Kitten: Spinal injury, ear mites, mysterious ear rashes

Status
Not open for further replies.

ashwyn

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Oct 10, 2015
Messages
9
Purraise
1
I was treating my kitten for ear mites the last two weeks and noticed he was acting like a completely different cat. He meowed constantly and only wanted to be held in my arms, he lost his energy and slept all day, and had trouble passing stools. Most alarming, his back legs weren't working so well. I took him to the vet today thinking maybe he had an inner ear infection, but after some X-rays, they found a spinal injury right above his hips. It looks like one of his discs has been pulled - almost like he had his tail trapped and was yanking on it to get away.

The vet thinks he might heal, but isn't sure how well, and doesn't want to do surgery since he is still growing and basically said they can't do anything for him. Some laxatives were prescribed to help him pass some stools, but over the last few days he's gotten worse. He's lost his ability to pee - he returns to the litter box frequently and can't get anything out. But I've noticed that some pee is let go when he sleeps at night and is relaxed. It's hard to watch him try to get around since his back legs keep giving out. It seems like his back legs are giving out more frequently.

The vet didn't give me any tips for helping him heal. How can I help him? Should I confine him? I carry him up and down the stairs - he hands out downstairs during the day, and upstairs at night. So so sad about all of this. :(

He's also developed a weird rash inside his ears. I've posted a picture of one of the rashes.
 


Have you seen anything like this? What could it be? Bacterial or yeast infection?  This is the third rash he's received and they look exactly the same, dark pink with a yellowish scab in the middle. The vet didn't know what it could be - but I worry that he is being drained with a spinal injury, ear mites, and now this. And he has lost weight since his spinal injury. Poor little guy... :(
 
Last edited by a moderator:

stephanietx

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Dec 1, 2005
Messages
14,772
Purraise
3,490
Location
Texas
I'm so sorry you're going through this with your kitty.  I really have no experience to help you, but wanted to let you know that I'd read your post.

I would leave him on cage rest.  Are you familiar with Pretzel (The Little Kitty that Could) or Dot, the Spina Bifida Cat?  They both have FB pages.  Perhaps you can reach out to their owners for help with the incontinence.  I think Dot wears kitty diapers.
 

momofmaxwell

TCS Member
Alpha Cat
Joined
Oct 5, 2014
Messages
388
Purraise
61
Location
BC CANADA
Hi Ashwyn.How old is your little one? Do you actually see him try to pee but nothing comes out? Was he this way prior to him getting him.Do you have any more info on him.How long you have had him.Did he go outside.Age.I also believe in a crate with a litterbox or small box in the back for  kitty litter.There is a big difference between incontinence & trying to pee and nothing comes out.Good your vet gave you something for poo & rear injuries can cause constipation or even worse.Sorry I just need more info before i could suggest anything.c ..But curious as to how all this happened.Is he eating & drinking well?Make sure he eats & eats well.If he is in alot of pain that can affect his appetite.Being a kitten he should be hungry alot.I know of quite a few kitties who wear fancy pants but only after diagnosis of what is going on.You may want  to lay some puppy pads in the crate though and keep him gently wiped with warm water down below.Stimulating his anus with a warm rag may help to poo too.But food & water are life ,but you truly need to know if he is trying to pee & nothing.That can be a life threatening issue.Did your vet give him anything for pain or inflammation or nothing? Does he think this injury as per the xray is old or brand new? I myself would be trying to find someone else to help you as per a vet & have your file transferred over.yes i believe I would not allow any stair & bedrest.But without anti inflammatories and pain meds that is kin do cruel i believe on your vet's part just to leave you in limbo.If it is a slipped disc just like a person you do very little and certain movements you avoid & have physio.You are not just left to fend for yourself.Different in a feral world.They have no help.Just my two bits.C.You need more answers than that Honey IMO.
 

catwoman707

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Dec 16, 2011
Messages
7,689
Purraise
2,263
Location
Vallejo, CA
This is a very sad situation you have.

Tomorrow morning I have to call the vet and make an appt for one of my foster's kittens she rescued recently to be euthanized. He is just a kid too :(

Only about 7 weeks old at the time of rescue, now about 10 weeks, but was found outside very sick with a uri, crusted shut eyes, ear mites and a limp tail.........

The foster got him well from the uri, and he went from incontinent to slight improvement, but had x-rays and an ultrasound done on Thursday and the damage is irrepairable.

Does your kitty have a limp tail? Hangs down like a rope?

Your situation sounds like the inflammed area around the slipped disc is causing his problems, and the more he moves around the more inflammation, the more it's affecting his mobility and control.

