Hi everyone, I have a neuropathy question. Sam was diagnosed about 3 months ago. Since his diagnosis and at-home testing (using ReliOn Prime) I've been able to get him down to 0.5u of insulin twice per day and keep his levels between 70-150. He usually hangs out between 70 and 90. So that is his brief background leading up to my question….despite his numbers looking so good, I have seen basically no improvement in his neuropathy. It is worse in his back right leg. His left one seems to be more or less ok, but he has basically no control over his right, which makes him unable to walk on all 4 legs. I had heard wonders about Zobaline, so I bought a bottle over a month ago and was so excited to try it, only to be very let down. I don't think it has done anything at all to help him. I hate watching him struggle to walk and he is no longer able to snuggle in bed with me or sit on his favorite spot on the couch without help, and has to be cleaned fairly frequently from falling in the litter box. Does anyone have any suggestions of something that might help him?
Neuropathy Help!
- Thread starter erinmller
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BJM
Member Since 2010
It may not be neuropathy. You need a vet to check for eletcrolyte disturbances (potassium is often low in diabetics), blood clots, and neurologic disorders.
And if it is diabetic neuropathy, it can take a couple of months for both good control and the methylcobalamin to work.
And if it is diabetic neuropathy, it can take a couple of months for both good control and the methylcobalamin to work.
Elizabeth and Bertie
Member Since 2010
As BJ says, it may not be neuropathy.
And I agree that a vet visit sounds in order.
Exactly what symptoms are you seeing in that back leg? And how long have those symptoms been evident?
Could it be due to injury? Or arthritis?
Perhaps he needs anti-inflammatory meds? (Or maybe you could you try a natural anti-inflammatory such as fish oil?)
If it is arthritis then quite a few of us here have found Cosequin beneficial.
As to neuropathy, my cat was lucky in that his symptoms resolved in about a month on Zobaline. But many cats take longer. Nerve damage is slow to heal.
Here's hoping - whatever the problem - that your kitty is feeling much better soon.
Eliz
And I agree that a vet visit sounds in order.
Exactly what symptoms are you seeing in that back leg? And how long have those symptoms been evident?
Could it be due to injury? Or arthritis?
Perhaps he needs anti-inflammatory meds? (Or maybe you could you try a natural anti-inflammatory such as fish oil?)
If it is arthritis then quite a few of us here have found Cosequin beneficial.
As to neuropathy, my cat was lucky in that his symptoms resolved in about a month on Zobaline. But many cats take longer. Nerve damage is slow to heal.
Here's hoping - whatever the problem - that your kitty is feeling much better soon.
Eliz
Thank you both! I have set up an appt with the vet for 3:00 this afternoon. We did x-rays before his diabetes diagnosis because he showed the neuropathy before any other symptoms, and nothing showed on them. The vet was concerned about a spinal injury, but no breaks or fractures showed up, nor did evidence of arthritis.
His exact symptoms are that when he is able to get up on his hind legs, which usually only occurs with my or my fiancé's help, he can walk on all 4 of them if he moves very slowly. When he's walking, he will stretch his right hind leg completely straight back behind him, almost like a person stretching a limb, before he tries to plant it. But when he tries to walk at what he considers to be a normal speed, he's unable to. He makes it about two steps before his right leg gives out and then he does this strange looking half crawl, half walk where his front two legs do most of the work and his back leg is trying to get himself back up, but the right is just stretched out and not doing anything.
We'll see what the vet says today. I had put him on coesquin before Zobaline and it gave him horrible diarrhea so I took him back off. Maybe some fish oil could be helpful? I'll discuss all this with the vet today and I'll do another reply post with what we find out. Thank you both again for your suggestions!
His exact symptoms are that when he is able to get up on his hind legs, which usually only occurs with my or my fiancé's help, he can walk on all 4 of them if he moves very slowly. When he's walking, he will stretch his right hind leg completely straight back behind him, almost like a person stretching a limb, before he tries to plant it. But when he tries to walk at what he considers to be a normal speed, he's unable to. He makes it about two steps before his right leg gives out and then he does this strange looking half crawl, half walk where his front two legs do most of the work and his back leg is trying to get himself back up, but the right is just stretched out and not doing anything.
We'll see what the vet says today. I had put him on coesquin before Zobaline and it gave him horrible diarrhea so I took him back off. Maybe some fish oil could be helpful? I'll discuss all this with the vet today and I'll do another reply post with what we find out. Thank you both again for your suggestions!
Deb & Wink
Member Since 2013
What you are describing does not sound like neuropathy to me.
When Wink first came to live with me, he had severe diabetic neuropathy. Walking entirely on his hocks. Had to stop every 3-4 steps to rest because it hurts. Could barely get up my stairs. No luck at jumping. His neuropathy has done a 180 and he walks normally now, runs and jumps and plays with the other 2 kitties. He even jumps up on the kitchen island counter, and that's 3.5 - 4 feet off the ground.
When Wink first came to live with me, he had severe diabetic neuropathy. Walking entirely on his hocks. Had to stop every 3-4 steps to rest because it hurts. Could barely get up my stairs. No luck at jumping. His neuropathy has done a 180 and he walks normally now, runs and jumps and plays with the other 2 kitties. He even jumps up on the kitchen island counter, and that's 3.5 - 4 feet off the ground.
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