Advice sought about Floyd's hind legs issue

[Jen]

Good Morning!
At my last visit to the vet, I mentioned Floyd's latest litter box annoyance, which is that he urinates up the side of the box (it's large and covered) which makes scooping quite difficult because the clumps are stuck to the side of the box. He also climbs stairs "bunny rabbit" style rather than alternating his hind legs. He DOES NOT have difficulty jumping up on counters. However, the vet said that perhaps he has pain when squatting in the box and climbing stairs, but is willing to put up with the pain when jumping up on surfaces.

I'm kind of sorry I mentioned it at all because now the vet wants to take X-rays (not sure how much that costs) and run a urinalysis (at about $200) - this a couple of days after running a full blood panel (about $250). The vet says this is necessary in case he has a bladder infection or arthritis (he's eleven). It just seems excessively expensive (which I'm willing to do- just wonder if the tests are really warranted). Sometimes I think my vet is the "spare no expense" type.

Any thoughts?

Thanks,
Jen (and Floyd)

 

[Hillary & Maui (GA)]

Is Floyd diabetic? It is very possible that he has diabetic neuropathy. Here is a good place to read and understand more about it. http://laurieulrich.com/jasper/

The bottom line, this is treatable and in most cases (depending on severity) even reversible.

You need to give him, METHYLCOBALAMIN, a form of vitamin B12. Make sure it says this type of B12 on the bottle. The recommended dose is 3-5 mg (3000-5000 mcg) one time per day. I used this one:

http://www.vitacost.com/vitacost-vitami ... 0-capsules

I opened the capsule and mixed the stuff into wet food. It was ok if the other cats ate it, as it is a vitamin and what the body doesn't absorb, it will pee out. So, it's ok for all.

Hope this helps.

 

[Jen]

Hi Hilary:
Thanks for the reply and the info, and yes Floyd is diabetic (diagnosed in March or so).
I looked at the page about diabetic neuropathy, and it doesn't really fit Floyd. He walks and runs fine - it's just stairs where he sometimes hops off his hind legs when going up, and the fact that he doesn't seem to be squatting fully in the litter box. He definitely walks on his feet as opposed to his hocks, can walk and run long distances and doesn't exhibit weakness. The vet seems fairly knowledgeable about diabetic cats, and he seemed to rule out diabetic neuropathy, mainly because Floyd is quite able to jump.
I just wondered how abnormal these symptoms are, and if they warrant spending hundreds of dollars to diagnose.
Thanks again,
Jen

 

[hmjohnston]

A fix for the stairs just to see if it is comfortable- place a board on one side of the step that makes a ramp going up. Cover it with carpet for purchase. If he starts taking that it could be arthritis.

I have to build a ramp for my old girl (17) so she can get up to where I feed/test/shoot b/c the cold weather has shown she does have a touch of the 'hurting joints'. After that it is steps up to the bed- but she is okay jumping that right now as she likes the heating pad I have on at night :lol: .

If he is peeing okay- just annoyingly, but he can do it and has no 'outside the box' accidents I, well, I wouldn't say not do it- others would have to chime in with their experience because to be honest I don't have any of that nature. So maybe the urinalysis if it comes to it but why the x-ray? 11 isn't that old for an indoor cat anymore.

 

[Hillary & Maui (GA)]

If you've ruled out neuropathy, like HM said, it could be arthritis. My Sydney had arthritis really bad, she stopped using litter boxes altogether, as it was too much for her to climb into the low box.

Does he have pain if you touch his legs, spine or back? Sydney's was really bad that just touching her she would scream.

Might he have injured himself? Did he fall, get his paw stuck or even a nail stuck and yanked it back?

It honestly could be nothing, but it also could be something - I know that doesn't help.

I understand about not wanting to test unnecessarily (not to mention the cost of doing it). I hope you can figure it out.