need help asap

wedgie said:

wedgie is better today for some reason,


. I don't feel its quite time yet, and I would feel horrible and guilty with the "what if", if I didn't do all this.

Click to expand...

Well -- this all sounds more uplifting and I am happy to hear he is a bit better! I totally understand that need of trying. I would think that being the 4th vet opinion on Wedgie you can rest assured that this vet would give you an honest opinion on his condition and quality of life too. :nod: Hoping the new vet's protocol will bring about a good quality of life for Wedgie for how ever long that may be! :cross:

You know your Wedgie better than any of us here and we can only go on what you tell us and as of today - it sounds more hopeful and again, uplifting. Hope this continues !!!!!!!!!! :cross: He certainly is a BEAUTIFUL and handsome kitty. :heart2:

I'm glad to hear he's doing a little better. What a beautiful boy he is!!  You are a great mom, taking him for so many opinions. I'm so happy the last vet seems to be trying to get to the bottom of it.  Sounds like a keeper.

I pray he will continue to get better & have some relief.  I know the alternative is a hard call to make when you can't find clear answers.  I hope he will be able to use the box himself. 

Praying for you both!!   

.

Thanks sooo much everyone! Truly a great site with people who understand! There's only so many times you can go on about a cat with yr friends and families..lol. so anyways an update:

Wedgie has been a different cat (NOT THE SAME AS BEFORE) from when I first posted. He has been eating on his own (with my help of lifting the spoon to his face cause he cant really hold himself up and bend down to eat at the same time), I'm still expressing him, because he cant lift his bum into the box. He poops with stimulation..(he has tried but can't in the box when sitting of course)

The other night I put him IN HIS bed and he drug himself over to my bed and tried to jump up. I lifted him up and he immediately fell asleep purring. .. an hour later he turned his head to look at me and started hissing and bicycling..(I'll explain in a moment) so I put him back in his bed and he drug himself back staring at me till I lifted him back up..( I didn't sleep that night for fear of hurting him and him hurting me)

I think the last vet hit something that tweaked whatever is bugging him. I think it is in his shoulders.. but would that not affect his front legs? In humans though if you break yr back shoulder area you would still have upper function right? I'm just talking out loud.haha

I've been working his legs everyday to try and keep at least a bit of muscle mass..yesterday I lifted his hind end and his legs at the ankles were trying to flip over( he drags on the top side).but he couldn't get it

. 

And... bad news again:So yesterday I gave him worm medicine cause I saw tapeworm ends in his poop...all of a sudden he is losing his bladder..? or it's just another part of this mysterious disease?

An answer would be great!

Not that I'm equating money with his life, but I put 1200.00 into vets that have guessed. Charged me for stupid crap.(x-rays that have to be done over, within a week) I'm kinda angry and I have no money left.( I have 4 kids)

bicycling-I lifted him wrong one time and he started hissing and meowing and moving his legs as if riding a bike, my daughter accidently hit him(very softly) with her hand and he started the same movements.I pressed gently in between his shoulder blades to see if I could feel anything and he started the same. Funny how he's paralyzed but still moves his legs.

I think I am picturing what you're describing, but I know how hard it can be to describe or imagine what things look like. Could you please post a video? It may be a long shot, but maybe somebody will see and bring up a memory, and say "hey, that looks familiar, I may know what that is"

Worth a try!

My kitten almost died and at some point expressed the same symptoms. The vets (i took him to more than 1) diagnosed low blood sugar and gave him dextrose injection. He perked up right away. Not 100% but still. They gave me some dextrose to take home as well and told me to put a couple drops on his gums if he gets all weak and lethargic like that again. Another solution they said is to give him a little honey dissolved in water. But in my case they actually run bloodworm on him so i am 100% sure his blood sugar level was critically low (i took him to the emergency room in the middle of the night when he tried to drag himself to his litter box 2 feet away and couldn't do it and collapsed)

wedgie said:

Thanks sooo much everyone! Truly a great site with people who understand! There's only so many times you can go on about a cat with yr friends and families..lol. so anyways an update:
Wedgie has been a different cat (NOT THE SAME AS BEFORE) from when I first posted. He has been eating on his own (with my help of lifting the spoon to his face cause he cant really hold himself up and bend down to eat at the same time), I'm still expressing him, because he cant lift his bum into the box. He poops with stimulation..(he has tried but can't in the box when sitting of course)
The other night I put him IN HIS bed and he drug himself over to my bed and tried to jump up. I lifted him up and he immediately fell asleep purring. .. an hour later he turned his head to look at me and started hissing and bicycling..(I'll explain in a moment) so I put him back in his bed and he drug himself back staring at me till I lifted him back up..( I didn't sleep that night for fear of hurting him and him hurting me)
I think the last vet hit something that tweaked whatever is bugging him. I think it is in his shoulders.. but would that not affect his front legs? In humans though if you break yr back shoulder area you would still have upper function right? I'm just talking out loud.haha

I've been working his legs everyday to try and keep at least a bit of muscle mass..yesterday I lifted his hind end and his legs at the ankles were trying to flip over( he drags on the top side).but he couldn't get it
. 
And... bad news again:So yesterday I gave him worm medicine cause I saw tapeworm ends in his poop...all of a sudden he is losing his bladder..? or it's just another part of this mysterious disease?
An answer would be great!
Not that I'm equating money with his life, but I put 1200.00 into vets that have guessed. Charged me for stupid crap.(x-rays that have to be done over, within a week) I'm kinda angry and I have no money left.( I have 4 kids)

bicycling-I lifted him wrong one time and he started hissing and meowing and moving his legs as if riding a bike, my daughter accidently hit him(very softly) with her hand and he started the same movements.I pressed gently in between his shoulder blades to see if I could feel anything and he started the same. Funny how he's paralyzed but still moves his legs.

