cornad
Member
Hello all. I haven't posted in a bit since the lost of my beloved Spence (who was diabetic and home testing/felinediabetes.com saved his life). He lost his fight with cancer about 6 months ago (I miss him dearly and think about him several times everyday). We also have another cat, Sammie, who is about 10 years old.
Sammie started exhibiting weird signs, like a stiff leg about a week ago. We picked him up and he let out this low completely odd meow, a sound we never heard him make before. We thought maybe his leg was broken or injured. Sam went to the vet and nothing was found to be abnormal. They did some bloodwork and everything was "fine." Sammie ate and seemed to be getting a little bit better, although his leg was a little funny.
About a day ago, I noticed Sam was exhibiting a sign I've learned about in nursing school that is can be seen with stroke patients. I gave him food and he ate everything on the right side but not the left, like a complete half. I did a mini neuro check, well the best I could (I know how to perform one on humans but not sure on cats, so I winged it) and I found that he is blind in his left eye. And he also has decreased sensation and strength on his left side. Although he can't see in his left eye, both pupils constrict and react to light equally.
Needless to say we are devastated. He is eating and drinking. We have an appointment today, in the afternoon and I'm so scared.
Does this sound like a stroke? I have no idea what could have caused this. If it is a stroke, does anyone know the basic prognoses seen in cats? Does anyone know if the vision impairment can be temporary? I really need hope right because I'm just so so sad. He's such an energetic and playful cat, it pains all of us to see him like this.
Thank you for reading.
UPDATE: Sammie was acting very strange last night. His eyes were barely opened and was barely responding to stimuli (although he head was up and he was breathing). My sister and I freaked out and bought him to an emergency clinic.
Sammie became more alert but still very confused and walking in circles. The vet believes he has a brain tumor because she thinks what I described is a progression of symptoms rather than a sudden on change seen with strokes. Deep down I want to believe its a stroke
. She found the blindness in one eye, weakness, circling, and that he also had a fever.
Our options were to get him some mannitol to reduce swelling, prednisolone, antibiotic, more bloodwork for feline infectious diseases, overnight, neuro consult, possibly an MRI (which is $1400 additional). The other option which we took since we still have an appointment with another vet at 4PM today, was to give him some prednisolone and antibiotic (that she didn't have onsite..so I have to wait for 4PM to get some).
He's 10 years old. I didn't prepare myself for this possibly diagnosis. Any advice about possible brain tumors? I checked up on him a few mins ago, he feels warm, like he has a fever. I'm going to wake up my family and see if we can bring him now.
We can't afford a MRI and possible brain surgery if it's operable. I'm so sad. Excuse the typos, I'm not 100% here right now. :sad:
Sammie started exhibiting weird signs, like a stiff leg about a week ago. We picked him up and he let out this low completely odd meow, a sound we never heard him make before. We thought maybe his leg was broken or injured. Sam went to the vet and nothing was found to be abnormal. They did some bloodwork and everything was "fine." Sammie ate and seemed to be getting a little bit better, although his leg was a little funny.
About a day ago, I noticed Sam was exhibiting a sign I've learned about in nursing school that is can be seen with stroke patients. I gave him food and he ate everything on the right side but not the left, like a complete half. I did a mini neuro check, well the best I could (I know how to perform one on humans but not sure on cats, so I winged it) and I found that he is blind in his left eye. And he also has decreased sensation and strength on his left side. Although he can't see in his left eye, both pupils constrict and react to light equally.
Needless to say we are devastated. He is eating and drinking. We have an appointment today, in the afternoon and I'm so scared.
Does this sound like a stroke? I have no idea what could have caused this. If it is a stroke, does anyone know the basic prognoses seen in cats? Does anyone know if the vision impairment can be temporary? I really need hope right because I'm just so so sad. He's such an energetic and playful cat, it pains all of us to see him like this.
Thank you for reading.
UPDATE: Sammie was acting very strange last night. His eyes were barely opened and was barely responding to stimuli (although he head was up and he was breathing). My sister and I freaked out and bought him to an emergency clinic.
Sammie became more alert but still very confused and walking in circles. The vet believes he has a brain tumor because she thinks what I described is a progression of symptoms rather than a sudden on change seen with strokes. Deep down I want to believe its a stroke
. She found the blindness in one eye, weakness, circling, and that he also had a fever.Our options were to get him some mannitol to reduce swelling, prednisolone, antibiotic, more bloodwork for feline infectious diseases, overnight, neuro consult, possibly an MRI (which is $1400 additional). The other option which we took since we still have an appointment with another vet at 4PM today, was to give him some prednisolone and antibiotic (that she didn't have onsite..so I have to wait for 4PM to get some).
He's 10 years old. I didn't prepare myself for this possibly diagnosis. Any advice about possible brain tumors? I checked up on him a few mins ago, he feels warm, like he has a fever. I'm going to wake up my family and see if we can bring him now.
We can't afford a MRI and possible brain surgery if it's operable. I'm so sad. Excuse the typos, I'm not 100% here right now. :sad:
