Cat with Myasthenia Gravis

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RichardRahl
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Cat with Myasthenia Gravis

Post by RichardRahl »

I have a cat named Stryker, that was diagnosed with Myasthenia Gravis, and Mega Esophagus syndrome. She was put on Pyridostigmine Bromide which has taken care of the neurological issues, but I need some advice on the mega esophagus issue. I am going on vacation and will be boarding her and my other cat while I am gone. The problem I have is that Stryker has never liked being held for long, I can get her to sit upright for awhile, just long enough to get the food to go down before she gets really mad and fights to get loose. Was wondering if anyone had any advice on what the boarding facility can do to make sure whatever she eats goes down. It dosen't help that she dose not like anyone but me, vet tech's at the Neurologist had a heck of a time with her.
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critters
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Re: Cat with Myasthenia Gravis

Post by critters »

:slant: Hmm. I've never heard of a cat with MG, and I don't think ME is terribly common in them, either. Mine, too, end up with "impossible" stuff, never mind the improbable! :shock: :mrgreen:

Do you know about the Bailey chairs, which hold them upright to get the food down? Maybe she'd prefer that to being held. Honestly, I expect you'll have to come up with (invent) some sort of arrangement you and Stryker can both agree on.
RichardRahl
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Joined: Sat Mar 12, 2016 10:51 am
Location: Arvada Colorado

Re: Cat with Myasthenia Gravis

Post by RichardRahl »

Stryker's primary vet thought she had a stroke (she also has Hyperthyroidism) which may have been the result of putting her on Methimazole, but was not sure. So he sent her to a Neurologist. The Neurologist told me that he had only encountered MG once before, and that Styker's was rare since it she aquired it rather than being born with it. Boy she sure ran up a huge heath care bill.

Anyway thanks for the idea on the Bailey chair. Kind of had the same idea, but was'nt sure if they even made one small enough for her, she's a fairly small cat. I considered maybe geting a baby swing, and seeing if one of my friends could fashion some kind of harness to hold her upright, and to where should would be able to still eat. Thanks again Critters.
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critters
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Re: Cat with Myasthenia Gravis

Post by critters »

Adapting a baby seat or the like is a GREAT idea! I don't know that a commercial Bailey chair would work because of size--like you say. Somebody might be able to rig up something similar in her size via some medium or another; carpentry is, of course, the first that comes to my mind, but any number of ways could be possible. In such cases I've been known to wander hardware stores, junk yards, and all kinds of places looking for inspiration! If you come up with anything you can post pics and/or directions for the next people and critters who come along.
RichardRahl
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Location: Arvada Colorado

Re: Cat with Myasthenia Gravis

Post by RichardRahl »

Thought I would give an update on how Stryker is doing. It's been seven months since she was put on Pyridostigmine Bromide for the Myasthenia Gravis, and she is pretty much symptom free now. Back to playing, and giving her house mate a hard time, which is so good to see again. She also has not had much vomiting that was attributed to the Mega Esophagus syndrome, the Specialist that treated her was not sure if that would ever resolve. But Stryker is one tough little cat.

This is Stryker (the black kitty) and her housemate Rashke.

Image

Even though she has had few episodes of ME, I'm still trying to figure out some contraption to help her eat, not there yet but it's still being worked on, and will share what is finally figured out.


I found some video of Stryker that I showed the Specialist to help diagnose her that I thought I would share, might help some other folks in the future. The following link is to one of the image sharing sites I use. This video was shot just after we returned from her vet's office when they thought she may have had a stroke. At the time she was only able to walk about five feet before she would get to tired to go further. One thing the video dose not show is her body posture. If you were to see her from the side, when walking her front shoulders were elevated, buet her head was down low, looking downward. In my mind I thought it looked like she had a terrible headache.

Stryker pre-diagnoses;
http://s18.photobucket.com/user/galansw ... sort=3&o=0
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critters
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Re: Cat with Myasthenia Gravis

Post by critters »

:thankyou: for all the info, and what a cute pic! :wub:
RichardRahl
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Re: Cat with Myasthenia Gravis

Post by RichardRahl »

One thing that I forgot to mention, not sure if it has been discussed in any of the other forums threads here, is medicine. My little girl will have to take meds for the rest of her life, which hopefully will be long, for her ME and Hyperthyroidism. The Specialist, after hearing how much trouble the vet tech's had giving Styker pills, found a local pharmacy that would compound one of the meds into liquid form (Stryker will be going in for radiation treatment for the Hyperthyroidism in the near future). I highly recomend trying to find a pharmacy that will do this if you have to give meds, it made Styker's and my life much easier.
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critters
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Re: Cat with Myasthenia Gravis

Post by critters »

You're right! Some mail order joints will compound, too.
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CarolC
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Re: Cat with Myasthenia Gravis

Post by CarolC »

RichardRahl wrote:(Stryker will be going in for radiation treatment for the Hyperthyroidism in the near future)
My cat got radiation treatment for his thyroid and he did really well. The thing I remember most was that afterward we had to be careful disposing of his kitty litter because he was supposedly eliminating radioactivity in his urine for the following month or something after he came home. It's been a while, don't remember all the details. I just remembering putting the garbage can at the very back of the yard to dispose of the kitty litter, and wiping down the kitchen counters a lot. :lol: Anyway, I was very, very happy with the results of his treatment.
RichardRahl
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Re: Cat with Myasthenia Gravis

Post by RichardRahl »

Been awhile since I have visited this wonderful forum. I lost Stryker June 1 2017, due to unknown causes. The vet I took her to was unable to say what the cause was, but it was not related to the ME or Hyperthyroidism. All of a sudden her red blood cell count plumeted, and after two infusions it was decided that it was best to let her go, as sever brain damage was suspected and no quality of life was expected . One of the hardest things I had to do. But as a pet guardian, we tried.

I think Rashke (who will be 17 this August) took it as hard as I did, no real interest other than eating a little, and sleeping which worried me greatly. I adopted a young female tabby named Rosie, from Angles With Paws, a shelter here in Colorado. The two have bonded, bringing Rashke out of her funk, and have made my home complete again.
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CarolC
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Re: Cat with Myasthenia Gravis

Post by CarolC »

I'm sorry to hear the sad news. :( I know if there was anything else that could have been done, you would have done it. She would not have made it as long as she did without the extra TLC you gave her. She was truly special needs. I am glad your senior kitty has made friends with the new one. Rosie is a very lucky cat to become part of your family, and I hope Stryker's story will help someone else someday.

:grouph:
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