Click to expand...

I am not sure how I feel about your above update. :shame: He can't hold himself up to eat?? You have to spoon feed him. He can't use the litter box? You have to express him and stimulate him to poop?? That could be very painful especially if you don't have experience in doing so. He is hissing and bicycling his legs? That would be some sort of uncontrolled muscle tremor?? :dk: He drags his legs along? He is losing control of his bladder? You and your daughter lifted him the wrong way and/or your daughter accidentally hit him and he hissed and moved his legs quickly? That is pain.... and your last sentence - broke my heart. And, now, you say you have no more money to spend on vets, I assume. I still encourage you to peacefully let your cat be released from his painful body and low quality of life. I am sorry to say but this does not sound good to me at all. Please consider having a serious talk with your vet.

An animal can be paralysed in the sense of having no muscle control and still have involuntary movement of limbs that go into spasm. It sounds as if he has a very serious neurological injury. I think it if were my cat I would not want him to suffer like that, though I do understand your wish to find answers and to keep hope alive as long as possible. I am so sorry you are going through all this.

This update really doesn't sound good. If he can't eat or use the box unaided it really is time. I'm so sorry you and he are having to go through this.

Please keep in mind that purring isn't always a positive thing. Cats in pain will purr a lot too - it's a form of self soothing. Everything you're saying is ringing major alarm bells to me. He's clearly in a lot of pain. His needs have to come first.

Oh Wedgie,

(((((HugsI)))))  

I am so sorry to say this, but it does not sound as if he is improving at all. I mean, if he cannot stand to eat, cannot poop without assistance, is becoming urine incontinent, and is paralyzed.....and is painful if you touch him the wrong way....I mean...think aobut it.

If this were happening to a human, what would you be thinking? I would be thinking that this person is suffering immensely and is in severe pain.

I think the fact that he is trying to be with you is him saying, "I am in pain. I konw you are trying to help me. I love you. But It may just be too much for my little body"

Wedgie is going along with all that you are doing because he loves you.

I think you kind of have to take a step back and really see the situation. Personally, I would not pursue the medicine for tapeworms, at this time. I think you need to think about things for a day or possibly 2 at the most. Your baby is in pain. If nothing is improving to the point that he can start doing his normal daily functions---I mean functions...then you have to re-evaluate how much pain he is in and the best way to alleviate his pain. 

If it is truly a spinal cord injury, you love could be like this for the rest of his life. That would also bring up a gamut of bad possibilities, persistent infections from urine retention, kidneys, etc....

I know you love him with all your heart, but it may be time to allow him to run free...

sorry, I do not know any other way of stating this.....I am sorry....I had to do the same with my last cat...I know what you are going through---

Can You put in a call with the most recent Vet, and run all these things by them.. I am sure they can help you sort things out...Make a list of things you are doing FOR Wedgie~~things he cannot do for himself, add in what seems to be painful to him, also write down what is he cannot do...and how you are helping him. I think the Vet will be able to help guide you more than anyone of us here are able to do....

WE are always here for you, no matter what situation you are in.....We care about our members. This is a good group of people..

Please keep us updated...

         

wedgie said:

bicycling-I lifted him wrong one time and he started hissing and meowing and moving his legs as if riding a bike, my daughter accidently hit him(very softly) with her hand and he started the same movements.I pressed gently in between his shoulder blades to see if I could feel anything and he started the same. Funny how he's paralyzed but still moves his legs.

Click to expand...

DId your vet suggest the physical therapy because i would not suggest doing any without a vet's advice.  Also has your vet suggested euthanasia?  The quality of life you're describing makes a strong case to let him go, especially as there as there seems no prospect of recovery.

Such a heart breaking situation, and hard to get through.  It is some time since you have shared with us how Wedgie has been and how you are doing @wedgie.    I share JennyR's thoughts on the reflex movements and that this does still sound like a serious neurological issue.  My previous cat had a similar situation with her hind legs, but sadly after innitial anti-inflammatory and pain medications with brief and partial recovery my little Pal looked so tired from the effort everything took I did take her back to our vet to say a final goodbye.  I don't know if you have yet reached this point with Wedgie but can certainly identify with the painful questions you have been going through.

 

Wedgie,

Please keep in touch with us....we are all concerned.. could you please update?  

wishing you well...

I'm really, really sorry, but I have to sadly agree with what everyone is saying. He is in pain , & his quality of life is poor in this state.

Sorry I haven't updated again..I've been busy with kids getting into school.

So wedgie is doing great! He is still not walking..he still drags his back end around but.....his pain is completely gone. We can lift him up,he can lift himself up on beds, he eats on his own,he scoots around the house. He needed time to heal whatever was wrong.I'm glad I spoon fed him and helped him in every aspect of his injury.I am so VERY glad that I followed my heart and didn't euthanize him. I wouldn't euthanize my child if she hurt her back, or grandma if she broke her hip.

I am taking him in this week to get follow up X-rays to see if they can see anything now,like a deterioration in a disc or something... maybe it was a pinched nerve from jumping out a window. I'll never know.Hopefully he can start more intense physical therapy to get some muscles back into his legs. He is quite content now. Thank you for the well wishes.  

I don't know how to edit.. I just wanted to also say that he wasn't losing his bladder, we figured out the  next day that he was dribbling because of the way he was scooting.His "parts" were being stimulated by the friction of the floor.

I hope you have found some way to keep him more comfortable when he is scooting about to solve that toileting problem - I am glad that Wedgie seems content and happy.

That's good news!  I'm glad to hear you are getting x-rays as well. Hopefully they will be able to see something, & know what's been going on. Then you will have a clearer view on how to proceed with whichever kind of therapy recommended to help.