Just got a call from my son who took Skye to the Vet's this am, they think he has a brain tumor...but they are trying steroid shots for a few days to see if the ear infection is causing his unbalancing walk. Meanwhile I have to look for a neurologist to see if it is a tumor. Why?
Skye went to Vet's
- Thread starter popposgrl
- Start date
- Status
Sue and Oliver (GA)
Very Active Member
Oh no. I will be hoping against hope that it is the ear infection and not a tumor. (hoping it is that looking for horses and not zebras when you hear hooves....since he has had an ear infection, it seems likely that the medicine for it isn't working. At least that is what I'll hope for)
Steroids aren't great for diabetics so expect wonky numbers for awhile.
Steroids aren't great for diabetics so expect wonky numbers for awhile.
Thanks Sue...if you don't mind, I'll wait for the spreadsheet. We're going to do steroids until friday,,
If he's not better, I'm going to have to put him down. I don't want him to suffer anymore than he has already. The vet said the steroids would help with the pain and infection...he lost another pound, he only weighs 8.1.
If he's not better, I'm going to have to put him down. I don't want him to suffer anymore than he has already. The vet said the steroids would help with the pain and infection...he lost another pound, he only weighs 8.1.
jt and trouble (GA)
Very Active Member
Sending prayers for your Skye kitty..
jeanne
jeanne
Thanks Jeanne, every prayer helps. He is still walking crazy, but at least I know it's not the diabetes. I can only hope that it's the infection. He has dropped so much weight that the vet said to feed him whenever he wants. So Skye has been eating at 2am,5:30am, 3:00pm 5:30pm and sometimes 9-10pm but it's all small amounts...he gets his shot on the 5:30 marks and for now I'm not testing because the numbers will be all over the place because of the steroids. and I see no reason to add to his misery. My son gave me $200.00 so I can make the appt with the neurologist...I just might have to put him back in my will...LOL
Thank you again for your warm thoughts...~Patti
Thank you again for your warm thoughts...~Patti
Doug N Libby
Very Active Member
Oh, my - I DO hope and pray the infection is the culprit!
Prayers for you and Skye -
Libby (and Hershey, too!)
Prayers for you and Skye -
Libby (and Hershey, too!)
Angela&Henry
Very Active Member
Hello, I just got a heads up about your kitty with the ear problem and wanted to offer some encouragement.
I take care of a cat at my grandmother's that came up as a stray about 4-5 years ago. He lived outside but was very tame and was neutered and ear tipped when he arrived.
For the last several years, he pawed at his ear constantly and would periodically have the side of his face raw. We assumed he had ear mites even though we put Revolution on him when we could.
About a month ago, he looked bad, and was seeming to lose his balance sometimes. My grandmother was in the hospital and then rehab so my mother or I would feed him and another kitty outside twice a day. One night my mother went to feed them and he tried to get on the deck lost his balance and couldn't stand and was falling over and rolling on the ground. It was late at night and my mother didn't have a carrier, so she wrapped him in a towel and put him in a box on the porch and I went the next morning with a carrier to take him to the vet. When I got there he was gone and although I didn't know how he could have gotten out as bad as he was he had disappeared. We looked for him every day for a week and then a week and a day after we last saw him, he came back and was on the deck and very hungry. At this time he was unsteady with his head tilted to the side. I was able to get him inside for the night and next day took him to the vet.
Turns out he did not have ear mites, he had a tumor in the ear canal which was removed. The vet said these kind of tumors although considered malignant stay localized. That was about a week and a half ago. He did very well when he first came home, eating well, still had the head tilt, then he had a little setback and we started giving him ear and eye drops. On Friday, he was still eating but drinking little water, seems the head tilt has affected his ability to lap water. On Saturday, he seemed to feel bad so we took him back in and he stayed the weekend. He was dehydrated a little and got SQ fluids. He also received a steroid shot. The vet said it is possible that a small portion of the tumor was down deeper in the inner ear canal that she didn't get and though she can't operate there, a vet specialist at the vet school could. I live in a small town and this is a small vet practice. We picked him up Monday and right now he is much improved, walking much much straighter, able to jump up on things and very affectionate and comfortable. His eye is looking better from infection and he is eating real well, we are adding water to his food since he still is having some difficulty drinking enough water with the head tilt, but it also is getting better. Hes now living inside with my grandmother.
