Patches is having a problem

[waterflow]

She has been having at times a hard time walking with her back legs. For a while she walks normal and then her back legs go sort of limp, she starts to cry and moan, lays down on her side, then her legs are fine. It has happened a few times in a row and other times just once. Does anyone have a idea of what it could be? I am calling the vet tomorrow but thought maybe someone here had a cat do the same thing after giving birth. I’m thinking maybe she pulled a muscle or her hip could be out of joint. I'm worried and hate going to the vets. They always say put the animal to sleep. Can't be hleped or would cost too much. Plus how would I get her to one without the kittens? Any help on this would be great.

[ICNDonna]

I think I would be inclined to telephone a vet today and ask about it. Do you have a cat carrier box? I think I would put the kittens in the box with her to go to the vet, but the vet can answer your question about that.

Donna

[humpieumpumkin]

I do some research on the internet. I would probably call a local emergency vet clinic or be proactive and bring her in. It doens't sound good. I agree with Donna on bringing her and the kitties in. Some vets will come over instead of moving the animals.

Erika

[ICNDonna]

My concern is a possible infection, which could really progress overnight.

Donna

[waterflow]

Update

Took Patches to the vet this afternoon. I really hate vets and I don’t think there is one around here that isn’t in it for the money. I called 3 places that had 24/7 emergency care. Not on the weekends. The one even did house calls but not on the weekends. SPCA wasn’t even opened. The only vet was the one I had called before that I didn’t like. Didn’t want to take her there but did. First thing the vet says is she could have a dead kitten inside which means surgery or she has leukemia which is fatal and if she does have it she passed it on to the kittens so they would live either. Can you imagine how I felt then? I almost started crying but I told her she was fine yesterday morning. She is still eating but just has that back leg thing a few times. She said leukemia happens that way. They did an x-ray and no kittens still inside. She said the placenta could still be in there but the only way to find out is surgery. Otherwise, watch her and see if she stops eating and has a discharge where she had the babies. I didn’t know female animals had an area part for giving birth. I thought it was out their bottom. She said Patches temp was 103 but normal cat temp is 102. I think she was just hot and all worked up about going there. The little guys did great. I had her in one box and them in another. Was afraid she would smush them. She gave me an antibiotic that looks like pepto and said to put it in her mouth. I asked couldn’t I just put it in her food. She said she would smell it and not eat the food. Well, Patches was starving so I gave her salmon and put the med in that. I will not go back there!! In fact I won’t take Patches to any vet again. She’s better off with me taking care of her. They always do that. Make the worse out of it before even knowing what was wrong. She must have hurt her hind area when giving birth or maybe from being in the box in that one area. At least this way I cleaned all the paper out of the box and put in coats and sheets. Will make it really soft. Patches behave very very well. Was surprised. I just checked on them and all are sleeping. Patches on her side with all 4 kittens on her stomach lined up. She didn’t even wake up with me coming. I feel so bad about putting her through that but I guess better to know if there were anymore kittens inside or not. I watch animal cops all the time and the vets on that show are nothing like the ones where I am. Oh, and talk about costs! Almost $200 and she didn’t spend more then 15 minutes on Patches. They also don’t accept payments. Have to pay it all up front but they will accept a credit card. Ugh……Here she is the first cat I have had and loved along with the little guys and if it is leukemia they won't last much longer. I feel so awful about taking them now. Hope I haven't hurt them more by doing so. I asked her if maybe her fever was from giving birth and she said no. Can't cause a fever. I though it could??? Also asked how old she thought Patches was. Said she couldn't tell by looking at her teeth but guess 1 maybe 1 1/2 years old. does this all sound right to any of you?

[humpieumpumkin]

I couldn't find anything online...I'm glad she is ok for now...you didn't get many answers but if she were reall really sick the vet would have kept her. I hope she gets better! Keep a close eye on her and she'll be fine. Birth can be very tramatic to the nerves and muscles...

Erika

[leelee88]

I think maybe the vet has over reacted.. She could of pinched a nerve while giving birth.. Or it could be many other things like a pulled muscle, I cant believe the vet jumped to conclusions like she did.. My cats always had a slight fever after giving birth, but it is good she is on antibotics in case she does have an infection.. I would just continue all her meds and keep her as confortable as possible.. Sending you ((((((((hugs))))))))))))) hope she is better by tomorrow, please keep us posted...

[waterflow]

Thanks leelee and Erika. I tried looking on the internet too but only found it affects 1-2% of cats and it is a virus. I do know from watching tv if she does have she doesn't have long. Now I'm waiting for her and the kittens to die. Which I'm sure that vet was over reacting. Had one long ago tell me my dog ,who was 2 then,, was dying from lymph node cancer. Someone the night before gave her a bad piece of meat and she almost died. That was why I took her there. He said the best thing would be to put her to sleep. Thankfully I didn't listen! She lived to be 19. I'm just worried beyond worried. She has been tired but she just gave birth and I'm sure woman are tired too after that. She had 4 babies that were big. If she eats then she is ok right? I know none of you are vets but I'm sort of asking for some good news help on this. If they are ok then I"m keeping the kittens with me inside. Read if they stay inside they can't catch anything. Did learn that 3 are females and one might be male but she couldn't tell. I thought Garfield Jr. (tiger) would have been male. I'll try to calm down and not think the worse which is very very hard. I think doctors and vets should learn better ways of talking to people about these things.

[meme]

I'm sorry you're having vet trouble. Hopefully she just jumped to conclusions and everyone will be fine. Most of my cats who've had kittens just lay around the next few days with their babies. I would keep giving her the antibiotic like leelee said. It won't hurt her none so its better to just be safe. Eating is a good sign too. I'd just keep an eye on her and how much she eats and goes to the bathroom.
Calico cats are almost always female. Sounds like you have some baby granddaughters!!!! Hope everything gets better! Don't feel bad about getting a second opinion if you need too. Your vet could be way off.

