Unknown diagnosis

Not all vitamin levels are indicated in bloodwork, unfortuately.  Some vitamin levels need to be tested separately.

Here is a chart of necessary vitamins for cats, their corresponding functions, and signs of deficiency/excess.

I'm looking at Vit. D, Vit B1 (thiamine), and Potassium (though that should show in bloodwork).

Then again, it could very well be a stroke, or series of small strokes, as GoHolistic mentioned.

i don't understand why you aren't asking the vet these questions. if your vet cannot fix this I think you need another one, your cat is obviously suffering.

It's hard to explain but the vets here are ****, and I'm practically giving them every diagnosis and they are like ya it could be this could be that. It's all about money and to be honest I don't think they are qualified enough.

I just want her to get better so I can get her out back to canada, but she needs to improve quite a lot before I can because it is a 17 hour flight back.

My cat shadow had seizures when she started to get older. It sounds like that. I wasn't able to do anything. To stop. But take her tempature. And make sure not burning up after an episode. My thoughts are with you.

baybina said:

It's hard to explain but the vets here are ****, and I'm practically giving them every diagnosis and they are like ya it could be this could be that. It's all about money and to be honest I don't think they are qualified enough.

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if the vets want to do tests to see what's wrong you have to pay for them

to be honest any vet can have blood drawn and read the results or take images and read them

but YOU have to pay for them

Just took her to the vet again the vet took blood because we wanted to see if it's her thyroid if its a deficiency in a vitamin. She took blood then said they don't have the machine to test TSH AND T4 and can only test her liver function and cholesterol which we have done before showing everything is normal. My cat came back from the vet and is now very tired and is just sleeping. I seriously do not know what to do! Also she was like 11 years old is old so u should expect things to deteriorate which I don't believe is a correct assumptions because from what I know cats can live up to 20

why would your vet run a test for ONLY something already done?

and I'm SURE there is no special "machine" to test t-levels

sumwon is pulling your leg

Bayina

Do you know any vets in Canada? Do you have a family member in Canada who has a vet?  If yes to either, you could in theory email or fax the vet records to this vet after requesting and agreeing to pay for a phone consultation.  It's unusual, but you are in an unusual situation.....

Also, here are links to 2 different vets who do phone consultations.  I can't speak to their expertise as I simply did a google search on veterinary phone consults.

http://www.vetpetconnect.com/services/

http://www.wilnerveterinaryconsult.com/index.html

Stephen

Hey Stephen, I have tried it already and her original vet there said she can't provide a diagnosis or anything through the phone the cat has to be physically there, I will check on the links you provided. right now I'm trying to get her weight up and see if it makes an improvment. She only weighs 2.5kg now and has lost half her weight since she has been here. Anyone know of fattening food that Is safe for her to eat, her appetitie is there but is unwilling to eat dry cat food, and the wet food is causing a bit of a mess which I don't mind cleaning but I think she does as I have to give her a bath every 2 days now.

I agree with stephenq that a phone consult may be your best bet right now. I would actually recommend the Cornell Vet School. They have a program that specifically consults on these tough to diagnose cases. I think it was US$75 last I heard. You will need to send them all exam results (or have your vets do it).

Hi,

I'm so sorry you both are going through this.  A very high calorie food that is used short term for medicinal purposes (and cats tend to love it because of the fish oil etc) is Hills A/D wet.  Its available by prescription and if Hill's is in your country then your vet should be able to get it for you.

OK strange question, but here goes.  How far away is the nearest country with advanced veterinary care?  You said you re in the middle east.  How far is Israel?

Stephen

I finally pulled some strings and was able to get a Thryoid test for her, and they said that her TSH is low but t4 and t3 is normal, they said I should come back so they can discuss medication. So now what anyone else had their cat have such symptoms with hyperthyroidism . Because from what I read online it tends to leave the cat with over activity, but imbalance is not part of it.

I wish I had thought of this earlier, makes perfect sense now.  Cats with hyperthyroidism loose weight and keep loosing until they get treated. The treatment isn't difficult but it is a balancing act of getting the right dose to correct the thyroid imbalance, and may take a little while to get just right.  Why they didn't didn't do a  thyroid test right away is strange.

@vball91 also suggested the Cornell school of veterinary Medicine consult service which I researched and found.  It's $55 and the info is below along with the website.  If you can't call the 800 number from abroad (its a toll free number and may be limited to calls from within the USA) let me know and I'll see if i can get a regular phone number for you.

The Camuti Consultation Service (Of Cornell Vet School) is available on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 10AM to 12PM and from 2PM to 4PM ET (excluding holidays) (1-800-548-8937)   http://www.vet.cornell.edu/FHC/health_resources/camuti_service.cfm

Stephen

So I took her to another vet, and he said it's not hyperthyroidism and because they do not have the proper equipment. He put her on steriod injections saying it will help, she will take it for 7 days. First day she was low energy and been peeing and drinking a lot of water. Today she is better, but still falling all over the place. I want to know if anyone else put their cat on steroids and what did they see from it

It sounds like this vet suspects something with the spine or possibly neurological.  The steroid is an anti-inflammatory.  My kitty has been on one for over 3 years now for IBD.  Short term there usually are no side effects, most cats do gain weight while on a steroid.

I finally took my cat back home, and took her to one of the top vet hospitals there is in Canada, apparently they failed to help me. And said they suspect brain tumor, and even if it is they said they can't operate as there are only few specialists around world that can do such a surgery. So she is home now, skinny as ever, still eating and thinks she is a normal cat, but falls all over the place.

baybina said:

I finally took my cat back home, and took her to one of the top vet hospitals there is in Canada, apparently they failed to help me. And said they suspect brain tumor, and even if it is they said they can't operate as there are only few specialists around world that can do such a surgery. So she is home now, skinny as ever, still eating and thinks she is a normal cat, but falls all over the place.

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I'm so sorry that you still don't have answers even after bringing her back home.     I suppose an MRI is out of the question? That would really be the only thing that would detect a brain tumor. I know they're ridiculously expensive. But like you said, even if it was a brain tumor, there's likely not much they could do at this point. It would only serve as peace of mind for you to know what's going on.

You did the best you could to try to figure this out. If she thinks she's normal, is eating, and doesn't seem to be in pain, then her ataxia may bother you more than it bothers her.     But it'll be up to you to assess her quality of life as she gets older.

Just another "out there" thought...would she be a cat the may benefit from one of those carts with wheels?     I've seen cats with severe mobility issues that can really get around in one of those!

They did suggest a ct scan but said she migt die from the anesthisia because she is very skinny. So we decide not to because it wouldn't have made a difference in the end of there is no treatment. I did think of the wheel chairs before but for her the imbalance starts of at the head then her body, so it's always her head making her fall not her legs. But because she hasn't been gaining a lot of weight or walking a lot she has lost a lot of muscle in her legs. I am doing at home treatments to help her gain some muscles and weight but still no improvment but will keep at it until she decided to pass away on her own