- Joined
- Dec 17, 2017
- Messages
- 3
- Purraise
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Became a member this morning as I’m trying to find some answers to what the heck is wrong with Pico. He is an almost 15 year old half Siamese long haired boy who was the previous king of our inner city back yard, a hunter, inside/outside dweller.
About 6 months prior I noticed he was no longer jumping up on the leather sofa to join me in the evening. He still had his spot on another fabric sofa where he now was spending much of his time. He also started to use his indoor litter box which previously was a rarity as he preferred to ask to relieve himself outside. HE began to urinate outside the box and one day I found he had feces caked to his behind. I bathed him and got him to a vet who without any blood work or X-rays diagnosed old age and arthritis. I thought odd because these symptoms came on so suddenly. As it was nearing the heat of summer I had him shaved, kept him indoors and got him a larger litter box.
His ailments progressed to where he could no longer jump up on anything so I took him to vet #2 who made the same old age diagnosis without any testing.
His appetite had not changed, drinks same amount of water, normal stool and urination, minimal vomiting (actually less since he was shaved). He mainly sleeps all the time, moves slowly and now only eats when no ones around.
Now time for vet #3 who diagnosed a heart murmur and an amazingly expensive amount of testing. Her diagnosis was that yes he does have a heart murmur, no arthritis or other afflictions and that she had never seen an old tom in such amazing shape. She prescribed atenolol for the murmur which he’s been taking for a month now with no improvement.
He now spends most of his time under my bed which he has never done before. He still comes out to eat while I’m off at work and again in the evening when he asks to be lifted to the sofa with me but only stays for 30 minutes or less. If I’m not attentive to when he wants to get down he will fall off the side and flop on the floor.
I have been noticing his ears twitching a bit and when I rub him about his ears he seems to be confused about whether he enjoys it or not. Am I wrong to suspect a possible inner ear problem?
Poor old boy. Such a good cat and I’m at a loss for how to help him. Any feedback will be much appreciated!
Thank you.
About 6 months prior I noticed he was no longer jumping up on the leather sofa to join me in the evening. He still had his spot on another fabric sofa where he now was spending much of his time. He also started to use his indoor litter box which previously was a rarity as he preferred to ask to relieve himself outside. HE began to urinate outside the box and one day I found he had feces caked to his behind. I bathed him and got him to a vet who without any blood work or X-rays diagnosed old age and arthritis. I thought odd because these symptoms came on so suddenly. As it was nearing the heat of summer I had him shaved, kept him indoors and got him a larger litter box.
His ailments progressed to where he could no longer jump up on anything so I took him to vet #2 who made the same old age diagnosis without any testing.
His appetite had not changed, drinks same amount of water, normal stool and urination, minimal vomiting (actually less since he was shaved). He mainly sleeps all the time, moves slowly and now only eats when no ones around.
Now time for vet #3 who diagnosed a heart murmur and an amazingly expensive amount of testing. Her diagnosis was that yes he does have a heart murmur, no arthritis or other afflictions and that she had never seen an old tom in such amazing shape. She prescribed atenolol for the murmur which he’s been taking for a month now with no improvement.
He now spends most of his time under my bed which he has never done before. He still comes out to eat while I’m off at work and again in the evening when he asks to be lifted to the sofa with me but only stays for 30 minutes or less. If I’m not attentive to when he wants to get down he will fall off the side and flop on the floor.
I have been noticing his ears twitching a bit and when I rub him about his ears he seems to be confused about whether he enjoys it or not. Am I wrong to suspect a possible inner ear problem?
Poor old boy. Such a good cat and I’m at a loss for how to help him. Any feedback will be much appreciated!
Thank you.
