if you swap to the riaflex, you wont need the seraquin any more.
Hope it went well!
She's currently annoyed with me too - she's on a diet and is not happy, and wants to make sure that everyone knows she isn't happy and that she is STARVING and has never had food before IN HER LIFE!
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Feeling a bit weird after that, can't put my finger on it and not sure why. Hopefully its just because nothing is yet resolved.
Upshot is that Silvie is booked in on Thursday for X-rays, a CT scan and the joint tap. Vet says the possibilities are that the joint has an infection in it, there are bits of bone floating about in it, there is a tiny fracture or that it is just inflamed arthritis. If there are floaty bits which look easy to remove, then they'll do that on the day. If its infection, then they may flush it and it just needs ABs. Otherwise, I guess we need to see.
Vet examined her carefully and agreed the elbow is an issue. He was also wondering about the rear end stuff as she flinched a little when he felt there. I suggested he seek out the old X-days which he said he would do if he could.
Think part of what's making me nervous is that one of my guinea pigs went in for a scan last week and wasn't able to come home as what they found wasn't treatable.
At least once we know what we're dealing with I should feel better!
I gave Silvie her breakfast when we got home at 4.30. Now its 6pm, she wants her tea!
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I hope everything goes well on Thursday :hug: :hug:
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It has gone well today, thanks :) And I'm starting to feel better now today is done, she's home, we have some ideas and we're starting to move forward. Even though we don't yet have definitive answers or a plan of action.
Ideas are that it is something akin to tennis elbow or inflamed arthritis. Vet doesn't think there's infection and lab results will confirm that. He's going to check his thoughts on the scan with a radiologist and I've to phone him on Monday to discuss further.
If it's the tennis elbow thing, then we'll try a steroid injection. Otherwise, I'm not sure - I have a bit of a tendancy to stop listening too well after they've told me she's fine and can come home! I'll pay attention better on Monday :)
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So pleased its going well and very important you listen :innocent:
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I know :) Think I only tuned out because I knew the diagnosis wasnt 100% yet and I knew I'd be finding out more next week! I was just so pleased she was fine and come home soon.
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Vet phoned yesterday to tell me what the scans showed. He says Silvie has a bit of a mixture of osteoarthritis and the tennis elbow thing. No infection. So we're off back to the vet again on Thursday for her to get a steroid injection into the joint. Then we go back to see the vet next month for him to see how she's doing.
I really hope this helps her as its been a lot of vet visits and a lot of money. She is insured but I have one of those lovely 20% excesses...
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good luck silvie!
Fonzie gets steroid injections every few months, and they really help hom. :hug:
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Thanks Onyx, that's good to know :)
Vet said one jag might do the trick or it might take a few. I'll let you know how we get on tomorrow.
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good that you have a bit more info, hope the visit goes well!
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Vet just phoned, Silvie's had her injection and can come home after lunch :)
He said he noticed she'd been licking at her sore elbow and has a bald patch. I hadn't noticed this as it's right on the inside. She has a history of this - when she gets blood tests, she licks the bald patch on her neck until its raw and then it heals up after a couple of weeks. Any suggestions for anything to help her with this if it becomes a problem, to stop her licking or to put on it to soothe it? Want to avoid the lampshade if I can!
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Sorry no idea but hope the jab helps :hug:
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Very glad to have Silvie home :)
Her leg is obviously a bit sore and tender and she is a little out of sorts after the sedative. Vet said she is likely to be sore until tomorrow and I need to watch out to make sure she doesn't get an infection in it, but she should otherwise be fine. We've to go see the vet again in January so he can check how she's doing.
I'll need to keep her shut out of the spare room where she likes to hide on the top bunk bed under the duvet - she'll struggle to get down from up there!
Will be very pleased not to have to go back to the vets for a couple of weeks!
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Never rains but it pours (figuratively and literally here in Bristol!)
Silvie has been sneezing since Christmas Eve. She's had proper flu before so is likely a carrier so this is probably a relapse. However, I've been reading about flu on the Glasgow Uni Vet site linked to from the library/info post on Purrs and I have read that being on corticosteroids can make cats immunosuppressed and prone to infection. I'm assuming the injection she had last week in her elbow counts as corticosteroids :(
Think I'll give the vets a phone tomorrow when they reopen and have a chat with them about this.
