need help asap

[wedgie]

I'm new here so forgive me if I'm not doing proper format or protocol, I tried to look for the same situation but couldn't find any. I'm in an emergency situation and tomorrow is gonna be a day that decisions are made but I don't trust the vets.

so about 5 weeks ago I noticed my male neutered cat was acting strangely, was dragging himself up on things instead of jumping, being more lethargic..noticed yelps of pain when trying to pick him up or even walking close to him. Took him to the Dr.. She diagnosed constipation,charged me 85 bucks to give an enema.

I took him home, he got worse, started "drunk walking" on his hind end..walk stumble sway, fall.

Took him back to the vet, he did an eyeballing diagnosed cardiomyopathy kept him for 3 days to watch him. did an xray..nothing. 225.00 Advised aspirin 81 and told me not to " chase a diagnoses"

I didn't trust or like that so took him to another vet who did 2 more x-rays and saw nothing, diagnosed spinal cord injury. by this time he was completely dragging his hind end. she kept him for 2 days sent me home with prednisone and ultram.

Took him back to another vet who confirmed spinal cord injury, said prognosis was grim.

I have been home with him for a week,he's miserable, hes tried to use the litter box, he can't. so I have been expressing his bladder for him. he still has some control though cause he tries to stop his sphincter from peeing. he hasnt pooped in awhile, he wont eat or drink. I've been force feeding him teaspoons of liquid food and water.  

He seems to be in pain and has from the start around his chest area, not painful at his back..,ha can stretch his legs and he flicks his tail if I pull at a hair,yet he drags his legs..it doesnt make sense. anyone have any experience with this?

I fear his next stop is the rainbow bridge but I am going to do everything I can to turn it around

 THANKS

 

[stephenq]

 
 THANKS

Hi

You're in the right place and i'm so sorry for your diagnosis.  Was there any discussion as to how your cat developed this problem?  Have your vets suggested euthanasia?  It sounds like your cat is suffering with no obvious cure in front of him, at least none suggested by you, so if it was me, i would at least be discussing euthansia options with my vet.  He seems to be without dignity and in pain, not eating or drinking with poor prospects. If this is true, why prolong it?  Here are the usual guidelines for euthanasia when taken in combination with a disease process for which the prospects are poor:

- Unable or unwilling to eat/drink

- In pain (chronic)

- Loss of pleasure in life

- Loss of dignity

- Loss of control of bodily functions.

Your cat seems to have every one of these.  Pet loss is very painful for us their guardians, but i wouldn't fear the rainbow bridge, i would fear keeping him alive too long and having to live with that memory.

 

[mrsgreenjeens]

Are his back legs cold?  Sometimes cats get what is called "saddle thrombosis", which is extremely painful for them, and it causes them to lose the feeling is their back legs.  That's because it stops the blood from flowing to them.  I'm just guessing at this, since someone first said cardiac, and it's somewhat related.

So none of the xrays have shown anything?  I wonder how they can diagnose spinal cord injury if nothing is showing up?   

Have you been giving him the Pred and Ultram?  Have they made any changes?  The Ultram should at least have given him some relief from pain

I honestly don't know what to tell you, especially after so many different diagnosis by different Vets.  How old is he BTW?

 

[Columbine]

I am so, so sorry you're in this position. It's heartbreaking to watch them go downhill like this. I hate to say it, but I agree with stephenq on this one. Your guy is clearly in pain and, as if that wasn't enough, is no longer eating and can't use the box himself. It's time. The longer you wait, the more this will haunt you later on. The deaths I regret the most are the ones where I waited too long because I couldn't bear to say goodbye. We're all here to support you. I'm so sorry.

 

[feralvr]

Wedgie I am SOOO sorry about your dear kitty and it does sound like he is suffering tremendously. I also have to say that the longer you wait for your decision the harder it will be on you after he is gone. I am sorry to say.... We always have regret during our grieving process, it is human nature. The ones I have the most regret are the ones I didn't let go soon enough and kept trying to save them. Sometimes, we do way too much and go way too far when the kitties have already given up and are ready for that beautiful bridge but it is our own emotional turmoil getting in the way of what is right for kitty. Please know we are here to support you and we have all been through this. I feel, according to what you explain, that your kitty is relying on you for a peaceful and dignified release from his suffering body. We fear death much, much more than our pets do - they actually embrace it as part of their natural life and existence - it is us who stand in the way of what is the right thing to do for them when it gets to this point. I think his message is clear to you from what you describe and you will be more at peace going ahead with letting him go and setting him free. Please come here and let us know - we will help you and be your rock. :grphug: :grphug2:

 

[wedgie]

Thanks everyone!! I feel so helpless. I'm a person that needs to have answers. None of it makes sense. It is not thrombosis. His legs and feet are warm and that diagnoses has been ruled out. They diagnosed spinal cord injury by the way he was presenting. I just have no idea how this happened! The pain in the front makes no sense with just a spinal cord injury. I was trying to explain everything in hopes that someone would say" aha that happened to my cat , and this is what it is"..I know it seems somewhat cruel or selfish to keep him alive like this. I will do it soon. I just wanted answers and I've searched everywhere for 2 weeks. Thanks for the support! One week ago I buried another cat who got sick and died of Leukemia within 2 weeks of neuter surgery. He was a big seemingly healthy loving boy and now he's under a tree in the yard. so I am a bit distraught with now wedgie being this way. Again thank you

 

[seaturtle]

I am so sorry you are going through this. I do have to agree that letting him go, right away, is the kindest the most loving thing you can do. He is in pain and can't urinate himself.

