| Title: | Meower Power - Where Differing Opinions are Respected |
| Notice: | purrrrr... |
| Moderator: | JULIET::CORDES_JA |
| Created: | Wed Nov 13 1991 |
| Last Modified: | Fri Jun 06 1997 |
| Last Successful Update: | Fri Jun 06 1997 |
| Number of topics: | 1079 |
| Total number of notes: | 28858 |
Am visitng my mom for a few days and she asked if I could post some
questions in here (I'm always telling her about this notes files).
Her cat,Buddy, is having problems. Since early spring I've been
telling her he looks thin (he's never been overweight. He has big paws
and head but before this the body looked pretty well balanced. Now his
head and paws seem to big for the rest of him). You can't see ribs or
anything like that but he looks thin to me.
She took him to the vet this past month and the vet did bloodwork and a
variety of tests - -kidneys, potassium levels, liver - not sure what
else was tested. Everthing came back with a clean bill of health. In
fact the vet said she wished her cats were as healthy.
However, he's still not right. He walks tentatively, like his back legs
don't really want to support him. He can't jump anymore (up until a
month ago he could jump on chairs and make a pest of himself jumping on
the desk when you were working. Now, he tries to jump and doesn't make
it.
The vet says since the tests came back clean, it must just be his age,
he's 15, and she says his muscles are giving out and there's nothing
she can do.
I'd like some advise from you guys. My Mom lives in NJ, about 60 miles
south of NYC. She's been seeing this vet for several years - a
husband/wife team who bought the practice from the previous vet. The
dr. is the "cat" doctor, while her husband does more with the dogs. It
was the vet that insisted on all the tests - from what I've heard she
sound competent.
He's eating well - finicky when you watch him, but empties the bowls
later. He sleeps most of the time, doesn't wander off the porches. He
never did go far, but at least would wander around the yard. My Mom
makes him special treats and will carry him into the house and upstairs
to bed. His coat is still beautiful - thick and shiny, his eyes are
clear and even though he's selectively deaf (only hears what he wants)
he can hear just fine. He's very friendly and shows no sign of pain. I
checked his claws/paws to make sure it wasn't just something like long
toenails. He's always been healthy and resilient.
Any thoughts as to what else to ask the vet to check? Could he have
done something to his legs - sprain/strain? Or a mini stroke or clot?
Any advise would be appreciated! thanks!
janetb.
| T.R | Title | User | Personal Name | Date | Lines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1018.1 | GEMGRP::SKALTSIS | Deb | Sun Jul 28 1996 13:02 | 7 | |
Was he checked for FIP? (I pray that it isn't that)
As for the thiness, was the thyroid tested? Can you feel any lumps
or bumps? It could be the start of kidney failure, in which case you'd
want to make sure that he gets low protien diet (possibly K/D).
Deb
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| 1018.2 | PADC::KOLLING | Karen | Mon Jul 29 1996 11:27 | 14 | |
I would find out from the vet's office exactly what they tested for,
and then call 1-800-KITTYDR (the Cornell Vet School hotline), and
see if the vet there has any suggestions. I am not too surprised
that an older cat gets a little thin, but combined with the
sudden difficulty with the back legs, this doesn't sound right
to me. Perhaps the Cornell vet could recommend a local place
for a second opinion. It sounds like your vet it conscientious,
but something does seem wrong -- did they know about the back leg
problem being sudden? The fact that it's sudden makes me think it
isn't normal old age stiffness (just my guess, I could be completely
wrong). Please let us know what's happening,
Karen
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| 1018.3 | JULIET::CORDES_JA | Eight Tigers on My Couch | Mon Jul 29 1996 14:16 | 4 | |
Kitty could be developing arthritis in the back legs too. When
in doubt a second opinion is always a good idea.
Jan
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| 1018.4 | USCTR1::MERRITT_S | Kitty City | Mon Jul 29 1996 14:20 | 7 | |
My sisters cat was just at the vet with lameness...and was found
to have arthritis in her back legs. Jordan is about 14 years old...
They chose at this time NOT to treat it, but did offer that if she
gets bad they could put her on prednisone.
Sandy
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| 1018.5 | PADC::KOLLING | Karen | Mon Jul 29 1996 14:29 | 3 | |
If it is arthritis, having "stepping stone" things around
the house helps, like a way station to get up on the bed, etc.
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| 1018.6 | old cat aging gracefully | WRKSYS::RICHARDSON | Tue Jul 30 1996 10:18 | 20 | |
My old kitty, JFCL, has arthritis in her back legs. It seems to mostly
be a problem in the winter. In warm weather (or even unseasonably cool
summer weather like today) she gets around a lot better, though she
still spends a lot more time sleeping on the carpet than on the furniture
like she used to. She's 18 1/2 now, and has had arthritis for 3-4
years, as well as assorted other age-related things. She's gotten
pretty thin, and her fur is not as luxuriant as it was when she was
young, but she is a good cat - purrs a lot, loves to be brushed, likes to
sit next to me when I am reading the newspaper and sit on the sections
I haven't read yet, etc. She doesn't seem to hear as well as she used
to, and her sense of smell seems to be not as good also, but by and
large she is a real healthy kitty, and has enjoyed a long life so far.
If her Maine coon kitten companion Melody gets too far out of line in
the rough-housing department, JFCL is still capable of spanking the
offender across the nose, and the rest of the time she seems to like
the company (her original companion, Nebula the Siamese, died two and
half years ago, and JFCL was obviously heartbroken.)
/Charlotte
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| 1018.7 | Buddy doing better! | GRANPA::JBOBB | Janet Bobb dtn:339-5755 | Wed Aug 07 1996 21:10 | 18 |
Just a quick update - sorry it's been a few days, work's been crazy!
Buddy is doing better. I showed Mom all the replies in here - thanks
very much for the info! Even just a few days after I wrote the first
note, Buddy seemed better. He was at least starting to go on his walks
again (after lying around the the house or front porch for a week or
so) around the yard. When I last saw him, about a week ago, he was
getting up and down stairs. Not very energetically, but still getting
up and down.
Mom also took the flea collar off - even though it wasn't a brand new
one it had been put on within the month. I suggested she at least try
no collar for a while and see if it makes any difference.
Again - thanks for the info - and I'll let you know if anything is
determined.
janetb.
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| 1018.8 | steriods for building muscles? | GRANPA::JBOBB | Janet Bobb dtn:339-5755 | Wed Jan 22 1997 13:44 | 23 |
| 1018.9 | hulk hogan vitamins | CATMAX::SKALTSIS | Deb | Wed Jan 22 1997 14:09 | 5 |
| 1018.10 | will check on specifics | GRANPA::JBOBB | Janet Bobb dtn:339-5755 | Thu Jan 23 1997 09:56 | 18 |
| 1018.11 | JULIET::CORDES_JA | Eight Tigers on My Couch | Thu Jan 23 1997 15:55 | 5 | |