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Right, if her ataxia or walking issues seem to be because of these spine issues, well as the vet agreed this morning that there is no cure for it obviously, plus with her age nearing 20 next month I'm sure it was bound to occur for such an old kitty. But my concern was since there is no real cure other than treatments to help her comfort her, I figured it would be long term/permanent. I too did read Burpenex is a strong medication that does cause restleness and high alertness. Even their dyes would be dilated I read, which was also true of Sassy as I noticed that with her eyes the entire evening/night she was awake. I would want to give her long term relief but at safest minimal dose possible, but as well as specific medication that wouldn't affect her much in terms side affects such as being awake for a lot. Sure it might make her look rather healthy and like a young kitten again but that isn't the goal - just to relieve of her pain. From this xray report, it seems like she's in pain.That is so thankful that there is no actual mass, and it may just be due to head positioning.
Maybe the infection was caused by 'gastroenteritis'...as mentioned on page 2 of the above report...and somehow that is what caused the initial fever, and Sassy to stop eating.
Although, like you, I also wonder how the 'spinal issues' could align with this,...or is it more that the two issues are separate, but somehow occurred at the same time. Strange, but possible, maybe.
Could you ask your Vet, however, if you could somehow give Sassy the lowest possible dosage of the buprenex liquid, but that would still take care of her pain...from spinal spondylosis?
I am not sure why your Vet only thinks that it would cause sleepiness, since buprenex, is a strong opioid...and it does cause restlessness, and high alertness in cats. It totally gets them high.
Buprenorphine For Cats: What It Does, Dosage & Side Effects - All About Cats
If you could find the right dosage, that would take away her pain, but also allow her to sleep, and rest, then that would be best.
I would also ask your Vet if other pain medications are available to try, for her spine issues,...and even if something like glucosamine would help with Sassy.?
As for the coincidence of possible infection + spinal issues, she's had this wierd balance issue for months. Just wasn't as prominent. Only occasionally. But with her stopping to eat I guess from the infection/illness/fever, she got much weaker (lost weight) so made her balance even worse. I noticed in the days prior to she getting sick, she'd get off my bed through these steps I made for her out of storage boxes. I noticed she'd go down losing her balance a bit more, her front legs would cross over each other at times. It got me nervous as I thought she'd just collapse or fall going down, but she didn't. Then fast forward to when she got sick, she hobbled more and more, walked very slow and I remember her just taking long bouts of sitting in different places, she just walk few steps, then sit and remain there. Until ultimately she made it to my boxes and went on my bed. Then that's when she remained there entire day not wanting to move or eat (fever).
So it is rather tricky, and really unfortunate that infection and spinal issue came about together, if it was all that. I just wonder if I need to proceed with ultrasound. If she had some issue in there, she wouldn't have eaten normally over the weekend without use of any meds or appetite stimulant. That's what I think. I should be going home in about 2 hours and see if Sassy will wake up hungry and hoping she will eat.