Very ill cat

[Rahnee]

Hi everyone,
I am new to this page. I am a cat mum to 8 cats, most of them foster fails.
I'm not expecting a guarantee. I'm really just clutching at straws at this stage.
We have a cat that is not doing well and appears to be deteriorating at this stage.
She is a wobbly cat. She would always shake and wobble when walking. She has never had the greatest balance. I'm not sure of her age as she was trapped by the rescue we were fostering for. We have had her about 6 years. Another carer had her before that for 12months. It's understood that she had at least 2 litters of kittens prior to the rescue catching her and our Vet believes she is under 10 years old. She is a completely inside cat.
About 3 weeks ago she became unwell. Bloodtests indicated an infection but no other issues.. She spent the day on fluids and was provided with antibiotics. Kidneys felt enlarged. They tried to get a urine sample but weren't successful, nor were we at home.as she just wouldn't go unless in litter. Four days later we took her back. Another day on fluids. They ended up getting a sample by inserting needle into her bladder and did further blood tests. Came home with two different antibiotics and sent the sample off. for further testing. Some results came back confirming a kidney infection.
She seemed to be picking up on the new medication. She was eating well.
Then she stopped being able to walk. Back to the vet on Thursday who changed her anitbiotics again. But now she can't stand and is floppy. Yesterday she couldn't use her front paws at all. This morning she can use one.but can't sit in a proper sitting position. She leans onto one side to support herself. She can move her body though. She is also no longer shaking or wobbling which she has always done which is really strange. She is still eating and will wash herself,and purring when cuddled and patted. Friday was a public holiday so the vet was closed and I'm waiting for them to open.
I feel so helpless. My dog was also diagnosed with inoperable hermangiosarcoma on Thursday so it's not been a good start to the year.
I guess I'm venting as much as hoping someone may have had some experience and can suggest a new path we can discuss with our vet.

 

[Furballsmom]

Hello
The meds appear to be effecting her cerebellar hypoplasia quite a lot. Can the vets consult with a neurological specialist so that she can be treated without such an impact?

 

[Rahnee]

Thank you. I will ask that question on Monday if we make it that far.

She took the last of the Amoxicillan this morning. It was a higher dose than we started with and also a longer course. Up until Thursday she was also taking Baytril which is now complete. Thursday we were given Cindamicin. I don't even know if there is any infection left. This inability to walk and move came on so suddenly.

 

[Rahnee]

I will be sitting up with her all night in case we need to rush to the emergency vet. Although I'd prefer to see this through with my original vet who has her history.

 

[Furballsmom]

How are things?

 

[white shadow]

.
Hi R Rahnee and a very warm welcome to the forum!

If you don't know, there's a wonderfully warm, welcoming and knowledgeable online community of CH kitty caregivers on Facebook. They've been active for years and, with nearing 25K members, have a wealth of collective experience from which you could draw. You can find them here: Cerebellar Hypoplasia Cats and Kittens.

Do keep us updated!
.

 

[FeebysOwner]

I hope your cat is hanging in there. I only know that if the infection has been determined to be in her kidneys, it is usually a very long regimen of antibiotics to eradicate it - possibly months, usually no less than 4-6 weeks. She may also need sub-Q fluids to keep her kidneys flushed, possibly through the course of the antibiotics. I presume a urine culture was done to determine the best antibiotic to use? Also, periodic follow up urinalyses are generally recommended to monitor the progress of the antibiotics. Kidney infections are typically a little trickier to treat than a lower urinary tract infection.

If stones are involved, depending on the kind they are, a special diet may be needed to see if the stones can be dissolved.

I don't know enough to understand if her other more recent symptoms that appear to be neurological are tied to the kidney issue, but consulting with a vet neurologist and an internal med vet is probably a very good idea. There is a possibility that all of this is related to kidney damage, but that is just my layperson's opinion.

I am sorry for what is going on with this cat and your dog as well.

 

[silent meowlook]

Hi. I am very sorry your cat is so ill. This is a situation that honestly needs a veterinary internal medicine specialist. The high WBC can be indicative of more than infection depending on what white blood cells are elevated. I would ask your vet for a referral to a specialist ASAP.

These cases are complicated and require the additional knowledge and expertise of a specialist. Unless a culture has been done to determine what bacteria are present, if bacteria is present, just using different antibiotics won’t help and could hurt.

I am not a vet and do not hold any licenses, so obviously don’t make any changes in treatments or medications without talking to your vet. But you need to see a specialist in order to help her.

 

[Rahnee]

She seemed to pick up during the night. She was using her front paws to dig in the litter. But this morning nothing. She isn't as interested in food this morning either as she has been. She licked at a paste and finished that but doesn't seem to be able to eat anything with a little more structure to it. I gave her some lactose free milk this morning but rather than lick at it like normal, she put her whole chin in with her mouth open while licking. But other than not being able to move by herself, she is is bright and watching everything going on around her.
The did do a urine culture. We are still waiting for results of that. It has been sometime though. I really thought we would have had results by now. Just looking it was done 17 January. The vet has also referred us to a spinal specialist who I will call first thing tomorrow when they open but I'm not sure that's the issue. She can feel it when we touch her. She will flinch if i tickle her paws. She just cant use them. She can hold her head up but is getting weaker in the rest of the body so that she has to lie on her side as she can sit up. But she can stretch to wash the middle of her body while lying down. The holiday and everything being closed has not helped.

