Ok I am not a vet, but to expect and animal to recover from something this traumatic in a span of few days seems very unrealistic. He is eating and has made some improvement. I hope the little guy can prove the vet wrong.
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Kitten who can't move
- Thread starter jennyrosalie
- Start Date
Hmmm... I don't know that paresis would be irreversible. Especially since there has been some improvement.
What!!!
I do not understand.....
too much knowledge and too many Vets can be confusing.............
I would try another week and see if and how he improves... it has not even been an entire week....
give Reeves a chance....
I am still feeling positive...
Could I please ask you why you took him in for a third opinion?
I am thinking the 2nd Vet was more assuring..as was the first...
I am going to page @catwoman707 to see how she feels about this...
I do not understand.....
too much knowledge and too many Vets can be confusing.............
I would try another week and see if and how he improves... it has not even been an entire week....
give Reeves a chance....
I am still feeling positive...
Could I please ask you why you took him in for a third opinion?
I am thinking the 2nd Vet was more assuring..as was the first...
I am going to page @catwoman707 to see how she feels about this...
Please DO NOT GIVE UP on Reese!!!!
Did a quick look up of Paresis......do not believe that is the diagnosis...
I am Furious....can you tell..
PM me if you really want to know how I feel about this Vet....
Did a quick look up of Paresis......do not believe that is the diagnosis...
I am Furious....can you tell..
PM me if you really want to know how I feel about this Vet....
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I would go to a different vet for sure.. is there any feline only specialists around you?
I am rooting for Reeves!
I am rooting for Reeves!
I just don't register pain on that face. Did he offer some anti inflammatory or steroids, pain medication. None of those are particularly expensive. If he is willing to eat and drink and you can help him eliminate I would go another week. But we all understand that being the person up close and personal only you can make what you think is the best decision.
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I'm saddened but I'm not giving up on him! I'll post longer later I'm currently at an appointment but I don't want yall to worry! I'm not giving up on my boy!
I just looked up paresis in cats on PetMD. No where does it say that paralysis is permanent. In fact, it says cats can recover quite quickly. I think this last vet just didn't want to bother with him. Go back to one of the first vets you went to and work with them. You've still got a few days until Friday, and as others have said, expecting results too quickly is unrealistic. Don't give up on him yet - not until you, the person caring for him, think there's just no future.
There are sadly a LOT of vets out there that underestimate the lengths that one will go to in order to help a pet that truly does have a chance. Perhaps because so many just won't, or in some cases can't. But to not even offer the option to help? Now THAT saddens me.The vet we saw tonight said to put him to sleep and that he won't get better if he hasn't in a week. He feels pain in every leg and he said he isn't paralyzed it's called pareesus? Or something where he feels pain and stretches but the legs don't work. He also said the muscles in his back legs are already gone.
I've seen cats that are miserable, and/or in pain. Reeves does NOT look like either of those.
I've often said that eating so often represents life as far as cats are concerned. This is no different. I see a lot of life in this little guy.
I just read this thread. I am glad you are not giving up. Muscles will atropy without use, but are there little exercises you can do with them? I have no experience with paralized cats, but I worked my dad through 2 strokes. I took time off work during his PT times and learned what I needed to work on and when he wasnt in PT I did the work. Well worth the effort to try. He is a beautiful kitten.
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I'm so glad you aren't giving up.
Is there any possibility (can experts weigh in?) that the shaking did not cause the paralysis? But instead could he have already been this way through ingestion or injury, and that's why he was caught?
I'm as desperate for answers as almost everyone save the op. As a kid, we found a young neighborhood stray in similar straits. He did recover but it took about a week for him to walk normally. The vet thought he was caught in a fan belt, but we had a kid in the neighborhood who liked to torture kittens, so I've always kinda wondered.
Sending prayers he can get better. The fact he was able to squirm earlier to he comfy sounded good, in my opinion.
Is there any possibility (can experts weigh in?) that the shaking did not cause the paralysis? But instead could he have already been this way through ingestion or injury, and that's why he was caught?
I'm as desperate for answers as almost everyone save the op. As a kid, we found a young neighborhood stray in similar straits. He did recover but it took about a week for him to walk normally. The vet thought he was caught in a fan belt, but we had a kid in the neighborhood who liked to torture kittens, so I've always kinda wondered.
Sending prayers he can get better. The fact he was able to squirm earlier to he comfy sounded good, in my opinion.
Muscles do atrophy from lack of use, but it takes more than a week, many weeks in fact. I'm not too sure about that vet.
Well I'm sorry you had such a negative vet telling you there is no chance and to pts.
I've dealt with vets like that before, once is all it takes and I never will go back.
So he actually gave kitten a full on exam and determined he is never going to recover? How did he come to this conclusion?
No mention that several things can cause temporary paralysis?
Pain on the spinal cord, neck, legs
Nerve and/or muscle inflammation
These are temporary. Spinal cord is not severed, he feels pain and reacts. He has improved just since you started this thread.
Read this, I know it's a bit complex but not bad.
Paralysis of a leg often results from damage to the peripheral spinal nerves. Paralysis of a front leg is usually associated with injury to the nerve roots in the neck or shoulder, or injury to the radial, median, or ulnar nerve in the leg. Paralysis of a hind leg is usually associated with injury to the nerve roots in the lower back or tailbone, or the femoral, sciatic, peroneal, or tibial nerve in the leg. Spinal reflexes, pain sensation, and the condition of the muscles in the affected limb are evaluated to identify the location of the injury. The closer a nerve injury is to the muscle, the better the outlook for recovery, so it is important to determine the exact location of the injury. The ability or inability of the animal to flex the joint and bear weight on the leg, and the presence or absence of pain sensation and reflexes at various places in the leg, depend on the site of the nerve damage. Within a short period, muscles wither and lose mass because of the lost nerve connection. 
