Vertigo Kitty

LuckyGirl82

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It’s been 24 hours since our cat Lucky was diagnosed with severe Vestibular disease at the ER & im still extremely worried! She did eat a bit of wet food but had zero interest in water. She is also sleeping A LOT!! I know they gave her 2 sedatives & her meds but still she hadn’t tried to get up & walk since about 11 am yesterday. I requested a home visit from the vet (she HATES the cat carrier) because I’m still worried & scared maybe it’s something worse I want them to do all the tests just for peace of mind

I’ve defiantly scared myself reading things that it could be online. I know they say the first 24-48 hours are the worst I’m hoping they are right. I just want her to get better soon she’s a normally super active cat & this is breaking my heart! I can’t eat or sleep.

Did anyone else go through this with a cat that was extremely lethargic after the episode? Any help, advice or stories would be helpful

Thankfully guys!!!
 
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LuckyGirl82

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It’s been 24 hours since our cat Lucky was diagnosed with severe Vestibular disease at the ER & im still extremely worried! She did eat a bit of wet food but had zero interest in water. She is also sleeping A LOT!! I know they gave her 2 sedatives & her meds but still she hadn’t tried to get up & walk since about 11 am yesterday. I requested a home visit from the vet (she HATES the cat carrier) because I’m still worried & scared maybe it’s something worse I want them to do all the tests just for peace of mind

I’ve defiantly scared myself reading things that it could be online. I know they say the first 24-48 hours are the worst I’m hoping they are right. I just want her to get better soon she’s a normally super active cat & this is breaking my heart! I can’t eat or sleep.

Did anyone else go through this with a cat that was extremely lethargic after the episode? Any help, advice or stories would be helpful

Thankfully guys!!!
I forgot to mention her nose is dry & you can hear her breathing at certain points
 
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LuckyGirl82

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So yesterday we ended up taking our cat Lucky to her own vet just for peace of mind. He agreed too that she has Vestibular disease after an examination & that everything she is experiencing is normal. I was worried because she wasn’t wanting to eat, drink or use the litter box & was sleeping a lot. He gave her some fluids & then gave us an anti nausea pill, appetite stimulator & some high calorie food to feed her in a syringe.

When we brought her home the poor thing peed in her cat carrier which I’m happy she peed but she got a lot of herself. I wiped her down & then I noticed she started grooming herself! Not a lot but a bit which I think is a good sign! Then when we opened the can of her food she sat up in her cat bed we did have to feed it to her in the syringe but she held it down.

At bed time we bring her up with us & her brother came on the bed & starting grooming her head & then laid beside her. The past two days he would just sniff her & run away I’m taking that as a good sign that he wants to groom her.

We are at day 3 she used the litter box twice & even got up to walk around 3 times. I actually forgot something I needed to mail out so I turned around & came back home when she heard me she got up & started walking toward the door like she always does when we come home. She wanted out so I figured it would be good to let her walk around (we walk with her) she did good. She is leaning when she walks & stumbles but she is walking. She is back to sleeping & spits the food out that we are trying to give her with the syringe ugh.

I’m wondering when her appetite will come back?? I know I have to be patient but I’m such a worrier & I google everything so I keep reading peoples cats died from this & I get terrified! I just want her to get better I feel so helpless. Sorry this was long just needed to get it all out
 
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LuckyGirl82

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Hi!
...maybe talk to your vet about more of the anti nausea?
Hi,
He prescribed her a pill for the nauseas & this appetite simulator that goes in her ear we just started it yesterday & im pretty sure she hates the high calorie food. Even our littlest one who will eat anything won’t touch that either (it was on a little plate & she sniffed it walked right away lol) so I’m just giving the meds a bit of time. She is in bed with us now & I saw her groom her face for a bit so that’s promising I think she just gets so dizzy that she can’t do her normal grooming routine. I’m just hoping that tomorrow will be better & she starts to eat/drink on her own.
 
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LuckyGirl82

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I’m sure I’m probably driving everyone crazy with my posts on my poor cat Lucky who has vertigo but I’m a worry wart.

