Kitten's neuro symptoms returning after substantial recovery

My 4-month-old (at the time) kitten, Josie, came down with sudden neurological symptoms in mid-January. She got up and was falling over, and her eye was clouded over a bluish color. (She is a one-eyed cat. When I adopted her, they said that she was rescued with a severe eye infection and that the other one had to be removed.)

I took her to the vet the next day and she was prescribed antibiotics (Clindamycin) and a steroid (Prednisone). She got worse the next day--progressing to total paralysis--and the vet also gave me oral Ivermectin. Within the next couple of days she could crawl again and gradually got better with the neuro symptoms over the course of February. She lost a lot of weight (Down from 3.5 pounds to 3 pounds) and took to "burying" every possible kind of food I would offer her. Because her symptoms seemed a little better, the vet said it was okay to try getting her off the antibiotics in case they were causing nausea, but to put her back on them if symptoms returned.

Her symptoms did return after about a week so she was put back on the Clindamycin and an appetite stimulant, as well as given another round of Ivermectin about a week ago. She hasn't gotten much better and has been in the paralysis state again for two days. Her appetite is good, though, and she eats and drinks when I feed her.

The vet is stumped--she believes that if it was FIP she would not have shown such improvement during the first course of treatment, but toxoplasmosis usually doesn't last this long. Josie has another appointment on Wednesday and the vet said she would probably refer me to a specialist after that. She DID say that it might take a little bit for Josie to get her health back up this time.

I am starting to lose hope. It's been two and a half months since she first became ill. I was wondering if anyone has a cat that experienced symptoms like this, and if they are alive and well now. A lot of what I read doesn't give me much hope. The fact that Josie was doing much better for a while and has hung on this long gives me a little, but it's awful seeing her in this state. Does anyone have any stories about their cats going through a long illness like this but recovering?

I almost wonder if she doesn't have a parasite. a specialist might be a good idea.

Extreme weakness leads me to check a blood glucose first, to see if a young kitten has just not eaten enough to maintain a normal glucose level and is now shocky.

Falling over and collapse is classic when they're that weak. May not be neurological. And Weakness can recur if Josie's appetite was low enough to trigger it again, versus true neurological ataxia and stumbling, but otherwise alert and bright, just altered balance, not weak. If she was ataxic, and not weak, neural toxicity from the environment or a topical/shampoo high in insecticide can trigger ataxia. Did they say if they thought it was neuro presentation and what possible causes were on their list?

Did they get to check her glucose at a minimum, and perhaps a packed cell volume to asses her RBCs and hydration status, between January and now, during her recurring symptomology? This needs very little blood, so a 3lb kitten could've spared it while she was worked up in January.

Important to discover why she doesn't want to eat. Did she have a fever, prompting your vet to Rx antibiotics for a potential unknown infection? Stress in the environment, decreased smell/taste d/t a URI, fever/pain, and dietary indiscretion, which is eating unusual object/food item, are common causes of reduced appetite in a young kitten.

Clindamycin doesn't target respiratory, skin, or GI infection, so a strange choice... typically used for oral infection only.

If your vet doesn't really doesn't know if it was weakness/lethargy vs a neurological presentation, didn't check a glucose level at a minimum for labwork, and didn't assess temperature to see if had a fever, justifying antibiotics, going forward with another vet would be best.

Boarded Internal Medicine vet is one thought, but if basic workup to distinguish weakness vs neuro signs, blood glucose, fecal and PCV/TS weren't checked by your regular vet, another primary care regular vet with better history practicing medicine in your area may be ideal, and no need to leap to an internist. Word of mouth, via local neighborhood listserv and personal recommendation, is the best way to find a consistently good, ethical, and effective vet who provides good service as well as medicine.

Hope Josie gets the diagnostics and treatment she needs from her vet team!

OMG, I'm pretty sure you have one of those animals that is sensitive to IVERMECTIN!!!!!  I had this in a kitten, exact same things, didn't figure it out until he was over it and then got another dose of Advantage Multi which contains moxidectin which is in the ivermectin family and he had a sudden relapse of neurological symptoms.  Gave him a bath, washed off the Advantage Multi within 12 hours of applying it, then covered the area with corn starch to absorb any left over oil, combed it out with a flea comb and little balls came out (oil trapped in cornstarch.)  By the next day he was normal again.  No more problems.  Made big note on his medical chart - SENSITIVE TO AVERMECTIN FAMILY, DO NOT USE!!!! -- and that was that.

