My 3 year old cat came home Sunday morning walking strangely arched back and his rear legs where not synchronised with the front ones. I looked up the signs and rang the vet. I did what I could to stop him from getting worse but in the evening he couldn't use his back legs. I brought my cat for X-rays it turned out to be a slipped disk. He is still at the vet getting steroids and anti inflammatory and there is no improvement. One day I get a call from the veterinarian that the cat might need surgery, the next day that surgery might not help and that he will really have poor quality of life... I said I will not give up on my cat and I wont. I have looked up a couple of sites about disabled cats and how they can adapt with lots of patience, love and care. And as I am still hoping that he would recover (there is still a chance) I would like advice on caring for a disabled cat, how to cope and maybe happy ending stories.
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My cat injured his back
- Thread starter catflatmate
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is he able to pee and poop ok in the litter box?
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- #3
No he is housetrained but not litter trained. He is back home for the weekend and since he doesn't have full control of his bladder
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- #4
I am happy that he is home, he was really stressed at the vet. He is comfortable now but it will take time to adjust to an indoor lifestyle.
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what did the vet say about his bladder control?
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- #6
Nothing really she just said he hadn't use the litter tray in the cage not to worry she simply cleaned after him. I watched a couple of cats on wheelchairs videos , they were all wearing dippers.
She keeps saying he would have poor quality of life. And I am angry that she would consider putting him down.
My cat has no other injury and he is not crying in pain.
He was an outdoor cat or at least as free to go in and out of my house, very active and independent. He has friends in the area both cats and people.
So being "stuck" inside, getting help grooming and being stopped from jumping on the furnitures is not his idea of fun.
But myself and my child are making sure he is happy, relaxed and safe. He is grinning, purring and looking for cuddles and play time.
She keeps saying he would have poor quality of life. And I am angry that she would consider putting him down.
My cat has no other injury and he is not crying in pain.
He was an outdoor cat or at least as free to go in and out of my house, very active and independent. He has friends in the area both cats and people.
So being "stuck" inside, getting help grooming and being stopped from jumping on the furnitures is not his idea of fun.
But myself and my child are making sure he is happy, relaxed and safe. He is grinning, purring and looking for cuddles and play time.
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- #7
There is a slight improvement he is stretching his back (not fully but it is a start) , he purrs when I dry his fur and he grooms afterwards. He is still not using his back legs and his tail. They are not numb but still.
As for litter training well he cries to be left out then he wets his fur and cussion. And he kind of panics and tries to climb on my bed to escape when he needs to poop.
I have left his sent in the litter box and he is able to drag himself inside but either he doesn't understand what it is for or he is too nervous to try when he needs it.
As for litter training well he cries to be left out then he wets his fur and cussion. And he kind of panics and tries to climb on my bed to escape when he needs to poop.
I have left his sent in the litter box and he is able to drag himself inside but either he doesn't understand what it is for or he is too nervous to try when he needs it.
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- #8
Are there any vet Neurology or orthopedic specialists in your area? I would do my absolute best to get in touch with one of these specialists for a second opinion.
With a slipped disk, I suspect the nerves have been compromised and this is why your cat is unable to use his rear limbs/tail. Is there damage directly to the spinal cord??
Often times, surgery is done to repair the disk and, thus, taking the pressure off the surrounding nerves. With physical the medication and physical therapy, some mobility can be regained. How much depends on the severity of the initial injury.
If your cat is unable to urinate on his own, you will have to learn how to express his bladder. You will also need to pay close attention to and monitor for pressure sores.
Yes, You can get custom carts made foe the cats to help them get around, though not all cats adapt to using them. There is a group on Facebook called "Leggings for Life" that makes custom leggings to protect an animal from getting pressure sores. The leggings look like this:
Hopefully with time and rest (I would think he shouldn't be moving around a lot right now?) he will regain at least some function. But, ultimately, you will have to decide if he has a good quality of life or not.
With a slipped disk, I suspect the nerves have been compromised and this is why your cat is unable to use his rear limbs/tail. Is there damage directly to the spinal cord??
