1 year old cat with back leg weakness & trouble jumping

[promspleen]

My beautiful girl has been through a lot. I got her and two siblings just about a year ago, they were rescues someone dumped in the park. Lady Hawke had a terrible eye infection and we had to have her eye removed, she came through that like a champ. She leapt and played and dominated her sisters and was a dare devil until about the end of December.

One night she was oddly staring at me by the couch asking to be lifted up. I then noticed more and more as her back legs become less mobile. She still got around but then was taking small steps and resting and walking lower on her haunches, like a low scurry. I took her to the vet they assumed she had hurt herself and gave her a round of anti inflammatory meds. This did not help and she went back after the 2 weeks, she was later given steroids. It cleared up and she was walking and jumping so we went on with our lives.

Cut to February and it was back, she went back to the vet who said give her the meds and ween her off. We did she got better then it came back, so March she went back. She had an X-ray with revealed nothing and blood drawn that came back normal. He said to try the steroids one more time but try to cut the dose less and less. So I did I was at one dose a week, she was ok but not perfect but now it is back in full force maybe worse.

She had a run in with a hairball and vomiting, so much that she vomited a little bit of blood and was taken to the ER vet. They did another X-ray this was about 2-3 weeks after her last one. They saw nothing unusual and thought perhaps she had a foreign object that was passed into the colon so no blockage of any kind and she would be fine. i asked about her legs but they didn't mention it after they brought her back outside.

She is doing great now except for this leg issue. They had mentioned perhaps it was a blood clot that was hitting a nerve in her back, saddle thrombosis. I googled that and this doesn’t sound like her, they never mentioned an enlarged heart or anything to suggest she had heart disease. Her feet are warm, her legs bend and move, she feels them and present no pain. She is HAPPY like SOOO happy and cute, interacts with me and her siblings. Totally fine otherwise.

I have bought her stairs to get to the bed and the couch but no one has any answers on what to do to help her. I am calling our vet tomorrow to discuss any info or if there is something I should be doing ie; massaging her legs, anything like that.

When I read about the saddle thrombosis it says a cat without heart disease can live 223 some days on average. Is my beautiful baby going to die from this? her siblings will be distraught and I shake my fist at the sky and say what more can she take. She’s been dumped, sick, had her eye out what more?! I am completely beside myself on what to do to help her thrive.

 

[kittenmittens84]

When it came back did it come back all at once or did the weakness appear gradually and get worse as time went on?

 

[promspleen]

She has gotten worse as the past few weeks went on now that we don’t have the steroids to boost her out of it. The vomiting episode had me so worried but the ER vet didn’t say anything to connect the two things. I feel like they were too busy to really check, they did her exam and X-rays. We got there at 3:30 am and went home at 6:30. I might try to call that Dr. again. But I also will be contacting our regular vet. Maybe she’s laying down because she’s in pain she walks a little/takes a few low steps and lays down. Maybe she is in pain and putting on a brave face? I wish I knew. When I touch and moved her legs around she is a purring love. So it makes me sad she’s such a loving creature and it makes me sad she can’t run, jump and play with her sister.

Also to note in November I had gotten a very bad bacterial infection. I’d also been have terrible body/joint pains. I asked it this was possibly connected if I gave it to her. The vet said since she responded to the steroid that it wasn’t. Especially now I guess I know since her bloodwork was completely normal. I’m just grasping for straws here.

 

[jefferd18]

She has gotten worse as the past few weeks went on now that we don’t have the steroids to boost her out of it. The vomiting episode had me so worried but the ER vet didn’t say anything to connect the two things. I feel like they were too busy to really check, they did her exam and X-rays. We got there at 3:30 am and went home at 6:30. I might try to call that Dr. again. But I also will be contacting our regular vet. Maybe she’s laying down because she’s in pain she walks a little/takes a few low steps and lays down. Maybe she is in pain and putting on a brave face? I wish I knew. When I touch and moved her legs around she is a purring love. So it makes me sad she’s such a loving creature and it makes me sad she can’t run, jump and play with her sister.

Also to note in November I had gotten a very bad bacterial infection. I’d also been have terrible body/joint pains. I asked it this was possibly connected if I gave it to her. The vet said since she responded to the steroid that it wasn’t. Especially now I guess I know since her bloodwork was completely normal. I’m just grasping for straws here.

Okay, you are going to have to be a bit more forceful when advocating for her because these vets sound like they really need to pushed in diagnosing the problem. She could have a tumor pressing on her spine or brain, she could have a nerve pressing on the spine as well. She could be dealing with a bacteria or fungal infection or even an inner ear problem.

I am hesitant about saddle thrombosis because that usually comes on very quickly and she is not howling or panting.

