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Cat Health & Behaviour => Health & Behaviour General => Topic started by: Desley (booktigger) on April 06, 2007, 13:03:20 PM

Title: Tiger limping again!!
Post by: Desley (booktigger) on April 06, 2007, 13:03:20 PM
Annoyingly, she went for a weigh in last night, vet just asked how she was, she didn't prod her. When she walks down the stairs now, that leg looks really odd, it comes really high up. I dont know whether to take her tomorrow, as it will probably be a different vet, so they wont know her - but that could be a bonus, except for her aggression!! Or to take her on Tues with a vet who knows her - I do have Metacam, but am a bit reluctant to keep putting her on it when x-rays show no signs of arthritis.
Title: Re: Tiger limping again!!
Post by: Desley (booktigger) on April 07, 2007, 10:05:14 AM
WEll, the little madam isn't limping today, so I have made an app for Tues afternoon for her - if she isn't limping on Tues, I shall cancel that one too.
Title: Re: Tiger limping again!!
Post by: tab on April 07, 2007, 10:11:16 AM
Oh dear I do hope you get to the bottom of it. A friend of mine found her cat limping years ago, took Amy to the vets where she was examined and tested and everything. They couldnt find anything at all and the vet said that she was just doing it for attention or in his words she was taking the  :censored:
 :rofl:
love
Tab
Title: Re: Tiger limping again!!
Post by: Desley (booktigger) on April 07, 2007, 10:32:23 AM
Am beginnig to think that myself Tab - she obviously wanted me to have to spend loads of money on her - she is getting some nice special food today too, spoilt brat that she is!!
Title: Re: Tiger limping again!!
Post by: Hippykitty on April 07, 2007, 11:17:49 AM
Maybe she didn't like being taken to the vet, so decided to put the wind up you!  :evillaugh:
Title: Re: Tiger limping again!!
Post by: CurlyCatz on April 07, 2007, 17:39:04 PM
wait and see how she goes in the near future, i'm not convinced she doesnt have a sub luxating patella or something with this intermittent lameness..I understand your annoyance though totally..i feel like that will all the illness in my house just now -- 6 weeks with everyone having some mild complaint after the other and im at the stage i just wish they'd all be really ill properly and get it over and done with iykwim.
Title: Re: Tiger limping again!!
Post by: Ela on April 07, 2007, 17:59:41 PM
Quote
patella

My hushand has no patella in one leg, it was smashed to little pieces. everyone though he would have one stiff leg  but you cannot tell when he walks.
Title: Re: Tiger limping again!!
Post by: Desley (booktigger) on April 07, 2007, 19:03:27 PM
WEll, the little sod decided to start limping again this afternoon!! She is eating well, playing with me, and walking up and down stairs on it no prob, so as long as she carries on doing that, she can wait until Tues, as if I have to take her to the emergency vets, they have no access to her x-rays, so they would end up doing them again, and as we already know sedation doesn't work on her, it would mean another anaesthetic, which isn't good in a 13yo. I wont put her back on the Metacam unless she starts showing signs of it bothering her.
Title: Re: Tiger limping again!!
Post by: Millys Mum on April 07, 2007, 20:07:30 PM
I was looking something up in my dictionary (of veterinary nursing yesterday) when i spotted this:
FeSFV
Feline syncitial forming virus: occurs widely in cats without symptoms but has been associated with lameness as a polyarthritis.
Its only a basic book so doesnt mention treatment or diagnosis but thought id mention it so you can research it further.
Title: Re: Tiger limping again!!
Post by: Hippykitty on April 09, 2007, 12:14:17 PM
Desley, perhaps this seems a bit daft, but if her slight lameness is causing no mobility problems
Quote
playing with me, and walking up and down stairs on it no prob
is this really an issue for her? It could be something so slight as to not be a real problem, especially if nothing has shown on her previous xrays.

If nothing shows up again on any tests, it may be best to let her live with the problem, especially considering her age (how much do you want to put her through at the vet?).