There is an entire group of dogs (herding types) who are genetically sensitive to it.  There is a test for the dogs but not sure if it works on cats.  For most animals, it does not cross the blood-brain barrier, but for a few genetically predisposed individuals, it does.  It can kill them.  Get the ivermectin off and out of him ASAP and he will recover.  Do not use it again!!!!

Amoolia said:

 
My 4-month-old (at the time) kitten, Josie, came down with sudden neurological symptoms in mid-January. She got up and was falling over, and her eye was clouded over a bluish color. (She is a one-eyed cat. When I adopted her, they said that she was rescued with a severe eye infection and that the other one had to be removed.)

I took her to the vet the next day and she was prescribed antibiotics (Clindamycin) and a steroid (Prednisone). She got worse the next day--progressing to total paralysis--and the vet also gave me oral Ivermectin. Within the next couple of days she could crawl again and gradually got better with the neuro symptoms over the course of February. She lost a lot of weight (Down from 3.5 pounds to 3 pounds) and took to "burying" every possible kind of food I would offer her. Because her symptoms seemed a little better, the vet said it was okay to try getting her off the antibiotics in case they were causing nausea, but to put her back on them if symptoms returned.

Her symptoms did return after about a week so she was put back on the Clindamycin and an appetite stimulant, as well as given another round of Ivermectin about a week ago. She hasn't gotten much better and has been in the paralysis state again for two days. Her appetite is good, though, and she eats and drinks when I feed her.

The vet is stumped--she believes that if it was FIP she would not have shown such improvement during the first course of treatment, but toxoplasmosis usually doesn't last this long. Josie has another appointment on Wednesday and the vet said she would probably refer me to a specialist after that. She DID say that it might take a little bit for Josie to get her health back up this time.

I am starting to lose hope. It's been two and a half months since she first became ill. I was wondering if anyone has a cat that experienced symptoms like this, and if they are alive and well now. A lot of what I read doesn't give me much hope. The fact that Josie was doing much better for a while and has hung on this long gives me a little, but it's awful seeing her in this state. Does anyone have any stories about their cats going through a long illness like this but recovering?

Click to expand...

Side Effects of Ivermectin in Cats

In cats, ivermectin has a fairly high margin of safety. When seen, side effects include:

• agitation
• crying
• lack of appetite
• dilated pupils
• paralysis of hind legs
• muscle tremors
• disorientation
• blindness
• other neurological signs, such as head pressing or wall climbing

If your cat is receiving ivermectin and you notice these types of symptoms, discontinue the medication and contact your veterinarian.

(http://vetmedicine.about.com/od/diseasesandconditions/a/CW-IvermectinSafety.htm)

You didn't mention what was going on BEFORE the first episode, like if you used any flea product that uses any form of the avermectin family in it.  (Revolution has Selamectin; Advantage Multi has Moxidectin; Interceptor has Milbemycin)  Also, I wonder why on earth the vet would give oral ivermectin to a sick cat, and as you noted, she got worse after that immediately and had to slowly learn to crawl again.  She just got another round of ivermectin and has been in the paralysis state for two days.  When they are sensitive, it takes a long time to get it out of their system, but they do get better over time.  In my case, the vet thought he had an inner ear infection and gave him antibiotics and also generic ANTIVERT for dizziness and that helped a lot.  I think the nausea and not moving is from dizziness secondary to the ivermectin poisoning.  He had totally recovered and was just fine when a month had passed and it was time for his flea medicine.  None of the other cats had bad reactions to the Advantage Multi, but he was a new guy and that was the first time I had used it on him.  The second time was startling.  I put it on him and the other cats and went out to the store.  When I got back in an hour, he was ataxic and falling all over the place just like before.  That's when I figured it out, put him in the sink and washed him before more could get in his system.  He recovered overnight. 

Your girl will probably take a month because her dose was oral, there is nothing you can do to gt it out of her.  Fluids may help.  Antivert may help with dizziness.  I don't know if there is any other possible remedy but do tell your vet to look up "reactions to ivermectin" and see if there is a way to reverse them other than time. 

