Osteogenesis Imperfecta

cathyy

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Hi,
Thanks, I'll check into it. I have to take her back next week just for a recheck. I'll ask then. Cathy
 

tofuluv

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These posts are older but hopefully you're all still out there reading this. I have a cat Lucy who will be 2 in April. She was diagnosed with this after a failed surgery. She had a very rare calcaneal fracture which they tried to correct with pins. Obviously the pins bent and the surgery failed and she now has quite a limp. After being in a kennel on and off for some time, it was time to let her out fully. After a month, both ankles swelled badly and back to the vet she went for more x-rays. At this point the specialist realized what it was but could offer no solutions other than kenneling and calcium supplementation. For follow ups, Lucy has been seeing her regular vet. She has developed open wounds on the bottom of both ankles from the way she walks. No amount of bandaging/kenneling is making them heal. She is otherwise fully healthy and happy, eating a fresh diet and receiving bonemeal powder and organic eggshell powder. She runs, plays, purrs, and is amazingly tolerant of all she has been through. The current vet recommended euthanasia since the wounds won't heal. This is not an option and I feel it really sells Lucy short. I understand it is rare and difficult and frustrating but if we could just get past this one hurdle she would have a great chance at a normal life. It is so amazing to FINALLY find people who have dealt with this. Any ideas that you may have about wound healing would be so helpful. Thanks.
 
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sassyfras

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Yup, Redd & I are still out here in cyberspace, even though I don't post much. FWIW, she will be 6 in April and is doing wonderfully. She seems to have "outgrown" things to a degree-she still has OI, as it is genetic, but she doesn't break nearly as often, and her deformation seems to have stabilized. She doesn't exactly have a limp, but she doesn't walk normally, either. Her front legs curve outward ever so slightly, and she has lost some flexibility in them due to her past breaks. She walks with her front end kind of low and her back end kind of high up. It doesn't look normal, but it gets her where she wants to go.

She has a very good quality of life overall. She can't jump like other cats can, i.e., no sneaking on the counters to snatch treats! She can, however, run like a little demon to chase the laser pen or to get a treat, and she definitely knows how to get her way. The biggest problem we have right now is that she can get very constipated
due to the deformation of her pelvis, but we've found a way to manage that. So, based on my experience with a little OI kitty, I fully understand your belief that euthanasia is not an option.

I am afraid I do not, however, have any advice concerning what to do about the wounds.
Redd has never gotten anything like that. The best I can do is to let you know that my vet, without whom I am sure Redd would no longer be with us, does phone consults. Let me know if you want her contact info-as I mentioned in my earlier posts, she is familiar with the disease, and I cannot speak highly enough of her.

Good luck with Lucy, and reply to this if you want me to send you info about my vet.
 

hissy

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I would contact a wound specialist. I know when one of my horses jammed his leg and his leg wound wasn't healing, I consulted a specialist who told me a special mixture that included raw honey- straight from the beekeeper honey not the type you buy in stores. I made this sticky mixture for 3 weeks, slathering it on once a day, and the wound healed and the leg came together again. But obviously, horses are not cats. I would consult a vet school near you, or contact Tufts University and see if they can help.

BTW Kenai was euthanized late last year. We miss her alot, but she was in so much pain at the end, that we realized, the only reason she was still alive was because of US. When we put her down, the vet was relieved, because it was clearly time.
 
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sassyfras

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Hissy, I just wanted to let you know that I was sorry to hear about Kenai.
How old was she?
 

hissy

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She was 8 years old, and although she did not live long enough. She did live well. I miss her so much.
 
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sassyfras

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Again, I am very, very sorry to learn of your loss. However, I understand what a testament it is to your good care and devotion that she lived that long-8 years strikes me as a very long life for an OI doggy. I also fully understand what you mean when you say it wasn't nearly long enough. Each year on Redd's birthday, I pray that she will make it to the next, and I just don't let myself think beyond that. Although she is doing very well these days, I am all too aware of what a fragile little creature she is.