Does she have a significant pain-reaction when you touch her leg? (Pulling it away, hissing at you etc)

I mention this because it seems to be causing you more distress than it's causing her!  :hug:
Title: Re: Tiger limping again!!
Post by: Desley (booktigger) on April 09, 2007, 22:50:38 PM
To be honest, I dont really know, but I dont want to take the risk of me dismissing it because she is walking on it, and then it turning into somethign major - I am still paranoid because of the situation we had with PEbbles leg, that was ignored for over a year cos we knew she had damaged that leg previously, she then ended up with a lot of issues, a months worth of pain, and 2 ops. She is only 13 though, it isnt that old, and if this is causing her pain or discomfort, I wouldn't want her to live with it for years. Touching her leg is a different matter, Tigers normal reaction to being touched anywhere past her head is to pull away, spit and lash out - you should have seen me trying to brush her last night!! I think I am going to have to have a serious chat with the vet over this, it isnt nice watching her limping so much - and last night, I knew she was limping when watching her walk towards me, I normally have to stand behind her to tell. And the way that leg goes when she walks down stairs isn't pleasant either.
Title: Re: Tiger limping again!!
Post by: Rosella moggy on April 10, 2007, 15:25:19 PM
Hi Desley just a thought. I have a video setting on my digital camera (records 1 minute) and recorded Gandolf RIP when he was having mouth probs and played in back to vet. If you have similar function on yours, what about leaving camera out and trying to record the limping for the vet? I know it's easier said than done.
Title: Re: Tiger limping again!!
Post by: Desley (booktigger) on April 10, 2007, 16:46:52 PM
She limped in front of the vet fortunately Rosella - but thanks for the tip, my camera does the same. Might do it to show her walking downstairs though. Fortunately for me, I had also clipped her claws, as she did swipe at me when we were trying to get her out of places in the consult room!! Vet says left leg still feels the same, right leg is clicking a bit, and something else that I can't remember!!! she is sending the x-rays to an orthopaedic specialist to see what they say, the travel is a worry though, I am not good at driving distances and Tiger hates the 5 min journey!! But, I know that if I dismissed it and it turned out to be something, I woudlnt' forgive myself, esp as cost isnt' an issue. She has given her a glucosamine jab, as I was iffy at giving her MEtacam again, and we are back for another jab on Fri - we should hear from teh specialist either Fri or Mon.
Title: Re: Tiger limping again!!
Post by: CurlyCatz on April 10, 2007, 22:12:58 PM
hope you get this resolved des, i hate intermittent problems and wish they'd go one way or the other and i am sure you feel the same.  Would be nice if the orthopod can see something on the xrays that is easy to fix and problem solved  ;D
Title: Re: Tiger limping again!!
Post by: Desley (booktigger) on April 10, 2007, 22:18:15 PM
ME too Lynn!! Vet put on her notes that she was growling and lashing out when both her legs were touched, but as she is a temperamental cat anyway, I dont know how much to read into that!! I wish they would too, cost isn't an issue, but having to drag her there so much is - the glucosamine jab needs repeating on Fri, then I think it is a weekly thing until the ortho surgeon can look at the x-rays and hopefully come to some conclusion
Title: Re: Tiger limping again!!
Post by: Ela on April 11, 2007, 07:58:01 AM
Quote
when he was having mouth probs and played in back to vet.

An excellent idea I think, which we have used occasionally, so much easier especially when something is intermittent.
Title: Re: Tiger limping again!!
Post by: CurlyCatz on April 11, 2007, 09:27:25 AM
when logan managed to all but slice his toe off in kennels when we were on hols i took pics after the toe was surgically removed to show the vet and see if he was happy with wound healing rather than cart his butt back to the vets unnecessarily.

(not a lot of spare tissue with toe removals esp in greys so quite a bit of wound i had to keep redressing and allow to heal secondary intention)
Title: Re: Tiger limping again!!
Post by: Littlebobo on April 11, 2007, 11:43:51 AM
Poor Tiger I hope it gets resolved soon and lets hope it does not get to the same stage as Pebbles ...

x
Title: Re: Tiger limping again!!
Post by: Desley (booktigger) on April 12, 2007, 20:38:21 PM
Thanks Lise. She is limping more today, so yet again, a jab of something that is supposed to help has had the opposite effect, which is really making me wonder as to waht it could be.
Title: Re: Tiger limping again!!
Post by: CurlyCatz on April 12, 2007, 21:05:59 PM
right need to lay down some facts here.


