Purrs In Our Hearts - Cat Forum UK
Cat Health & Behaviour => Health & Behaviour General => Topic started by: Wildcat on October 25, 2007, 08:26:21 AM
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Hi there
Last Wednesday, I came home from work to find that my little cat Woody's back legs had collapsed, and she could hardly walk. She is 13..
I absolutely panicked and took her to the emergency vet, he thought that she had probably had a fall and gave her some Metacam (I think) There are no lumps and bumps and she doesn't seem to be in pain at all.
Anyway my own vet wanted to do an Xray, but found out that Woody had a heart murmur and her heart was racing and therefore decided against it, so instead did a load of bloodtests. I'm pleased to say that everything came back normal (i.e. kidneys/liver etc) but unfortunately her legs are still really wobbly. The vet has now said its probably down to old age, but I don't agree because of the speed in which this happened..
Has anyone else been through this, and do you know of anything that may help?
I am so worried about her, and I can see that she doesn't quite understand whats happening.. and she is a real outdoor cat, but now I have to keep her in.
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I have had this happen to my cat in the last three weeks. He has had a couple of shots of Rimadyl and is now on Arthri Aid and is bouncing round. Vet said his knee joints are crepey and it is common in older cats.
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Is it possible she had a stroke, I know a cat I had many years ago had the same symptoms. Although I appreciate my symptoms for many different things are the similar.
Perhaps you could have another word with your vet as if it was thought it may have been a stroke certain medication can reduce the chances of it happening again.
I agree that it is now necessary to keep her in, can you imagine if there were any recurrence and she was outside. Also she will not now be as quick to get away from any potential dangers that are out there.
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Yes I am due back at the vets tonight, much to Woody's horror!! She hates it there.. I had wondered about a stroke, but thought maybe just one side of her body would be affected, but it seems that its both of her back legs that are bad.. Its weird really as she is not too bad during the day, but by evening she really gets quite wobbly..
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Like Ela i also think it could be to do with the heart and certainly would not be allowing the vet to dismiss it as old age !
Due to her age and racing heart was there a blood test taken and tested specifically for thyroid function levels ? Untreated HYPERthyroidism can also lead to quite serious heart problems so this should definately be checked.
PS if you are wondering why we're talking about the heart when it was her hind legs this is because if the heart is not functioning normal ie he has a heart murmur and racing heart beat then small clots can form and break away, common places for these to then lodge are in the likes of the femoral arterys as they are narrower at that branch off the bigger arteries.
Of course she may also have something like spondlosis of the spine again due to her age and antinflammatory painkillers would certainly have helped abit, however i'd be getting this heart/thyroid thing checked first.
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Thank you Lynn, I will ask the vet this evening.. She is on heart pills now.. sorry I forget the name. Just one a day for 14 days
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Good luck at vet. Sending lots of positive vibes :Luv: :Luv:
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Good luck wildecat :Luv:
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Hope all went well at the vets :)
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Hope Woody is okay :Luv: and it all went well at the vets :hug:
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Fingers crossed all went well at the vets, and you got them to do the tests rather than just dismiss things due to her age, 13 isn't always that old for a cat.
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Hi guys,
We went to the vets last night, and guess what they now want to do the Xray after all.. apparently she is not so worried about Woody's heart after all.
I explained that I was really worried now, due to the warnings about giving her an Xray in my earlier visit, but she assured me that they will only go ahead if they were pretty sure at the time that Woody will be ok with the general anaesthestic. Its happening on Monday and I am really worried now, but saying that I do understand that to get Woody better they need to know whats wrong.
I must say though that Woody was walking really quite well last night which was great, a bit wobbly again this morning though..
P.S I checked if they had done a Thyroid test, and yes they had done and it was clear ;D
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It's best to get the xray done even though it is a worrying time. At least then you should know what you are dealing with. Good luck for Monday and please keep us posted
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It's best to get the xray done even though it is a worrying time. At least then you should know what you are dealing with. Good luck for Monday and please keep us posted
I will do.. thank you everyone for being so supportive :thanks:
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I didnt really see much of a way around not xraying her to be honest, however at the time you took her to the vets in the first place its fairly safe to say she was probably in pain with the problem so her heart rate may have been increased due to that thus exaggerating her murmur sounds. Or now that she is on heart meds (what type by the way ? ) they may actually be helping her heart.
Satisfy yourself that they will be using the safest type of anaesthetic possible for her condition and age, personally i'd want them to use rapinovet (propofol generic name) and not a combination sedative mixture which although can be partially reversed causes the heart rate etc to be depressed.