In the meantime, while the dog seems to have picked up on her medication and her appetite has increased, I'm terrified to take my eyes off her in case she shows signs that she has started to bleed internally.

 

[FeebysOwner]

The did do a urine culture. We are still waiting for results of that. It has been sometime though. I really thought we would have had results by now. Just looking it was done 17 January.

Somebody dropped the ball - call and bug anyone you have to. A culture is usually determinant in about 3-4 days as to whether there is something growing or not.

Good on pursuing a specialist. Spinal and/or neurological issues do not mean loss of sensation. It could be motor control related.

Good luck to your little doggy too. This is tough all the way around for you, no doubt.

 

[Rahnee]

Thanks. I will be on the phone to them first thing Monday when they open. I did ring Wednesday and waited for a call back that didn't come.And then Thursday rang in the morning.and they had us come in again (which is when they changed antibitiotic again) but still no results. I had no idea how long it took but it seemed excessive.
She's just had a big stretch, stretching her back legs out and reached for the pillow with one front paw. But still no strength and still can't sit up. She's sleeping again now.

 

[iPappy]

The spinal specialist would be someone I would at least want to talk to, so I'm glad you did get a referral to them. This is all very strange, and I hope they can get this little cat back to normal. These symptoms are so frustrating because they are so vague, and could be caused by a lot of things, and sometimes all that's available is trial and error. For now, I'm glad she's at least alert, purring, and things like that.
For your dog, has the vet mentioned Yunnan Baiyao, or I'm-yunity? There herbs have been shown to be incredibly promising specifically in cases of hemangiosarcoma. Yunnan Baiyao, IIRC, comes with small emergency pills to use if you suspect your dog is having a bleed (pale gums, lethargy, no appetite, etc.)

 

[Rahnee]

It's so frustrating. I hate that I can't do anything.

No the vet didn't mention either of those for the dog. I will ask about it tomorrow. She was only diagnosed Thursday. . It's through her spleen and liver. We did take her in the week before as she wasn't eating, her gums were inflamed and she didn't want to sit with us or the other dogs. The initially did a blood test which did show a slightly elevated liver enzyme, and then followed up straight away to check for pancreatitis which was negative. They gave us medication for reflux for the week with instructions that if it didn't improve to bring her back for an ultrasound. I think they suspected at the beginning but wanted to rule out other things before saying anything due to Lucy (cat) being so sick and because we had lost another dog to cancer last year. So far she's been given Prednisolone which as kickstarted her appetite.

 

[Rahnee]

I have a 3pm appointment today with another vet in the clinic. She is actually the owner and definitely experienced. I'm hopeful of some new insights. It's an extra long appointment so we can look at all options.

 

[iPappy]

I have a 3pm appointment today with another vet in the clinic. She is actually the owner and definitely experienced. I'm hopeful of some new insights. It's an extra long appointment so we can look at all options.

It sounds like you're in very good hands. I'm very impressed the owner herself blocked out extra time!
I hope you get good news and some answers.

 

[stephanietx]

How's your girl? How did the vet visit go?

 

[Rahnee]

The vet feels that it is definitely neurological given that she has had neurological issues in the past. She does not believe it's spinal because she clearly reacts to all physical stimuli and because the level of weakness keeps changing. She is completely floppy but then she will lift a leg to wash her tummy. Then a few minutes later she can't move it. She wants to try Prednisolone first for a few days. It there are no signs of any improvement the only option is a neurologist for a cat scan. She's purring, washing herself, toileting(when assisted to tray) drinking and eating although she seems to struggle with eating anything that has pieces of anything in it. She's fine with a mousse or liquid. It's just the fact she can't move.

 

[FeebysOwner]

Almost sounds like a nerve issue, like in pinched nerves being impacted by her movements, for example. If for whatever reason, there is swelling in her spinal cord that is causing movement to pinch a nerve, perhaps Pred will help or maybe not. Pred is a temporary solution, because it can reduce swelling to stop any pressure, but it isn't resolving what is causing the swelling/pressure to begin with.

I am not sure that spinal issues can't be affiliated with neurological disorders. Has someone told you they are not?

 

[Rahnee]

I think part of her thinking is the fact that she has had neurological issues in the past. Being a Wobby Cat it's unusual that she is no longer shaking her head which is something that she normally does. She said there has been positive results treating.these type of issues with prednisolone. She is fairly confident it's not anything physically wrong with her spine. Spinal cord issues are considered neurological but she does lean to the brain and the messages it is sending the rest of the body.

 

[FeebysOwner]

Good luck with the Pred! I hope it helps. Nerve issues can be tricky. The brain does drive the messages sent to the nerves, so while not technically caused by something specific physically in nature, it obviously can have physical impacts. And, spinal issues can block the signals from the brain, not just to the spine but to other parts of the body that receive signals that are interconnected.

Is your vet consulting with a neurological specialist? (Sorry if I missed that)

Keep us posted!.