If you do not mind talking about it, what happened? Was there a particular break that led to your losing her, or did she just start to decline-i.e., start breaking more, or was it something else? I really don't want to make you relive the experience if it's too painful, but I haven't found anyone else w/ an OI pet (besides tofuluv), and I am anxious to learn what I can.
 

tofuluv

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Thank you all for the info. Yes I would love your vet contact info. I had heard about raw honey and also goldenseal paste and will try both when the bandages come off this week. I really needed some encouragement so this is all very helpful. The vets at Cornell and Penn have started e-mailing me back so I'll pass on any info I get. One vet recommended Calcitriol....has anyone heard of this? Thanks again.
 

hissy

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She was deteriorating quickly. Happy in the mornings but by afternoons she could not move. We seriously kept her alive longer than we should have. I was using all sorts of supplements on her, she had holistic measures as well as shark cartilege treats daily.
 
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sassyfras

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Tofuluv, I sent you a pm. Let me know if you get it-I am never certain of my ability to do such things. . .
 

purrpaws

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Hissy,

I, too, am sorry to hear about your beatiful doggy.

I am wondering if a cat (especially a small one like Redd) can live longer than a human or large dog with OI, just because a cat weighs less, so less stress on the bones.
 

tofuluv

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I have been in contact with two new vets about Lucy and two more to contact yet. The specialists at U Penn and Cornell both think that it does not sound like OI. The vet at U Penn is looking at her x-rays and samples free of charge so that should provide some more insight. Lucy's latest x-rays show rapid deterioration of the bones in her ankles but all other bones look perfect. Encouraging but also puzzling. Does anyone have any experience with other bone diseases that this could possibly be? Lucy's bandages are off now but the wounds are still pretty rough. She is generally in good spirits though. I am sorry to hear about the losses that some of you have been through with OI. I will keep sharing any new info I find. Thanks
 

shorty14788

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I am desperate to find soneone who can help me. So far I have been to specialists (two of them), and had 5 or 6 other vets try to diagnois my cat but no one seems to know whats wrong with him. All of his blood work is normal and his x-rays only show a slight decrease in bone density but he keeps breaking his bones. He has so far broken his left leg once, his right leg twice, his calcaneus (heel) once and he had an old fracture of his tail when I got him. I am really hoping to find someone out there who can give me a real diagnosis. He just celebrated his 2nd birthday with both of his back legs broken. His right leg has pins and wires in it holding it together. Its killing me not knowing if this is something i will be dealing with for the rest of his life, or if it is something treatable that i could be fixing if someone could tell me what it was. He is currently on vitamins, sea flex (a glucosamine supplement), and metacam for the pain. He's been basically living in a crate since late last november because everytime he gets better and we let him out something else breaks. I have had several vets mention the option of putting him down but he is the happiest cat i know. He sat in my arms purring with two broken legs. How can you really give up on that kind of happiness and determination.
If anyone could please recommend a vet or give me there number or email so i could send them information about my cat i would appreciate it greatly.
My heart goes out to you all. It is because of you that your animals will or have had great lives. Many would have given up on them long ago. I KNOW I work at a vets office oddly enough. You would not believe how many people try to put there pets down for stupid reasons. (urinating in the house, they lick themselves to much, there old) The world would be a much better place with more people like you!!!! <3
 