I presume if she is booked in they will have told you to starve her, many still give the ancient advise of also taking away water the night before so if that has been the case please do not do so :scared: water only needs to be taken away in the morning :)
Remember -- your cat, your money & your worries so ask ask ask questions before hand and make sure you have had everything explained and are happy with the proposed procedure :hug:
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I didnt really see much of a way around not xraying her to be honest, however at the time you took her to the vets in the first place its fairly safe to say she was probably in pain with the problem so her heart rate may have been increased due to that thus exaggerating her murmur sounds. Or now that she is on heart meds (what type by the way ? ) they may actually be helping her heart.
Satisfy yourself that they will be using the safest type of anaesthetic possible for her condition and age, personally i'd want them to use rapinovet (propofol generic name) and not a combination sedative mixture which although can be partially reversed causes the heart rate etc to be depressed.
I presume if she is booked in they will have told you to starve her, many still give the ancient advise of also taking away water the night before so if that has been the case please do not do so :scared: water only needs to be taken away in the morning :)
Remember -- your cat, your money & your worries so ask ask ask questions before hand and make sure you have had everything explained and are happy with the proposed procedure :hug:
Hi Lynn,
Yes the name of the heart tablets is Fortekor 2.5, have you heard of them? Yes we questioned the vet pretty thoroughly last night as we got so worried and as usual I got tearful!!..
Thanks again.. wow you are knowlegeable are you a vet ;)
Thanks guys
Michelle x
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Yes fortekor are very good tablets, will she be remaining on them permenently now ?
No not a vet lol, never had any desire to be either but i was am a qualified vet nurse. I've not worked for a few years though as I made the decision to bring up my own kids so perhaps i'll return after the 2nd (and last lol) one goes to school in 2 years.
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They haven't said yet, I guess I'll find out.. they only gave 2 weeks supply so far..
Thank you again for all your help, even though you are not a vet you have great advise.. Good luck if you decide to go back to nursing :hug:
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Thanks ;) Part of me wants to part of me doesnt (hard work/high stress/poor pay :tired: )
However 3 years of studying and many years work feels like abit of a waste if i dont :Dont know: Oh well just almost 2 years to decide LOL
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Thanks ;) Part of me wants to part of me doesnt (hard work/high stress/poor pay :tired: )
However 3 years of studying and many years work feels like abit of a waste if i dont :Dont know: Oh well just almost 2 years to decide LOL
I'm sure you will come to right decision ;D
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Lynn you jave so much knowledge and it seems sad for it to be wasted...............I know we get the value of your advice which is great,,,,,,,,,,but like you say all that studying and you sound like you enjoyed the work, so if thats true dont waste it and I am sure some vet will be very happy to employ you in a couple of years time ;D
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You defo have the VN in you Lynn.....You have so much passion for it......You could work in a stress free job with set hours and great pay but if at the end of the day you dont feel that satisfaction then whats the point ;)
>Wildcat....hope your furbabe and the meds work well together :hug:
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Well its time to start worrying again for me, I've taken away Woodys food now, as I have to starve her now till its time for the Vets. She hasn't realised yet as she is sleeping, but she ate well about 5..
She has been walking really well throughout the weekend so now I'm thinking does she need the Xray and general anaethestic, but I guess it would be good to know what happened thats if anything shows.
I'll keep everyone informed of the news tomorrow ..
Thanks for your support guys and my little Woody really appreciates it I'm sure :hug:
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Good luck with tomorrow, Woody will be in best hands and they'll know how to look after her. I remember when i had to leave Jet at the vets overnight for tests i didn't sleep at all. It's natural to worry but hopefully tomorrow the x-ray will show whats wrong
I've got everything crossed for you both :hug:
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Will keep my fingers crossed for her today.
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Thank you guys, I've just dropped her off now.. poor little thing.. I'll let you know how she gets on xxx
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Thinking of you both :Luv:
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Hi guys,
You are not going to believe this, I just had the Vet on the phone and they are not going to do it after all!!! he can't take the chance and Woody is so much better anyway!! honestly I feel like I have been on an emotional rollercoaster.. I got really tearful..
It seems that the lady Vet wants Woody to have the Xray and the Man Vet, my normal vet doesn't want to, and we are stuck in the middle.. however I am not putting Woody through any more now.. We have to go back next Tuesday, but only for a check up and that will be with the Man Vet..
Its really been a nightmare..