1) is tigger happy and healthy apart from the limp
2) does she appear to have any pain / discomfort at the times she is NOT limping
3) when she is limping how would you grade it out of 5 ie 1/5 a very mild and 5/5 totally 100 % lame and non weight bearing.
4) when she limps how long does the episodes last for .. 2 hours/ 2 days ? (on average)
5) have you noticed any thing in particular she does to bring on the limp ie jumping down from a chair, walking down the stairs

If it was her cruciate ligament i'd honestly expect her to be in more discomfort more often which is why she sounds like little dogs who get "sub luxating patellas" with this normally the groove that the patella (knee cap) sits in is too shallow and the cap pops out. when it is totally luxating then it never sits in place normally but sub luxating it kind of goes back but then occasionally pops over the edge and is out again.  To remedy this normally an op is needed and is fairly simple where they cut a small sliver of wedge out of the groove and replace everything (basically they deepen the groove)
Now like i said very common in certain breeds of small dogs and i can only think of 1 or 2 cats with it and i am sorry to mention that agin if i am really wrong but its the only thing i can think of without delving into the rarer things.
Title: Re: Tiger limping again!!
Post by: Desley (booktigger) on April 12, 2007, 21:48:10 PM
Hi Lynn

1 - She was playing with me on the street this morning, still her usual grumpy self when touching her leg though, so hard to know if it is normal or cos of pain. She can be fussy with eating though (one of the main indications with Pebbles). Bloods were done in Feb and fine, so vet doesnt' see a need to redo those.
2 - not really - she is looking thin at her back end to me, but the weight loss after 2 weeks was negligible (sp?) and her fur looking poor could be her not grooming well enough with moulting - she does suffer from furballs as well.
3 - Probably middle of the range, as she will happily walk, despite limping, and still insists on going out (as soon as you shut the door in the evening, she fusses to go back out, regardless of how much she was asleep in a different room and not wanting out!!)
4 - wouldn't like to say really, as you only notice the limping when she is walking, and obviously I dont see her all day every day. Last week, she limped on Fri for a while, then stopped, nothing on Sat morning then Sat aft, dont remember Sun, sure she limped again on Mon, and has limped since then - what worries me is that she has had both Metacam and Glucosamine, and seems to limp more after them.
5 - not really, will have to watch out for her not limping and then starting. When seh limped in Dec (different leg) that was after jumping down from the sofa. The other prob with her limping is that she is still a very skittish cat, and will still run away from me on the street and in the house, never mind if my neighbours try and approach her or if someone comes onto the street.

Will see what the vet says tomorrow, the only reason I can think of for the x-ray not showing anything is that she wasn't limping that day!!
Title: Re: Tiger limping again!!
Post by: CurlyCatz on April 12, 2007, 23:32:32 PM
good luck for tomorrow.  i am sure if it was her knee cap they'd be able to feel that or atleast been able to under ga which is why i couldnt understand no diagnosis.  the xrays i am sure iwll hve to be sent away and hopefully they will give up some answers.
Title: Re: Tiger limping again!!
Post by: Desley (booktigger) on April 13, 2007, 09:17:47 AM
Thanks - still limping today, and she is now sitting with that leg to the side a bit, and looking odd!! Still happy to wander around outside eating grass though, and showing an interest in a twig!! She isn't eating loads though.
Title: Re: Tiger limping again!!
Post by: CurlyCatz on April 13, 2007, 19:10:10 PM
how did you get on today ?
Title: Re: Tiger limping again!!
Post by: Desley (booktigger) on April 13, 2007, 21:09:27 PM
Not happy at all!!! The jab the vet gave her needed to be done again after 4 days, which would have been tomorrow, but the vet said to bring her this afternoon instead - it was her afternoon off today, so we saw a different vet, who didn't feel happy at giving her the jab, as she read it is 5-7 days, so she has to go back next week - but I am going to struggle getting her there either mon or Tues with the app times (we have just had 6 days off, can't really go in and say I need to go early on teh first day back!!), so I have to ring the vet on Mon to find out what she suggests!! She did watch her walk and pulled at her legs (different way to the normal vet, we didn't have to muzzle her today), and couldnt' feel anything that concerned her, and there was no clicking. Nothing back from the specialist yet, hopefully there is on Mon.
Title: Re: Tiger limping again!!
Post by: Desley (booktigger) on April 15, 2007, 19:24:35 PM
Well, she is limping more noticeably today, so maybe that jab did do something!! I dont know what we will do tomorrow though if the specialist has rang back, i dont fancy dragging her all that way, yet I also dont want to leave the poor cat limping!! She has seemed quite happy today though. Some pics of her today - the first one was her sunning herself in the neighbours little garden patch, I didn't have to use the zoom on that one, she is getting a lot better with me, she has been here 6 months now, and nice to see her actively approaching me, not bad for a cat that didn't like being stroked, and the second is to try and show her leg - doesn't look that bad in that pic, but it is quite recent that she has started sitting like that.

