Cat Won't Walk...Other Issues

catwoman707

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Just want to jump in here and add my two cents, I would be pretty sure this is all due to the depo and/or vaccines.

Typical reaction they mention happens shortly after the shots given, which is swelling, lethargy, etc but this being delayed is not the type of reaction that's common, but it does happen.

I honestly don't know what advice to give except that if it was the depo, at least his system will work it out soon.

I do want to ask you why you are getting them vaccinated yearly?

Unless it is mandatory for your state I'd be done with vaccines for them, they don't need fvrcp anymore. I'm not fond of annual rabies vacs either.
 
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unfable

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This all started because Zep eats the Purina UR dry cat food due to his urinary blockage years ago. The vet is the only place I know to buy it and when I went this last time to get it, they basically forced my hand.

She said "I can't sell you this anymore unless you get your cats updated on their shots because its prescription."

I'm so mad. All of this could have been avoided and I wouldn't currently have over 600 dollars on my care credit in vet bills.

Is it possible to buy this food elsewhere? Also if this was side effects due to his vaccines what treatment options should be given? Or is it really just a waiting game?
 
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unfable

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They called and said he's used the litter box twice since on the fluids and present no urinary problems. He's putting and loving on the doctors. Said he's still not really eating, but I think that may be stress of being there? Because even at home he still ate some. They also said he still hurts when picked up. Like muscle pain. What could cause muscle pain for a week? Can Depo have side effects with this happen a week later and last over a week?
 
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unfable

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Zep came home and was acting like his old self until I gave him his pain medicine. They still wanted him on the bupren in case he had pain, but I hate the way it makes him act. He looks high out of mind and unsure of what a going on. Please tell me by morning this will be out of his system? I really don't want him on it anymore if he was back to his old self and this is making him a lazy weirded out little guy. I do have to keep him on his antibiotics for 3 weeks.
 

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Zep came home and was acting like his old self until I gave him his pain medicine. They still wanted him on the bupren in case he had pain, but I hate the way it makes him act. He looks high out of mind and unsure of what a going on. Please tell me by morning this will be out of his system? I really don't want him on it anymore if he was back to his old self and this is making him a lazy weirded out little guy. I do have to keep him on his antibiotics for 3 weeks.
@Unfable    ...I totally agree with you, about the Buprenorphine.

I believe it takes 6 hours to get out of his system.

(It seemed to help my rainbow CKD cat with pain, but caused his one eye pupil to enlarge, while keeping the other one small. Like a blown eye pupil. That totally freaked me out. The ER vet said, that it was not common, ...'yeah, right') I think it's just too strong of a painkiller.

Plus, Zep might be more sensitive to medications.

I'm glad that at least Zep is home, and was acting like his old self.
 

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So did they give you a diagnosis?

Did Zep begin to eat again while at home?
 

catwoman707

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This all started because Zep eats the Purina UR dry cat food due to his urinary blockage years ago. The vet is the only place I know to buy it and when I went this last time to get it, they basically forced my hand.

She said "I can't sell you this anymore unless you get your cats updated on their shots because its prescription."

I'm so mad. All of this could have been avoided and I wouldn't currently have over 600 dollars on my care credit in vet bills.

Is it possible to buy this food elsewhere? Also if this was side effects due to his vaccines what treatment options should be given? Or is it really just a waiting game?
You can find this food in many stores.

Also, having a cat rescue, I deal with vets who are 'on board' with a rescue, and support the mission and hard work of it, and being a non profit have to monitor what is spent.

I had one of my fave vets tell me once that ANY brand of dry that helps control UTI's contains the specific ingredients as the higher costing ones, this includes prescription dry.

It is formulated to reduce PH and provide low magnesium, reducing the odds of getting another UTI.

What state are you in if you don't mind?
 
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unfable

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Yeah his pupils dilate like crazy when he's on it. There is almost no color. After a bit he got up and played with a string and was acting hyper. Maybe still due to the drug. They never found out what was wrong. His blood and urine were fine. She has me going back to the emergency vet actually to get his blood to keep in case something comes up. That way it can be tested without all the drugs and antibiotics. She also did an x ray. Said nothing was weird and he had poop in his intestines which means he was still eating just enough. She also mentioned he has a small liver? Apparently it's no cause of concern and looked fine she just rarely sees that.

