Cat can barely walk, any ideas?

[fionasmom]

I would take that to mean that he is interested in helping his patients and is not concerned that he has put the "closed" sign up for the night. I have the cell phone number of the practice owner of my cats' hospital. While I have never used it, although he once said that before 11 PM is fine, I do take it to mean that he is invested in helping those really ill patients.

 

[Houdini 1783]

Update
I stopped the atopica on Monday oct 24th so she could have her joint tap. On Sunday oct 30th she perked up a bit and started limping around. Better than not moving at all. And monday and Tuesday even played with some yarn. So now the questions are... reaction to atopica? Or since she is off the medication is her immune system coming back and fighting off whatever this is?
She had her joint tap today. They sent cultures off to the lab and I should have results by Tuesday.

 

[Alldara]

I would certainly report it to the company.

I don't see it on the list, however, ataxia is a symptom. I don't think that drug works for your cat.: Atopica for Cats (Canada) - Drugs.com

 

[Houdini 1783]

She has been on it for almost 2 years

 

[fionasmom]

If nothing else, this is great news and I would investigate whether or not the Atopica is causing any of this. Delayed Adverse Drug Reaction usually occurs within hours or days, but I would investigate long term use reaction. It can happen over a period of time which is longer than days or weeks. I know you have said that your cat needs the Atopica.

The quote below is from the listed site on Atopica and dogs. I don't know how valid it is, or if it even starts to apply to your cat.
Do not vaccinate with a live vaccine during treatment or within a two-week interval before or after treatment. (see also “Special precautions for use” and “Interaction with other medicinal products”).
Clinical particulars - ATOPICA Soft Capsules for Dogs

I wonder if this could be dose related in terms of the Atopica. Or dose and time related.

Adverse drug reactions are classified into six types (with mnemonics): dose-related (Augmented), non-dose-related (Bizarre), dose-related and time-related (Chronic), time-related (Delayed), withdrawal (End of use), and failure of therapy (Failure).
Adverse drug reactions: definitions, diagnosis, and management - PubMed

You must be so relieved that there is some improvement.

 

[FeebysOwner]

It is an immune-suppressing drug, which I suppose might make it more susceptible to causing effects when used long term. There are always 'inert' or 'inactive' ingredients that aren't always listed and can be changed more easily without purportedly affecting the purpose of the drug, so perhaps something has changed recently that could have made the difference for your cat. I don't know the likelihood, but drugs - especially not human approved grades - can change ingredients with limited regulation. Only the liquid form of this med is actually FDA approved.

 

[Houdini 1783]

When she is feeling better, I feel like I can breathe again, I know I have an unhealthy attachment to her but it is what it is.
I think that is what her primary vet found which is why he thought she was having a reaction to the vaccines.
She does not take the liquid form, she takes the pills designed for dogs

 

[fionasmom]

If that is the case, maybe this will all start to work itself out. I hope that she is turning a corner; let us know how things go and what the results are of the joint tap.

 

[FeebysOwner]

.
I think you feel about your cat the way we all feel about ours - I don't think it is an unhealthy attachment at all. It isn't anymore 'unhealthy' than our attachment to another human.

 

[Houdini 1783]

This is what happened to her before the atopica, exactly 2 years ago. Her nails had puss coming out, her hair falling out, and her paw pads covered in sores

 

[iPappy]

This is what happened to her before the atopica, exactly 2 years ago. Her nails had puss coming out, her hair falling out, and her paw pads covered in sores

Just curious, did they do a biopsy to confirm pemphigus?
I read this thread earlier this afternoon, and I can't comment on the Atopica as I have no experience but I'm really wondering why they would vaccinate a cat with autoimmune disease. I have had so many vets send me signed letters explaining that they prefer not vaccinate pets with autoimmune diseases (I have a pet boarding place) and that the animals are examined and free of communicable diseases, and that's good enough for me. Would you be open to doing a titer test next time she's due?