(http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b45/booktigger/sunningherself.jpg)

(http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b45/booktigger/leg.jpg)
Title: Re: Tiger limping again!!
Post by: Rosella moggy on April 16, 2007, 08:00:12 AM
Photos look like two very beautiful but different cats lol.  What colour is she?

Just to say hope today holds some news as would be nice to get to the bottom of this for her and you.
Title: Re: Tiger limping again!!
Post by: Desley (booktigger) on April 16, 2007, 08:06:07 AM
I know - that is what you get from taking one outside in natural light, and the other one inside with very little light on!! She is a brown tabby, but her tail actually looks more silvery gray, dont know if that is age or not though, as Ginger lost a lot of pigment on his tail by her age.
Thanks!!
Title: Re: Tiger limping again!!
Post by: Desley (booktigger) on April 16, 2007, 22:10:05 PM
She has had another jab today - vet just watched her walk, didnt feel it. Didn't look too happy though!! I am the first phone call on her list tomorrow, so hopefully the specialist can say something - she has warned them that I might not end up goign through with the referral, and if I do, that she can be a nasty cat!!
Title: Re: Tiger limping again!!
Post by: Schmew on April 16, 2007, 22:43:46 PM
Fingers crossed you can get some answers tomorrow - it's so frustrating not knowing, and stressful for the pud to be taken back and forwards. Hopefully Tiger will keep her teeth to herself though!
Title: Re: Tiger limping again!!
Post by: Desley (booktigger) on April 17, 2007, 07:37:09 AM
It is stressful on Tiger, she isn't a good traveller for the 5 min journey to my vet, which is why I dont want to go through with the specialist. Alternative of course is leaving her to limp!!
Title: Re: Tiger limping again!!
Post by: Rosella moggy on April 19, 2007, 00:22:40 AM
Hi Desley.  I don't wish to have a go but you are being a bit unreasonable, don't you think, not supplying an update on madam  ;). How's our girl getting on? Any change? Does latest injection seem to have helped at all?  :hug: if she'll let you! I'm getting attached. You've been warned.
Title: Re: Tiger limping again!!
Post by: JackSpratt on April 19, 2007, 08:54:59 AM
Yep, how's she doing Desley? ;D
Title: Re: Tiger limping again!!
Post by: CurlyCatz on April 19, 2007, 09:46:56 AM
any word back from the specialist desley ??

which leg is it by the way l/h ??? i noticed that one looked abit sticky outie in the pic.
Title: Re: Tiger limping again!!
Post by: Desley (booktigger) on April 19, 2007, 13:26:23 PM
Sorry folks, wasn't on the comp last night or this morning!! She is still limping despite the second jab, though it might be a tad better - her appetite has increased a lot though - anyone know if that is normal with Cartophen jabs? Not heard back from the vet yet though, will let you know when I do.
Lynn - it is the sticky out leg, she has started doing that!!
Title: Re: Tiger limping again!!
Post by: Millys Mum on April 19, 2007, 16:41:38 PM
Taz has just had his 2nd Cartrophen jab and his appetite seems normal. As Tiger doesnt travel well you can actually get it for home use!  :evillaugh:

