Chestnut: update P 4 #60 Jan 31.

[Catty1]

I don't suppose there is a vet school near you that might do it for less?

Hugs and prayers for Chestnut!

[Freedom]

I don't suppose there is a vet school near you that might do it for less?

Hugs and prayers for Chestnut!

No . . . . Thanks for the hugs and prayers for my orangie!

[phesina]

No . . . . Thanks for the hugs and prayers for my orangie!

Sandie, could you get him to Tufts? I don't know if the small-animal part of their vet school is in Medford (outside Boston) or way out in the country.

[BarbPond]

Just reading this and I sure hope that your Chestnut improves. He is such a cute little orange guy!

Love, hugs, and prayers going out to both you and him!

[Catty1]

525 South Street, Walpole MA

http://tuftsvets.org/

The Small Animal Foster Hospital
http://www.tufts.edu/vet/fhsa/contact.html

Foster Hospital for Small Animals
Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University
200 Westboro Road
North Grafton, MA 01536
Phone: (508) 839-5395
Fax: (508) 839-7951
Emergency Services: (508) 839-5395

Financial info: http://www.tufts.edu/vet/fhsa/financial_policies.html

More prayers for Chestnut. Come on, baby boy, get better....

[Freedom]

I am going to speak w/ my vet and discuss options including a possible referral to Tufts.

[Freedom]

Had a long phone conversation w/ the vet this morning.

Chestnut is not able to groom himself, so that twisting action must hurt. He eats and uses the box fine. If you stroke your hand along a cat's back, as you approach the tail you should get "elevator butt." The rear end rises, the cat goes up on her toes. Chestnut just sits down, no matter how light my touch. He has finally realized he's been in that room a week and is bored, wants out every time I open the door.

We aren't anywhere near the PTS issue, not at all. It is just, do I resign myself that he is this way, or do I try for more diagnostic work? So that's what we discussed.

There are only a few things this could be:
- cancer and / or tumor. An MRI would show that. Then what? Would I put him through surgery (cost $3000 to $5000) which is high risk and may or may not be successful? No, I wouldn't.
- spine degeneration. An MRI would show that. Nothing you can do but keep the cat comfortable.
- slipped disc. An MRI would show that. May or may not require surgery. Would I put him through the surgery ($2700 to $3000) which is high risk and may or may not be successful? No, I wouldn't.

So we are going to treat this as a slipped disc which can be addressed w/o surgery. Keeping him on the prednisone for anti inflammatory. Only been a week, if he really aggravated it jumping the baby gate to eat, and going up and down stairs to use the box, it could be 3 to 6 weeks before we see any improvement. Adding a pain med, tramadol, for now.

I am going to take some time to close the cellar door and let him out so he has a change of environment. As he can't get up on the perch to look out the window, there really isn't much for him in Mandy's room. So of course, he just sleeps. I'll have to watch him, we don't want him trying to get up on a chair, sofa etc. And can't leave him out too long, as the others need to get the cellar door open again.


I feel more comfortable having discussed this with the vet.

Thanks you all for your support and prayers.