Meet Bramble...Fospice kitten.

[phesina]

OOoohhh, Bramble sweetie... dear little fospice kitten! You are darling!

And how good that she is with your sister, snakemama. Thank you both so much for your kindness. God bless you all.

[Freedom]

This story has me teary eyed. Dear Bramble, how fortunate you are to be in a loving home. And to have play dates too!

Your sister and the shelter vets are amazing; so many would say just put her down now. So glad she will have the chance to be all that she is able to be!

[Catty1]

OH gosh - I remember when it wasn't sure Bramble would survive kittenhood. She is lovely!

Can she not be fitted with a brace? Would some surgery not help, as it does in humans? I even read about a treatment for children where gentle electronic impulses are delivered to the muscles on the curved side at night and that gently and eventually pushes the spine into shape. Don't know how a cat would take to that though!

I am now reading about physical therapy, using a stool softener to help with the pooping, and the idea of Bramble getting a second assessment from an orthopedic specialist.

I hope the following are helpful:

http://www.askthecatdoctor.com/kitte...scoliosis.html


http://www.petmd.com/cat/conditions/...mations?page=2
"If your cat is showing neurological signs such as dizziness, seizures or paralysis postoperatively, restricted activity [with a kitten? lol] combined with physical therapy may be helpful."

[catmandu]

We are so glad that Bramble is thriving now in her Furr Ever Home.
This just shows you how love is powerful!!!!

[snakemama]

Ya know, I don't know what all SpiritSerpents and the shelter vets have discussed, but she is not the type to ignore any potentially helpful treatments for any of her beloved animals. I'm going to make sure she sees this thread so she can add any more specific information about Bramble's diagnosis/treatment.

[cassiesmom]

Awww, Bramble kitty! You are beautiful! I hope you will have a long, happy, comfortable life!

[mrspunkysmom]

OH gosh - I remember when it wasn't sure Bramble would survive kittenhood. She is lovely!

Can she not be fitted with a brace? Would some surgery not help, as it does in humans? I even read about a treatment for children where gentle electronic impulses are delivered to the muscles on the curved side at night and that gently and eventually pushes the spine into shape. Don't know how a cat would take to that though!

I am now reading about physical therapy, using a stool softener to help with the pooping, and the idea of Bramble getting a second assessment from an orthopedic specialist.
. . . . . . Edited for brevity . . . .

Okay, I was thinking the same thing, but wasn't sure if I should mention it. There must be someway to brace the spine in one direction yet keep some of that feline mobility. And some type of electric or wave stimulation has help Lil Bub with her mobility.

[SpiritSerpents]

I actually don't know if bracing would be a viable option. The deformed vertebrae are T11, 12, and 13. A brace in this area would probably compress her chest, which would be bad, plus keeping pretty much anything on the midsection of a cat without surgically attaching it.... It would basically have to be a full-body something which would severely limit her mobility, her ability to use the litterbox, and decrease her quality of life. It also wouldn't change the fact that her vertebrae are deformed. Surgery is not an option partly because funds... realistically, I work at a shelter. Those thousands of dollars could be better spent helping a hundred other animals. The other reason is that what research I've done into human scoliosis is that the risk of paralysis after scoliosis surgery is very high. I could cut her life a lot shorter by attempting surgery. I am saving up to have an MRI done just so we can get more information and I could maybe do a case study. This is an extremely rare condition in cats. I've only been able to find a single case study, and that was a kitten that also had pectus excavatum (rare, but far more common than scoliosis) and lordosis (also rare and far more common than scoliosis). For the electrical stim, I don't know that she'd hold still long enough for it to help unless she's sedated for it.

Basically, every option in humans has major pitfalls or impracticalities for a little hyper foster kitten. We're optomistic that she might make it to a year before the nerve damage to the colon prevents her from defecating. I love her, and I wish I had a magic wand that could fix her.

[phesina]

She's beautiful. Bless you for giving her the best life ever.

[kaycountrygal]

Poor little thing! Your SIL is doing such a kind act by allowing her to be a kitten and cat and have as normal a life as possible for as long as possible. Bramble sure is pretty and I'm so sorry she has this health problem. I'm glad she has good humans to be her friends/caretaker and has a good home where she's cared for and loved.

[mrspunkysmom]

I actually don't know if bracing would be a viable option.
. . . . . Edited for brevity . . . . .
I am saving up to have an MRI done just so we can get more information and I could maybe do a case study. This is an extremely rare condition in cats. I've only been able to find a single case study, and that was a kitten that also had pectus excavatum (rare, but far more common than scoliosis) and lordosis (also rare and far more common than scoliosis). For the electrical stim, I don't know that she'd hold still long enough for it to help unless she's sedated for it.

Basically, every option in humans has major pitfalls or impracticalities for a little hyper foster kitten. We're optomistic that she might make it to a year before the nerve damage to the colon prevents her from defecating. I love her, and I wish I had a magic wand that could fix her.

Check out Lil Bub for the exact nature of the stimulation used. I don't think it was electric like a TENS system with electrodes and all, which would require sitting still.

There is another cat that might have the pectus excavatum. Please see Happy Homes Animal Rescue and look for the Siamese kitten named Pookie.

I hope I clarified the stimulation somewhat.

[momcat]

I fell in love with adorable Bramble at the first picture. While I pray that a workable solution can be found for her spine, she couldn't be in better hands. Thank you and bless you many times over for giving her a normal, active life. Most of all, this little sweetie will know love because you cared enough to not give up on her. Would you give her some gentle lovies from me? And as you can, please let us know how Bramble is doing.

[cassiesmom]

Big, big prayers for beautiful Bramble!

And a candle http://www.gratefulness.org/candles/...g&cid=21771699