Chestnut: update P 4 #60 Jan 31.

[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.

[kaycountrygal]

Freedom, It sounds as if your talk with vet with very helpful in sorting out what to do or not do. I do hope your cat gets better. I have a thought and I dont know if it is helpful or not. Obviously I dont know the layout of your house or what irritates Chestnut's disc problem... but would a ramp of some sort be of any help to Chestnut? A ramp to his perch maybe? just trying to help. Kay, Mon, Jan 31 2011.

[cassiesmom]

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.

Awww, Chestnut! I hope the medications help tremendously! Big ((HUG)) for you and ((HUG)) x15 for your mum and everyone else.

And a candle http://www.gratefulness.org/candles/...g&cid=12579999

[phesina]

More prayers and warm wishes and healing energies for dear Chestnut.

Love from Pat and cats

[Freedom]

Thanks, Kay, I'll think about that for long term!

I have stairs up to my bed, for the dogs. The cats use those sometimes, especially going up (lazy cats, lol!) but mostly they just jump down. Until we have a better idea what is happening, a ramp "could" pose the same situation -- he'd take it up, and jump down. And even jumping down could hurt him more.

[krazyaboutkatz]

I hope that the meds will help him. Lots more prayers and positive thoughts are being sent his way.