My cat a DSH desexed female is 7 yrs old. She had Panluekapena about 3-4 years ago, and since then she lost muscle tone on her lower back half. She can jump very well, but because she is top heavy, makes a loud thud when she jumps down, but is graceful going up.
Anyway several months ago, she started getting thinner, we didn't notice a loss of appetite, to explain the thinness of her back half. We ended up taking her to the vet, who suggested switching to or including Kitten food to her diet, we did this for 2 months....no change at all. We took her back to the vet, when her eyes sank in and the top of her head (between her ears) became more hollow, and she was eating less, and now she is chewing at her fur on her tail and on her back, she is nearly bald in these areas....like she was when she got really sick (except for the baldness. She was still happy, vocal, jumping, just thinner. The vets noticed she had lost a lot of condition. She was in the hospital for 2 days on a drip, and had blood tests like last time. She was also given meds to make her hungry. They said she was eating and that she had arthritis and she needed 4 weekly injections and anti-inflammatory meds, they said we could take her home....
You can only give these meds when she has eaten, as she is hardly eating, we have only given her one dose, and another later today. She is still exactly the same, except she eats less than she did before...I just don't think its arthritis...I think its something else. She has never been the same since that last illness. She is going back to the vets tomorrow for her second injection, and I will explain all this to the vet...
Does any ones cat have arthritis? What are the symptoms?
I guess I am just looking for answers....the vet said they could do an xray, which might or might not confirm this, or if its not arthritis they could do exploratory surgery to see if anything is wrong inside. I just couldn't do this to her, when she had this last illness, a quack vet opened her up as he thought she had a blockage, she didn't, when we took her to our currant vet, they had to open her up again, to remove the infected sutures and straighten the kink in her bowel. I just dont want her to go through even more surgery for nothing.
I just don't know what to do...
Gerty Dancer said
02:05 AM Jun 13, 2013
I can understand your concern Grams, it seems her quality of life isn't brilliant at present.
My friend's arthritic cat used to limp, and was slow to get out of bed, seemed to be stiff and sore. But she ate as if she was starving!
Arthritis has many types, what happens with one animal may be different from others. Hope you are able to find away to help her, its heart wrenching seeing your pet so crook.
Rip and Rosie said
01:14 AM Jun 14, 2013
Although she is a relatively young cat, she could well have arthritis.
However, she has nothing which indicates surgery -from what you have described- but she does sound unwell.
No one can make this decision for you, but I will tell you what I would do- fell free to do the opposite .
Make her comfortable, keep her warm, loved and tempt her with treats etc to get her eating.
Keep her in contact with the vet, consider his advice, but I would tend towards palliative care rather than "try it and see" surgical interventions.
Treat the symptoms like itch and obvious pain.
My opinion, for what its worth only.
Good luck!
Rosie
Grams said
02:05 AM Jun 14, 2013
Thank you Gerty and Rosie,
Shadow took a turn for the worse this morning, she had stopped eating, was dehydrated again after only being on a drip for 48hrs 5 days ago, she had more bald patches than she had before. The vet agreed with us, that she didn't have a quality of life, so we said goodbye and she was put to sleep. It was like loosing a child, both Les and I cried on the way home. I just wish we could have found out what was wrong with her. The vet said she must have had something really serious to go downhill so quickly....
Run free Shadow
Gerty Dancer said
02:09 AM Jun 14, 2013
So sad. You did as much as you could, and more than many others would have done for Shadow. Sending cyber hugs to you both!
neilnruth said
02:52 AM Jun 14, 2013
All animals trust us to do the best for them and you did all that you could and the best was to say goodbye. Here's a hug from us too.
Rip and Rosie said
03:13 AM Jun 14, 2013
Oh Grams, I'm so sorry. Rosie
The dog lady said
04:31 AM Jun 15, 2013
Really sorry Grams, losing them when they are relatively young is always worse. But being loved for 7 years is better than neglected or abused for 15 and I'm sure she loved you back for it. You did the best you could
Grams said
04:47 AM Jun 15, 2013
Thank you everyone. Yes she was very loved, I was putting all her toys and bed away today, and I just kept expecting her to come up and rub against me wanting some attention....I have to keep reminding myself she is gone.
My cat a DSH desexed female is 7 yrs old. She had Panluekapena about 3-4 years ago, and since then she lost muscle tone on her lower back half. She can jump very well, but because she is top heavy, makes a loud thud when she jumps down, but is graceful going up.
Anyway several months ago, she started getting thinner, we didn't notice a loss of appetite, to explain the thinness of her back half. We ended up taking her to the vet, who suggested switching to or including Kitten food to her diet, we did this for 2 months....no change at all. We took her back to the vet, when her eyes sank in and the top of her head (between her ears) became more hollow, and she was eating less, and now she is chewing at her fur on her tail and on her back, she is nearly bald in these areas....like she was when she got really sick (except for the baldness. She was still happy, vocal, jumping, just thinner. The vets noticed she had lost a lot of condition. She was in the hospital for 2 days on a drip, and had blood tests like last time. She was also given meds to make her hungry. They said she was eating and that she had arthritis and she needed 4 weekly injections and anti-inflammatory meds, they said we could take her home....
You can only give these meds when she has eaten, as she is hardly eating, we have only given her one dose, and another later today. She is still exactly the same, except she eats less than she did before...I just don't think its arthritis...I think its something else. She has never been the same since that last illness. She is going back to the vets tomorrow for her second injection, and I will explain all this to the vet...
Does any ones cat have arthritis?
What are the symptoms?
I guess I am just looking for answers....the vet said they could do an xray, which might or might not confirm this, or if its not arthritis they could do exploratory surgery to see if anything is wrong inside. I just couldn't do this to her, when she had this last illness, a quack vet opened her up as he thought she had a blockage, she didn't, when we took her to our currant vet, they had to open her up again, to remove the infected sutures and straighten the kink in her bowel. I just dont want her to go through even more surgery for nothing.
I just don't know what to do...
My friend's arthritic cat used to limp, and was slow to get out of bed, seemed to be stiff and sore. But she ate as if she was starving!
Arthritis has many types, what happens with one animal may be different from others. Hope you are able to find away to help her, its heart wrenching seeing your pet so crook.
However, she has nothing which indicates surgery -from what you have described- but she does sound unwell.
No one can make this decision for you, but I will tell you what I would do- fell free to do the opposite .
Make her comfortable, keep her warm, loved and tempt her with treats etc to get her eating.
Keep her in contact with the vet, consider his advice, but I would tend towards palliative care rather than "try it and see" surgical interventions.
Treat the symptoms like itch and obvious pain.
My opinion, for what its worth only.
Good luck!
Rosie
Shadow took a turn for the worse this morning, she had stopped eating, was dehydrated again after only being on a drip for 48hrs 5 days ago, she had more bald patches than she had before. The vet agreed with us, that she didn't have a quality of life, so we said goodbye and she was put to sleep. It was like loosing a child, both Les and I cried on the way home. I just wish we could have found out what was wrong with her. The vet said she must have had something really serious to go downhill so quickly....
Run free Shadow
Sending cyber hugs to you both!
All animals trust us to do the best for them and you did all that you could and the best was to say goodbye. Here's a hug from us too.
Rosie