Often times, surgery is done to repair the disk and, thus, taking the pressure off the surrounding nerves. With physical the medication and physical therapy, some mobility can be regained. How much depends on the severity of the initial injury.
If your cat is unable to urinate on his own, you will have to learn how to express his bladder. You will also need to pay close attention to and monitor for pressure sores.
Yes, You can get custom carts made foe the cats to help them get around, though not all cats adapt to using them. There is a group on Facebook called "Leggings for Life" that makes custom leggings to protect an animal from getting pressure sores. The leggings look like this:
Hopefully with time and rest (I would think he shouldn't be moving around a lot right now?) he will regain at least some function. But, ultimately, you will have to decide if he has a good quality of life or not.
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- #10
Thank you for your answer.
She wants me to bring the cat back this evening for a check up and talk. He is still on steroids at home but they are in tablets form and he's always being difficult when it comes to take medicines.
The slipped disk is pressing on his spinal chord. And the vet says that with the anti inflamatries and steroids he should have been able to recover some movement on his legs.
There is still life in them he can feel touch, and there is tention on them when he is lying down.
For his bladder the urine is coming out not like a constant leak but he wets his bed.
She wanted to send him to a specialist for surgery and has been contacting a clinic/hospital for it that's 100 miles from where I live. I do not have a car so I will have to find a way to arrange transport. I am hoping to contact the specialist and get answers directly from him.
She wants me to bring the cat back this evening for a check up and talk. He is still on steroids at home but they are in tablets form and he's always being difficult when it comes to take medicines.
The slipped disk is pressing on his spinal chord. And the vet says that with the anti inflamatries and steroids he should have been able to recover some movement on his legs.
There is still life in them he can feel touch, and there is tention on them when he is lying down.
For his bladder the urine is coming out not like a constant leak but he wets his bed.
She wanted to send him to a specialist for surgery and has been contacting a clinic/hospital for it that's 100 miles from where I live. I do not have a car so I will have to find a way to arrange transport. I am hoping to contact the specialist and get answers directly from him.
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Has cardiac disease been ruled out? No valve defects or chamber enlargement? I ask because compression of the spinal column from a blood clot is more common than herniated disks in cats. Did they check a blood glucose from his jugular (systemic value) and compare it to a glucose from a hind limb vein, to see if he's circulating normally? Do his hindlimbs feel warm or cooler than his front limbs?
Once cardiac disease is ruled out, supportive care including fluid therapy (to maintain hydration, prevent prerenal azotemia, limit muscle tightness/pain, flush bladder), passive range of motion therapy, neuropathic pain management, and anti-inflammatory use is started. I review cardiac disease as this may be why no response to anti-inflammatories alone has been seen yet. If neuropathic, not cardiac, usually improvement is seen in 2 weeks with close, compliant nursing care at home.
Once cardiac disease is ruled out, supportive care including fluid therapy (to maintain hydration, prevent prerenal azotemia, limit muscle tightness/pain, flush bladder), passive range of motion therapy, neuropathic pain management, and anti-inflammatory use is started. I review cardiac disease as this may be why no response to anti-inflammatories alone has been seen yet. If neuropathic, not cardiac, usually improvement is seen in 2 weeks with close, compliant nursing care at home.
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hopefully, surgery is not needed. but if it is, there are 2 board-certified vet surgeons in Ireland.
- Barbara M. Kirby, DVM, MS, DACVS
- University College of Dublin
University Veterinary Hospital
Belfield
Dublin 4,
Ireland - Phone:35307166000
- Fax:011-646-350-5636
- [email protected]
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- #13
Thanks I brought my cat to the vet this evening. Same clinic different vet this time he was very hopeful and said the cat is improving a little and probably wont need surgery. He gave him an injection and advice on how to do a little physiotherapy at home so the cat would regain some use in his legs. He is still on steroids.
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- #14
To Puck : cardiac disease has been ruled out. The X ray showed the problem with the disk. And the vet could feel it also when he checked the cat. A blood test had been done also.
Thanks your post
Thanks your post
