Cat can barely walk, any ideas?

[Houdini 1783]

It all started on September 8th 2022. My 8 year old baby had purevax vaccines shots (distemper, leukemia, and rabies) and she was a little punky, but mostly fine until September 17th. She stopped eating, drinking, walking and had a fever. I brought her to her primary doctor and his first thought was she was having a reaction to the vaccines and sent her home with antibiotics. Since she couldn't keep those down, she received a shot of Convenia. She did begin to eat and drink again on her own but the limping and lack of being able to walk remained.
I tried reaching out to her dermatologist. She has been on Atopica for the last year and a half for a suspected autoimmune disease (Pemphigus) and he recommended increasing her daily dose.
I brought her to a Internal Medicine specialist. They did more blood work, urinalysis, x-rays and ultrasounds which were all basically normal. We have tried onsior and steroids and she is fine until the medicine wears off and we are back to the beginning. I have even tried giving her cosequin for her joints, nothing helps.
Her primary doctor thinks I will get answers at the university of Illinois, the specialist thinks a joint tap is my next best option, the dermatologist has been absolutely no help, and I am all sorts of crazy and don't know what to do for her.

 

[Sarthur2]

Try taking her off the Atopica and see if that helps. Atopica can make cats sick. My cat could not tolerate it at all. I notice you said the vet advised increasing the dose, but it can cause muscle weakness, lethargy, and loss of appetite.

Also, how old is your cat? Is she inside only?

 

[catsknowme]

I don't have any answers but want to offer moral support. My adult daughter had a bad reaction in 1982 to the now out-lawed DPT vaccine; she incurred febrile injury to her left brain. After 5 days, the fever left (105° F despite tylenol and ibuprofen) but for another week or so, she could only drag herself along. Eventually, she began walking again but has permanent hypotonia in her large muscles. Also, she is prone to dizzy spells and nausea. She cannot ride a bike or skate or anything like that and she has a severe speech impediment. The hypotonia affects her epiglotis so she frequently aspirates some foods and especially liquids. I hope and pray that you get good answers soon and your kitty makes a full recovery! Please keep us updated

 

[Houdini 1783]

Unfortunately, I cannot take her off of the atopica because of her autoimmune disease. Before she was on it she had pus coming out of her nails, and sores on her paw pads.
I am so sorry to hear about your daughter, you hear everywhere that reactions to vaccines are so rare, yet I hear many stories like that one.

 

[catsknowme]

Did any of your vets indicate that the situation might be caused by an adverse reaction to the Purvax? I saw in this article that "collapse" was briefly mentioned:
Adverse Postvaccination Reactions

 

[Houdini 1783]

Her primary vet thinks it is a reaction to the vaccines but has never seen it and does not know how to treat it. Her dermatologist said that it is possible for her autoimmune disease to flare up after vaccines. And the specialist said it is rare therefore it cannot be that

 

[Sarthur2]

I hope your cat’s condition improves soon!

 

[catsknowme]

H Houdini 1783 I feel your pain - my daughter had a minor, bad reaction to her 2nd dose of DPT and the FNP/midwife warned me to not allow the 3rd dose. However, I moved and the new pediatrician and my PCP both assured me that a bad adverse reaction was very rare and I had a better chance of winning the lottery than having my daughter injured by the vaccine - I should have bought the lottery ticket...
Would a neurological workup be beneficial? Perhaps there are B vitamins or some other plan that can help her body resolve any insult from the vaccine.
Awhile back, TCS had a similar thread. I hope that you find answers soon. Hopefully, keeping this thread active will generate some good responses.
DELAYED, prolonged vaccine reaction

 

[Houdini 1783]

I read that one 3 times, and put my story on there because what she is going through is the same as everyone else. I was advised that I might want to start a new thread since the other is so old, and I might receive new leads... so here I am

 

[fionasmom]

DELAYED, prolonged vaccine reaction
Houdini 1783's account of her cat begins here.

 

[Houdini 1783]

I do have an appointment to get a joint tap done Wednesday November 2nd, and she can not be on any medication for a week prior. No steroids, no atopica. I'm scared she is going to get worse, and be in so much pain.

 

[Houdini 1783]

Rough night. Couldn't sleep much because she was laying next to me shaking. I don't know how I'm going to wait an entire week for her next appointment, and then wait a few days for results.
And this has been happening the last couple days... it's like creamy colored boogers in her eyes.

 

[Sarthur2]

Can you see another vet for a second opinion? It sounds like she needs more immediate help - even if temporary - to treat her symptoms (shaking, oozing eyes). She should certainly be checked for fever. Poor kitty. I’m sorry she is suffering and that you are having sleepless nights.

 

[Houdini 1783]

I have seen her primary doctor, I have seen an internal medicine specialist, I have talked to her dermatologist... I mean I don't know who else I can try.

 

[fionasmom]

Were you still in the process of weaning her off the steroids and then had to stop them suddenly? Not diagnosing, but one of my cats had the eye discharge recently when he felt generally unwell. He went to ER and vet, so I know that it was not eye related.

 

[Houdini 1783]

The boogers in her eyes started Saturday. Friday is when her steroid dose got lowered. She did not receive a steroid yesterday but I am supposed to give her one today and then she will be done

 

[fionasmom]

This change with the meds has to be a shock to her system, even if it is necessary, which is why I stated my opinion on the eye discharge.

Stay in touch with the vets, or at least one of them, keeping in mind that the weekend is coming up. If you feel that the reduction in meds is causing huge issues, where are you on not doing the joint tap if it came to that? Where would it leave you for your next course of action. I am with Sarthur2 on being concerned for her overall malaise right now.

 

[Houdini 1783]

I already sent the specialist an email this morning asking if there was anything I can do for her in the meantime, her primary vet is off on Wednesdays. I know they all probably hate me because I keep calling/emailing but i feel so helpless and i don't know what to do for her.
I work full time and part time so i cant be home with her all the time. My fiancee had surgery last friday and is living on my couch, so at least he has been home with her but since she is over 10 pounds he cant lift her.

 

[fionasmom]

You certainly have your hands full. You have provided excellent veterinary care for her and have also paid a lot of money; you are looking at spending even more. Completely erase the thought that you are taking up time or bothering the vets. There are a lot of conditions or issues at play, she is not feeling well, and you have acted according to a treatment plan, so the least you should expect is some support of some kind, even a message relayed from the vet by a vet tech if they are that busy.

 

[Houdini 1783]

I will say her primary vet is amazing. There were some nights he called me back at 9pm