Cat with slow onset paralysis
Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2011 8:35 pm
**I accidentally posted this on the wrong thread a minute ago, removed it and am posting it here.
I have a similar issue with one of our cats, Wednesday, that ksdaddy had with Georgette which was posted last month. Wednesday could not walk well at first and within 3-4 days she could not walk at all. I spent all last week taking her to the vet 2x/day to have her bladder expressed. Once my husband got back into town we went to the vet again and she finally showed us how to do it. We are still learning. I am getting better at every day but not sure that I am getting it all out. I have to squeeze quite hard. We have been given medicine to make her bladder more relaxed, even the doctors had some difficulty.
Wednesday is eating well. She is not drinking much. She purrs and still loves to have her belly rubbed, more or less in good spirits, but she does seem irritated. I would be too if I could not walk or go to the bathroom on my own. My problem is that we just don't know what the problem is. It could be a spinal tumor as was the diagnosis for Georgette, but the vets also think it could be a partial saddle thromus clot. She defiantly has a heart mummer and an irregular shaped heart. If we treat with prednisone she could have a heat attack. I am so afraid of treating her for the wrong thing. Right now we are just giving her as much assistance as we can, moving her legs, massage, heat, expressing her bladder. We hope she improves because with our schedules we will probably not be able to keep up this level of care long term and then I am pushing my husband towards finding someone to adopt.
I guess i just wanted to hear from people that had a cat with this slower onset of paralysis, what diagnosis did you receive? If it was a heart issue did you try prednisone or just heart medication? I am sorry if I am asking questions that have been asked. I have been trying to read all the posts but I keep seeing more of dogs than cats. Thank you for any advice you can provide us. We are continuing to work with the wonderful vets we have too.
I have a similar issue with one of our cats, Wednesday, that ksdaddy had with Georgette which was posted last month. Wednesday could not walk well at first and within 3-4 days she could not walk at all. I spent all last week taking her to the vet 2x/day to have her bladder expressed. Once my husband got back into town we went to the vet again and she finally showed us how to do it. We are still learning. I am getting better at every day but not sure that I am getting it all out. I have to squeeze quite hard. We have been given medicine to make her bladder more relaxed, even the doctors had some difficulty.
Wednesday is eating well. She is not drinking much. She purrs and still loves to have her belly rubbed, more or less in good spirits, but she does seem irritated. I would be too if I could not walk or go to the bathroom on my own. My problem is that we just don't know what the problem is. It could be a spinal tumor as was the diagnosis for Georgette, but the vets also think it could be a partial saddle thromus clot. She defiantly has a heart mummer and an irregular shaped heart. If we treat with prednisone she could have a heat attack. I am so afraid of treating her for the wrong thing. Right now we are just giving her as much assistance as we can, moving her legs, massage, heat, expressing her bladder. We hope she improves because with our schedules we will probably not be able to keep up this level of care long term and then I am pushing my husband towards finding someone to adopt.
I guess i just wanted to hear from people that had a cat with this slower onset of paralysis, what diagnosis did you receive? If it was a heart issue did you try prednisone or just heart medication? I am sorry if I am asking questions that have been asked. I have been trying to read all the posts but I keep seeing more of dogs than cats. Thank you for any advice you can provide us. We are continuing to work with the wonderful vets we have too.