I live in North Carolina. I know we have laws with the rabies shot, just seemed weird I'm forced to have that for some cat food. He really does need it. Last time I tried to move him back to something else a little cheaper he started showing early signs of his bladder issues. He's always been great with his Purina UR. Never had a problem. If somewhere like petsmart sells it ill be going There from now on.

The only good thing to come of this is everyone saying how much they loved Zep at the vet. That he's one of the calmest cats they've worked with and he loved to give then all attention and headbutts. Which I think helped s little with their concern for his health and honestly tried their best to figure things out.
 

catwoman707

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To start with, if this were me, no more fvrcp vaccines, they have already been given more than enough if they've received it annually.

Ever.

While NC requires rabies vaccines, I would either request your vet add in records of your cat that after rabies was given there were severe issues, possibly side effects.

Exceptions for animals who react adversely are done all the time.

If she will not, then just don't go to the vet unless needed. It can be many years before then, so at least it will allow a break for their systems.

I can understand better for dogs, plus it's required for licensing, but indoor cats?! Crazy to require an annual.

The third possibility is, before this kitty ever gets another rabies vaccine, a titer test can be done to see that he is still fully protected, and I can guarantee he will be. It lasts many, many years, a lifetime.

I sure wish AAVMA would get with the times and all of the latest findings rather than standing solid on the old and overvaccinating protocols. 


It's just plain unhealthy to continuously inject this garbage in to them.
 

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Yeah his pupils dilate like crazy when he's on it. There is almost no color. After a bit he got up and played with a string and was acting hyper. Maybe still due to the drug. They never found out what was wrong. His blood and urine were fine. She has me going back to the emergency vet actually to get his blood to keep in case something comes up. That way it can be tested without all the drugs and antibiotics. She also did an x ray. Said nothing was weird and he had poop in his intestines which means he was still eating just enough. She also mentioned he has a small liver? Apparently it's no cause of concern and looked fine she just rarely sees that.

I live in North Carolina. I know we have laws with the rabies shot, just seemed weird I'm forced to have that for some cat food. He really does need it. Last time I tried to move him back to something else a little cheaper he started showing early signs of his bladder issues. He's always been great with his Purina UR. Never had a problem. If somewhere like petsmart sells it ill be going There from now on.

The only good thing to come of this is everyone saying how much they loved Zep at the vet. That he's one of the calmest cats they've worked with and he loved to give then all attention and headbutts. Which I think helped s little with their concern for his health and honestly tried their best to figure things out.
For the food, I think you can buy it online, or in stores...petsmart....but still need a Vet prescription.

(That is so unfair.  But if it is much cheaper, then your Vet should either price match, or give you the written prescription, or fax it.

One of my Vets will do this with certain cat meds, that are cheaper at regular people pharmacies,...since I tell them I have multiple animals and need to budget my money.)

Is this the food?

https://www.chewy.com/purina-pro-plan-veterinary-diets-ur/dp/49835

https://www.petsmart.com/cat/food-a...ood---ur-urinary-st/ox-38701.html?cgid=200001

Wet can version of this food?

https://www.chewy.com/purina-pro-plan-veterinary-diets-ur/dp/49836

(We also have laws here in ontario, canada, which require rabies shots annually. I'm just not sure if the other ones are required.

Our Vet actually told me that it's more to protect the cat from catching something at the clinic, if they have to stay there for procedures, and being able to rule out diseases, too.

Plus my cats are indoor/outdoor, so need the feline leukemia vaccination, too.)

@Unfable...I really feel for you, that you and Zep had to go through all this.

But you are an amazing cat guardian, and this incident could have happened to any cat.

I think that the Depo shot, did indeed cause the problems, but I could not find any 'scientific information' online, that actually explained it.

Too many people online, noted bad reactions to it, for both cats and dogs. So it's very strange that nothing was mentioned, for possible treatment of lethargy.

In the future, I think that you should NOT give any Depo Medrol injections to Zep, and definitely have them MARK this on his chart, or even mark it on his cat carrier.