I have not seen your cat's x-rays and am no expert on spinal nerve issues by far, however it makes perfect sense to me that with very limited mobility and possibly anti-inflammatory med he may have a chance of recovering, but this really is a serious, quality of life issue, just know this.

As far as reoccurring, this I do not know.

His size and fast growth is also a factor here. No definite answers for you, but please remember to stay focused on what is in his best interest.

I do recommend a second opinion though with a cat only vet for sure!

The ear sore looks like just that, a sore from either a bite or topical that doesn't agree with him.

It does NOT look like ringworm at least......

What are you using for ear mites?

How old is your kitten?

Is he able to control his poop at all? 
 
Last edited:
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #6

ashwyn

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Oct 10, 2015
Messages
9
Purraise
1
Hi everyone,

He is doing pretty much the same - but I'm trying to establish somewhat of a routine for him.

He is eating and drinking, dry and wet food. However not as much on his own as before his injury. I've found that once I get him into a comfortable place, I can spoon feed him canned food and get him to finish about half of a can - I think he likes interactive feeding more than eating on his own. I try to do this before I leave for work and at night.

He follows me everywhere, I think he gets nervous or anxious when I'm not in the same room with him. He can walk a little - although his back feet waddle, and it looks more like he is balancing on them more than using them, and his back legs give out a lot. I carry him up the stairs for bed each night (and down in the morning), and let him fall asleep in my arms before putting him in his own room (the guest room). He demands to sleep in a human bed, and the bed in the guest room is lower to the floor. I've placed pillows all around the base so when he jumps down he doesn't hurt his legs. And his litter and food is in there as well as downstairs. I let him out each morning and he follows me around and demands to be held (or he crawls up my leg using his front paws and claws).

I think he is almost fully incontinent. Although he does go to his litter when I walk into one of the rooms that has one, and can get a little pee out. When he's on my lap, he knows when he needs to pee, gets to the ground and lets it go. I don't think he can hold it to get to the litter box in time. He poos a tiny bit each day - not as much as before - and does this when the bottom half of his body is on the ground on his side.

His tail is fairly limp and does hang down. Yesterday when he peed his tail thumped on the ground really fast (like a rabbit's foot ?). I've never seen that before and wonder if that means some nerves are still good - or healing.

I called the vet's office and she said that anti-inflammatories aren't safe for cats, especially kittens, over a long period of time - kitten is 5.5 months old. She said to wait 3-6 months and he would be "as good as he'll get".

For the ear mites, I've been using over the counter Bio-Groom.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #7

ashwyn

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Oct 10, 2015
Messages
9
Purraise
1
Kitten is still hanging in there. 

He seems to be walking around a lot more, although unsteadily. 

But since whatever happened to injure him, he hasn't wanted to play, and isn't interested in play, even if I dangle a shoelace near his front paws. Does anyone have experience with injured kittens? Is he so miserable that he doesn't want to play? 

I'm worried about the Bio-Groom ear mite treatment I've been using. It seems that some people are having issues with pyrethrins, although I don't know otherwise how to get rid of the mites. Maybe I could try diatomaceous earth? Can pyrethrins cause brain damage? I worry about kitten's new personality since his injury, and hope it is just the injury and he'll heal over the next few months and be able to play again. 

Still trying to get a copy of his x-ray to share... 
 

catwoman707

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Dec 16, 2011
Messages
7,689
Purraise
2,263
Location
Vallejo, CA
 
Kitten is still hanging in there. 

He seems to be walking around a lot more, although unsteadily. 

But since whatever happened to injure him, he hasn't wanted to play, and isn't interested in play, even if I dangle a shoelace near his front paws. Does anyone have experience with injured kittens? Is he so miserable that he doesn't want to play? 

I'm worried about the Bio-Groom ear mite treatment I've been using. It seems that some people are having issues with pyrethrins, although I don't know otherwise how to get rid of the mites. Maybe I could try diatomaceous earth? Can pyrethrins cause brain damage? I worry about kitten's new personality since his injury, and hope it is just the injury and he'll heal over the next few months and be able to play again. 

Still trying to get a copy of his x-ray to share... 
I think his lack of interest in play speaks volumes.

I have had very sick kittens who felt like crap for some time, yet they would at least show an occasional attempt at play, so it sounds like he does have enough discomfort/pain to cause his disinterest in play.

I use ivermectin in mineral oil for ear mites, pyrethrins are fine for dogs but not for cats.
 

red top rescue

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Dec 27, 2012
Messages
4,466
Purraise
1,486
Location
Acworth GA, USA
DO NOT USE IVERMECTIN IN HIS EARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i AM PRETTY SURE HE IS ONE OF THE ONES SENSITIVE TO IVERMECTIN.  I HAD ONE, HE ACTED JUST LIKE THAT.  Just use DE in his ears for the mites.  Diotomaceous earth.

