Neuropathy seeming to get worse even when in remission?

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NitroViper

NitroViper

Member Since 2014
Wease Neuropathy seems to be getting worse, definitely not better. He has been on b12 for 12 days now. His legs still seem weak and standing more on his hocks, (I think that's what it is called). When he tries to sit on his butt he kind of just squats but it seems worse now.

His numbers have been really good.
 
I can't help you much, other than to say that it can take months, not weeks, for the B-12 to work, so you may just be expecting too much, too soon.

Hope Wease and you are doing well otherwise! His numbers are looking great!! :mrgreen:
 
It can take a wee while for the B12 to work because nerves heal slowly. (Incidentally are you definitely giving methyl B12/methylcobalamin? )
Encouraging the cat to excercise can also help.

But there are also other less common causes of cats walking or squatting on their hocks ('plantigrade stance') - including (but not limited to) high phosphorous levels or low potassium levels. I'm sure others here know more about that though than I do...

I do hope your kitty is feeling better soon.

(((Hugs)))

Eliz
 
If it is getting worse despite good glucose control, it is time to see a vet again.
 
Elizabeth and Bertie said:
(Incidentally are you definitely giving methyl B12/methylcobalamin? )

Eliz
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Yes from vitacost as recommended on here. He just sleeps so much as there is nothing to do in a 1 bedroom apartment and the weather has been terrible for months and months! He is not able to get much exercise besides walking to the food and litterbox.

I understand the meds will take a while, just doesn't seem like he would be getting worse. Or maybe its just me worrying.
 
I agree, if you think it's getting worse it might be time to see the vet. As I mentioned before, Dusty has a touch of neuropathy but it's been getting slowly better. When he's laying around and suddenly gets up it takes him a couple of steps to get his rear legs going but then he's normal. He still has the strength to jump on counters and and other high places so it's not too bad. Does Wease have any trouble jumping up on high places? Some of this damage may take years to get better if ever, I wonder if anyone out there has experience with longterm healing and how long it takes?
 
Well when food is involved he will run up and down the stairs. He jumps on my bed and my lap. But he just looks so stiff when he is just being lazy.
 
I'm dealing with the same thing! Blu isn't OTJ yet - 4 more days to go - but his back legs are worse than at the time of diagnosis 3 months ago. He walks "low" on his back legs, not quite on his hocks, but halfway there. He also has to sit every 10 feet or so after walking, and is wobbly when getting his balance standing up. He can jump on the couch and bed but not anything higher. Also, Blu never seemed "regulated"...he had pre-shot numbers ranging from the 200's into the low 300's and then very suddenly just dropped to under 100 in a matter of days, so I'm guessing those 2.5 months of high numbers even on insulin contributed to the worsening neuropathy. I just started Zobaline last week.

He's going to the vet today and if she tells me anything that hasn't been mentioned I will share tomorrow.
 
Is he still urinating a lot? That can be due to renal insufficiency or hyperthyroidism and may deplete electrolytes necessary for proper muscle function, hence walking low on the hocks. Again, a vet may be able to identify what is going on.
 
BJM said:
Is he still urinating a lot? That can be due to renal insufficiency or hyperthyroidism and may deplete electrolytes necessary for proper muscle function, hence walking low on the hocks. Again, a vet may be able to identify what is going on.
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They tested his thyroid with the blood test and he said everything else came back mostly normal. He said any numbers that looked a little off was probably because of the diabetes. I have called him twice and asked for a call back within the last 2 weeks and he has never called back.
 
Following up as promised following Blu's vet visit and his neuropathy as it seems are cats have similiar experiences...

The vet did a range of motion exam, and according to her, his flexibility wasn't awesome but not awful, basically age appropriate. She thinks he might have a bit of arthritis mixed in with the neuropathy.

She supported the B-12 supplement but also recommended another supplement along with it called Cosequin. She said she has seen results from it both with diabetic-related neuropathy and age-related arthrits. They are the gel type tabs that you can open up and sprinkle the product right on the food. (hate pilling cats!)
Here is the link to it on Pet Meds http://www.1800petmeds.com/Cosequin+For ... OgodTxYAcg

She added that patience is a virtue with neuropathy, some cats improve quickly once sugars are regulated, but she also said MANY cats need 3-6 months of regulated sugars to see the best results in terms of improvement.

Might be worth asking your vet to check range of motion and see his/her thoughts on the Cosequin. Oh, the vet said she thinks it is the glucosamine in the Cosequin that really helps in conjuction with the B-12. She said that there are other cat supplements that have glucosamine in them but can adversley affect blood sugar so her preferred brand for a joint health supplement for cats with diabetes is Cosequin.

Anyway, others here may have better/more advice, I'm just sharing what the vet said in case it offers any insight.
 
Cosequin is a popular supplement for kitty arthritis, and my little arthritic boy certainly improved quite noticably after a just a few weeks on Cosequin. He never seemed to notice the powder in his food.
 
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