[Mel53H]

I have had cats all my life. I have watched many cats give birth. Right now I have 5. They are all fixed though.
The only time I would get worried is when they don't eat and if they drink too much water. It sounds like she had some big kittens and she might have done something temporarily to her back legs. I would not worry.

I would go to a better vet than the one you went to. Ask a friend or a neighbor where they take their pets to the vet. Don't go back to that vet. He sounded like a quack!

So, as long as she is eating and feeding her kittens, then I think that she will be fine.

[waterflow]

Thanks meme and Mel. She has been acting the same just tired. Feeding every 2 hours and she won't eat unless they are sleeping. If they are awake they're eating. She is still eating and drinking and going potty just fine. I stay with her while she eats or we never get to see each other anymore. She doesn't seem to mind going potty in front of me even though I do try to give her some privacy. Patches is still flinging the cat liter even with the big box. She got some stuck on her front paw and almost flung it at me. It went flying over my head to I don't know where.

I am going to call around tomorrow and get another opinion but only on the phone. think I will call the SPCA. I've never given birth but having 4 large , and they were large, babies has to do something down there and maybe that was her first litter? They say the first one is the hardest.

Thank you all for helping me on this. I'm not quit so worried now. I will keep an eye on her and as long as she eats, drinks and poops she should be fine.

[Mel53H]

I found something about weak back legs...

I hope this helps. It sounds treatable if this is what she has. Mel

Pet Health: Neuropathy









HELP! My Cat Has Weak Back Legs!
Feline diabetes often causes weakness in the hind legs of cats. Rather than walking normaly, the cat will walk on his hocks (see image below). This condition, neuropathy, is nerve damage caused by high blood glucose levels (hyperglycemia). If your cat has weak hind legs, you should see a vet to discuss treatment options.

Nerves, cells in the eye, and kidney cells are particularly sensitive to damage since these cells do not require insulin in order to take up glucose from the blood. Where blood glucose is very high in poorly regulated diabetics these cells take up lots of glucose which causes internal damage. Keeping blood glucose levels as near normal as possible and avoiding large fluctuations in the levels helps to prevent this type of cellular damage in diabetics

In the case of leg problems, many cats will improve tremendously when their blood sugars come under control. In these cases, the hind leg weakness may be caused by electrolyte imbalances (e.g. low potassium levels) related to excessive urination. There is some evidence that methyl-B12, a vitamin, also known as methylcobalamin, may be a beneficial supplement. Also, diabetes that is not under control causes muscle wasting (diabetes is a CATABOLIC or "breaking down" disease) and your cat's back leg problems may be due to extreme muscle weakness.

This is a common problem and a heartbreaking one. If the problem seems to come on rapidly, check your cat's blood glucose level (or several levels) to make sure her blood sugar is under control. An alternative is to have your vet draw blood for a fructosamine test to check for longer term control. Your vet can do an examination and check a potassium level, also.

And make your cat exercise! Physical therapy can do wonders for improvement.

More on Methyl-B12:

Methyl-B12, also known as methylcobalamin, has worked wonders on many cats with neuropathy. It is important that you use METHYL-B12. Other forms of vitamin B-12 will not work. You may obtain this supplement at many health food stores. Most FelineDiabetes.com users will give their cat 3-5 mg per day to treat neuropathy.


Cat walking on his hocks.
Methyl-B12 reversed the neuropathy!
Courtesy of Karen and Rambo


Last updated 03/21/2006.



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[Berkshire Road]

Waterflow, please don't write off all vet. care because of this one insensitive person you've encountered. The fact is, animals do sometimes need professional care, and it's easiest if you have an established relationship with the vet.

I would do everything for my dogs if I could, but there is no way for me to give them their rabies shots, or to clear up the eye infection one of them just had, or to treat poor Rusty's arthritis. I would just be guessing, and my dogs deserve the care of a knowledgeable and caring vet. And really, most of them are. I'm sorry you landed a loser vet, but most of them are not like that. Most of them are in it because they love animals, and they NEVER suggest that an animal be euthanized unless it is suffering intractable pain from an incurable condition. And even then, it is up to the owner to decide.

[Moonheart]

Is it possible she got into something and ate it like detergent or other similar things?
Have her symptoms improved or is she still weak in the back like that?
If she has a fever, I would tend to think retained placenta.
Hope she's better soon and big hugs for you.

[waterflow]

Mel, THANK YOU!!! I printed it out so I will have it if need be. I do think she will be ok and so will the kittens. She jumped on the couch last night then onto the window ledge and sat there waving her tail back and forth wanting something she could see outside. I couldn't see anything. Then she chased the moth flying on the outside of the window. Was so mad she couldn't get to it. This morning she followed me up the stairs into the kitchen like always and had no problem. She took them slower then normal but that is to be expected. I'm not thinking it is leukemia anymore and reading what you posted has really helped. Thank you again.

Berkshire Road, every vet but one I have been to has been no good. I've had to leave the dogs to get operations with them but felt awfully guilty afterwards. Teh one good vet was a farm one and he came to the house when the dogs were to bad to take anywhere. He retired and his son took over and he won't do that. Only farm animals. I know they will need a vet some time just trying to find a good one is as hard as finding a good doc. I do know putting an animal to sleep is the owners say in the end but having to hear there is no hope for the animal is hard to take. Esxspecially when they didn't need to be put down. Gues you have to shop around for vet care just like people care. I should ahve gone on to be a vet but couldn't take seeing the sick animals but I should have gone on anyway.