And I understand you are in pain, too, but as someone above pointed out, the sooner you give him the gift of the ending of his suffering, the better you will feel afterwards.

I have had to put my furries down, too. I had to think of the cat and not myself. What a painful decision for you, my heart is with you.

 

[grizzlysapien]

@wedgie, reading your thread made me really sad and really angry that you and your kitty are going through such an ordeal..
If the ultimate solution is euthanasia, you'll feel ready when HE lets you know he's ready.. If and when it happens, you'll know it.
I just hope you'll get answers about what went wrong to make him be this way, before the definite decision on euthanasia.. Make sure there's nothing else to be done.. Since you have tried 3 different vets so far, make sure they do their freakin job and provide you with answers, that will ease your mind one way or another.. The answers will also provide you with the respective knowledge in the future, to prevent something similar.

It goes without saying that I really hope the best for you and your kitty.. I'll pray that, whatever the outcome, there will be relief for both of you. My love and my thoughts, sincerely go out to the 2 of you..

 

[Norachan]

I'm so sorry you're going through this. Are your vets recommending that Wedgie is PTS? It might be the kindest thing to do, even though knowing that doesn't make it any easier on you. Big hug to you both, I'm sorry I can't offer you any other help or advice.

 

[feralvr]

I am so sad to hear you lost another kitty recently. :shame: It is very, very hard, emotionally painful and almost impossible to swallow and deal with but still, you have to think of Wedgie as completely separately from your emotions right now and what you have been enduring. To me, the worst part was after losing and thinking back of what I could have done to spare my pet constant suffering due to my own emotional obstacles. That is the hardest part when we are in these types of situations. I hope you can have a heart to heart with your vet too because most times they are your best ally and support. :cross: We all go through this and do understand how you are feeling. I wish you great strength and courage right now for Wedgie.

 

[wedgie]

Thank you for the replies! I appreciate it. wedgie is better today for some reason, he is laying down comfortably now for the first time in days.(He had been sitting up staring angrily at the wall) I took him to a 4th vet today. She looked over the x-rays and couldn't find anything either. She examined him and confirmed spinal cord. Either a tumour that wouldnt show up or some kind of disc problem that hasn't shown up. We are trying him on a different combination of anti inflammatory and pain medicine.It will either progress or stabilize so we will see.

I've had many many animals in my life especially cats and for Wedgie to be going through this is heartbreaking!  I  have a silly call for him specifically that only he would respond to, he slept next to me every night.He actually kissed me and would put his hand on my face as I was petting him as if to pet me back.I truly love this cat. I don't feel its quite time yet, and I would feel horrible and guilty with the "what if", if I didn't do all this.

wedgie.jpg

• wedgie
• Aug 4, 2015

 

[LotsOfFur]

What an absolutely gorgeous kitty! Beautiful photo. ((hugs)) I'm glad this vet is trying something new! Sending healing and comforting thoughts to you both! [emoji]10084[/emoji]️

 

[kskatt]

Are any of the vets you've seen specialists? Is there a university vet school/clinic in the area? I have KSU 150 miles north, have been there once with a 4 month old filly. But that is where you are most likely to find multiple vets with multiple specialties.

Even though Wedgie is feeling a little better, I would be looking for a vet college.  I pray he is on his way back, but, please don't take any chances!

 

[Norachan]

That's great news for you and Wegie. This new vet sounds better than the last ones, I hope she'll able to get to the bottom of this.

I know what it's like to have that special one, of course you don't want to let him go. If he seems more comfortable now there may be a chance for him.

Vibes for you both. He's a beautiful boy.

 

 

[seaturtle]

I have a very special guy, too. My cats can go outside in the garden (fenced in) and on the back porch when I am not home. Only one of t hem, my Anmato Amadeus, sits outside all day waiting for me, no matter what the weather. The others stay inside and sleep. Amato will not go in until I do. He sleeps on my head.

I love all my cats very much, but there is a special relationship with Amato. I think it may have to do with finding him abandoned near the house I live in, with a broekn pelvis and tail and heart worm. We went through a lot to save his life. I think he know that. I sure do. The thought of losing him makes me shake and cry.

 

[grizzlysapien]

It's good news that Wedgie seems better and that you've decided to "dig into it" more.. I'm really glad! I hope this situation continues to go only towards better days 

 

[stewball]

He's a beautiful boy.
Does he go outside?

 

[Columbine]

It's good to hear that Wedgie is coping a little better. It would be great if this new vet is able to give him quality of life for a while longer.

 

[momto3cats]

I just read through this thread. First of all, I'm so glad Wedgie is doing a bit better. 

I haven't seen this in a cat, but my Mom's dog has had spinal problems that showed very similar symptoms. It was very difficult to diagnose, she was taking various meds that didn't help, and at one point euthanasia was considered. But with the right pain meds and anti-inflammatory she DID get better and is completely back to normal now. Don't give up hope.

 

[grizzlysapien]

 
I just read through this thread. First of all, I'm so glad Wedgie is doing a bit better. 

I haven't seen this in a cat, but my Mom's dog has had spinal problems that showed very similar symptoms. It was very difficult to diagnose, she was taking various meds that didn't help, and at one point euthanasia was considered. But with the right pain meds and anti-inflammatory she DID get better and is completely back to normal now. Don't give up hope.

I'm liking this..