I hope the specialist has noticed something so you can get to the bottom of things.
Title: Re: Tiger limping again!!
Post by: Desley (booktigger) on April 19, 2007, 20:27:26 PM
vet said it shouldn't cause an increase in appetite, she said it could be cos she is feeling better, but I think she is eating more than she ever has done here. Not sure I would be happy at giving injections, I have never done it before, so would need to be shown anyway, and she is only having them till we hear from the specialist. There was a delay with the specialist as somehow the x-rays went to opthamology, and the letter to ortho!! So we should know tomorrow.
Title: Re: Tiger limping again!!
Post by: Desley (booktigger) on April 21, 2007, 10:12:16 AM
Specialist has been in touch, can't figure out why she would be limping, there are no bone or joint abnormalities, there might be something very slightly different with the muscles, but they dont think that would be enough to cause it. They are wondering if there is some deep tissue issue, so we are trying her on a week's dose of strong antibiotics (can't remember the name now!!) Fortunatley, I had some in the house already left over from Pebbles (her issues started a year ago tomorrow!!), so we have enough to see if it makes a difference before we go back for the next Cartrophen injection on Mon, and pick up some more then. The only other thing my vet can think of is steroids, but she isn't a fan of them, so they are the last resort. Fingers crossed that the tabs work!!
Title: Re: Tiger limping again!!
Post by: Desley (booktigger) on April 22, 2007, 13:34:06 PM
Things aren't going to well, she is really hating being pilled - to the point where I only tried to Frontline her today and she fought tremendously thinking she was being pilled, god knows how she is going to react to it tonight - even touching near her collar now is making her go bonkers, and this is only after 2 days worth of meds. I am going to try and put them in her food tonight, and hope it works, or I am faced with yet another cat where treatment is going to be difficult - dont know why i always manage to get these kind of cats, it has happened with all bar one of hte cats I have had, and has meant that I have lost them sooner, as what the vet would do with a 'normal' cat just isn't an option.
Title: Re: Tiger limping again!!
Post by: tab on April 22, 2007, 15:19:47 PM
Awww I hope it is easier tonight. I think I was lucky with Mogs in that she felt awful so realised the tablets helped. Ive had problems this week giving her anti biotics as they are quite large capsules but she had the last one today. Good luck with trying it in food
love
Tab
Title: Re: Tiger limping again!!
Post by: Millys Mum on April 22, 2007, 15:54:01 PM
Desley are they antirobe? If so they are one of the best capsules for sprinkling in food, especially something strong like pilchards. Most of the cats at work will eat them.
We had one in a few months back with an internal leg prob and he was on them.
Title: Re: Tiger limping again!!
Post by: Liz on April 22, 2007, 17:45:35 PM
Des if it is Antirobe then try Tuna in brine - I know its not everybodies favourite thing but it does a great cover up job on anitriobe and a few other things we have used in our time as some of our mob mainly ferals just can't be tablete and we have tried so we do a treat thing = also works for us is baby prawns stuffed with drugs work to

Hope this helps if not can the vet not give the long term antibiotic injection which would mean that she wouldn't have the stress and could have the other injection at the same time in only one visit just a thought and may let your current woulds heal!!!!!
Title: Re: Tiger limping again!!
Post by: Desley (booktigger) on April 22, 2007, 17:51:19 PM
Yeah, they are - have sprinkled it in her Tuna and Salmon food (the only food she is guaranteed not to turn down!!), she ate most of it, so have lifted it to try her with the leftovers later, dont want one of hte others eating it!!
Liz, I dont think the vet would give her the long lasting one, she is keen on Antirobe for this kind of prob, and a strong dose at that!!
Title: Re: Tiger limping again!!
Post by: Liz on April 22, 2007, 19:18:16 PM
I would still speak to the vet Des as I'm sure that the stress of trying to tablet and all that goes with it can't help her or you if you are on the receiving end of claws

