Maria & Suzie
Member
My Dad is looking after my Mom's cats (she passed away last year). One of these cats has epilepsy. Last week it was extremely hot and the cat, Ludde, had a couple of bad seizures. Dad found the cat in the basement, unable to walk. Most likely he took a tumble down the stairs during a seizure.
He went to the vet who gave a shot of cortisone and said to wait 3-4 days and observe. The cat ate lying down, and peed and pooed lying down (and the tail moves, so no nerve damage there).
After about 4 days (with the weekend getting in the way), the cat was dragging himself up and going to the litter tray. By this time, I got back from vacation and could get involved. There was progress, but not enough. I called the vets and booked an x-ray appointment. When we put the cat on the floor, it looked as if he could move his right leg a little, and his left leg was dragging.
The verdict was two herniated discs in the spine. The vet says she will consult with a surgical specialist. I'm not keen on back surgery, never heard of a successful one, in man nor beast. I asked about chiropracty/osteopathy kind of thing, and she said she was open to it, but did not know of anyone who does it she can refer me to (well, I can try to find someone...). She feels there is some hope as he has showed some improvement.
He is at the vets on a drip as he was anemic and dehydrated, gaining strength. She's promised to email me the x-rays but hasn't done so yet.
Does anyone have any experience with herniated discs and how to treat it? I've looked online, most of the stuff that appears is about dogs, where generally surgery seems to be avoided and folks try either cortisone treatment and rest, or chiro/osteo and/or acupuncture and swimmin therapy....
All and any ideas welcome, we promised my Mom we'd take care of her cats....
Thanks!
Maria
He went to the vet who gave a shot of cortisone and said to wait 3-4 days and observe. The cat ate lying down, and peed and pooed lying down (and the tail moves, so no nerve damage there).
After about 4 days (with the weekend getting in the way), the cat was dragging himself up and going to the litter tray. By this time, I got back from vacation and could get involved. There was progress, but not enough. I called the vets and booked an x-ray appointment. When we put the cat on the floor, it looked as if he could move his right leg a little, and his left leg was dragging.
The verdict was two herniated discs in the spine. The vet says she will consult with a surgical specialist. I'm not keen on back surgery, never heard of a successful one, in man nor beast. I asked about chiropracty/osteopathy kind of thing, and she said she was open to it, but did not know of anyone who does it she can refer me to (well, I can try to find someone...). She feels there is some hope as he has showed some improvement.
He is at the vets on a drip as he was anemic and dehydrated, gaining strength. She's promised to email me the x-rays but hasn't done so yet.
Does anyone have any experience with herniated discs and how to treat it? I've looked online, most of the stuff that appears is about dogs, where generally surgery seems to be avoided and folks try either cortisone treatment and rest, or chiro/osteo and/or acupuncture and swimmin therapy....
All and any ideas welcome, we promised my Mom we'd take care of her cats....
Thanks!
Maria