If an abnormal eye condition known as Horner's syndrome (pupil small, eyelid partially closed, and third eyelid elevated) is present on the same side of the body as a paralyzed front leg, then the nerve roots have been torn and the chances for recovery are minimal.
Applying heat, performing massage, and stretching tendons should be done as directed to keep muscles, tendons, and joints of a paralyzed leg healthy while the nerve is regenerating. No specific therapy is available to help nerve regeneration. Acupuncture can help recovery.
Look at all of the specialists who contributed this info. William B. Thomas, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Neurology); Kyle G. Braund, BVSc, MVSc, PhD, FRCVS, DACVIM (Neurology); Cheryl L. Chrisman, DVM, MS, EDS, DACVIM (Neurology); Caroline N. Hahn, DVM, MSc, PhD, DECEIM, DECVN, MRCVS; Charles M. Hendrix, DVM, PhD; Karen R. Munana, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Neurology); T. Mark Neer, DVM, DACVIM; Charles E. Rupprecht, VMD, MS, PhD; Robert Wylie, BVSc, QDA I've also read on several sites that hydrotherapy can be VERY helpful. Now, money is tight, so if he does not continue to improve slowly but surely like he is, I highly suggest one thing, it's called a myelogram. It's just x-rays, but with dye injected in to the spinal column which will show clearly if there has been spinal damage or not. If not, the nerves can repair themselves, but it can take time. Do your best to stay positive and focused, I have not changed my beliefs that he can recover. |
I would think a well nourished kitten would regenerate faster if they growing properly. Under 6 months is massive growth time.
Well I'm sorry you had such a negative vet telling you there is no chance and to pts.
I've dealt with vets like that before, once is all it takes and I never will go back.
So he actually gave kitten a full on exam and determined he is never going to recover? How did he come to this conclusion?
No mention that several things can cause temporary paralysis?
Pain on the spinal cord, neck, legs
Nerve and/or muscle inflammation
These are temporary. Spinal cord is not severed, he feels pain and reacts. He has improved just since you started this thread.
Read this, I know it's a bit complex but not bad.
Paralysis of a leg often results from damage to the peripheral spinal nerves. Paralysis of a front leg is usually associated with injury to the nerve roots in the neck or shoulder, or injury to the radial, median, or ulnar nerve in the leg. Paralysis of a hind leg is usually associated with injury to the nerve roots in the lower back or tailbone, or the femoral, sciatic, peroneal, or tibial nerve in the leg.
Spinal reflexes, pain sensation, and the condition of the muscles in the affected limb are evaluated to identify the location of the injury. The closer a nerve injury is to the muscle, the better the outlook for recovery, so it is important to determine the exact location of the injury. The ability or inability of the animal to flex the joint and bear weight on the leg, and the presence or absence of pain sensation and reflexes at various places in the leg, depend on the site of the nerve damage. Within a short period, muscles wither and lose mass because of the lost nerve connection.Nerves regenerate slowly (at the rate of about 1 inch per month), and full functional recovery depends on the condition of the nerve sheath and on the distance between the injury and the muscle where the nerve ends. Some nerve injuries can resolve after several weeks or months; however, when total nerve rupture occurs, surgical reattachment is required for regeneration.
If an abnormal eye condition known as Horner's syndrome (pupil small, eyelid partially closed, and third eyelid elevated) is present on the same side of the body as a paralyzed front leg, then the nerve roots have been torn and the chances for recovery are minimal.If Horner's syndrome is not present with front leg paralysis, the outlook for recovery is much better.
Applying heat, performing massage, and stretching tendons should be done as directed to keep muscles, tendons, and joints of a paralyzed leg healthy while the nerve is regenerating.
No specific therapy is available to help nerve regeneration. Acupuncture can help recovery.If voluntary movement, pain sensation, and spinal reflexes improve over 1 to 2 months, the outlook for recovery is good.
Look at all of the specialists who contributed this info.
William B. Thomas, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Neurology); Kyle G. Braund, BVSc, MVSc, PhD, FRCVS, DACVIM (Neurology); Cheryl L. Chrisman, DVM, MS, EDS, DACVIM (Neurology); Caroline N. Hahn, DVM, MSc, PhD, DECEIM, DECVN, MRCVS; Charles M. Hendrix, DVM, PhD; Karen R. Munana, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Neurology); T. Mark Neer, DVM, DACVIM; Charles E. Rupprecht, VMD, MS, PhD; Robert Wylie, BVSc, QDA
I've also read on several sites that hydrotherapy can be VERY helpful.
Now, money is tight, so if he does not continue to improve slowly but surely like he is, I highly suggest one thing, it's called a myelogram. It's just x-rays, but with dye injected in to the spinal column which will show clearly if there has been spinal damage or not.
If not, the nerves can repair themselves, but it can take time.
Do your best to stay positive and focused, I have not changed my beliefs that he can recover.
I absolutely agree, not an adult cat, his growth rate and repair rate should be much faster, excellent point!
If the kitten continues to eat.
If the OP is able to help with urine and BM
The kitten is accepting of the medical treatment.
The most that can be done is supportive care.
And the fact that the OP is willing to provide that care.
Good vets look at the whole picture. Bad ones see a snapshot of the moment.
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So him being able to repair fast means you guys think he has a chance or getting better or no?
I say yes! One thing I've noticed while being a member here is that although everyone is supportive and wants all the kitties to pull through, we are realistic. I've seen people say what needs to be said even if it's not what we want to hear.
