Trying to figure Out what's going on with my cat!

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Zoeycat84

Zoeycat84

Member Since 2017
I'm trying to figure out what the heck is going on with my cat, Zoey. He's got weakness in his legs which okay, it's probably neuropathy, it'll get better, except it isn't really adding up to me.

Here's the timeline: diagnosed with diabetes, started insulin and noticed neuropathy in hind legs (I'm not sure how rare it actually is but I honestly believe it was insulin induced neuropathy). Started giving B12 along with insulin and his neuropathy seemed to be improving a lot.
This is where I get confused....I started home testing about a month into giving insulin and realised his sugar levels were perfectly regulated without insulin (I guess diet change was what he needed) so I stopped giving it to him. Well around the time that I stopped giving insulin the neuropathy came back again. Now it seems to be getting worse. His front legs seem to be weak too.

Any thoughts? Sorry for the long post. I feel so bad seeing him like this :(
 
Are you still monitoring his BG?
Do you still give him the B12? It might help him continue to improve. It can't hurt to give him the B12 if he's not Diabetic.
Sorry I don't have much more advice to offer. I hope you get it figured out.
 
StephG said:
Are you still monitoring his BG?
Do you still give him the B12? It might help him continue to improve. It can't hurt to give him the B12 if he's not Diabetic.
Sorry I don't have much more advice to offer. I hope you get it figured out.
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Im still monitoring and his BG is great. Ive been continuing the B12 because i figured why not? Im just not sure why itd come back like it did.
Ill prob take him to the vet but i hate going in with such a general description because thats when they decide to do tests and tests and tests and it all adds up to one huge vet bill
 
Maybe it's not neuropathy. Possibly arthritis? This is a head scratcher for sure. I thought at first maybe he was having an odd reaction to the insulin but then you said the weakness came back when you stopped the insulin. Have you given him just the b-12 to see how he does on this alone?
 
Lillie said:
Maybe it's not neuropathy. Possibly arthritis? This is a head scratcher for sure. I thought at first maybe he was having an odd reaction to the insulin but then you said the weakness came back when you stopped the insulin. Have you given him just the b-12 to see how he does on this alone?
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The fact that it came back is what's throwing me off. I'm trying to have some sort of guess for when I go to the vet but I can't seem to figure it out. Unless there's something off with his electrolytes? I wish I knew! Everytime I see him walk I feel so awful for him. Guess it's a trip to the vet *sigh* my chill kitty turns into feral cat at the vet's office.
 
Yong said:
Have you had his potassium checked recently? Also, what kind of B12?
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I haven't had his potassium checked. I was also thinking maybe that could be the culprit. They tested his electrolytes at the initial diabetes diagnosis but not since.

I give him SISU brand methylcobalamin
 
I'm with Yong, I'd have his potassium checked. Squallie started showing a good bit of hind leg weakness and I thought it was diabetic neuropathy, but his bloodwork showed he was low on potassium. Now he gets a supplement 2X daily and he's fine.
 
Squalliesmom said:
I'm with Yong, I'd have his potassium checked. Squallie started showing a good bit of hind leg weakness and I thought it was diabetic neuropathy, but his bloodwork showed he was low on potassium. Now he gets a supplement 2X daily and he's fine.
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That's so great that your little guy is feeling better. Im glad to hear it's manageable. I think I'll go get Zoey tested. Did your cat have any other symptoms besides the weakness in legs?
 
Zoeycat84 said:
That's so great that your little guy is feeling better. Im glad to hear it's manageable. I think I'll go get Zoey tested. Did your cat have any other symptoms besides the weakness in legs?
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No, not that I noticed, particularly. He may have been less active, but he's not a real motivated kitty, at the best of times, so it's hard to tell. His legs got very weak, though, he couldn't even use the litter box without ending up sitting in whatever he was doing, poor boy. He also has some arthritis, but the potassium supplement helped him A LOT! When was the last time Zoey had bloodwork done? Get your vet to check for low potassium and he can tell you what type of supplement he wants to put Zoey on, and the dosage. I use a powder that mixes in with his food and he doesn't even know it's there.
 
Squalliesmom said:
No, not that I noticed, particularly. He may have been less active, but he's not a real motivated kitty, at the best of times, so it's hard to tell. His legs got very weak, though, he couldn't even use the litter box without ending up sitting in whatever he was doing, poor boy. He also has some arthritis, but the potassium supplement helped him A LOT! When was the last time Zoey had bloodwork done? Get your vet to check for low potassium and he can tell you what type of supplement he wants to put Zoey on, and the dosage. I use a powder that mixes in with his food and he doesn't even know it's there.
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The vet did a blood test at the time he was diagnosed with diabetes which was 2-3 months ago and he hasn't had any blood work done since. From what I've read it seems as though insulin can lower potassium levels and I'm wondering if our adjustments threw it off balance. We changed the dosage several times during that period and then ultimately stopped it all together.
 
Larry and Kitties said:
Just what BGs have you measured after stopping insulin and noticing the leg problem?
How long after eating were the BG measured?
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I've been doing in the morning, afternoon and evening. For the past few days I've done once a day. The morning and evening BG's I do before eating but lunch time check is usually about 4 hrs after breakfast.

The leg problem started I'd say 4-5 days after stopping the insulin
 
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