And maybe the non frequent vet visits may help all round this from a woman who is there very month with at least 4 for normal things this months visit not good as its 4 shredding ferals and a pshyco of a domestic so do sympathise
Title: Re: Tiger limping again!!
Post by: Desley (booktigger) on April 22, 2007, 19:37:33 PM
We are there tomorrow anyway Liz, and I will be telling her that she is a lot worse than Pebbles to pill!!! I know Antirobe is the antiboitic of choice for this kind of issue. It is only for a week to see if it makes any difference, they dont know if it will at the moment - even teh specialist is stumped on this one!!
Dont have a choice in non frequent visits at the moment either, I think she has to have 4 Cartrophen jabs to see if they will make a difference, and there is no way I can do that myself with how she is reacting to pills and Frontline. I am going to get the vet to weigh her again too, she is looking thinner than before. I dont have that many wounds fortunately, I am managing to miss the claws and teeth!!
Title: Re: Tiger limping again!!
Post by: Desley (booktigger) on April 23, 2007, 08:12:08 AM
WEll, the poor little love has had some runny poo, so it is either food or antibiotics - she has had new food this weekend, as well as pinching anyone elses food she can find - I keep stopping her and giving her her own food, but her appetite is getting stronger, but she still looks thin in certain places, so she is being weighed tonight too. Temperament wise, she is getting worse, she has wandered round twice since I posted, but go near her, and she growls!! And isn't liking fuss at the mo, going back to her swiping mood.
Title: Re: Tiger limping again!!
Post by: tab on April 23, 2007, 08:47:56 AM
Awww poor Tiger and poor you! I hope things calm down a little
love
Tab
Title: Re: Tiger limping again!!
Post by: CurlyCatz on April 23, 2007, 10:02:58 AM
desley you are quite correct the long term antibiotic most likely isnt the specific type which they are wanting to treat tiger with and would be of no use.
As for the diarrhoea i had no memory of antirobe being harsh on the tummy but recently someone told me her cat was sensitive to it and caused Diarrhoea and my own dog is on it and he has runny poo aswell which i know must be stemming from the antirobe as i withheld it for a day and he was firming up again, however his need for them is greater than a bit of runny poo (even if it is horrible for me to scoop up outside  :sick:)

Hope these do the trick for you but in a way the orthoplod not seeing something is a good thing .
Title: Re: Tiger limping again!!
Post by: Millys Mum on April 23, 2007, 12:54:18 PM
Simon has diarrhoea from the first dosing of antirobe, hes gets Canikur granules in his food when hes on them, so he does slug poos instead  :sick:
Title: Re: Tiger limping again!!
Post by: Desley (booktigger) on April 23, 2007, 21:13:49 PM
Well, vet has said to stop antibiotics cos of diarrhea, and also said that with the dose she was on, there would have been some improvement by now!! Another Cartrophen injection, I mistakenly thought it was 4 not 3 (4 visits for them!!), so she was going to stop them, as they hadn't done anything either, but shall ring and let her know tomorrow. The next route is steroids, which my vet doesn't really want to do, but we have an app for Thurs to see if that works, although I might change that now we know she has only had 3 Cartrophen (and dont really fancy 2 vet visits in a week!!). If they dont work, then she can only suggest referring her to a specialist. This isn't something I want to do though, she isn't the kind of cat who tolerates travelling, or the examination, and she has already had x-rays and blood tests, I cant see what else they can do for her to be honest. I am going to sleep on this decision, but my gut instinct is to leave her be, the only inclination that this is a prob is that she sometimes shuffles that leg out when she sits down, and the vet says her thinness on her legs is due to muscle wastage, which could be connected, but at 13, it might just be age. Any thoughts or comments would be appreciated - this is when I wish I wasn't single and wasn't the sole person responsible for decisions!!
Title: Re: Tiger limping again!!
Post by: Liz on April 23, 2007, 21:53:29 PM
Des a wee story for you about our Sweetie now aged 15 and doesn't look a day over one - shes sitting on my knee as I type this!

She has limped on and off for the last 3 years and as this darling is the founding member of the clkan cats no expense spared - Robin just smiled and paid the bill as he knows she is my soul mate having had her from 4 weeks old and we lost her brother Toerag aged 7 to an RTZ.

We went down the road of everything known to man and the vet, to this day she limps on one front leg, whacks a younger child for being in her route and limps back on the other.

She is hale and hearty and sleeps the requisite 17 hours a day, has food down to grazr all day, special treats she is partial to Tiger Prawns and fillet steak (yes she does get them on special occassions and Robin has given up protesting after 11 years!!!)

