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Tracey | 4 years ago
Hi There My 5 Year Old Cat Max Has Been Diagnosed With A Broken Back. His Back …

Hi there
My 5 year old cat Max has been diagnosed with a broken back. His back is broken in the middle of the spine.
The vet said she can’t believe he is walking and she does not know how to treat him so she has sent his x-rays to a specialist for opinion.
Max is home with me an he is still walking and just a little wobbly.
He’s always had a bit of a wobble when he walks so I don’t think this issue is new.
Just hoping someone can help me with what I can be doing for him now?
Also if surgery is an option, is it necessary? Is it the only option?
Really no idea what to do.
Thanks in advance.
X

4 Responses

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  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

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Jemy | 4 years ago
Hi My 4 Y Old Cat Had Pyometraand Hystrectomy And Ovarian Removal Done 40 Days Ago . After The …

Hi
My 4 y old cat had pyometraand hystrectomy and ovarian removal done 40 days ago . After the surgery, I noticed that she became less active and cannot jump as she used to do before.
Before she was used to jump easily and directly to get on the bed but now she climbs onto an adjacent arm chair and then walks to the bed Also before she was able to scratch her ear by her leg , but now she is not able to do that.
She’s trying but can’t raise her leg to her ear.

Is it possible that her legs become weaker as a complication of the surgery?
Is it normal for a cat to be less active for this long time after a pyometra surgery ?
What should I do to help her regain her normal movement ?
I really appreciate what you are doing , many thanks.

1 Response

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  1. Sarah

    I think you really need to contact your vet that did the surgery about this.

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Colleen | 4 years ago
My German Shorthair Was Neutered Two Weeks Ago. We Tried To Keep Him Calm After But …

My german shorthair was neutered two weeks ago. We tried to keep him calm after but anyone who has had a gsp knows how hard that is. He developed a large, watery lump on his shoulder a week later. My vet says it’s a seroma. But it is no where near his incision site. Does this sound normal?

1 Response

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    Hello,
    It seems hard to believe the seroma is related to the surgery. Did you talk to your vet about it?

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Catherine | 4 years ago
My Dog Ran Off Yesterday, And Came Back With Cuts On Her Belly, With A Red …

My dog ran off yesterday into the nearby woods, and came back with cuts on her belly, with a red circle around them. They’re not inflamed or swollen, but she does flinch a little when a touch them. Is this normal for a dog wound?

2 Responses

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  1. Sarah

    It really depends on what type of wound it is and where it came from. I think, being that she is in pain, I would have them checked if there is no improvement by morning. Unless of course there is swelling or they start to be more painful or warm to touch etc… then I would get her in right away.

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Lisa | 4 years ago
My Dachshund Lucy Is Now Starting Her 3rd Week Of Conservative Home Care For IVDD From …

My dachshund Lucy is now starting her 3rd week of conservative home care for IVDD from C1-2 with paralysis of front and rear legs with deep pain present in all extremities. She is currently on gabapentin, prednisone, pepcid, and methocarbamol. I’m trying my best to stay hopeful however she still has pain with any movement. The only time I move her is for repositioning, cleaning, and feeding. I can’t afford surgery due to spending several thousand at the ER vets where she was misdiagnosed numerous times. I will however do anything in my power to keep her happy, functional, and pain free. I’m fine with her ending up in a quad chair if that’s the best we can do. Am I doing my best?

2 Responses

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    Hello,
    Without knowing the doses that you are using I would say it might be helpful to see if you can get into a neurologist ASAP. I would also ask about increasing the doses of the meds with your current vet. Also acupuncture might help. Lastly I think that at this point you may have to consider rechecking xrays to make sure this isn’t a fracture or neoplasia. I guess I would suggest to regroup and reassess. I hope this helps. Good luck

    1. Lisa Post author

      It does help. We do have an appointment to see a vet acupuncturist but with the holiday they are booked until Jan. 13. We have consulted on Zoom with a neuro who read her CT. Thank you!

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Clarice Ann | 4 years ago
Is My 4 Month-old Puppy Suffering From Depression Or Something Else?

This is the third day without Atlas — Apollo’s littermate, alpha and captain. We lost him due to hemorrhage and dehydration. He just recently turned 4 months. Apollo hasn’t been eating and drinking water today. Was asleep all the time, too. Previously, he wakes up at night and cries so he comes to me in bed to wake me up. Last night he started vomiting and having loose stools. I can also here rumbling in his stomach, and i think is passing gas. Earlier that day we went on a walk and had munched a few plants/weeds on the way. He has also accidentally taken in expired milk he left the other day. Today the stool had a few blood patches in it. I’m worried he might end up his brother. Is he only suffering from dog depression, or is there other medial conditions?

4 Responses

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  1. Sarah

    This sounds very serious… the lethargy, the blood in the stool and loose stool. Not how a four month old puppy should be acting. I would make an appointment with the vet right away. The first fear that comes to mind is possibility of parvo… which can be deadly. I hope your puppy is ok.