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didn't realise you were in Bristol so am I!!!!
yes weather has been pretty yuck. My late persian Oska was on steroids for triaditis but we found that towards the end of his life we were having a constant battle with snotty noses/eyes. Ginger who also has steroids for his lymphoma doesn't seem to have the same problem touch wood!
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Oh I didn't realise you were in Bristol either! Do you think it might be worth a referral? You've got a superb referral practice in Bristol: http://www.highcroftvetreferrals.co.uk/orthopaedics I'm not familiar with the orthopaedics team but I know the exotics team are superb so I suspect that the same standard applies across the board.
Fingers crossed the sneezing is just a temporary setback and settles down quickly x x
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Hello fellow Bristol cat people :)
Are you in Bristol too fluffybunny? Did you see the acupuncturist who works from Highcroft?
I am indeed a Highcroft customer and absolutely agree that the exotics team are excellent - I see them with my guinea pigs. Can't fault any of the staff there in fact, nurses and receptionists included - they've all been fab. Yes, I do feel they're a bit on the pricey side - but with lovely people, the exotics specialists, the 24 hours thing, all their facilities and there's never any messing about, I feel its worth it.
I will see out the steroid jags for Silvie before pursuing acupuncture - but if the jags don't seem to be the right thing for her, then I'm sure they'd be happy to refer us for acupuncture. Good news that you (fluffybunny) and Milly are doing well with it so far. Not sure how Silvie would deal with it but if it comes to it, then it will be worth a try.
Still sneezing this morning. Thankfully her breathing is OK and she's still eating fine (it would take more than a few sniffles to put Silvie off her food!) She is out of sorts though, sleepier than usual, so I'll phone the vets when their advice line is open and see if there's anything we can do to help her.
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Hello again! No, I'm in sunny Essex, but my vet has consulted Richard Saunders before now about one of my bunnies, and I know many others who have had referrals to him and no-one has anything other than high praise. He's somewhat of an unlikely bunny-lady groupie :evillaugh:
Good luck, and yes I will keep you posted on how Milly's acupuncture goes...next session is not until next week as the vet is rudely having Christmas off!
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Ohh where in Essex? I'm in the South East right on the Herts border and the girls vets does accupuncture.
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I'm between Chelmsford and Dunmow so probably not too far from you then! The vet who I am seeing for acupuncture is at Spring Lodge in Ingatestone.
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I'm in Roydon so not that far at all. We were over at Freeport yesterday. Our vets is in Stanstead Abbotts. One of our neighbours swears by her for cat accupuncture.
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Poor Silvie is still suffering :( She had a bit of a coughing/choking/gagging fit when she was having her breakfast this morning but she recovered OK.
I phoned the vets on Thursday and predictably they recommended that I bring her in. The vet had a good look and checked her eyes and her breathing and gave her an antibiotic shot. She said the steroid dose wasn't huge so probably shouldn't affect her immunity but the fact that it's long-acting might have a small effect. The ABs was to hopefully make sure it doesn't turn into anything more evil and to give her immunity a bit of protection.
I feel happier having consulted the vet but I'm still looking forward to Silvie starting to feel better. I guess these things just have to run their course and there's nothing much we can do about it, but it doesn't make it any easier to watch!
Vet suggested some steam inhalation - we both laughed! I'll shut Silvie in the bathroom with me later when I run the bath with a spot of eucalyptus oil. I doubt she'll be impressed but I'll try!
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what I used to do with Oska was put him in his wire carrier and then put a bowl of boiling water with olbas oil in close by. I then used some towels to make a tent covering cat and bowl. Hope she is feeling better soon :hug:
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Poor Silvie :care:
You could run a hot shower for a while then stop it (so it's not noisy/scary for her) and take her in the bathroom in a carrier like Cazzer has mentioned. I have also seen people mention Bisolvon powder for cats as being very effective, this is prescription only so you'd need to get it from the vets but I would imagine they wouldn't need to see her again to prescribe it if it's appropriate as they saw her the day before.
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I'm not keen to shut her in the carrier unless I have to - she really doesn't like it.