Maybe let her be for a while the trauma of all the visits and injections, tablets etc can't help the situation so perhaps leave her be, not a decision to be taken lightly I know and one that we get as they get older - we do have Bert at 21 with a miriad of issues but he may be blind and old but still has mastered stairs and our new garden at his age, Miss Gracie is 17 and 6.5kgs, diets make her miserable and adter 15 years outside she now has folks who love her so maybe let her be and enjoy her get back your loving lady.

A very hard problem but in the end I think happiness and quality of life out weighs vets visits, and all they entail, this is what we hope to follow with our oldies
Title: Re: Tiger limping again!!
Post by: Desley (booktigger) on April 23, 2007, 22:06:00 PM
Thanks for that Liz, I dont want to give up and then find out that it was somethign we could have treated, but I also dont wnat to put her through a lot of stress for nothing - and the specialists have already looked at the x-rays, not sure what else they can do really. I thik I will go down the route of leaving her be for a while, but if she has muscle wastage already, I dont want it getting too bad.
Title: Re: Tiger limping again!!
Post by: Desley (booktigger) on April 24, 2007, 07:51:34 AM
Well, I have slept on this, and decided not to take her to the specialist, mainly because of the travel - between her being a poor traveller and me being poor at directions, we would both end up very frazzled at the end of it, and it might then make it a lot harder for them to do anything with her, she is already the kind of cat that fights sedations. I woke up this morning, and she was next to my bed, which she has never done before - she swiped at me (Claws in though) when I stroked her, but then had a play session instead, came for a fuss in the bathroom, bounded downstairs, and even went through the stairs rather than walk past Lucy - she normally walks past growling expecting Lucy to move, and tucked into her food, and then went out in the rain, so she is happy at the moment, and I dont wnat to stop that. So, I am ringing the vet this morning to cancel the app for the steroid, going to let her have the 4th Cartrophen jab on Mon, and then leave her for a month, unless of course I think she has got worse.
Title: Re: Tiger limping again!!
Post by: Liz on April 24, 2007, 08:25:42 AM
Des glad you have made a decision you and she are both happy with!!!

She obviously picked up your good plan and is rewarding you by being herself with you and adding some new things to her day.

Enjoy Des she will be running rings around you sson. :Luv:
Title: Re: Tiger limping again!!
Post by: Rosella moggy on April 24, 2007, 09:12:56 AM
Sounds sensible to me   :)  It's always so difficult knowing where to draw the line between medical intervention and just seeing how things go but you can only be guided by Tiger's behaviour and, for today at least, seeing how things go sounds spot on.
Title: Re: Tiger limping again!!
Post by: Desley (booktigger) on April 27, 2007, 07:18:44 AM
Am not 100% sure I have come to the right decision, we are going up on Mon for the 4th Cartrophen jab, then hopefully a months break (well, for her, not me!!), and we shall have to see. i am concerned about the muscle wastage, but she isn't showing much signs of it bothering her, she keeps coming sitting next to my bed in the morning (she did jump on it on Tues, but Molly spat at her), and has a play, so if she is happily eating and playing, it isn't that bad!!
Title: Re: Tiger limping again!!
Post by: Desley (booktigger) on April 27, 2007, 22:36:04 PM
Poor baby was limping quite bad this evening, hasn't stopped her from going out, eating etc though, which is good. We have until Mon before she can have her next jab, and I dont know if she can have Metacam as well as Cartrophen, shall try and remember to ask the rescue's vet when I am there tomorrow.
Title: Re: Tiger limping again!!
Post by: Millys Mum on April 28, 2007, 17:07:10 PM
The rescue vet said 24 hrs after a Cartrophen jab is ok and to stop 24hrs before the next Cartrophen is due, those are the drugs Taz uses at the moment.
Id be interested to know what your vets says as i had to question them over it as i had read the data sheet for the jab.

