Re: Patches limping suddenly
Ah, so that is where "vixenroo" comes from! I always wondered about that. No, Patches definitely is better, just not completely better. She is acting normal, rather than hiding, and her limp is much less pronounced. It's still there, though. Michelle In a message dated 7/18/2006 1:20:33 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: I'm very pleased to hear Patches is doing better today. You say "does seem", does that mean it's not drastic improvement? I'm so glad you have your mom close by now. I love that woman. I lost my beloved Vixen Roo, (Siberian Husky), to a brain tumor. I knew something was wrong at least a week before she started having seizures. We were at the dog park and just the way she looked at me that day, she just seemed off somehow. I knew there was something wrong, but I chose to wait and see. Maybe if I had jumped to the worst case scenario, we could have figured it out sooner. With all you've been through, I do understand why you suspect the worst.N
Re: Patches limping suddenly
Hi Michelle, I have been dealing with Bandy's limping for almost 2 months now...At first, I am sure he hurt himself by jumping down from his cat tower. Since he doesn't have much depth perception cause of his eye disorder...Now he waits for me to get him down..But the last 2 or 3 episodes of the limping seem to be un-related to jumping...I have explored all the immune arthritis problems with my vet like you had mentioned..There is really no way to know as the blood work for kitties is usually not conclusive for the arthritis...only way is to go to specialist for an MRI. His limping goes from one side to the other..2 wks ago it was on the right and last week it was on the left...and seems to affect both front and rear...I know it is really odd. He has now had 6 adequan injections which you can only do one weekly for 6 wks in a row...We have skipped a week or 2 though...If it continues, I would suggest the adequan injection...It seems to work for Bandy..His temp has been up, too...But she said that is probably due to more inflammation associated with his leg..It is swollen at times,too. (soft tissue swelling)...But after a few days that goes away... She did suggest metacam, too. So maybe that will help your lil Patches.. I also give Bandy 1/2 torbutrol for the pain. I have him on chondro-flex daily..it has MSM in it and some other things for swelling/arthritis. Keep us posted... you 2 are in our thoughts and prayers. Also, hope Lucy is doing better.. Kerry and Bandy Talk is cheap. Use Yahoo! Messenger to make PC-to-Phone calls. Great rates starting at 1¢/min.
Re: Patches limping suddenly
Thanks, Kerry. I gave her MSM in addition to the Metacam last night. She is still limping some today, but way less, and she is otherwise acting normal-- even jumping (I keep helping her down). I hope she is actually healing from whatever it is, and not just feeling a little better from the meds, but either way I am glad she is improving. Have you tried the Immuno-regulin yet with Bandy, for his fevers? Michelle In a message dated 7/17/2006 4:46:04 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Hi Michelle, I have been dealing with Bandy's limping for almost 2 months now...At first, I am sure he hurt himself by jumping down from his cat tower. Since he doesn't have much depth perception cause of his eye disorder...Now he waits for me to get him down..But the last 2 or 3 episodes of the limping seem to be un-related to jumping...I have explored all the immune arthritis problems with my vet like you had mentioned..There is really no way to know as the blood work for kitties is usually not conclusive for the arthritis...only way is to go to specialist for an MRI. His limping goes from one side to the other..2 wks ago it was on the right and last week it was on the left...and seems to affect both front and rear...I know it is really odd. He has now had 6 adequan injections which you can only do one weekly for 6 wks in a row...We have skipped a week or 2 though...If it continues, I would suggest the adequan injection...It seems to work for Bandy..His temp has been up, too...But she said that is probably due to more inflammation associated with his leg..It is swollen at times,too. (soft tissue swelling)...But after a few days that goes away... She did suggest metacam, too. So maybe that will help your lil Patches.. I also give Bandy 1/2 torbutrol for the pain. I have him on chondro-flex daily..it has MSM in it and some other things for swelling/arthritis. Keep us posted... you 2 are in our thoughts and prayers. Also, hope Lucy is doing better.. Kerry and Bandy
Re: Patches limping suddenly
Thanks, Nina. Timely advice (sorry you had to go through it!). Patches does seem better today, knock on wood. I work an hour away, so difficult to come home mid-day to check, but my mom came and checked for me. I am hoping she will be completely better within a few days. Why would I jump to thinking abouta tumor? Just PTSD, I guess, from losing my others to lymphoma, especially Ginger who was fine and then a bit off all of a sudden, turned out to have a huge brain tumor and was gone within 2 days. I have no idea how long she had the tumor. When it started affecting her, it was really fast. Patches is probably about 6 years old and positive, so it's just what I worry about as worst case scenarios (short of FIP). Michelle In a message dated 7/17/2006 1:06:11 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Why would you jump to the idea of a tumor on her spine?? It seems much more likely that she's injured herself somehow. Is she putting any weight on it? She's still eating, so that's a good sign. Let me tell you a little story about spending yet another late night at the vet's, (the second night in a row). On Friday night I went to feed the ferals and one of the "stray" friendly kitties, Royal, that always comes to meet me was holding up his right front leg. He wasn't putting any weight on it and he wasn't bending the leg at all, just holding it up in the air and hoping around on his three other legs. I elevated his food to make it easier for him to eat while I watched and tried to access the damage. He seemed interested in the food, took a sniff, one lick and then went and crawled under the deck. Not normal behavior for him at all, so of course I ran home, got the carrier and ended up at the ER. By the time we had been waiting in an exam room for a while, I was able to see that he could bend it, was putting a little weight on it, and it didn't appear to be as severe an injury as I first thought. He had a temp of 104, which was troubling, but the vet couldn't tell what was wrong with it just be feeling it, (I was still hoping for an abscess, even though it seemed like a more "all over" type of swelling. Long story, just a little longer... I went ahead and okayed radiograms and there didn't seem to be anything wrong with his leg. While I had him there, we tested him for felv/fiv, (happily neg, he's from the same colony as Ceasar), got an abx shot and with a bill of $400 we were on our way. I put him in a crate in my garage and he ate like a piggy. The next night he was walking without a limp and the only thing that appeared to be wrong with him was that he had a shaved leg! Now, I'm not saying that Patches is fine, or suggesting that Royal's limp has anything to do with what is ailing Patches, but I very much wish I had followed my intuition and waited and watched just a little bit longer. The fact that Patches is eating and moving around tells me that the pain is not too terribly severe. With this latest episode with Royal fresh in my mind, I would suggest putting her in a large dog crate, with the cat tent she's chosen, a litter box and some food. That way you'll be able to keep a better eye on her and she won't be able to cause herself further damage. If she doesn't get worse, I'd go to work and come home to check on her in the middle of the day, can you do that?
Re: Patches limping suddenly
Michelle, Glad to hear Patches is somewhat better...so maybe he just jumped and hurt it.. Bandy is scheduled for IR next Monday morning..Our local vet is out of town all week so I didn't want to do it while she was gone. His limping (knock on wood, too) is better right now...so I hope we can keep that in check as he is climbing. I think he might have learned from that mistake when he jumped so he does go down to the lower level now...I have some dex here at home if he gets a temp again which he usually does so I am going to try to get it before it gets past 103. This ringworm isn't gettting any better though..as soon as I get some spots cleared and hair growing again another pops up...So that battle goes on and on... Thoughts and prayers to you, Lucy and Patches Kerry and Bandy Yahoo! Messenger with Voice. Make PC-to-Phone Calls to the US (and 30+ countries) for 2¢/min or less.
Re: Patches limping suddenly
I'm very pleased to hear Patches is doing better today. You say "does seem", does that mean it's not drastic improvement? I'm so glad you have your mom close by now. I love that woman. I lost my beloved Vixen Roo, (Siberian Husky), to a brain tumor. I knew something was wrong at least a week before she started having seizures. We were at the dog park and just the way she looked at me that day, she just seemed off somehow. I knew there was something wrong, but I chose to wait and see. Maybe if I had jumped to the worst case scenario, we could have figured it out sooner. With all you've been through, I do understand why you suspect the worst. N [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Thanks, Nina. Timely advice (sorry you had to go through it!). Patches does seem better today, knock on wood. I work an hour away, so difficult to come home mid-day to check, but my mom came and checked for me. I am hoping she will be completely better within a few days. Why would I jump to thinking abouta tumor? Just PTSD, I guess, from losing my others to lymphoma, especially Ginger who was fine and then a bit off all of a sudden, turned out to have a huge brain tumor and was gone within 2 days. I have no idea how long she had the tumor. When it started affecting her, it was really fast. Patches is probably about 6 years old and positive, so it's just what I worry about as worst case scenarios (short of FIP). Michelle
Patches limping suddenly
This afternoon, after an active day running around outside and seeming fine, Patches suddenly started limping on her left hind leg. I felt it all over and could not feel anything. Shew was still walking, and going up and down stairs. When I pet her back, she tucked her tail a little. Later the limp seemed a little worse. She ate dinner fine, but then went into a room she does not usually spend time in, and into a little cat tent that is in a corner behind some furniture. I have never seen her go in there. I brought some more food over, and she stepped out of the tent to eat it, then went right back in. I pet her and she purred, but she has not come out. She usually comes upstairs to sleep. Do you think she just twisted her foot or something jumping down from something? Should I be worried that she has a tumor on her spine, or do you think that would not affect her so suddenly? If she does not get worse, do you think it is ok for me to go to work tomorrow and see how she is at night, or would you take off and go to the vet? Thanks, Michelle
Re: Patches limping suddenly
Michelle,I had this happen before and they told me unless there was a break there was nothing to be done except confine him (in my case) and give pain meds if it seemed necessary. We didn't do that. Unless you think something's broken I think Patches can wait till you get off if you can't go in the morning.t[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: This afternoon, after an active day running around outside and seeming fine, Patches suddenly started limping on her left hind leg. I felt it all over and could not feel anything. Shew was still walking, and going up and down stairs. When I pet her back, she tucked her tail a little. Later the limp seemed a little worse. She ate dinner fine, but then went into a room she does not usually spend time in, and into a little cat tent that is in a corner behind some furniture. I have never seen her go in there. I brought some more food over, and she stepped out of the tent to eat it, then went right back in. I pet her and she purred, but she has not come out. She usually comes upstairs to sleep. Do you think she just twisted her foot or something jumping down from something? Should I be worried that she has a tumor on her spine, or do you think that would not affect her so suddenly? If she does not get worse, do you think it is ok for me to go to work tomorrow and see how she is at night, or would you take off and go to the vet? Thanks, Michelle
Re: Patches limping suddenly
Thanks, Tonya. I don't think anything is broken-- no swelling, she puts a little weight on it, and she lets me palpate it. My worry is that there might be something other than an injury that can cause this. I did some internet research and it said some auto-immune disorders can do this, but I think there are usually other symptoms. I don't know if she has other symptoms-- she is kind of hiding, so I wonder if she does. But she is eating and she recently came out to be pet. I gave her some Metacam that had been prescribed for Ginger after her dental surgery, which is an anti-inflammatory pain med (it's usually prescribed for dogs under this name, and under another name for cats, which patches has had before-- it's only a few drops of the Metacam and I have the dosing instructions from the vet who prescribed it for Ginger). I gave it to her a couple of hours ago and she does not seem any better. From what you are saying, though, it sounds like you think it is probably an injury that just need rest. How long did your cat limp before it healed? Thanks, Michelle P.S. and thanks for writing while you are going through what you are going through right now. I wish I could offer you some advice, but I really have almost no experience with kittens. In a message dated 7/16/2006 11:37:43 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Michelle, I had this happen before and they told me unless there was a break there was nothing to be done except confine him (in my case) and give pain meds if it seemed necessary. We didn't do that. Unless you think something's broken I think Patches can wait till you get off if you can't go in the morning. t
Re: Patches limping suddenly
It was a week or so. I felt bad because I was chasing him off the top of a piece of furniture and he evidently landed wrong when he jumped down[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:Thanks, Tonya. I don't think anything is broken-- no swelling, she puts a little weight on it, and she lets me palpate it. My worry is that there might be something other than an injury that can cause this. I did some internet research and it said some auto-immune disorders can do this, but I think there are usually other symptoms. I don't know if she has other symptoms-- she is kind of hiding, so I wonder if she does. But she is eating and she recently came out to be pet. I gave her some Metacam that had been prescribed for Ginger after her dental surgery, which is an anti-inflammatory pain med (it's usually prescribed for dogs under this name, and under another name for cats, which patches has had before-- it's only a few drops of the Metacam and I have the dosing instructions from the vet who prescribed it for Ginger). I gave it to her a couple of hours ago and she does not seem any better. From what you are saying, though, it sounds like you think it is probably an injury that just need rest. How long did your cat limp before it healed? Thanks, MichelleP.S. and thanks for writing while you are going through what you are going through right now. I wish I could offer you some advice, but I really have almost no experience with kittens.In a message dated 7/16/2006 11:37:43 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:Michelle,I had this happen before and they told me unless there was a break there was nothing to be done except confine him (in my case) and give pain meds if it seemed necessary. We didn't do that. Unless you think something's broken I think Patches can wait till you get off if you can't go in the morning.t
Re: Patches limping suddenly
So you knew it was an injury. I didn't see Patches do anything. But she is rolly-polly and has always been a bit uncoordinated, so I suppose she may have. she just came out a few minutes ago when she heard me in the kitchen, and wanted some food, and then walked around a bit (limping terribly) sniffing things and generally acting pretty normal (except she went over to the couch and pondered jumping up but then just laid down on the floor). I am a worry wort. I guess she probably just has a sprain or something. Thanks again, Michelle In a message dated 7/16/2006 11:51:06 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: It was a week or so. I felt bad because I was chasing him off the top of a piece of furniture and he evidently landed wrong when he jumped down
Re: Patches limping suddenly
Why would you jump to the idea of a tumor on her spine?? It seems much more likely that she's injured herself somehow. Is she putting any weight on it? She's still eating, so that's a good sign. Let me tell you a little story about spending yet another late night at the vet's, (the second night in a row). On Friday night I went to feed the ferals and one of the "stray" friendly kitties, Royal, that always comes to meet me was holding up his right front leg. He wasn't putting any weight on it and he wasn't bending the leg at all, just holding it up in the air and hoping around on his three other legs. I elevated his food to make it easier for him to eat while I watched and tried to access the damage. He seemed interested in the food, took a sniff, one lick and then went and crawled under the deck. Not normal behavior for him at all, so of course I ran home, got the carrier and ended up at the ER. By the time we had been waiting in an exam room for a while, I was able to see that he could bend it, was putting a little weight on it, and it didn't appear to be as severe an injury as I first thought. He had a temp of 104, which was troubling, but the vet couldn't tell what was wrong with it just be feeling it, (I was still hoping for an abscess, even though it seemed like a more "all over" type of swelling. Long story, just a little longer... I went ahead and okayed radiograms and there didn't seem to be anything wrong with his leg. While I had him there, we tested him for felv/fiv, (happily neg, he's from the same colony as Ceasar), got an abx shot and with a bill of $400 we were on our way. I put him in a crate in my garage and he ate like a piggy. The next night he was walking without a limp and the only thing that appeared to be wrong with him was that he had a shaved leg! Now, I'm not saying that Patches is fine, or suggesting that Royal's limp has anything to do with what is ailing Patches, but I very much wish I had followed my intuition and waited and watched just a little bit longer. The fact that Patches is eating and moving around tells me that the pain is not too terribly severe. With this latest episode with Royal fresh in my mind, I would suggest putting her in a large dog crate, with the cat tent she's chosen, a litter box and some food. That way you'll be able to keep a better eye on her and she won't be able to cause herself further damage. If she doesn't get worse, I'd go to work and come home to check on her in the middle of the day, can you do that? [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: This afternoon, after an active day running around outside and seeming fine, Patches suddenly started limping on her left hind leg. I felt it all over and could not feel anything. Shew was still walking, and going up and down stairs. When I pet her back, she tucked her tail a little. Later the limp seemed a little worse. She ate dinner fine, but then went into a room she does not usually spend time in, and into a little cat tent that is in a corner behind some furniture. I have never seen her go in there. I brought some more food over, and she stepped out of the tent to eat it, then went right back in. I pet her and she purred, but she has not come out. She usually comes upstairs to sleep. Do you think she just twisted her foot or something jumping down from something? Should I be worried that she has a tumor on her spine, or do you think that would not affect her so suddenly? If she does not get worse, do you think it is ok for me to go to work tomorrow and see how she is at night, or would you take off and go to the vet? Thanks, Michelle