 

[Houdini 1783]

After many months of hospital visits and doctor visits I saw a dermatologist. I asked about doing a biopsy and he thought that it was unnecessary because no matter what it came back as the treatment would be the same. He said why hurt her if we can treat it, and I agreed. After about 2 months on the atopica she went back to pretty much normal and have had no problems since until now.
I am guessing her primary vet didn't think about it because she's had vaccines her whole life. This just happened to be the first time she got vaccines since she got sick 2 years ago.
I don't know what a titer test is. But I am willing to do anything that will help her without hurting her

 

[iPappy]

After many months of hospital visits and doctor visits I saw a dermatologist. I asked about doing a biopsy and he thought that it was unnecessary because no matter what it came back as the treatment would be the same. He said why hurt her if we can treat it, and I agreed. After about 2 months on the atopica she went back to pretty much normal and have had no problems since until now.
I am guessing her primary vet didn't think about it because she's had vaccines her whole life. This just happened to be the first time she got vaccines since she got sick 2 years ago.
I don't know what a titer test is. But I am willing to do anything that will help her without hurting her

Titering is measuring blood antibody levels to see if they're still protected from their last round of vaccines. I did this on one of mine last year, and she was good so no further action was required. It's more expensive than vaccinating, but with autoimmune disease, it might be something you'd like to research further and talk to your vet about.

 

[Houdini 1783]

I would definitely do that because she is more important than money, but my primary vet already said she is not getting any more vaccines in the future

 

[Alldara]

This is what happened to her before the atopica, exactly 2 years ago. Her nails had puss coming out, her hair falling out, and her paw pads covered in sores

This is what happened with Magnus.

Did they try a limited ingredient diet? We found Magnus was allergic to Beef and beef byproducts. (Maybe also carrot). He's just on Purina chicken and rice now and no more toe flare ups. It was at the point we had a biopsy done on his toes.

 

[Houdini 1783]

I was told the only way to find out if they have a food allergy is by process of elimination. Only eat beef for 8 weeks and see what happens, only eat turkey for 8 weeks and see what happens
Did the biopsy reveal a food allergy for your magnus?

 

[Sarthur2]

I agree with the no more vacines requirement, and since she is off the Atopica for now, see how that goes and whether she needs it going forward. It may be that she has outgrown the need for it. It may be that at the time she had a fungal infection in her paws that is now clear. It is difficult to say so I am throwing out ideas.

I’m of the camp of less meds is better, so see where this leads you. She may do better on less meds. Give it a try. She may surprise you. I hope so! Please do keep us posted!

 

[Antonio65]

And the specialist said it is rare therefore it cannot be that

This sentence makes no sense. Please notice, it is not against you, but against what the specialist said.
"It is rare, therefore it cannot be that"
If it's rare, this means that it can happen on very rare occasions, so it CAN be that too.

My cat, now at the Bridge, had a very rare disease, and because it was rare, the vet always ruled that out, didn't even consider it, until they had to diagnose her with it.
Rare does not mean non existent.
Rare means not common, but still existent.

 

[Alldara]

I was told the only way to find out if they have a food allergy is by process of elimination. Only eat beef for 8 weeks and see what happens, only eat turkey for 8 weeks and see what happens
Did the biopsy reveal a food allergy for your magnus?

Yea that is the only way to determine the cause of the allergy.. so we switched to a chicken LID and it stopped. But then you have to give the allergen again to see if it causes the flare up.

The biopsy was to see what kind of bacteria was causing the discharge from his toe nail beds. Inside there was none, only signs of allergy. They had thought he needed two teeth removed but once they were in, they didn't need removed he had just had large amounts of inflammation that daily brushing solved.

 

[Houdini 1783]

She definitely has been better since she stopped the atopica.
Antonio65 I 100% agree with you, one reason I am so frustrated. Everything I said or asked I was dismissed. I didn't particularly want to go back to this doctor but there are not many specialists close to me and I wanted to get the joint tap done.
Alldara- how bad was the biopsy? Did they remove an entire nail or did they take a chunk of the Paw pad?
This is insane. I feel like all I'm doing is hurting her.