Quote Originally Posted by momofive View Post
I really think he has a dislocated hip or perhaps broken bone. Why don't they x-ray it? Also, how is a dislocated hip diagnosed and treated?

Any ideas or suggestions appreciated, I don't think hypothyroid would cause him to limp and favor one side.

...you'd think they'd focus more on the obvious symptoms he presents with, his back leg is obviously comprimised somehow, how could that be hypothyroid?
The veterinarians might not x-ray because they feel other things are more likely. However, an outdoor cat can experience trauma that the owner is unaware of, so I'm not sure I'd be quick to dismiss some sort of bodily trauma. A dislocated hip is usually diagnosed with palpation and radiographs. In cats it is commonly treated with a surgical procedure called a femoral head osteotomy. My dog actually had this procedure on his left hip. Cats generally do very well with this surgery and recover function nicely.

Did they palpate the leg and asses whether he had pain? I saw you wrote that they described 'muscle weakness', but never 'pain' and so this would not generally match a broken bone or dislocated hip.

Cats are likely to have HYPERthyroidism. It is very unlikely that they were looking for hypothyroid (common in dogs). Hyperthyroidism could cause the weight loss (despite normal eating habits) and restlessness/agitation/vocalization/aggressiveness ("yowling"). In addition you might also see goiter, unkept haircoat, increased urination, increased thirst, increased heart rate or vomiting/diarrhea. It is seen more commonly in older cats.

Hypothyroid could definitely cause the signs you are seeing. It can cause muscle weakness (myopathy) or limb paralysis/weakness. Thyroxin is an very important hormone in the body and has many functions. However, I don't think hypothyroidism has ever been seen in cats.

FeLV (feline leukemia virus) testing was probably pushed because you would want to rule it out early. You would be very upset to do lots of other (expensive) testing only to later find out your cat has an incurable virus. This virus can cause increased incidence of infectious diseases, bone marrow disorders and even cancer. These sequealae can sometimes cause signs like pain or paralysis.

I was wondering if you knew more about the stage of the renal disease? Usually it can't be detected until it is already pretty bad (unless they used a particular test for early detection). Were they interested in treating it at this point?

I know the weakness and circling are the most obvious symptoms to you, but often the most obvious symptoms aren't always the most telling. These types of signs could be due to a wide variety of things that are not directly related to the musculoskeletal or nervous system.

I'm a bit confused as to whether you've seen your regular vet after the ER visit. If not, then ignore what I am about to write. However, if you honestly think your regular vet is doing a poor job, then you should probably get a recommendation and try another. It is true that a lot of vets are not particularity comfortable with working up neurological problems (they can be difficult/complicated), so it might be worth looking for someone with a proven track record in that area. However, you are right that in the case of a neurologic diagnosis there are generally few treatment options.

I hope I've made sense and provided useful information. The more I learn about medicine, the more I realize that it is very very complex. Please keep us updated and let me know if you have any questions for me.

Hugs to your kitty!