A lot is known about ivermectin sensitivity in dogs, but only recently are these products being used on cats, and some cats have this sensitivity too.  "[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings></xml><![endif][if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <wunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <woNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <wontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/> <wontFlipMirrorIndents/> <w:OverrideTableStyleHps/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument></xml><![endif][if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true" DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99" LatentStyleCount="267"> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/> </w:LatentStyles></xml><![endif][if gte mso 10]><style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;mso-style-noshow:yes;mso-style-priority:99;mso-style-parent:"";mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;mso-para-margin-top:0in;mso-para-margin-right:0in;mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;mso-para-margin-left:0in;line-height:115%;mso-pagination:widow-orphan;font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}</style><![endif]Ivermectin has a bad reputation among some dog owners, but not all dog owners need to worry unduly about the drug’s toxicity. Ivermectin toxicity is genetic [in dogs], and there is now a test available to determine whether a dog is sensitive to ivermectin and other drugs. Dogs with ivermectin toxicity may also be sensitive to loperamide [Imodium], cyclosporine [Atopica], acepromazine, digoxin, butorphanol [Torbutrol/Torbugesic], and several chemotherapy drugs."  

I don't know if this test would work on cats.  Fortunately I figured it out at the second dose, before it had time to completely invade his system, and he didn't have to goo through another month of hell.  Your girl should survive the ivermectin but she may feel pretty terrible for awhile esecially since it was oral.  There has been some success in treating ivermectin toxicity in dogs with IV lipids but I don't know if that would be safe for cats or not.  You might ask your vet to look it up if your cat is still struggling.  I would expect her to get worse with this second dose of ivermectin but if she starts getting better and is not given any more, or any of the related drugs either, she should pull through.  My cat made a complete recovery.  He had been paralyzed, blind, drooling, staring at the wall, staggering, falling down, doing sumersaults, pushing his head into the food dish etc. and he recovered.  Hopefully yours will too.  Pleae keep us up to date with her progress.

Red Top, I have researched Ivermectin poisoning and it sounds about right; I just wasn't sure because it's so similar to her prior symptoms. I want to add that the first dose of Ivermectin was given *after* the first bout of paralysis, which only lasted a little over a day and was different... She seemed in worse pain and her back and legs were very "locked," whereas this time she is just drooling and floppy but her spirits seem decent and her appetite and thirst are okay.

Honestly, ivermectin poisoning is the least scary thing and I find this to be a little relieving. I'll keep up with giving her lots of fluids and update you guys. She has another checkup in a few days and I will ask about ivermectin toxicity and request a referral.

Also, I have never used a flea product on her but she did come from the SPCA so I could call them and see what they treat their rescues with.

Today her legs are "locked" like they were right before the first dose of Ivermectin. She's been mostly incapable of moving since Sunday, totally paralyzed since Tuesday (so this is the third day of total paralysis). I am scared. She is still eating her soupy food/pedialyte mixture from the syringe okay and I checked to see if she's dehydrated and she's not. Does anyone have info on how long she may be paralyzed for? I've had to have a friend watch her and clean her up and feed her while I'm at work these last few days (he has a diabetic cat that requires insulin and is pretty well-versed in special cat care) and I don't like leaving her "alone" this way.

Have you contacted your vet?? 3 days of sudden paralysis is an emergency! Please contact your vet ASAP.

I also think your kitten should be seen by a specialist. Great if they can get you in ASAP. Regardless, please contact your vet. We simply cannot diagnose your kitten and certainly cannot give her a prognosis.

She needs labwork, especially her electrolytes, glucose, hematocrit, protein, and calcium. No use of her legs sounds like her lytes/calcium may be off, inhibiting normal muscle contraction. If very low, it's impossible to replace the electrolytes a cat needs by oral route alone. Just as if they're acutely dehydrated, it's impossible to replace the fluids they need by oral route only. If too high, injectable meds are used to bind excess electrolytes or improve the ratio of sodium to potassium.

If it was only neural toxicity to a dewormer/parasiticide, it would have improved after washing away the topical or discontinuing the oral med by now.

A regular vet can check the labwork easily; just call to ensure they have the equipment in house to check the electrolytes as well as the other chemistry/whole blood values above. Some don't have electrolyte diagnostic ability, and that is the most important set of values for her particular medical history.

Josie's prognosis will likely be poor without further diagnostics and accurate treatment. She needs her vet to provide better supportive care than you can manage at home without professional treatment.

I've been bringing her to the vet at *least* once a week for almost three months. I've already scheduled another appointment. I am getting a referral when I go in to check if she needs treatment for ivermectin poisoning or not. The past couple of days I've been caring for her 24/7 with the instructions given to me the last time she was paralyzed for a few days with the exception of leaving her with my friend for a few hours so I can go to work to handle my appointments so I don't get fired. Thanks.

I mostly came here to see if anyone could provide anecdotes about their own cats living through something like this. My own vet is doing a lot, but she is stumped, and with Josie's recent decline I'm taking her to another.

