Good morning! My Hodgey is 11 years old. Started to walk on his front wrists about a month ago. Took him to vet and all his stats were great... No trauma causing this either. Now he is also losing weight... Worried my boy is going downhill... Was just hoping someone has something possible to try or check other than diabetes and thyroid... Oh, and he has very violent night terrors to the point he attacks in his sleep... That has been going on for a year. Thanks!
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Walking on wrists and weight loss
- Thread starter hodge
- Start Date
Is your cat walking like this?
Neuropathy affects mainly the hind legs but the front legs can be affected as well. Walking on the hocks plus weight loss indicates diabetes to me but they may also indicate other conditions. Have you noticed any large sticky sugary smelling clumps of pee in the litter box?
When you took the cat to the vet previously, did the vet do any bloodwork? If not, I recommend taking the cat to the vet as soon as you can and ask for bloodwork to be done, including a frucotsamine test to determine if the cat has diabetes or not.
Neuropathy affects mainly the hind legs but the front legs can be affected as well. Walking on the hocks plus weight loss indicates diabetes to me but they may also indicate other conditions. Have you noticed any large sticky sugary smelling clumps of pee in the litter box?
When you took the cat to the vet previously, did the vet do any bloodwork? If not, I recommend taking the cat to the vet as soon as you can and ask for bloodwork to be done, including a frucotsamine test to determine if the cat has diabetes or not.
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- #3
Yup. Like that! Yes they did do bloodwork. All came back perfect.... We are also giving him vit b supplements just incase.... But he is still worsening. They checked for diabetes and for thyroid problems. Urine is good.... Nothing globbing or sticky. Know this cuz when he has night terrors he will also lose control and piddle some.
Appreciate any feedback on whqt else to possibly check. Latest was to check for arthritis and possible cancer.... But both of those would be controled by pain management (if caused by cancer they said too far along). So were just doing pain mgmt....
Appreciate any feedback on whqt else to possibly check. Latest was to check for arthritis and possible cancer.... But both of those would be controled by pain management (if caused by cancer they said too far along). So were just doing pain mgmt....
Methyl B12 helps with the neuropathy. Regular B12 won't help. The FelineDiabetes.com message board recommends this brand: http://www.lifelinknet.com/siteResources/Products/Zobaline.asp
Neuropathy is common with diabetic cats but can also be caused by other medical reasons. The Merck Veterinary Manual has a list: http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/n...romuscular_junction.html?qt=neuropathy&alt=sh
I also found this: http://www.petmd.com/cat/conditions/neurological/c_ct_peripheral_neuropathies
A second opinion from a vet wouldn't hurt. Maybe one who specializes in internal medicine or metabolic disorders.
Neuropathy is common with diabetic cats but can also be caused by other medical reasons. The Merck Veterinary Manual has a list: http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/n...romuscular_junction.html?qt=neuropathy&alt=sh
I also found this: http://www.petmd.com/cat/conditions/neurological/c_ct_peripheral_neuropathies
A second opinion from a vet wouldn't hurt. Maybe one who specializes in internal medicine or metabolic disorders.
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- #5
That one will work for the neuropathy
Hope a vet can figure out what is wrong and can treat it
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Hi Hodge. Sorry I am late to your thread. Were Hodgey’s serum B12, methylmalonic acid, and homocysteine levels checked? Were his red blood cells visually examined, rather than simply put to counting and mean cell volume measurement by mechanical means? Also, was his blood testing done before or after you started B12 supplementation? Any B12 supplementation would change the results (or findings) as to those substances in the first of my questions there.
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- #8
Thank you for responding! I just asked for the results from the Vet, i will post when i get them... The tests were done prior to the B12 supplements. I did that to just TRY to see if they would help, after two weeks, i do not see any improvement, just worsening... As of last nite, his paws will actually collapse if he tries to turn... poor thing 
he is still his own ornery self (still tells the muttlies what to do!).
I just made an appt at a different vet for a 2nd opinion, i did not give him his B12 this morning, nor will til after the vet appt to make sure it does not change the results.
he is still his own ornery self (still tells the muttlies what to do!). I just made an appt at a different vet for a 2nd opinion, i did not give him his B12 this morning, nor will til after the vet appt to make sure it does not change the results.
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The supplementation you have already given him will skew his results for a long time -- likely for several months, at least.
Ask his Doctor the questions I asked up there relating to his blood testing. Also find out if the Laboratory still has access to the blood specimen/s taken prior to your starting that supplementation.
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In what Country are you located, please?
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Please get Hodgey in with a Neurologist for evaluation, soon as you can.
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If B12 deficiency is the cause of his troubles, those would not be night terrors -- those would be responses to severe neuropathic pain strikes (or jolts), and there would be continuous (background) neuropathic pain affecting his extremities anyway. In a tailed, four-legged animal, I would expect the neuropathy to start in the tail first of all, then progress to affect the hind feet, then progress to affect the front feet. The neuropathic pain strikes (or jolts) might be felt in those parts or anywhere else other than within the brain. At their worst, they can feel like one might suppose lightning strikes would feel; or like stabs by an electrified pitchfork; or, at their very least, like stabs by an electrified icepick.
If B12 deficiency is the cause of his troubles, and if he can tolerate a synthetic narcotic, that would probably be a better choice for pain reduction than the drugs that keep neural tissues from communicating with each other, so to speak – as in that case (B12 deficiency), for the fullest improvement he may be able to attain over time, we want to keep his living neural tissues in communication.
If B12 deficiency is the cause of his troubles, and if he can tolerate a synthetic narcotic, that would probably be a better choice for pain reduction than the drugs that keep neural tissues from communicating with each other, so to speak – as in that case (B12 deficiency), for the fullest improvement he may be able to attain over time, we want to keep his living neural tissues in communication.
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I would resume right away and continue with the supplementation, just in case that deficiency is the cause of his problems.
You are welcome. I will continue participating in your thread here as I am able.
You are welcome. I will continue participating in your thread here as I am able.
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Have his Doctor tell you what you might observe in the (possible) event of hypokalemia, and get and keep (yourselves, his caregivers) prepared to treat for that condition should it develop.
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I suggest a fluid supplement made for sublingual use. If (if and in case) Hodgey's problems stem from lack of the usual means of (gut) absorption of B12, he would almost certainly not derive any benefit from a (merely) swallowed supplement.
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Please do this today.
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- #18
Sorry, was at a doc appt myself... Here were his stats PRIOR to any B12 administration. I am taking him to another vet tomorrow AM.
His night terrors have been going on for over a year... no one could tell me why he started having them, no trauma, etc in his life.. he has it very nice!
If this isnt diabetes, i am afraid that whatever neuro started his night terrors is now getting worse
His night terrors have been going on for over a year... no one could tell me why he started having them, no trauma, etc in his life.. he has it very nice!
If this isnt diabetes, i am afraid that whatever neuro started his night terrors is now getting worse
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- #19
Here's a list of board certified internal medicine vets with a specialty in neurology located in Texas: http://find.vetspecialists.com/sear...xas,+USA&place_id=ChIJSTKCCzZwQIYRPN4IGI8c6xY
If that doesn't work, use the ACVIM search: http://www.acvim.org/
If that doesn't work, use the ACVIM search: http://www.acvim.org/
