11/29 Dickens can't walk

Status
Not open for further replies.
L

LarissaDavis529

Member Since 2012
Since his diagnosis last week Dickens has become less and less able to get around. Today his hind end collapses whenever he tries to walk. Does this ever reverse? Is he permanently crippled?
 
My Honey was diagnosed mid-Oct, she was having trouble walking but not as bad as Dickens sounds.
She couldn't jump up and would walk a few paces and sit down - she walked "funny".

Now her numbers are better and I give her 1 tablet of zobaline a day (since last 2 weeks), she's much improved. She even jumped up on my desk today (3ft high) and is running around doing flips and chasing the other cats.

I don't know if it reverses in ALL cats but it certainly has for us.

Hope this helps.
 
Larissa,

If what you are seeing is neuropathy related to his diabetes, then no, he isn't permanently crippled and in some cats it will reverse completely given time. There are meds that can fix that. Just getting his diabetes under control will go a long way towards making it better.

Do you know if when he was diagnosed that they ran a full blood panel? If so, do you know if his levels of potassium were low? My cat, Bob, experienced obvious rear leg weakness for a while, but it wasn't neuropathy, it was due to low levels of potassium that causes general muscle weakness. There are supplements to take care of that too. It took Bob about 4-5 months before he could jump up on the bed, which he did all the time before he became diabetic. The day he made it up there, which was about 2-3 months after his last insulin shot, that was the day I knew he was "all better". Point is, he got there.

I have seen, in the time I've been here, many many cats who have recovered from neuropathy. Some in just a few weeks, and one in particular that took a year, but they did get better. It won't happen overnight for Dickens, but you should see small improvements in his mobility gradually.

Carl
 
Is he still not eating properly? How much would you say he is eating and drinking?

I am looking at your sheet.. is it true you are giving him 1unit in the morning and none at night? thats very unusual since the insulin wears off after 12hours... we usually recommend consistent dosing so like 0.5 a unit in the morning and 0.5unit at night. I am thinking one unit in the morning is too much since he is dropping into 59 and maybe lower and then probably being too high at night. Too low could make him weak and tired.

Would you consider 1/2unit twice a day instead - 12 hours apart? It would keep him more stable...

Also you could look at getting vitamin B12 methylcobalmin (zobaline) for his hind legs.. The pills can reverse some damage after a month or two if that is the cause. But bringing his BG under control will help immensely.

Saying that though his BG isnt that high really - what meter are you using?
 
You should definitely put Dickens on Zolbaline
http://www.amazon.com/ZobalineTM-Diabetic-Cats-60-tabs/dp/B008G3LI2M/?tag=felinediabetesfdmb-20
The good thing about it .... it's a B vitamin ( it's methycolbamine - B12 ) B vitamins are water soluble so if you give too much , they just pee it out. Their body only uses what it needs.
I personally use http://www.vitacost.com/vitacost-vitamin-b-12-methylcobalamin-5000-mcg-100-capsules
I like it because it is a capsule and I can just pour it on her food, add a tablespoon of water and mix it all up together.
It worked great for Shadow and I'm not going to stop adding it.

If it's the potassium level, you want your vet to confirm that with a blood test because too much potassium has adverse affects just as too
little potassium has adverse affects. That one needs monitoring. You don't want to just add a supplement for that possibility.
 
If you are going to get methylcobalamine (methyl B-12), I'd encourage you to get Zobaline which is specifically formulated for diabetic cats. Most of the other manufacturers add either flavoring or rice flour to their pills or capsules.

However, I would strongly suggest you talk to your vet. Maine Coons are genetically predisposed to heart problems which could cause saddle thrombosis. The latter condition is caused by a clot that blocks blood flow to the legs and requires veterinary attention.
 
Wendy&Tiggy said:
Is he still not eating properly? How much would you say he is eating and drinking?

I am looking at your sheet.. is it true you are giving him 1unit in the morning and none at night? thats very unusual since the insulin wears off after 12hours... we usually recommend consistent dosing so like 0.5 a unit in the morning and 0.5unit at night. I am thinking one unit in the morning is too much since he is dropping into 59 and maybe lower and then probably being too high at night. Too low could make him weak and tired.

Would you consider 1/2unit twice a day instead - 12 hours apart? It would keep him more stable...

Also you could look at getting vitamin B12 methylcobalmin (zobaline) for his hind legs.. The pills can reverse some damage after a month or two if that is the cause. But bringing his BG under control will help immensely.

Saying that though his BG isnt that high really - what meter are you using?
Click to expand...

I am using the true2go from rite aid.

And yes, I would definitely consider 1.2 unit 2x/day.

His appetite is very poor.
 
Sienne and Gabby said:
If you are going to get methylcobalamine (methyl B-12), I'd encourage you to get Zobaline which is specifically formulated for diabetic cats. Most of the other manufacturers add either flavoring or rice flour to their pills or capsules.

However, I would strongly suggest you talk to your vet. Maine Coons are genetically predisposed to heart problems which could cause saddle thrombosis. The latter condition is caused by a clot that blocks blood flow to the legs and requires veterinary attention.
Click to expand...

I just got zombaline and started that yesterday.

I was not aware of the heart issues. Thank you for that information. I will talk to the vet about it.
 
rhiannon and shadow said:
You should definitely put Dickens on Zolbaline
http://www.amazon.com/ZobalineTM-Diabetic-Cats-60-tabs/dp/B008G3LI2M/?tag=felinediabetesfdmb-20
The good thing about it .... it's a B vitamin ( it's methycolbamine - B12 ) B vitamins are water soluble so if you give too much , they just pee it out. Their body only uses what it needs.
I personally use http://www.vitacost.com/vitacost-vitamin-b-12-methylcobalamin-5000-mcg-100-capsules
I like it because it is a capsule and I can just pour it on her food, add a tablespoon of water and mix it all up together.
It worked great for Shadow and I'm not going to stop adding it.

If it's the potassium level, you want your vet to confirm that with a blood test because too much potassium has adverse affects just as too
little potassium has adverse affects. That one needs monitoring. You don't want to just add a supplement for that possibility.
Click to expand...

Yes, he did have low potassium and the vet gave us supplements to use for 2 weeks, then we go in for another blood test.
 
Maine Coons can have problems with HCM -- hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. The heart muscle, or some parts of it, can thicken. This makes it harder for the heart to work. I'd definitely talk to your vet. I'd also discuss Dickens appetite issues with your vet. The appetite problems have been going on too long -- they need your vet's attention.

Reducing Dickens dose to 0.5u twice a day will allow you to give two shots. It's a better option than skipping a shot.
 
Good that they checked the potassium and gave you supplements :-)
Like Rhiannon said, the potassium levels need to be monitored. Potassium affects every muscle in the body, so too high can be a problem, especially with the heart (which is pretty much all muscle), which also ties into what Sienne mentioned about the maine coon breed.... Bob had to go back every two weeks for a couple of months to have his potassium level rechecked too.
Carl
 
Sounds like a quick call to the vet is in order.. If anything just to touch base in how dickens is doing, his leg weakness, potassium, and eating problems. Also when/if you go in, take your meter and strips and get the meter calibrated ie find out how it compares to his meter. You can expect theirs to be higher but then you know how yours is generally.

Meanwhile order some zobaline and change his dose to twice a day (every 12 hours) at half a unit. And try and get more food into him.. Keep trying all the different foods.. Grilled chicken, tuna, fancy feasts, etc..

Keep measuring, updating the sheet and please keep us updated on his progress! We are worried about the wee guy..
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top