The problem with this steroid shot, is that it stays in the system, too long...like you said...2-4 weeks, and is slow-release, like @darkhorse321 mentioned, so that if problems happen, the only thing  was waiting until the medication clears from the system.

(I am not too happy with any long term injections, now, either. Even though, my previous cat did get an antibiotic injection that lasted 14 days. I think that I would now opt for the daily liquid, pills, or dermal meds.)

You know, though, that your first photo of Zep, at the Vets, after the shots...kind of looked like he wanted to go back and give the Vet a couple of shots, too.


So glad that Zep did not hold grudges, and was loving everyone at the Vet's place.

I'm not sure I'd have been that calm.

He looks like an amazing cat.
 
 
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catwoman707

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I agree it was probably the depo shot, rabies is capable of this delayed reaction thing too.

@Red Top Rescue  can vouch for that, regarding the depo.

Also great advice regarding the food, if she won't match that price then she can give you a prescrip for it.

Vet likely charges much more too.
 

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To start with, if this were me, no more fvrcp vaccines, they have already been given more than enough if they've received it annually.

Ever.

While NC requires rabies vaccines, I would either request your vet add in records of your cat that after rabies was given there were severe issues, possibly side effects.

Exceptions for animals who react adversely are done all the time.

If she will not, then just don't go to the vet unless needed. It can be many years before then, so at least it will allow a break for their systems.

I can understand better for dogs, plus it's required for licensing, but indoor cats?! Crazy to require an annual.

The third possibility is, before this kitty ever gets another rabies vaccine, a titer test can be done to see that he is still fully protected, and I can guarantee he will be. It lasts many, many years, a lifetime.

I sure wish AAVMA would get with the times and all of the latest findings rather than standing solid on the old and overvaccinating protocols. 


It's just plain unhealthy to continuously inject this garbage in to them.
That is very interesting @catwoman707.

Because Zep is 6 years old, and had no previous bad reactions to the vaccines,...my thinking was that it was the Depo Medrol, or because it was given at the exact same day, as the vaccines.

But you have seen more, in your rescue experience.

So California, does not require yearly, or every three year vaccination for cats? Or rabies shots?

(I'm going to have to read more about the over-vaccination protocols.)

Thank you for the info about doing the "titer tests".
 

catwoman707

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Yes, thankfully California does not require cats to be vaccinated against rabies.

Dogs need a rabies vacs for their license though.

There is no law requiring fvrcp vaccines, only recommendations.

I've learned from UC Davis experts Dr. Niels Pederson and Dr. Kate Hurley that core vaccines which are mandatory in my book as well, gives lifetime protection.

We were thrilled when AAVMA finally changed up from recommending yearly to every 3 yrs, it's at least a start.........
 

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Yes, thankfully California does not require cats to be vaccinated against rabies.

Dogs need a rabies vacs for their license though.

There is no law requiring fvrcp vaccines, only recommendations.

I've learned from UC Davis experts Dr. Niels Pederson and Dr. Kate Hurley that core vaccines which are mandatory in my book as well, gives lifetime protection.

We were thrilled when AAVMA finally changed up from recommending yearly to every 3 yrs, it's at least a start.........
Thanks for the info about California, and the core vaccines.

I do vaguely remember reading about a Vet in Vancouver, who also 'only recommended 3 year vaccines'.

She was probably not very popular in the canadian vet crowd.

It's kind of interesting how some Vets try to cover things up, when things go wrong.

Why not just tell the clients, all the latest findings, or possible 'side effects'...like regular pharmacies do?

I know that each cat is different, and will not react the same way, to every medication. Side effects are different for every animal.

But still, it seems that both the ER vet, and regular vet, dropped the ball, here.

I'm beginning to think that good Vets are hard to find. (or end up moving away.)


~~mumbles about darn vets, now~~
 

catwoman707

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I couldn't agree more.

There are many, many vets out there who just aren't made of what we hope they are for our beloved pets.

It's like a hairdresser.

They are all licensed, but some are super good, they really 'get' it, while others don't listen and just want to get the job done and make the money.

lol silly example but you know what I mean.

It has to come from the heart, a genuine compassion for every living being.

I feel the same, good vets are hard to find.
 
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