advice needed please - problem walking

Hi friends,
I am hoping I can get some advice before I make an appointment at the vet.

Teddy's blood sugar levels have been fine lately and he's needed no insulin.

His legs have been weak and unsteady ever since he was diagnosed with diabetes.

But now his left front leg/paw is really getting bad - he is bending it back and walking on the top of that paw. (Like if our hand was the paw and we would walk on our palm - instead bend that up to your wrist and walk on the top of your hand.)

He does it off and on, but he's hobbling around and super unsteady on his feet -- he doesn't walk unless he's going to the litter box. He has a spot on the couch with a ton of soft blankets and he just loves it there. He has little steps to get down, but only does it when he goes to the litter box. He's eating (gained back to 13 pounds from the 12 he dropped to) and going to the bathroom regularly. (I bring him his food...and add water, and also syringe him extra water to keep him hydrated)

My vet is out with an injury, so I'm going to the newer lady there and I just want to be informed before I go so I know what to ask for...

I just wish I knew is this from diabetes? Arthritis? Neurological?
I'm still giving him the zobaline, cosequin, and now adequan shots in his skin.

Any advise or thoughts anyone could share with me about any of this would be so very appreciated!!

 

Hi Shawna! It's great to hear that Teddy is doing well as far as the diabetes. I don't have a lot of experience with neuropathy, and none at all with arthritis, so I can't really help with your questions, but have you also posted in the Main Forum? There might be people out there who would have more insight into this.

 

I have no advice to offer, unfortunately. I hope your new vet is helpful. I know it can take many months for Zobaline to help with neuropathy.

 

Thanks, I've been to her a few times. I just wish the Dr. was back who has much more experience. She should be back in about a month. Talk about heartbreaking to see my sweetie not be able to walk very well. I also want to know if there is a way she can definitly tell me it is neuropathy, which I'm thinking it must be.

 

Hi there! Thanks, yes seems like the diet change helped his blood sugar.
Thanks, I'll try posting there.

 

I'm glad you've kept up your SS.

 

Well not as much as I should -- how often would you recommend I test him now that he hasn't needed insulin in so long? Once every other day, or once a week?
I have the insulin here so sometimes I feel like I should be giving it to him! But his numbers are always lower than 120 on the human one.

 

I have no expertise in the low BG dose or not area. I'd post on the main health forum and ask specifically about that. It's possible that Teddy might need a little insulin to help with his neuropathy.

 

Yes! Good thinking. If I knew insulin would help his legs I'd test him all day long! Thanks for that good idea xoxo

 

Hey Shawna! I only have experience with diabetic neuropathy with Maury. Never got any pictures of it at the worst though. The hocks were easy to explain, back feet were flat, not just standing on toes. The front paws, I couldn't get pictures because when he'd stop walking, he would just lay down right away. It is possible Teddy might need the micro dose, which may also help really set in his remission. Just things I've heard about. Any chance you could get a video of him when he walks? Since it's just one paw, I'm not thinking neuropathy. Any chance he injured himself?

Hope your boy feels better

 

Hey there!
Yes I've been trying to get a video of his paw before I go to the vet. He seems to stop when I start videoing and just looks at me lol, but as soon as I get it I'll share with you!
Both front legs are weaker, but only his left is really bad and doing the bending over thing. I really don't think he could have injured himself because he doesn't do anything. I've been home the past few weeks and I'm pretty positive he didn't hurt it. It's just like his feet/legs/paws are getting weaker. I really don't know what it could be.
I tried looking on YouTube but I can't find any cats walking the way he is.
He's very shaking/wobbly when he walks.
I just wish I could figure out what is wrong. As soon as I get the video I'll share it, and I'll be making a vet appointment too.

P.s. How's your Maury doing?

Xoxoxo

 

Definitely check with the Vet . Weird question I thought of, how's the temperature of that paw? Does it feel colder / warmer than the other?

 

Hmmm I just check and they both feel normal warm (warm just from sleeping in his blankets) although he did bite me when I touched it ....lol don't worry it only scratched me. He is very grouchy (hisses all the time now) ....my poor grumpy cat! But at least he lets me give him tons of kisses without growling or biting lol!!!