Anyway Lucky slept with us again last night I did see her clean her face for a bit & she was changing positions the best she could. We brought her down to the litter box this morning & she did go pee & was able to stand more on her own. After that she walked around our mud room for a bit & headed for the garage (my office.) She was just sitting under my chair I brought her in a treat & she licked it but didn’t eat it which I’m takin as small progress. I quickly went to go feed our other 4 cats & then when I came back she made it underneath this shelf I have my bins of inventory on she’s not far in just at the beginning.

Of course my mind goes to she’s going to hide & die even though she’s been checked by 2 vets & they both said her lungs & heart sound good & the blood work all came back normal. My hubby says it’s been 3 days for 24 hours hovering over her so she probably just wants some space. Her eyes have stopped doing the darting motion but she still has the head tilt with sideways clumsy walking. Eating & drinking are still being done through a syringe. Did anyone else’s cat hide while they had vertigo??? Did the cats eyes stop doing the darting motion but were they still walking sideways & off balance??
 
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LuckyGirl82

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Update went to go check on her & she was back out on my little carpet sitting! Hubby brought her in to the living room with us which I guess is a good idea but then I feel bad she can’t have time alone now too.
 
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LuckyGirl82

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Thank you we’re gonna try a few of those options. She did eat her regular wet food off a plate not a lot so then my hubby gave her some in the syringe. She tried to jump up on the couch but she can’t she is getting around a bit better today. Back to the vet for more fluids though I hate to stress her in that carrier but I know it’s for the best! Thank you for the positive vibes I’ll keep you updated!!!
 
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LuckyGirl82

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Update on Lucky! Hubby took her back to the vet to get fluids (I stayed behind because I think I make her even more nervous because I’m so nervous) apparently she was great in the car with no cat carrier just laying in his lap as he drove lol (he put her in the carrier to go in). She gets violent in the carrier we had to get a soft one but she peed in it Wednesday so it’s soaking.

Anyway the vet looked at her & said she looked a million times better & that she is going to recover it just takes time. She came home & walked around the yard so we sat outside with her while she basked in the sun. We brought her inside & then I went to get some work done when I came in to check on her & pet her she started sniffing & went over to her food dish & started eating!!!!! She has eaten twice since then!! I’m beyond excited & hope her recovery continues. Of course she would decide to eat her brothers food when we are suppose to give her the anti nausea meds on an empty stomach I didn’t even think I was just so happy she was going on her own no more syringe. I think she’s traumatized & will never eat Iams or that high calorie food ever again lol.

Now it’s getting her coordination back poor thing walks sideways & is clumsy. She tried to jump off the coffee table I was doing dishes & hubby couldn’t grab her in enough time & she took a spill. She also has the head tilt which the vet said she might always have a slight tilt after this. I’ll keep you updated on her status tomorrow fingers crossed it will be good!

Thank you for listing to me babble on!
 

Mamanyt1953

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I have never dealt with a cat with vertigo, but I do have it myself, and I know what she is going through...AND I understand the need to be alone, without stimulation. You might consider something like this:

https://www.chewy.com/petmaker-cozy...0hvMue2uk18Y4h2dgTeaS-ExT9w0yebhoC6m0QAvD_BwE for your living room. That would allow her a place to retreat to for some solitude, while keeping her where you can monitor if necessary.
 
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LuckyGirl82

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I have never dealt with a cat with vertigo, but I do have it myself, and I know what she is going through...AND I understand the need to be alone, without stimulation. You might consider something like this:

https://www.chewy.com/petmaker-cozy...0hvMue2uk18Y4h2dgTeaS-ExT9w0yebhoC6m0QAvD_BwE for your living room. That would allow her a place to retreat to for some solitude, while keeping her where you can monitor if necessary.

That is such a good idea thank you!!!
 

Mamanyt1953

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You are VERY welcome! That little cave is my girl's favorite place...and she rolls it around from room to room!
 
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LuckyGirl82

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thank you!!!! Now we’re working on her balance. She’s still sleeping a lot more than usual but that could be because of all the meds she’s on. And I’m waiting for her to groom herself her brother comes & grooms her head & she grooms his paw lol.
 
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LuckyGirl82

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Shes getting even better! She ate on her own then went to the litter box on her own. We are outside with her right now & she was able to hop up on my lawn chair & lay with me. She got down & her brother came running up to her she hit him in the head & did a little stumble run! That’s our feisty girl! She’s sitting in the grass right now basking in the sun! Just waiting on her to poop now.
 
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