Get him fluids to help detox the ivermedtin.  Research ivermectin and see what the side effects can be.

If your cat has ivermectin toxicity, you may see any of the following symptoms:
  • Lethargy
  • Depression
  • Drooling
  • Vomiting
  • Dilated pupils
  • Loss of appetite
  • Disorientation
  • Tremors/Seizures
  • Blindness
  • Trouble standing
  • Slow heartbeat
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Convulsions
  • Coma
  • Death
Mine almost died from it.
 

catwoman707

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Dec 16, 2011
Messages
7,689
Purraise
2,263
Location
Vallejo, CA
Wow, I've never had any cat or kitten react negatively to ivermectin.

Also ears kept cleaned out and using revolution flea treatment will take care of the mites.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #11

ashwyn

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Oct 10, 2015
Messages
9
Purraise
1
Thank you both - maybe I'll try DE and use a little mineral oil to clean out his ears. If that doesn't work I will inquire about Revolution  - I've read about that...

Where do I get mineral oil anyway?
 

red top rescue

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Dec 27, 2012
Messages
4,466
Purraise
1,486
Location
Acworth GA, USA
I use olive oil or coconut oil on a q-tip for gentle ear cleaning, but not right before applying the DE.  I don't want any oil to trap the DE which needs to be sort of a powder in the ear canal.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #15

ashwyn

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Oct 10, 2015
Messages
9
Purraise
1
I have been giving little kitty ear treatments with DE. His ears DO seem to be looking better, but I think something else awful is ailing him now.

The rash above has turned into a blackish gray scab. He's also lost some hair above his eye, which is also turning into a gray scab. He has some little grayish scabs appearing on the back of his neck - and it must be very itchy in those areas. Something besides mites? Can mites crawl out of his ears? Ringworm perhaps?

I'm taking him into the vet again this Friday to run tests.
 

red top rescue

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Dec 27, 2012
Messages
4,466
Purraise
1,486
Location
Acworth GA, USA
Yes, sometimes ear mites DO crawl out of the ears, and if you have put DE in the ears, that might make them want to vacate the premises.  Try putting DE on the scaly patches.  If thos are mites too, they will find it inhospitable and go away in a few days just like the ear residents did.  If not, it may be a different kind of mite, like the scabies mite.  It doesn't sound exactly like it now but I have only seen those on a cat once and they WERE in the ears and made the ears look like they had grey cauliflower coming out of them.  Eeeewwwww.  The vet will do tests but in the meantime the DE will not hurt and might even help.  If you want to find out more about scabies mites, just Google "scabies mite cat" and see what you come up with.
 
Last edited:
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #17

ashwyn

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Oct 10, 2015
Messages
9
Purraise
1
Thank you all for your comments.

I don't think things are looking good for the little boy. Over the last week and a half he's slowed down a lot on eating. He has stopped eating dry food, and although he's excited when I open up a can of food in the morning, he doesn't eat much. He follows me around until he can sit on my lap, and then I try to make him eat some more, spoon-feeding him. I leave food in front of him as often as possible to remind him to eat, but he seems to be forgetting to do that now. This makes me so sad, on top of his loss of interest in play. I also spoon feed him as much as he will eat before bed time - he will lick the wetness off from the canned food on his own, but doesn't really eat the solid part of the food. That's what I have to help him to eat.

Don't know if anyone else has experience with injured cats and appetite. I'm hoping his appetite will come back, but losing hope.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #18

ashwyn

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Oct 10, 2015
Messages
9
Purraise
1
He is doing worse - with some extreme neurological symptoms. The vet did some blood work on the weekend because she suspects the dry version of FIP.

She's faxing the results to a FIP specialist. I thought the spinal injury was causing some of these symptoms, but apparently there is an underlying cause. The vet was certain he would heal from the injury he had - his gait is very unbalanced, no appetite, loss of voice (doesn't meow), has spasms related to these bumps on his face.

So we'll find out soon if it is FIP...
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #20

ashwyn

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Oct 10, 2015
Messages
9
Purraise
1
We put him down yesterday. Just an awful, awful feeling. We miss him so much. The vet thought it was FIP, and a specialist she spoke too seemed to agree, and recommended we euthanize him.

His neurological signs were progressing. I'd been spoon feeding him the last few weeks, over the weekend, he started getting these weird face spasms and grinding his teeth after I fed him. He was hyper-sensitive to water. He no longer played, and was incontinent. But oh was he the sweetest little boy ever, following us around as best as he could, and just wanting to be held. I wish we could have held him at home until he passed, but my husband said it seemed cruel to prolong his suffering., I still can't believe he's gone. Everything that reminds me of him breaks me down, over and over.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top