 

Could be caused by spinal arthritis. How long ago did you start adequan?

http://pictures-of-cats.org/cat-walking-with-toes-bent-under.html

 

Thanks so mugh...maybe new X-rays could give some answers.
I have given him 2 shots of adequan. I'm suppose to give one shot per week for eight weeks, then once a month. I give it in the skin just like insulin, even though I read some vets say it is suppose to go into the muscle? I don't know but I'm hoping this helps him.
I think I'll request X-rays and go from there. He had X-rays in April and that's when she did find one spot of arthritis really bad on his spine. But she said at that time he didn't have any other arthritis like she would have thought.
I really wish she was back in the office...she will be back in about a month. But I think X-rays and the other vets opinion is definitly needed right now. My poor Ted.
I hope you are doing well and enjoying your summer!

 

It seems that X-rays would be a good thing to get right now. That article Janet posted is very interesting. His spinal arthritis might also be painful and that could make him grumpy.

 

Yes, thanks, I think I'll definitly ask for X-rays. I just wanted to have somewhat of a plan just in case.
Yes he hisses a lot if I move near him. My poor sweetie. I have single doses of Buprenex, but she only gives me five doses at a time and it's expensive. It works for his pain even though he totally zones out.

 

I just started adequan with my cat as well. We are doing 2 shots a week for 4 weeks then 1 time a month. We have only done 3 shots so far. I see a slight improvement. Limping less, tail up in the air, can get on the couch easier.

 

Another thing my vet proposed was using Gabapentin for pain, but I inquired about the adequan and she agreed to try that first.

 

Do you give the adequan shot in the skin just like insulin?
I haven't seen any improvement. I've only given two shots though, she said after the eight weeks I may see improvement.
I tried Gabapentin for pain but he didn't react well to it. He would do weird tremors. Now I'm not certain the tremoring was even from the gabapentin, but just overall that medicine wasn't ideal for him.
So far this Buprenex is the best, it's just so expensive.

 

Yes it's subcutaneous Originally it was only injected into the muscle, but now it's under the skin. My vet said she gives it to her own cats as well.... Her one cat she gives it every three weeks or he starts to limp again. I guess we will see.

 

I've only read that it's given twice a week at first. It's different that your vet said once a week.

 

Ok good to know, I was a little worried.
Oh my I hope she didn't make a mistake by telling me once a week for eight weeks. God knows my Teddy needs all the help he can get right now. I'll double check with her when I go in for his appointment.

 

Do you mean subcutaneous?

 

Chuck had disc space narrowing that was pinching his nerves to his back legs. I thought he threw a clot but a heating blanket made into a bed on lowest setting over night helped him. He was mostly walking by the time we got to the vet in the morning. X-rays showed he was very constipated (they thought mega colon at first), had arthritis, and disc space narrowing. Chuck has only been constipated that one time in his entire life. If I didn't see the X-ray I would have thought she was crazy.
He would scream in pain when trying to walk. Hiss and growl when I picked him up or touched him.
My first thought about your kitty's foot folding under was nerve damage or spinal injury. I've seen it in dogs before that have recovered most of their normal use of limbs.
I hope it's nothing close to that bad of a diagnosis for your kitty.

 

Yes I have no idea what I am saying, lol, I mean the kind of shot that just goes into the skin...not into the muscle. The same kind of shot as how the insulin goes in.
thanks!

 

Oh thank you for sharing with me. If it's nerve damage can it be fixed? What kind of treatment could be possible? He hisses and growls a lot these days. He sleeps right next to me, but if I move wrong or bump him he growls and hisses at me.
It seems like over time (since feb when I first saw him getting sick) it's just getting worse and worse. Seeing his little paw like that is heartbreaking. It kind of would make sense though because he did have a patch of arthritis right on his spine. He hasn't had a spine injury but it could be his discs or does arthrtitis cause nerve damage? Sorry if that's a dumb question. I've googled it a lot but sometimes there is just so much info out there I just don't know.

Thanks again for sharing that with me! xoxox

 

How did Chuck recover from the pinching nerve?

 

Chuck recovered about 90%. His right back leg is a bit lame. It sticks out and forward a bit while sitting or crouching. He walks with what looks like a stiff leg/hip. But he runs and jumps with no issues. Just looks a bit silly when he runs. I give him glucosamine/chondroitin supplement to help his joints.
After 1 day of metacam (I know it's not recommended here, this was 3 years ago) he was yelling at me to let him out of his single room rest/confinement.
We haven't seen any more painful episodes like that since.
As for repairing nerve damage, I believe it all depends on how it's damaged and how bad (kinda like people). Chuck's was only pinched for a few hours so he recovered really well.