I did manage about three quarters of an hour with her in the bathroom with me this evening. I dropped my big fleece jumper on the floor for her beside the towel heater which she sat on, stared up at the door and looked generally horrified! She did chill out a bit though, resigned herself to her fate, picked her toenails and had a good wash. I hope its helped her.
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Bisolven is the thing for cats bad noses and catarrah as with cat flu, it needs just a small pinch in food every day so one packet from the vets usually suffices.
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Thanks Gill :) I'll have to try and remember for that if she gets another relapse.
Thankfully after a week to ten days, Silvie recovered from the flu thing OK.
We were back at the vets this week for the post-steroid jag check up - the vet seemed to be pleased with her progress. He said that whilst it wasn't terribly easy to tell, he did think that the thickening in her dodgy elbow joint was less than beofre. I also think that her limp is slightly less. However, the jag only really wears off this weekend at the earliest, so we'll have to wait and see. Today I think I can see the limp coming back a bit but then the weather has just got significantly colder, so it could be that affecting her.
Vet and I are keen that she doesn't get more jags unless she definitely needs them, especially as he's fairly sure that the flu relapse was a direct side effect of it. I'll see how she goes over the next week or so - but then its not due to get any warmer any time soon!
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Well, unfortunately the jag did wear off and the limp returned. She went back on the Metacam for a week with not much effect so last week we went back to the vets for another steroid jag. This time they gave her anantibiotic shot at ghe same time, so touch wood, she doesn't have any flu or even sniffles a week later :) However, I don't think the steroid jag has had as much effect this time - she still has a touch of a limp. It's only been a week, so there's still time, but right now I'm not that keen to go for another one.
She's doing fine though, limp or not -still my best cat :)
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I have been waiting in vain for the warmer weather to see if that helps Silvie! Unfortunately the second jag has also worn off but I have chosen not to restart the Metacam seeing as overall it doesn't seem to have had a significant effect.
Now I'm torn - poor Silvie does have her limp back but can I justify the expense of another jag which still might not work again and also put her through the distress? I really don't like the effect the sedative has on her but know its necessary.
One alternative would be to try acupucture but I'm not sure whether she'd be a model patient for it!
I know, there's no right answer to this. Think I'll wait until it does get warmer and see how she does. Trouble is the warmth might help her but it also means she goes out more which means more climbing fences etc which might not help! Dilemmas...
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i think fluffybunny had some sucess with accupuncture, and chloe has had some really good results from the massage.
She saw gail last week, and i was told i didn't need to bring her back for more treatment as her back end is much better than it was before. (She's now also jumping on counters...)
i wonder if the vet could refer you to a mctimoney or physio who might be able to help?
http://www.mctimoney-corley.com/Practitioners
physio may also help?
http://www.acpat.org/
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Yes, I've been following fluffybunny's progress with great interest :)
I'm in two minds about trying acupuncture or physio etc. Silvie is not exactly an ideal patient - she doesn't enjoy vet visits and she struggles to allow the vet to examine her sore bits without her lashing out or her having to be scruffed. I feel that could be counter-productive. Definitely worth discussing with the vet though. I don't feel in any hurry and may wiat until her next check up in a couple of months, see how she goes in the meantime.
It's so hard to know what the right course of action for Silvie will be.
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chloe spent her first session with gail growling, hissing, spitting and trying to bite her.... :shocked: (I had already had her for over a year before her first session, and when I got her, you couldn't touch her back end at all).
a good animal masseuse/physio will be quite used to that.... ;) We found it easier if i held chloe and let gail work on her.... dreamies also worked quite well...
her next few sessions were a bit calmer...we even had one where chloe just sat the whole time and glared angrily but didnt lash out... (The hatred and disgust in her eyes were very very clear to everyone in the room...)
our last session chloe put up more of a fight - but gail said this was due more to her being healthy more than in pain...! She even managed to eat some treats, as opposed to the first session she was so stressed she couldnt.
Is there anyway you could do some desensitization work around her back end? I used to put my hand near chloe's back, tell her she was a good girl, and then give her treats. Eventually we got closer and more intimate, and now i can touch her pretty much everywhere, but her patience varies on what part of the body im at! :rofl: