Fred can't walk--toes curling under, all legs limp

Status
Not open for further replies.

Martica and Fred

Active Member
Hi
I had a few scares with Fred over the past few weeks, found out with an Xray that he probably has fluid returning to his lungs (although his kidney values have shockingly improvved for NO reason--Creat went from 91 in July to 71 last week and BUN went from 5.1 in July to 3.0 last week). But he has fluid in the lungs again so I've been giving him Lasix again. Spoke to--did not visit--the new cardiologist who replaced mine who moved. She suggested with try a couple of days of 3 times/day Lasix...SO-on Thursday (today is Sunda) I gave him 3 doses of Lasix
1/4 tab, (had been giving him 2 doses).

His breathing was pretty good, but then I found blood on his diaper (vague pink spot) on Friday. Took hiim in, not the normal vet...she squeezed his penis said it looked a little irritated but all fine, squeezed bladder or somesuch and said the fluid was clear. Did not do a urine test. The next day, ysterday, I found more blood on the diaper and a small coagulated piece. I called her, she was on call and she was not very helpful but said bring him in today if it's worse. Well today there was a faint pink spot this morning but nothing more.

On Friday at the vets Fred was walking and his left back toe started curling under, like he couldn't spread his toes, he kept walking on it and sometimes the
right back leg would do that. Then yesterday BOTH feet were doing it, although he kept walking (to the kitchen to eat) I was having to walk behind him to
balance his hips because the club feet were making him fall, although he kept walking with them--they did not seem to hurt. A cat sitter who was new was over to meet me and Fred and she said it was a neurological thing.

I had given him his 8th dose of B12, a shot, on Friday morning, not sure if that could have done this, or perhpas the dehydration. In the past he always walks
worse when his blood sugar is high, and they were for a few days this week...but never this toe curling under thing.

And today he could not walk at all, can't stand up on any of his legs. He doesn't seem to be in pain, has been content, has eaten. I didn't give him a
lasix at all yesterday since the cat sitter went on about how dehydrated he was. Today I gave him one dose of Lasix only. His breathing is fine...and he's beeen resting and looking peaceful and also alert...

but he's not walking or even standing up on his own. What can this be? Not sure what to do. I did mention it to the on call vet and
she said it sounded neurological...that was yesterday when I just metnioned the toe curling...

anyway.. my poor guy, things are just starting to break down. Not sure if I should just not worry about this. The on call vet said that if it were her cat
she would put him to sleep (when we were discussing the possible UTI or whatever else the blood could be). I'm jus tnot sure about that, the vet the week before said he did not think he was in pain or suffering, although his quality of life (dep. on whose definition you use, was not great). Anyway, that's not my immediate dilemma since Fred is eating and stills eeming good, today and yesterday at least.

But what about this limpness/paralysis (not sure it's totally paralyzed, he moves a little when he's lying). I don't think this is painful. :(
 
Martica, not much help from me other than it does sound more neurological or even spinal. There is also the fluid build up, all his problems plus age and his body may just slowly be shutting down. So hard to know which way to go......only you truly know Fred and if he is still fighting or ready to leave. My thoughts and prayers go out to you and Fred and that somehow you know what is the best to do for him. If only they could talk to us.....just for a few minutes, ya know!
 
Thank you Hope. Well he just got the shivers again. His body temp seems to periodically dip and then I hold him close in blankets with a heating pad. But he also has alert times so I just don't know. I just don't know what to think abut this limp thing though.
 
martika, i am worried about a clot or stroke. can you bring him to vet asap? (are his legs cold, or is any part of his legs cold? that would make me suspect clot) can you get potassium checked?
 
Oh, sorry to hear that Fred isn't having a good day :cry: I believe that another vet visit would be a good thing to do, just for peace of mind if nothing else. I will be thinking of you guys today and will say a prayer that all goes well.
 
I remember Jojo telling me one time that shivering could be a sign of pain. I really hope Fred will be okay and I know how much you love him and want him to be well.
 
OK go figure. Fred had a (dare I say?), fantastic, day today. I did not give him any Lasix today or yesterday. He sat bundled up all day in between eating all day. He ate like a hound and purred quite a lot in the morning.

I just now washed him off after eating and he almost immediately got the shivers (it must be 66 in my apt now that the temp has dropped.) So we re-bundled with a heating pad and he's lying there peacefully, no noise in his breathing at all (in fact, not any most of the day, ust a few moments--maybe due to positioning?)) So I am pretty sure that trembling is not pain. He has lost weight and lost some fur, and his diseases make him be much more fragile when it comes to temp I think.

Someone had mentioned that the limp could be a K deficiency brought on by the Lasix. The limp started the day after his TID dose of it....so that would make sense....I feel like today his legs started being slightly activated again...I didn't give him any potassium since I don't have any but it will be in his food, and I also switched from his distilled, back to tap water....he actually tried to walk a few steps (with me holding him up) and his back legs moved, so I'm thinking that could explain it. We'll se the progress tomorrow. (Oh, NO blood in the diaper...so whatever that was...perhaps also induced by the dehydration/Lasix?, it doesn't look like a UTI, thank goodness.)

I can't kid myself, he still has all these diseases and my little guy is 20 years old, and the xrays last Friday DID show fluid (it seems) on the lungs....but.... I have to say he was alert, happy, feeling good, eating, resting, all day today. and we got one good poop, too.

It's been a rollercoaster ride, for sure. Anyway, I think we're living day by day. Thank you for all your comments and good wishes, it all helps. The on-call vet who talked to me on Saturday about the blood had absolutely nothing helpful to say, when I mentioned the limp, she'd just read his charts the day before--did she suggest a K deificency? Of course not. It was the people on this and the feline heart yahoo board that have been way more helpful....
 
Today his blood sugar is really high and poor baby feels bad again, tired. I think I gave him a fur shot last night :( I smelled it but thought maybe some of it still went in. Poor little guy, if it's not one thing, it's another. His breathing is all clear though.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top