Quote
NSAIDs and in particular aspirin should not be used in combination with Cartrophen Vet as they may affect thrombocyte adhesion and potentiate the anticoagulant activity of Cartrophen Vet. Corticosteroids have been shown to be antagonistic to a number of actions of Cartrophen Vet. Furthermore, use of anti-inflammatory drugs may result in a premature increase in the dog's activity which may interfere with the disease-modifying activity of Cartrophen Vet.
Do not use concurrently with steroids or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, including aspirin and phenylbutazone, or within 24 hours of such administration

http://www.noahcompendium.co.uk/Arthropharm_(Europe)_Limited/Cartrophen_Vet/-26938.html (http://www.noahcompendium.co.uk/Arthropharm_(Europe)_Limited/Cartrophen_Vet/-26938.html)
Title: Re: Tiger limping again!!
Post by: Desley (booktigger) on April 28, 2007, 17:11:07 PM
Thanks MM, will leave it till Mon, but she doesn't seem to be too bad today. I know the vet said she wanted to leave it at least two days between giving her a Cartrophen jab and a steroid jab.
Title: Re: Tiger limping again!!
Post by: Desley (booktigger) on April 30, 2007, 22:05:35 PM
Didn't think of asking about Metacam, was running late, remembered to ask about anaemia and spine though, vet doesn't feel it is either, so has given the 4th Cartrophen jab, and if there is no noticeable difference after this one, she doesn't feel it is worth carrying on, so the choices then are to take her to the specialist, or ignore the limping.
Title: Re: Tiger limping again!!
Post by: Millys Mum on May 01, 2007, 15:59:13 PM
I hate cases like this, how likely is it that the specialist would find anything? Your vet seems to have been thorough.
I think you would find it impossible to ignore the limp!  :rofl:
Title: Re: Tiger limping again!!
Post by: Desley (booktigger) on May 01, 2007, 21:19:00 PM
Me too, I seem to manage to get them though, this is the second in a row!! Personally, I feel that the specialist can't do much more, she has been x-rayed, and he has seen the results, and couldnt see anything more, she had full bloods before this showed up, so they dont need to be repeated, and she isn't a good traveller, so i would prefer not to put her through the stress unless there was a good chance they coudl do something - the vet was thinking along the lines of an ortho specialist dealing with bones more than she does, so might pick up on something - but lets face it, they have seen x-rays, and am assumign that shows more than you can feel!! Other possibility is something with her spine, and my vets dont have the facilities to check that, but she has felt it, and did say you would expect more with that. Haven't seen much of her walking today though.
I would find it very hard to ignore, but if we have tried numerous treatments, and ways to diagnose it, but as she is a very temperamental 13yo who doesn't travel well, I would for the sake of her stress levels. Dont like giving up though!!
Title: Re: Tiger limping again!!
Post by: Liz on May 02, 2007, 16:22:25 PM
Des, you aren't giving up just letting Tiger be herself. :)

Title: Re: Tiger limping again!!
Post by: Desley (booktigger) on May 02, 2007, 20:33:23 PM
I know, but I am still hesitant in case we are going to miss something that could have been dealt with.
Title: Re: Tiger limping again!!
Post by: Desley (booktigger) on May 18, 2007, 22:39:14 PM
She has been limping worse this week, bless her. At least it isn't bothering her that much.
Title: Re: Tiger limping again!!
Post by: Millys Mum on May 19, 2007, 16:57:56 PM
Its been alot colder here the last week, if its the same in your neck of the woods maybe its that?

Taz is like Tiger, has a problem investigated very throughly and your still none the wiser  :Crazy:
Drives me nuts so i just watch him very carefully  :shify:
Title: Re: Tiger limping again!!
Post by: Desley (booktigger) on May 19, 2007, 18:41:44 PM
Didnt' think of that, hopefully that is all it is!! I would prefer to just watch her than keep dragging her up, nothing has really helped all that much.
Title: Re: Tiger limping again!!
Post by: Desley (booktigger) on May 20, 2007, 17:40:09 PM
Well, despite her limp being pronounced again today, it hasn't stopped her playing, scratching her ear or trying to catch bees!! And she has been very accepting of fuss today, and I Was sat on a cushion outside and she actually came and sat behind me (then took over as soon as I stood up, will post pics at some point!!), which is a rarity for her, and I managed to give her 4 kisses, which is completely unheard of!!
Title: Re: Tiger limping again!!
Post by: Littlebobo on May 20, 2007, 20:42:26 PM
Awwww Des that is great !! :Luv:

I hope she is okay poor little madam xx