tofuluv

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Hello. I know the feeling of frustration and helplessness and I feel for you. My Lucy is doing much better now. No more breaks except for the initial calcaneal fracture. She is incredibly active but still has to wear an e-collar. Due to her limp, she forms wounds on the bottom of her feet. Since osteogenesis is partly a problem with collagen production, new tissue doesn't form properly. The wounds have shrank a lot but when I take the collar off she tears her feet up. But she's adapted well and has gained weight back and in all other respects is healthy. Her other ankle started deteriorating though not due to a break. Probably from the disease, the stress of the extra pressure, and lack of muscle use the 4 months she was in a kennel. I've gotten so many different opinions from so many different vets all over the US (I'll send you contact info). Her surgeon and her primary vet both feel that it is osteogenesis. All other vets disagree from viewing her x-rays. I do know that she has only had one break and that her teeth are perfect, both contrary to the disease. I feed her organic meat and lots of supplements (bone meal, organic eggshells, collagen, calcium treats, glucosamine treats etc.) She hasn't been on any meds for months and seems much better without them. sorry for the longwinded reply but hopefully some of this will be useful. Please contact me if you have any other questions. My primary vet also wanted me to put her down but that was not the answer for me. And now she is doing so well and is so happy...hang in there.
 
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sassyfras

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I just sent you a pm with my vet's contact info. Please let me know if you get it, as I'm never sure I've gotten these things right.

The most important thing I can think of to tell you is don't give up-kitties w/ OI can live a happy life, as is evidenced by Redd. She is still going strong at the age of 6, thanks to her wonderful vet. I can also tell you that I was advised against crating her, decided not to do so, and we've all been happy with the results. Unfortunately, OI patients are going to break when they're going to break, whether they're confined or not. So, we just decided to let Redd do her thing and deal with the breaks when they happen. The one big concession that we make to her OI status is that she stays in our bedroom when we're not there. It's a pretty big room, and she sometimes doesn't want to come out of it when we try to get her to come out and be social with the rest of the kitties. She thinks she's above them, anyway.


Redd is also on SeaFlex treats, and they seem to help her. They also have helped our older cat who was getting arthritic, in case anyone reading this has a cat with that problem.

Fair warning to you and tofuluv both: The biggest problem that Redd has had for the past 3-4 years is, um, constipation,
which is quite common amongst OI patients. Her bones are soft, and her pelvic bones have collapsed, causing her pelvis to be oval-shaped, rather than round. This is very manageable with a mixture of the proper food (high quality canned food w/o rice-there aren't ), milk, lactulose (prescription laxative), and a powdered fiber supplement. Making her food is a bit of a production, but she's worth it. The good news is that she hasn't had a bad break for at least 3 years now.

Again, good luck, and hang in there.
 

shorty14788

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We took more xrays of Neville today to see how his back legs are healing. The bad news is they aren't. And his bone desity through out his legs is decreasing. Mostly at the ends of his bones. Has anyone ever had an animal with OI that their bones didn't seem to want to heal? Every day that passes it's looking more and more like OI. I just wish there was something I could do for him. Do you have any suggstions as to what kind of food or vitamins or ANYTHING I could give him to maybe help him in some way?
I'm just really nervous. I know its not a death sentance but it will be a HARD life for him and me. I knew when i got him that he had some kinda problem but I just never imagined something like this.

He's just such a GREAT and happy cat. Please help me with my little guy!
I hope I can be as stong as all of you are. Thank you ALL for all of your help and support!
 

tofuluv

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Yes Lucy's bones never healed either. She had surgery with pins and all but it didn't take (the vet said he had never seen this before, esp. in a kenneled animal). I would keep giving Neville the same supplements but also think about a few types of calcium from different sources (bone meal, crushed eggshells etc.). Most research i've read says the rawer the food is, the better. but it has to be supplemented with bonemeal. Dr. Pitcairn's Complete guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats is a great resource for food and supplement ideas if you can find it. Don't give up..good luck.
 
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sassyfras

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I have not experienced that particular problem, so I can't tell you how to treat it, but I just wanted to express my support. Hang in there!

Raw foods are great if you can get him to eat them. (HRH Redd refuses to do so). I also think you are better off w/ a commercially prepared raw food, like AFS patties, as these foods have all the vitamins that are needed. You can prepare the food yourself, but make sure to have a good recipe so that your little guy is getting all of his nutrients. These foods are sold frozen. My holistic vet sells them, so I guess other holistic vets would, too...

Good luck and hang in there!!
 
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