I just wanted to give you some hope, since it sounds like it could be the same thing with your Skye. Love Bug has had this problem for a long time and it sounds like Skye hasn't. If it is this type of tumor in the ear canal it is very operable especially if caught early and is not the type that spreads.
I hope you get some answers and wishing Skye the best.
If you have any questions you can PM me.
I take care of a cat at my grandmother's that came up as a stray about 4-5 years ago. He lived outside but was very tame and was neutered and ear tipped when he arrived.
For the last several years, he pawed at his ear constantly and would periodically have the side of his face raw. We assumed he had ear mites even though we put Revolution on him when we could.
About a month ago, he looked bad, and was seeming to lose his balance sometimes. My grandmother was in the hospital and then rehab so my mother or I would feed him and another kitty outside twice a day. One night my mother went to feed them and he tried to get on the deck lost his balance and couldn't stand and was falling over and rolling on the ground. It was late at night and my mother didn't have a carrier, so she wrapped him in a towel and put him in a box on the porch and I went the next morning with a carrier to take him to the vet. When I got there he was gone and although I didn't know how he could have gotten out as bad as he was he had disappeared. We looked for him every day for a week and then a week and a day after we last saw him, he came back and was on the deck and very hungry. At this time he was unsteady with his head tilted to the side. I was able to get him inside for the night and next day took him to the vet.
Turns out he did not have ear mites, he had a tumor in the ear canal which was removed. The vet said these kind of tumors although considered malignant stay localized. That was about a week and a half ago. He did very well when he first came home, eating well, still had the head tilt, then he had a little setback and we started giving him ear and eye drops. On Friday, he was still eating but drinking little water, seems the head tilt has affected his ability to lap water. On Saturday, he seemed to feel bad so we took him back in and he stayed the weekend. He was dehydrated a little and got SQ fluids. He also received a steroid shot. The vet said it is possible that a small portion of the tumor was down deeper in the inner ear canal that she didn't get and though she can't operate there, a vet specialist at the vet school could. I live in a small town and this is a small vet practice. We picked him up Monday and right now he is much improved, walking much much straighter, able to jump up on things and very affectionate and comfortable. His eye is looking better from infection and he is eating real well, we are adding water to his food since he still is having some difficulty drinking enough water with the head tilt, but it also is getting better. Hes now living inside with my grandmother.
I just wanted to give you some hope, since it sounds like it could be the same thing with your Skye. Love Bug has had this problem for a long time and it sounds like Skye hasn't. If it is this type of tumor in the ear canal it is very operable especially if caught early and is not the type that spreads.
I hope you get some answers and wishing Skye the best.
If you have any questions you can PM me.
Angela&Henry
Very Active Member
Your'e not that far away from me.
Love Bug is still doing well. Still has a slight head tilt but hes eating great, jumping up on everything and walking good.
Today he jumped on the coffee table where his eye and drops were in a bag along with his cat treats and pulled the medicine out and was trying to open the bag of treats.
Best of luck to Skye!
UF Vet school is not too far away in Gainesville, but anything thats contained to the outer/middle canal should be able to be removed by a good general practice vet. Only when its in the inner canal would a specialist be needed usually.
Love Bug is still doing well. Still has a slight head tilt but hes eating great, jumping up on everything and walking good.
Today he jumped on the coffee table where his eye and drops were in a bag along with his cat treats and pulled the medicine out and was trying to open the bag of treats.
Best of luck to Skye!
UF Vet school is not too far away in Gainesville, but anything thats contained to the outer/middle canal should be able to be removed by a good general practice vet. Only when its in the inner canal would a specialist be needed usually.
- Status