 

[Jcatbird]

We all grasp at straws when looking for answers. There are so many possible answers here. Any chance of a back injury? Anything fall that could have hit her back? Were X-rays done of back and hips? Hi problems happen fairly often. I have a me who started doing what you describe. The vet I took him too suggested euthanasia! I took him to another vet and after surgery for a dislocated hip, he has lived a comfortable and happy life for the past eight years! I was the one who though it was a dislocation at first so go ahead and grab those straws! Sometimes our gut instinct is right!
Diabetes been checked? Are they giving anticoagulants to prevent further blood clots if they thing it is thrombosis? Any evidence of heart problems? What about kidney issues? I know you said blood work was okay but checking for specific things can mean other blood tests.
Did they try pain meds? What about muscle problems? Is kitty well hydrated? When you lift her skin does it snap right back or is it slow to settle? If slow, hydration is a problem and could be a clue for your vet. Dehydration can cause muscle spasms too. Very uncomfortable, especially in the legs. Don’t give up. Follow your instincts and ask what could be done to specifically check for bacterial problems. Have antibiotics been given? I can think of dozens of questions I would want answered. Keep putting the pieces of the puzzle together. You may find an answer to get kitty back to being comfortable again. If all else leaves her still struggling, there are back wheels for kitties that still want to purr and play. That gives support and eases discomfort. I know she may be a bit young but even arthritis is possible. Since she was abandoned, you don’t know what trauma she may have experienced before you saved her. Hang in there and keep exploring the possibilities. Our hopes are with you. Please keep us updated.

 

[promspleen]

I “fostered” her and her 2 siblings since they were about 6 weeks old. They played and got around. Had some respiratory and eye issue that were cleared up. They were de-wormed They gave her pain meds after her eye surgery (mid August) I was careful with those. She played even with those stitches and you’d never know she only had 1 eye with how she got around.

We had 2 separate xrays done May 22 and then another June 9 revealing nothing abnormal. Bloodwork in May with nothing abnormal. We gave the anti inflammatory after the 1 occurrence Dec/Jan with no result. They had originally thought back injury. She was a high jumper she could’ve fell. But again no pain.

They said it wasn’t bacterial cuz she responded to the steroid and if it was bacterial she would’ve gotten worse.

They thought it could be a pinched nerve but from what. If X-rays reveal nothing I assume they saw her hips as well he said everything looked fine thus the thrombosis guess I think he’s grasping for straws too—but she needs help. It’s baffling.

I’m just going to keep being super pushy maybe I can try the antibiotics and see. I thought to try cosequin for joints. As that helped my elderly cat in the past. But Lady Hawke is only 1 year old last week.

I’m just going to ask both vets about the hips and what was in the X-ray. Just keep pushing for answers.

Thank you all for the tips and suggestions. I’ll keep you posted.

 

[promspleen]

I forgot to mention she’s eating and drinking normally INSTINCT grain free. I use natural litter. She had fluids on the 9th. They checked diabetes and her blood cane back normal. No elevated kidney etc. I bought her steps to get up onto the furniture. And believe me if it comes to it she’s getting wheels. Sorry downstairs neighbor.

 

[promspleen]

Her in the past 3 days.

 

[Jcatbird]

All cute and stuff to the max! She looks so sweet! I had a cat who lost an eye to infection too. They are so tough and adjust beautifully to things like that. She might enjoy free wheeling! At least for relief when needed. Maybe just giving her legs some support for healing time could be the trick. Strains and back injuries can heal with support but without it, they can continue. I speak from human, personal experience. I was paralyzed from the waist down and now I can run and jump again. Never give up.

 

[kittenmittens84]

I forgot to mention she’s eating and drinking normally INSTINCT grain free. I use natural litter. She had fluids on the 9th. They checked diabetes and her blood cane back normal. No elevated kidney etc. I bought her steps to get up onto the furniture. And believe me if it comes to it she’s getting wheels. Sorry downstairs neighbor.

Progressive back leg weakness and trouble jumping in a one year old cat makes my FIP alarms go off so that’s what I was going to ask about, but if all of the bloodwork came back completely normal then that seems unlikely...

 

[jefferd18]

Can you please keep us informed- we truly care.

 

[promspleen]

Ok so after a few calls to my regular vet and the ER vet we saw for her stomach issues. Both agree they do not think saddle thrombosis but thought I should see a specialist. I was booked for this past Wednesday. They booked us with a orthopedic Dr. He thought she should see a neurologist. She wasn’t available til next week. But he felt my pain and asked her to check out Lady Hawke in between her appointments. She believes it could be spinal/vertebrae (lower L4 to base of her spine) they are doing an MRI this Tuesday to see 100%. For now she is not walking at all but able to pivot and drag herself a bit. She can move her legs to wash and sorta play kick but nothing weight bearing. She is finally going to the bathroom in her box (I place her in it every few hours) today she chirped at me and I placed her in and she went right away. She is still playful and purring. I’m sure frustrated but she’s hanging in. Her regular vet gave her gabapentin. The ER vet made sure to give her antibiotics and laxatives to aid her in her bathroom issues that have come up. I am glad I spoke to another Dr. in our vets office who originally gave her the anti inflammatory. He could’ve been right the whole time. I wish they didn’t switch her Dr. but moving forward he will see all the babies. I will write back more when I know. Thank you for all the caring and helpful. responses