 

Maybe you could lightly massage around the area or just give him a full massage and a brushing-- a day at the spa.

 

Im so glad to hear Chuck recovered so well! My vet has Theodore on daily Meloxidyl (if I'm not mistaken I believe that is the same as metacam?) but I don't notice much difference when he takes it.
I can't imagine him ever being able to jump again...I'd cry big tears to see that! But I just need to figure out how to relieve his pain. My poor kitty. Thanks again and I'll let you know what the vet says.

 

Well, then he would bite me lol...... even if I did as light as possible...
But that is a good suggestion for other cats, so I do appreciate it! Teddy will just have none of that though...he hisses and growls...my little sweetie pie grumpy cat. I know he's just in pain though.

 

Oh yes sorry.... Yes not in the mouth. I will edit

 

Just an update on the vet appointment....

The Vet said that he has nerve pain/damage. She said it could be from a fall (and he did tumble off the couch a couple weeks ago) -- but his foot was starting to decline before that....but that could of made it worse...she said sometimes nerve pain can be from arthritis. I knew that but I need to research more on why. She said it's not from his lower back spinal arthritis. She said if that was the case he would have pain in his neck? And he doesn't seem to have pain there when she was examining him. I don't really know.

She said I can either bring him to a specialist at the university to do neurological testing -- or I can monitor him for two weeks and hope he gets better.
I'm not going to do the testing right now (and I'd do anything for my Teddy) but, it just seems like there's nothing that can be done even if I did go that route. I'm just going to stay calm, monitor him, and help him.

She gave a lower dose of gabapentin (I need to pick it up when it comes in) -- even though that medicine didn't work so great for him before, be also had a lot more going on before with untreated diabetes, etc. so I'll try it again.

And I have a lower dose of Buprenex, which works so week for him to relief pain.

And Meloxidyl, which she wants me to keep giving him daily.

She said I can give all medicines. I just want teddy to be comfortable. I don't always give all the medicine every day, I just try to judge how he's feelig

He is still making it to the litter box. At times he has to stop because his foot won't support him.

Young - she checked the temperature of his feet and told me all about blood clots. The temp is fine, but good job asking about that, I appreciate you!!

The vet who is an experienced vet will be back in the office in about a month. When she comes back I am going to have her do the X-rays and blood work again. It's her practice and she's had years and years of experience. So I'm patiently waiting for her. But this vet is so very sweet and she always is there if teddy needs anything, so I'm thankful for her too.

So not much of any answers...
Hope this finds you all doing well, xoxo

 

Thanks for the update, Shawna. This is one of those frustrating situations where there are no easy answers so you just have to go at it from the perspective of symptom/pain relief. He'll be happier and more functional if he's comfortable and the pain meds might be better at lower doses.

 

Thanks Kris. I wish I knew what was wrong exactly, but I understand sometimes that's not possible. Thanks for your kindness!

 

I'm sorry you didn't get many answers! But hopefully the pain meds will help and with luck, things will improve.

 

Thanks I hope so too

 

Exactly what I was thinking. It may even reduce some swelling which will ease up the pressure on the nerves.

 

Good to hear since that is why I asked .

Did you ask about cold therapy on his paw? I know they recommend within a day or two but if it is swollen, it might still help? Same for people. Wrap an ice pack or frozen veggie bag in a towel or something, for like 10 minutes (if he will allow the entire 10 even ) then take a little break and do again.

I hope the meds help him be a little more comfortable while you wait for the other Vet.

One last weird suggestion/thought. If you see him laying on that paw, try to roll him over on his other side so there is less pressure.

 

Well his paw isn't swollen at all. I will try to roll him over though because he's curling that foot up (bending it in) and lying on it....just looks painful, but when I gently try to straighten it he expresses his feelings with hissing lol

 

One more update in case anyone sees this. I am trying Gabapentin again and it worked so well today. No hissing or growling at all. The last time he tried it was before I knew he had diabetes, and I guess because of everything else going on it didn't work.

 

Glad it's taking the edge off for him. I hope it relieves his pain enough to get him more mobile.

 

Good pain reduction while keeping him alert and not over drugged is what Teddy needs. He'll feel better just from being able to move around more easily. Good news!