My cat was paralyzed off and on,, blind off and on, doing summersaults (sp?) when he would try to eat, right into his food bowl.  His symptoms would come and go and because he was  treated for ear mites with ivermectin, one drop in each ear by the vet, and then later got the Advantage Multi with the moxidectin, the vet thought his symptoms were related to an inner ear infection.  He was also drooling and staring sometimes.  The paralysis was only in the beginning and went away over time.  The vet then also put him on the Antivert (generic) which helped the dizziness and drooling and seemed to make him feel better.  He improved slowly over time, and neither the vet nor I suspected ivermectin poisoning.  It wasn't until the cat was completely well and it was time to re-apply flea medication to the whole bunch --- and when I came back after an hour or two, he was relapsing.  The ONLY thing that had changed was applyign the flea medication.  I didnt usually use Advantage Multi, I usually use Advantage II, which does not have the moxidectin and had ot bothered him in previous months.  The vet thought the Advantage Multi would help with the ear mite problem!

Sinc3e your cat had the paralysis before he ever had any ivermectin (or related drugs, because there is a whole list of related drugs that dogs with ivermectin sensitivity cannot tolerate also, drugs that usually have no side effects on normal dogs.  Anyhow, as soon as he had the reaction and I washed off his second dose of Advantage Multi, he recovered by the next day, THEN I started researching ivermectin (which he had been given just a tiny drop ONCE directly in his ears) and then moxidectin, which is in the Advantage multi, and finding out there is a whole family of similar drugs (basically all the ones used to prevent heartworm) I realized I had a sensitive cat and told the vet.  Hopefully if this happens with another cat, the vet will know to check the medication history.

I am not sure the ivermectin or another similar drug is the only problem your cat has, but would definitely suspect he has the sensitivity since he got worse after each dose of ivermectin.  You never mentioned WHY he was being given oral ivermectin!  Did he have ear mites?  He may have had an inner ear infection too.  My cat definitely did, but the treatment made him so much worse I thought he had a brain tumor.

I hope your cat does clear up.  That second dose of ivermectin on top of the first dose may well be the cause of the paralysis.  There was literature that intravenous lipids worked in removing the ivermectin from a dog in an acute reaction and saving his life.  Ivermectin DOES stay in the system about a month when it comes in those heartworm products, so if you can just keep nursing your cat through this, he may make it, or maybe your vet might try the intravenous lipids.

One word of caution.  I do not know your vet, but since he gave the ivermectin (again I would like to know for what reason) two times, some vets would want to discount the ivermectin poisoning possibility because that would mean that he caused the problem or made it worse and he may not want to own up to that, even though it was a perfectly normal thing to do.  My vet had no problem with the diagnosis, since it was so obvious after the cat got well and then instantly sick with the same symptoms after a dose of the Advantage Multi (and that has to come from a vet, prescription required).  My vet was just glad to learn that yes, some cats can be sensitive to it an get neurological symptoms like some dogs do.  My cat was proof.  I certainyl did not blame the vet -- and we both learned something that hopefully will help others in the future.  Anyhow, if your vet discounts the possibility, do find another vet who will consider the possibility.  I hope your vet is as receptive to the observations you made about him getting worse each time he got the ivermectin.  If your cat has another problem, it will be easier to observe once he gets the ivermectin out of his system, and that could be a month.

Keep us posted

This most certainly is ivermectin, I gave my kitten an overdose, i found out afterwards, & she couldn't walk or move at all, would twitch, & then she would try real hard to still play & eat but would fall over. this happened twice, 2 weeks apart post ivermectin, so I stopped giving it to her. But trust me, it was super scary, I had to hold to her an entire day, manually feeding her, giving water, even had to hold her up in the litter. But she got normal afterwards, if not, much more energetic, but diff was, unlike most kittens, she was still eating a lot & drinking a lot of water, i think she knew what she needed to do to stay alive during those 2 episodes, now she refused to eat any tuna, bc thats what i mixed it in. But don't worry, they become normal once the ivermectin is out of their system. & honestly, get a diff vet, if i could conclude a causal relationship & google ivermectin symptoms, the vet should've def known! Im 100% sure the cat overdoses on it, bc they need max, less than a drop of it.

If she progressed to paralysis before being given ivermectin than it is not ivermectin toxicity.

Ivermectin toxicity causes a worsening of symptoms for the first week and improved symptoms after that.

I would look for a specialist now asap. This is clearly outside your vets area of expertise.