Comments

1. 

   Sarah

   Wow! What a shock this must have been. I am no vet, but I vaguely remember reading something about allowing animals to heal with rest and limited movement. But I don’t think that was with the spine- I believe it was a kitten with a broken leg actually. Have you discussed what you should be doing with your vet? I know that you said they have advised you to a specialist, but was there any instruction that you were sent home with? I think if it were me, having seen my cat walking around etc… finding out that it had a broken back would completely floor me. Hopefully one of the DVMs will see this post and have more insight. I hope everything works out well for your cat. Please keep us posted????????

   1. 

      Tracey Post author

      Thanks Sarah.
      Yes it was totally a shock.
      All they said is you can take him home keep him inside to limit his movement and they will call me when the specialist has responded. She also said that they are so surprised that he is walking.
      He’s only ever been to the vet for vaccs and he had a tummy upset when he was younger and that’s it.
      I’ve only moved to this area recently so I’m trusting this vet knows what they are doing.
      I have also contacted the vet that he went to originally when he was younger and they said they will provide a second opinion once I get the specialist report back and copies of x-rays.
      He is just acting so so normal. Eating, drinking, cuddling, he is walking and definitely not at all as wobbly as what he was two days ago.
      Anyways, thank you so much for responding and I will keep on posting with updates. x

2. 

   Krista Magnifico

   Hello,
   I have seen multiple cats with broken backs. It is important to do a through assessment of then and understand their ability to urinate and defecate and restrict activity so they cannot further injure themselves. I recommend cage rest unless supervised. They also need to be spayed if they aren’t already.
   My biggest concerns are bladder and colon issues. Whether that be incontinence or retention. Also they can get pressure sores if not walking directly on their foot pads. Surgery is an option if the surgeon seems it to be helpful but most clients cannot afford it, or the surgery is too risky to do based on the amount of spine damage.

   1. 

      Tracey Post author

      Thank you.
      Specialist and vet that has seen him say surgery is an option which will be major and very risky. They say it is an old injury and he may have had it for years and is one tough cat and has just coped and compensated and has had a flare up.
      I’ve decided not to go down the surgery line.
      I’ve been keeping him in doors and restricted his movement and he is walking a lot better.
      He’s eating, toileting, groovy, and drinking.
      I taught him how to walk on a lead when he was a kitten so I take him out in the garden a couple of times a day.
      X