Struggling to help my cat and worrying about his future

[CS1991]

My 11 year old cat has been back and forth to the vets office in the past two weeks. We took him in because we noticed he lost weight and his third eyelid came out. Fast forward 4 visits we figured out he's hyperthyroid, had an ear infection, mouth infection (apparently resolved) but his eye is the same. The vet says it's Horner's syndrome. After stopping the ear meds he's been shaking his head often and itching that same ear. The vet says he thinks it could be a brain tumor especially because of my cats history with epilepsy (diagnosed over 8 years ago but stable). He said we could do a CT scan but it would be inoperable anyway. I'm beside myself. I've been sick and unable to function for the past two weeks and have felt even worse since that visit. I can't stop staring at him and breaking down constantly throughout the day. I think we're going to do the CT even if it breaks us down financially. I'm praying it's not what he's saying and maybe an inner ear issue or polyp. Please send collective prayers for my baby and for my family. I just want him to be happy and healthy again.

 

[Margot Lane]

Sending you positive energy through the ether & remember to ground and to lean on each other for support. Also rest where you can b/c someone has to drive….taking care of you is part of taking care of your kitty. Deep breaths.

 

[CS1991]

Sending you positive energy through the ether & remember to ground and to lean on each other for support. Also rest where you can b/c someone has to drive….taking care of you is part of taking care of your kitty. Deep breaths.

Thank you so much you're right

 

[di and bob]

I will definitely pray for you and your little one. I know how it is to worry about someone you love. I pray it IS operable, or something else curable!

 

[CS1991]

I really appreciate that. We have an appointment with the Neurologist on Wednesday so hoping we can get some clarity

 

[FeebysOwner]

Hoping for the best news possible on Wednesday!!!

 

[vampiric_conure]

Fingers, toes, and tail feathers crossed all goes well !!

 

[CS1991]

Hoping for the best news possible on Wednesday!!!

Thank you so much

 

[CS1991]

Fingers, toes, and tail feathers crossed all goes well !!

I appreciate that I hope so too!

 

[silent meowlook]

Please get a second opinion before doing the CT scan.
Do you know what medications were used for the ears?
Did the vet clean the ears for you?
Do you know what the ear infection was?

 

[CS1991]

He just has a consultation scheduled with a neurolgoist before deciding to do the scan or not! They said he had a yeast ear infection and although I didn't see them do it and how thoroughly they did it, they cleaned his ear. He was prescribed anti-fungal drops (surolan) and I didn't notice any improvement while he was on them. If anything more scratching. I was told to finish the meds so we did. When we went back to the vet he said the ear was clean now and stuck a qtip in his ear, some debris came out but not like before. Weird thing is, my cats eye looked almost better for a second after he inserted the qtip but quickly reverted. The vet pointed it out. One of the vets mentioned it might be something in the inner ear like a polyp but the other vet seemed dismissive of that and leaned towards something neurological. Honestly I don't know what to do anymore I just want to help him. I lost faith in this vet because of them constantly diagnosing new things each visit over the past two weeks. First it was a supposed eye infection, then the next visit they said they didn't look carefully and he has peridontal disease and a dental infection and the third trip it was when the ear infection was discovered only because I brought up the residue in his ear. They also did bunch of xrays and found nothing. I just want answers for once and get him better!

 

[silent meowlook]

Horners syndrome, while neurological in nature can be caused by ear cleanings in cats. As well as by ear medications. I have even seen a cat get it as a result of a bath. The ones I saw caused by the above, resolved on their own a couple of weeks later.

 

[CS1991]

Overall, his behaviour has been improving and more normalized. It's just his eye and head shaking that's persisted (almost 3 weeks with the eye - less than 2 for the ear) Maybe I should wait and see if anything changes before I commit to the scan. We got paranoid because of his epilepsy and the vet's opinion about a tumor. I feel like we would have noticed some other neurological symptoms though. I really appreciate this information, thank you!

 

[CS1991]

Only thing is his eye started before the ear cleaning!

 

[Maggsy]

I feel for you CS1991, if only we could get straight answers so we know what we're dealing with,
I'd love to find an older, more experienced vet than the seemingly just out of college vet that I'm dealing with right now,
this may seem and indeed be unfair but it's just how I feel,
spending $1000 and wishy washy diagnosis helps neither us or our pets...

I do hope your cat recovers well, my heart is with you

 

[silent meowlook]

Ok. It could be a polyp. Is he on any steroids? When was his last seizure? Is he on medication for the epilepsy? What kind?

 

[CS1991]

He's not on any steroids,no! He hasn't had a seizure in a long time (over a year for sure). It's pretty well under control - he takes phenobarbital, has been taking it for almost 8 years now. He's also hyperthyroid (we just found out 3 weeks ago when we took him in for this eye) and is on Methimazole

 

[CS1991]

I feel for you CS1991, if only we could get straight answers so we know what we're dealing with,
I'd love to find an older, more experienced vet than the seemingly just out of college vet that I'm dealing with right now,
this may seem and indeed be unfair but it's just how I feel,
spending $1000 and wishy washy diagnosis helps neither us or our pets...

I do hope your cat recovers well, my heart is with you

Of course. I understand. The vet I was seeing was also younger and I started to get frustrated. The last appointment I booked with the owner and most seasoned vet and it didn't help give anymore clarity to be honest. We just want the best care for our babies. And I think it's fair if we are going to spend that money that we want it to help us get somewhere instead of in circles. I feel for you and hope your fur babies are always happy and healthy

 

[silent meowlook]

Hi. The recent diagnosis of hypothyroidism is important to consider with everything else going on.

It is extremely important that you recheck the thyroid after a month of giving it regularly.

It is also important to note that hyperthyroidism can mask kidney disease and once it is controlled the kidney disease will be more apparent. Another side effect of hyperthyroidism is heart disease and/or hypertension. So it is important to keep tabs on those.

The above being said, always consider your cat’s mental, emotional state. Stress is bad for everyone, including, especially cats. Stress delays healing and worsens symptoms and conditions. You will always be the best one to know how your cat is emotionally doing.

 

[silent meowlook]

Not to scare you with the above. My cat has hyperthyroidism, a grade III heart murmur, asthma, IBD, small cell intestinal lymphoma, kidney disease and liver disease. There is more but that’s all I can think of now. She is still going strong 3 years now. She is 15. So most things can be managed.