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Thinking of you lots of :Luv:
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Oh no poor you and poor Woody, what a nightmare although i'm sure you're slightly relieved she's not had to go through it, is she better? :hug:
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Hi there,
well she is better than she was put it that way.. yes you are right I was sort of relieved .. thats after I burst into tears at work..!! cripes what am I like!!! I am just going to spoil her rotten now.. well I do anyway, but even more so now ;D
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just picked up on this thread and I'm so relieved for you. I know how it feels! Don't worry at all about bursting into tears at work. Hope little Woody's on the mend. Lots of cats on this forum (ok their slaves are on the forum) are on Fortekor. My boy didn't get on too well with it but we may have to give it another go quite soon. Many of them do very well on it so hope it works for Woody.
And you are right, Lynn is wonderful and would be an asset to any vet's practice :)
MEGAPURRS to Woody and her mum.
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Aww, so sorry you have been messed about!! Glad she is seeming better though.
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Thanks guys, feeling much better today.. far less emotional.
I left Woody sunbathing on the window ledge this morning purring away .. she seems happy now :D Even Fluffy my other cat seemed happy to be with her when normally they are arch enemies :'(
We have to take her back next Tuesday now but thats just a check up.. at least now I can start claiming some money back from the insurance company.. phew!!
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Just caught up with this again , and so sad you and Woody have been messed around so much but If Woody is improving , thats the main thing :hug:
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Our Thought's are with Woody and You :Luv: :Luv: :hug:
Misty n Stuart
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Thanks guys, she was a bit wobbly today again but she's ok :hug:
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poor wee wobbly one. Thinking of you and Woody. Now where's yesterday's sun gone when the poorly furries of this world need it for essential windowledge sunbathing?
mine are on their electric heat pad. Fantastic thing as long as it's well covered with towel or blanket as it does get quite hot. Has Woody got one as she might find it comforting? I got mine from the vet directly as they were better than the harder ones I found online and they got me a vet price.
:hug:
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haha you do make me laugh, yes I think Woody was most upset that it wasn't as sunny as yesterday.. now a Heat Pad is a great idea, thank you.. I'm back at the vets next Tuesday so I shall ask then.. I'm sure she would love that ..thank you :hug: actually I might get one for me too :wow::
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If I have to go out in the evening when its cold I leave a couple of (not-too-hot) hot-water bottles wrapped in blankets for the girls, they LOVE them. Good job the bottle skins are thick enough to resist ecstatic clawing... :rofl:
Do just watch out for Woody's feet if they're still a little bit numb - she might not realise if she's cut her pad or got a torn claw or something so you might need to check them for her.
I hope she feels better VERY soon :Luv:
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I'm back at the vets next Tuesday so I shall ask then.. I'm sure she would love that ..thank you :hug: actually I might get one for me too :wow::
the one I have is blue plastic, quite thin and soft. Sometimes I sit on it by mistake too when it's cold and they are lounging elsewhere :evillaugh: It cost about £38 last winter, but money very well spent. I don't think it costs much to run as uses only a little power and acc to the blurb it's safe to leave on. Only thing is the cord's about 1m so the sleeping place (chair ideally) can't be too far away. I cover it with an IKEA fleece thing as it does get hot to the touch when left on for hours. Hope you get one and that Woody likes it.
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If I have to go out in the evening when its cold I leave a couple of (not-too-hot) hot-water bottles wrapped in blankets for the girls, they LOVE them. Good job the bottle skins are thick enough to resist ecstatic clawing... :rofl:
Do just watch out for Woody's feet if they're still a little bit numb - she might not realise if she's cut her pad or got a torn claw or something so you might need to check them for her.
I hope she feels better VERY soon :Luv:
Thats a great idea, but I think Woody might be a bit scared of the water noise.. she's a bit if a scaredy cat :rofl:
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I'm back at the vets next Tuesday so I shall ask then.. I'm sure she would love that ..thank you :hug: actually I might get one for me too :wow::
the one I have is blue plastic, quite thin and soft. Sometimes I sit on it by mistake too when it's cold and they are lounging elsewhere :evillaugh: It cost about £38 last winter, but money very well spent. I don't think it costs much to run as uses only a little power and acc to the blurb it's safe to leave on. Only thing is the cord's about 1m so the sleeping place (chair ideally) can't be too far away. I cover it with an IKEA fleece thing as it does get hot to the touch when left on for hours. Hope you get one and that Woody likes it.
Thank you.. yes I'm going to get one for sure.. I just hope she likes it.. She's a bit funny sometimes.. I got her a cat bed 2 weeks ago, she loved it for the first 3 days, but now she won't go near it :scared: I just hope she goes back to it eventually..
Well if she doesn't like the heat pad, I'm sure my other baby Fluffy will use it.. it would just be her sort of thing :Luv: