Conference misery::feline_v1

    Glad you are taking her to Tufts.  I do recall that there are two
    illnesses that can cause a "head tilt" in cats.  One is a potassium
    deficiency I think.  Panleukopenia can also cause a head tilt.
    
    Let me check the keywords and get back to you.  Seems that I remember
    another illness, called Key Gaskell Syndrome that causes a head tilt
    but I want to go check it out.
    
    Jo

    I was wrong, it isn't Key Gaskell.  I will have to do some more
    checking.  In the meantime, if you get anymore information, enter it
    here.  I will keyword this note once you find out what is wrong.
    
    Jo

    We had a cat that I rescued at the cat shelter that looked like a drunk
    when he walked.  After taking him to a specialist it was determined
    that he had neurological problem and would always walk like that. 
    Other than staggering around like a drunk he was quite healthy and is
    (as far as I know) enjoying a happy life.  Cats are just like humans
    just because they are different doesn't always mean that their life
    quality is any less.  They just have special places to fill.
    
    Keep us posted and we'll be thinking about you.
    
    paw pats and kitty kisses from the gang
    
    Kim
    

    now I remember that a friend of mine had a cat like that, who had
    been hurt in an automobile accident.  He did live for many apparently
    happy years.
    

    Thanks for the support .... I have an appt. at Tufts next Wed. at
    10 AM ... I will keep you posted......................

    The note on potassion loss is 471.
    
    Deb

    Well Abigail and I visited Tufts Vet. Clinic yesterday --- the good
    news is that it is not a brain tumor or brain stem problem. What is
    causing her to loose her balance and have a tilted head is a polyp
    which is resting on a nerve on her middle ear.  The Dr. believes
    that the polyp is growing putting pressure on her inner ear.  The
    only way out is surgery - this means a "Catscan" (the procedure
    would entail putting the cat out, do the xray and picking her
    up the next day (cost Approx. $225) --- after that the xrays
    would be reviewed and a surgeon would be called to to discuss
    the surgical procedure ----------------- the cat would have to
    be put out again and be hospitalized for about 4 days --- all to
    the tune of approx. $950 big ones --- This would not correct the
    head tilt which is a result of some nerve damage in the ear ----
    
    Another alternative is just to do nothing -- hoping the polyp
    does not grow ----- To tell you the truth I hate to put the
    cat thru all this ---- she is happy now --- she is not in pain and
    is living what appears to be a normal kitty life ... needless to
    say the Dr. thinks the polyp should be removed ------- 
    
    HAVE SOME HEAVY DUTY THINKING TO DO THIS WEEKEND.  But, I just
    wanted everyone to know what the outcome was on Abigails condition.
    
    Sue  
    
    

    Sue,
    
    I know how you feel!  Tufts is a great place but the cost of surgery
    can be very prohibitive if you live on a fixed income.  Did they
    explain that you can work a payment plan -- half up front, the rest due
    in monthly payments?  They have a separate department to take care of
    all of this for you.  It can be a lifesaver for those folks who don't
    have $950 to shell out all in one lump sum (course I wouldn't have the
    $225 laying around either :^})!!
    
    My vote would be to have the polyp removed.  Surgery is stressful but
    not doing it could be equally as stressful.  Cats are so good at hiding
    their pain and discomfort.  We might view them as perfectly happy and
    content when in reality they are not feeling very well.  Once they let
    you know it is critical it is sometimes too late.
    
    Of course only you know Abigail and are the only one who can decide
    what is best for her.  I have been this route before, and doing the
    right thing isn't always easy.  Another thought would be to consult
    with other teaching schools such as Cornell or Angell Memorial. 
    Cornell has a special Feline Hotline 800 number.  I don't have it
    offhand but it is somewhere in this file (no keyword for it; I've had
    to look back through old notes to obtain it).
    
    Best of luck to you, and glad to hear it isn't a tumor.
    
    --Roberta
    

    Thanks Roberta ---- nowadays $$ is tight, I also have another barn
    cat and a Lasa -- I love animals and only wish that vets and animal
    clinics didn't have to capitalize on it and make it sooooo expensive
    for us to enjoy our furry friends ... (thats another topic altogether)
    
    
    I am working very closly with my Vet Dr. Saul at the Putnam Animal
    Clinic in Shrewsbury MA ---- he has been fantasic --- he summized
    that something was in her ear and advised to me to get a 2nd
    opinion --- he went to tufts himself and knows how expensive it is.
    He has someone do specialized surgery for him at his office --- and
    he is going to consult with this guy today  ... time will tell.
                                                       

    I've been hearing some nasty things about pollyps lately - certain
    types if gone untreated or removed can turn nasty.  If the surgery
    doesn't need to be done immediately, perhaps you can start putting $'s
    away and set it up for some months down the road.  I'd opt for having
    the growth removed.
    
    Giudi

    I was going to enter a note here a few replies ago since the symptoms
    you described sounded similar to what my mother's cat had a couple of
    years ago but somehow I never got it done.
    
    My mother's cat had a major balance problem, she would be walking and
    would stumble to one side or the other.  She would also shake her head
    alot as if she had something in her ear.  It turned out to be polyps
    in the ears.  Mom was trying to decide what to do about having surgery.
    She didn't want to leave her the way she was but wasn't sure she could
    afford the surgery.  Shortly after the diagnosis of the ear polyps, we
    were told she also had systemic cancer.  The decision was made to put
    her to sleep so she wouldn't suffer any more.  This was a hard decision
    to make but we felt it was best for her as otherwise she would continue
    to have a problem with her balance until she died of cancer and surgery
    was risky for her at her age, plus, the surgery would not have helped
    the cancer.
    
    Good luck with your kitty's ear problem.  I hope everything works out
    okay for her.
    
    Jan

    on the other hand, polyps aren't necessarily asociated with cancer,
    so I wouldn't either panic or assume all is lost.  I believe I'd go
    ahead and get the second opinion and discuss it further with my own
    vet.  All else being equal, I am inclined to think I'd opt for the
    surgery, not only because this might get irreparably worse but because
    I'm not convinced that removing the polyp might not slowly allow the cat
    to return to normal.  Some nerves do slowly regenerate.  probably the
    vets at Tufts are right and these won't, but the medical profession
    is not all-knowing.                     
    
    When in doubt I always ask my own vet "What would you do if it was your
    own cat?"  (the wimp's way out.)

    Nerves regenerate?  Can cats do something people can't?  Humans cannot
    replace destroyed neurons, I always thought this was a mammal thing
    that applied to cats as well.  Humans recovery from spinal or brain
    injury is usually attributed to other nerve cells taking over lost
    functions (rerouting, so to speak.)  DISCOVER magazine had an article
    about canaries possibly regenerating neurons about a year (?) ago.
    
    I think I would try to pay for surgery, particularly if the cat is
    young and otherwise healthy, and go for an installment plan.  Is this
    surgery so delicate an ordinary vet (like your regular) can't do it? 
    Can your vet observe the procedure? (Well, maybe forget that.  You may
    have to pay both veterinarians for the surgery.)  If it were cheap to
    have your regular vet observe, then if there's a recurrence could he
    perform the surgery?  How likely is a recurrence?  My cat has
    occasional benign growths on her skin (especially between toes) which
    recur every so often--I don't know what kind of problem polyps are, but
    if they are likely to recur, your vet may be able to save you money.
    (I'm broke enough after my cat has surgery--I think she recovers faster
    than I do.  I'll be broke for weeks after she's back to her old
    routine).
    
    Best of luck, whatever you decide.
    
    Lisa and Snoopy

    Some human nerves regenerate, some don't.  It depends on the type of
    nerve.  That's why i was guessing that the vet who said it wouldn't was
    perhaps right, since presumably s/he knows what nerves are involved.
    
    When they do regenerate, it's very slow.  if forget the rate, but it's
    like millimeters a month or some such.
    

this is always a difficult decision, even when astronomical expense is 
not involved.  I know what it is like to have to make such a decision, and I 
understand how much it can hurt.  Whatever you decide, you are doing what is 
right for you and that is what is important.  

In your place, I might query the vet very intensely about the probability 
that the polyp would return.  It may be a deteriorating situation which can 
return even if surgery is performed....that isn't a win for anyone.  I would 
also ask the vet if the cat is probably in pain..cats don't show pain until 
it is absolutely unbearable, it is just the nature of the creature.  Don't 
assume there is no pain simply by behavior indicators.

    Re:  .13
    
    I did not mean to imply that the cancer was associated with the 
    polyps although, *in this cat's case*, it could very well have been.  
    I only stated it in my note to indicate one of the reasons why we 
    decided against the surgery to remove the polyps.
    
    Jan

    The vet says that most likely the polyp is not cancerous --- but
    there are not guarantees that it may not occur again --- so the
    decision to put her out has been made ---- I have been a basket case
    since 8 AM .... I just don't want the cat to be miserable - it is
    a delicate operation, she may have permanent facial nerve damage
    and whose to say what else could go wrong ... its like opening
    Pandora's box ----------------- Aside from the expense, the cat
    deserves some quality of life --- she was 1 year old 8/7 --- 
    
    I don't think there are any right decisions here --- 
    
    Thanks for all your support and input ---- my kleenex box is almost
    empty -- looks like I'll have to get another one FAST --------

    Do I understand that she is being operated on now?  We have our
    fingers crossed for her.  Please let us know how things are going.
    

    Yes, I'm confused too!  I really wanted to ask the same question as in
    the last note, but was afraid too!  Thanks for being brave Karen! :-)
    I, too, am keeping you and your little one in my prayers.
    
    Nan