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William | 4 years ago
8 Month Puppy Was Bit At The Dog Park. He Devoleped A Big Lump Filled With Loose …

8 month puppy was bit at the dog park. He devoleped a big lump filled with loose fluid a few days later where it started smaller and then grew to about the size of a baseball in under 1 week. I didn’t think the event at the dog park was was a factor because there was no blood or any sign of skin puncture at all. He also seemed to be happy, eating normally and still crazy full of energy as usual.I took him to the vet where they said it’s a seroma and should go away on its own in about a week. Ive been doing a warm compress but it doesn’t seem to be working to shrink it, and it has gotten even bigger and tighter 5 days later now. It still doesn’t seem to hurt him, and he is acting completely normal/happy. It has now been about 10 days since the seroma started, and 5 days since the vet. My concern is that it has gotten a bit bigger, and wasn’t as loose as before and is now a bit tighter/harder. I can still feel that it’s moveable fluid but just tighter. The vet didn’t tell me to cut down on activity, and I have been going on runs and playing a lot with him. Should I be trying to avoid activity? His harness is about 6 inches away so it doesn’t rub on it directly, but still fairly close to the bump. Just wondering if I should keep away from running/walking and try to keep him calm until it goes away? (not likely as he is high energy)

2 Responses

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    Hello,
    I consider every dog bite or fight an infection. And if it isn’t healed in 5-7 days I consider it a problem to keep monitoring closely with the help of your vet. Please go back to your vet or get a second opinion. Your puppy is too young to not have healed quickly and completely by now in my opinion. Better safe than sorry I always say.

    1. William Post author

      Thanks so much krista, I REALLY appreciate your input here and for taking the time! I will be taking him in again

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Shamra | 4 years ago
My Cat Is About 14 Years Old. Male. Last Week Really Noticed He Goes To Litter Often …

My cat is about 14 years old. Male. Last week really noticed he goes to litter often but doesnt go. But sometimes he did have a few times of clumped urine litter. So took to emergency clinic Sat 12/13/30. They could not get any urine to test. Sent home with antibiotics antiflamatory- pain meds and told to get in see regular vet.
Took to vet today 12/15/20. They were able to get a good stream of urine out as well as these blood clots tissues. See image. Said that I would need to ck his bladder ongoing to make sure it doesn’t get rock hard baseball sized. Gave me a medication to help dilate. Did blood panel and Im waiting to hear back on any other medications.
I feel like imaging should be done like yesterday.
If this blood clot tissue can happen again should he have been keep at vet to do something ?
Was this blood clot a actual plug and blockage. So since they got it out the blockage is gone at the moment?
I am just worried and dont want to make a mistake and not know if he has a full hard bladder.
Or did this clot coming out as he is good currently. How long would it take for another clot to form?
Any input advice would be much appreciated

1 Response

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    Hello,
    I think that all of the questions you pose are excellent questions to ask yourself vet. I also talk to parents about feeding watered down canned food. I often add a steroid and I give cats Sq fluids daily to help flush the bladder. Just things to talk to your vet about. I get super aggressive with these guys. And I offer lots of options for parents to do at home. Along with showing them how to palpate a bladder to monitor at home. I hope this helps. Good luck.

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Ryleigh | 4 years ago
My Baby (who Is 2 And A Half Years) I Noticed Has This Bump On His Snout. …

My baby (who is 2 and a half years) I noticed has this bump on his snout. It showed up basically over night and he’s had it for about 2 weeks now. I’ve done some research and think it might be a histiocytoma. If someone could please help me and give me some info. I saw a home remedy using apple cider vinegar to treat it, but wanted some others opinions before doing so. He’s not bothered by it and doesn’t seem to even know it is there.

Thank you in advance! (:

2 Responses

Comments

  1. Krista Magnifico

    Hello,
    It is not possible to diagnose a lump or bump with just a photo. If you’re worried about it you should contact yourself vet. No one should be diagnosing over the Internet nor should they be providing treatment plans based on a guess. If it is a histiocytoma it is self limiting. Nothing will hasten it’s departure other then time. Also lumps snd bumps are best diagnosed by pathology. That is sending a tissue sample to the lab for analysis. Please see a vet if you are worried. For cases like this I tell clients it is the safest $45 you can spend. Snd often we just chose to watch the mass and remove it when needed. If you elect to do that one day it’s nice to have a vet you already know.

  2. Sarah

    I would make an appointment to have my vet check something like that… just to be sure it isn’t anything serious. It is always hard to tell from a picture- better to have someone check it first hand. Hope it isn’t anything serious ????????

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Jessica | 4 years ago
My Kitten’s Splint Was Removed Today After A Month Of Immobilization. She Had A Complete …

My kitten’s splint was removed today after a month of immobilization. She had a complete humerus fracture, we assume from her jumping off the couch or playing with our older cat (regrettably too soon which I had not realized). It was an angular break, and the vet did his best to place the bones and splint them, but today we learned the bones healed together improperly, on somewhat of an angle, and her elbow will not bend. She can use the paw and applies some weight to it, but the vet said we will have to keep her confined and wait and see how it progresses, or amputate it worst case. I feel sick about it because I had hopes she would heal, we could not afford the $6k surgery. Her skin is also red with some patches of missing fur. Do you have any recommendations of anything else I can do while we wait and see if she begins to heal more? Can I treat the skin at all? Thanks so much for all you do for these animals.
I attached an image of the original fracture. It is healed with a “knot” around the break, but healed crooked. That doesn’t seem to be what’s causing her leg to stick out crooked, it seems to be the elbow that seems “stuck”.

2 Responses

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    Hello,
    I’m so sorry for the delay. I tell clients in this position that there are only three options.
    1. Spend the money on a surgeon to correct it. Often this is >5,000
    2. Leave it as is and this cat must be kept indoors forever.
    3. Consider amputation down the road if needed to keep her comfortable and pain free

    1. Jessica Post author

      Thank you! I appreciate your response! I feel awful that we couldn’t and likely won’t ever be able to afford such an expensive surgery. I had hoped by splinting her it would at least heal a little bit better. Do you ever see kittens that have improperly healed bones improve over time? I was reading that in children bones tend to straighten out over a few years even if malunioned, but I know pets are also not children! I just feel so sad that she is so young and now has a messed up leg. She will definitely be an indoor cat, along with our other 6 month old cat.