His limp is getting worse.

My 10 year old orange longhair started limping a couple months ago.  He goes outside, so I though perhaps he had landed wrong and bruised his foot, but it has gotten worse. I have had him to the vet twice and they took an x-ray the first time and told me it is arthritis.  Since he was putting less and less weight on the right front paw, I took him in a second time.  The second vet manipulated the leg, but went along with the notes from the first visit.  They did not take a second x-ray.  They have him a liquid pain reliever and glucosamine capsules to sprinkle on his food.  That was a week ago.  

The bottle of meds they have me says "oral pain medicine".  So I don't know what he's taking twice a day, but it's not helping at all.  He is not putting any weight on the foot at all now, he can't jump, and he sleeps all day and night, except to use the littler box instead of going outside, which is his usual habit.  He is hardly eating, and his coat is getting rough and not shiny.

I am very worried about him.  Does anyone have any ideas about what might be wrong, or what I should do?

Thank you!

Maybe the pain med is making him sleepy?  Usual side effect of pain medication - when one of my boys was on buprenex for a couple days, it definitely made him very sleepy..  It's odd that the medication information isn't printed on the bottle label - that would make me really uncomfortable, because whenever I've gotten a take-home prescription medication from a vet, I always go home and Google the hell out of it before administering it 

Were the two vets you saw working out of the same office?   Or were they two separate vet practices?

My thoughts are this - either call back to the vet and tell them your cat isn't improving (limping has turned into complete avoidance of using that paw) and see what they have to say.   If they don't give you any helpful advice or offer to have you bring kitty back in, take your kitty to an entirely different vet practice and get a second opinion (get the new vet a copy of the X-rays and any other tests that were done).     Vets are no different from human doctors - sometimes it takes trial & error to find a really good & helpful one.    But I would first follow-up with the vet you've already seen and let them know the situation has gotten worse instead of better & see what they have to say.   Don't be scared to get a second or even third opinion until you find a vet who will help.   You have to really advocate for your cat since he can't speak for himself.     

A quick reply. 

I got a recommendation from a friend for her vet who she says really cares about cats.  Without any xrays (at first), she checked him over and concluded that he has a tumor in his shoulder.  The xray confirmed there is is baseball sized sarcoma surrounding Squeak's shoulder that has eaten away the bone. It looks like swiss cheese and she thinks it is the only thing holding his leg together at all.  He is terminal.  I need to make a decision soon on when, not if to put him to sleep.  The swelling in his leg is getting continually worse, and she said it will spread to his other front leg and then his head.

Currently he is still eating, drinking, etc and sleeping alot.  I am hoping he will survive till my daughter returns from college in 2 weeks.

Could it have been stopped by amputation before we got to this point?  Dr Hollis doesn't know, but obviously the other 2 vets I saw were completely incompetent.  I went to see them twice in 2 months and both times they did an incomplete check and blew me off.

I am angry and brokenhearted.

But I appreciate your advice.

Oh no, I am so sorry to hear that!  But I am glad you were able to find a good vet who was able to give you a definitive diagnosis.  I wonder why the other vets weren't able to come to that same conclusion from seeing the X-rays??  I don't know if sometimes vets don't give you all available diagnostic/treatment options because they assume people won't want to spend the money on treating their animal, or if it can be chalked up to sheer incompetence, I just don't know........but I am sorry this is the news the vet gave you - you really did everything you could to help Squeak, I'm glad you went & got a second opinion.  I also hope he will pull through long enough for your daughter to get a chance to see him again 

I am so sorry, does he need any pain medication? 

Oh my! I'm so sorry you got this diagnosis.  Prayers and hugs for you!

So very sorry to hear this. A cortisone shot may give him some relief and possibly reduce the leg swelling in the meantime. You may want to ask the vet about it. I hope he makes it until your daughter comes home for the holidays. I take it the vet feels that surgery is not an option?

Oh no...I am sorry, this is sad. Keeping you guys in my thoughts and prayers.

(((Hugs)))

What a heartbreaking thing to happen.  I pray that he is able to see your daughter, but she will totally understand if you have to euthanize before she gets there.  She wouldn't want him to suffer, I know.  If the new vet can give you the right pain meds, then by all means allow her to say goodbye.  If not, then...you must be strong enough to let him go for his sake.  Either way, my heart goes out to you.

Thank you all for your kind thoughts.  Squeak is hanging in there, he is getting pain shots every three days, which seem to help alot.  His eyes are still bright, he is still eating, and he is getting around slowly but he doesn't seem to be at the end.  The dr said amputation would have been an option if it had been caught sooner.  But since the first 2 vets (from the same practice) didn't find it, it is too far progressed for anything to be done except to make him comfortable.

 
I went and talked to my vet about the actions of the two women who examined Squeak in the last 3 months.  I told her the 2nd one said a 2nd xray wasn't necessary, even though I asked for it.  I needed to make her understand that by missing this diagnosis, those two "vets" may have caused this.  She apologized alot but in the end, it makes no difference now.  But it made me feel a little better to let out my anger.

I am now trying to deal with making the decision to euthanize.  The new doc is saying the swelling is getting worse and will spread to his other limbs, but so far, it has not.  And as long as he is eating, drinking, purring and hissing at the other cats (as usual) I don't want to jump the gun.  I am hoping he will give me a sign when it is time.  This is the first time I have been in this situation and I am having a really tough time.  

Any advice?

Nothing ever makes it any easier to say goodbye, but you'll know. Your cat will let you know by stopping eating and being unable to get around and to the litter box. His eyes will tell you by the way he looks at you. The pain shots will no longer help. When these things happen for more than a day at a time you will know it's time.

What a beautiful cat!

He is such a beautiful boy. I am sorry for the awful illness he has

I am sorry your going through tough times like this, it's heartbreaking, my heart goes out to you.

Sending prayers for you and your baby.

(((Hugs)))

Ps. He is a beautiful cat.

What a sweet looking boy, I'm so sorry this had to happen. Thinking good thoughts for all of you. 

He really will let you know when it is time.  Until then, just...love him like you do.  Be sure that both of you are in my thoughts and my prayers.

This is awful, I'm so sorry you are going through this. I have too much experience with incompetent vets, it just makes me so angry to hear these stories of vets making cats sick or sicker or not being as thorough as they should. Please try to enjoy all the time you have left with him - it will allow him to relax and experience your love fully at a time when you both probably need it most.

Once again, I appreciate all the advice and condolences.  Squeak went to the Rainbow Bridge yesterday evening. And you were right.  Yesterday morning he managed to drag himself into the kitchen, sat down and meowed a meow I had never heard before.  He eyes were sad and I knew it was time.  It was particularly hard on my daughter, who is away at college.  We were hoping he could last until she got home next week, but it was not to be. As sad as she is, she understands that we had to do what was best for Squeak.

I know I will always miss him, and look forward to seeing him again at the bridge.

I thank each and every one of you for all you kindness.  

I hope everyone has a joyous Christmas.  

Julie

Julie, I am so sorry. 

((((hugs)))))

I'm so sorry it happened this soon. I had hoped Squeak might make it through Christmas, but it's best you didn't let him suffer. You took excellent care of him, and he knew that as well. He came to find you and let you know he needed your help. That's what mine have done.

A joyous Christmas to you, too, and thank you for sharing with us.