Vestibular disease/condition

[KatyMac]

My oriental is 8 and a half; she is a delicate little thing, always cold!

She developed a vestibular problem at the start of October. She was treated and stopped the antibiotics 2nd/3rd week of November.

It was back again on Saturday

I know I have to talk it over with the vet - but I'm thinking she's really going to struggle if this is reoccurring. She can't have an MRI as our insurance is out of money, so they only thing to do is the op under her jaw to clear out her ear & I worry about her coping with that.

Can everyone be realistic with me please? Is this normally a one off & she will get better the reoccurrence just a blip? Or is this something she will get over & over again?

[cozietoesie]

My understanding is that this is normally a one off - but not always, and some cats with oriental bloodlines apparently have a congenital/recurring form of it. It doesn't seem to be completely understood.

I'm a little concerned by your insurance situation - what did you mean by your insurance 'running out of money'? If she's got it back again, I would have thought they ought to be having a look to see if there was some obvious underlying cause.

Poor you and her. It must be very disconcerting, cats relying on balance so much.

[KatyMac]

We spent about £1000 in October, we have a condition limit of £2k a year & the year starts at the end of Feb
You pay your insurance & think you are covered

The vet suggested an MRI (£2500) & complex op (£1800) but I don't think we can afford it

We spent £250 yesterday stabilising her and the op the vet has suggested is about £700 so we are going to have to pay loads even if we go for the lower op

[cozietoesie]

Ouch. I haven't got insurance for Seniorboy (he was too old when I got him to find a halfway reasonable one) but that sounds a tad tough. The trouble is that switching providers now would probably get you nowhere for this because of the standard 'pre-existing condition' thing. Maybe some other posters could alert you to better deals in general for the future if not, sadly, for this.

And that is a lot of money, especially with no guarantee of success.

I think you'll need to talk to the vet on this. Difficult position for you.

[KatyMac]

I'm worried about how delicate she is really - I'm not sure I want to traumatise her with the op if the outcome isn't fairly positive (I'm not asking for guarantees)

[cozietoesie]

She might appear delicate but actually have a fairly robust constitution. (Seniorboy (a Siamese) is always cold but is still going at 18 and is the longest lived of our family's cats.) Has the vet given you a view on this? When Seniorboy had an op at 16, his vet and I discussed the matter at some length and in light of all his tests and condition.

[KatyMac]

She licks herself raw when stressed and we have feliway on all the time; and we keep finding her in small boxes under beds

So I am concerned

[cozietoesie]

Ah - poor lass. You need to have a chat with the vet. (Maybe one of the vets who post will also give an insight here.)

[KatyMac]

I know

I wish I knew more about it

[KatyMac]

Just spoken to the lady at the cattery (she is due to stay after Christmas) - she is happy to have her in the house instead of the cattery & to tube feed if necessary - which is just lovely

She also expressed concerns that the cat might not cope with an op - and she doesn't have any reason to say that iykwim

[cozietoesie]

Nice cattery owner. Having home comforts and extra love makes a big difference.

[KatyMac]

She is still being tube fed - I don't think this is great

[cozietoesie]

How long has she been tube fed for?

[KatyMac]

Only since midday yesterday - she didn't keep anything down from teatime Saturday

We have a few options (apparently)
1)see if we can control it with anti-biotics and painkillers
2)cut under the jaw & clean the middle ear out
3)go in from the side and remove her ear canal

1 might not work, 2 could be temporary & 3 may not help esp if it has come up her eustation tube from her mouth & there are possible side effects

[KatyMac]

I would appreciate input from any vets that visit here?

[cozietoesie]

Katy

I'm sorry but I'm at a loss. I think you have to discuss this with your own vet. You might get a view from one of the vets who post here but remember that not only do they only post voluntarily and not necessarily every night but also they haven't got any animals' clinical details so they can't give more than general opinions - and we're very lucky to have those if we get them.

I feel for you - it's awful to have a poorly animal and not know what to do but I think your own vet (or another vet recommended by one if you can find one who won't charge the earth) might be best.

Is there any way you can avoid putting her in a cattery? However good it is, I seem to recall that orientals bond with their people as do Siamese and separating her from you for a length of time might not be so good for her.

[KatyMac]

We are only away 2 nights & we can't really cancel

I know I can't get proper advise on here; but even "that sounds daft/reasonable" would help atm

I think we are postponing the inevitable - but I'd rather wait until after Christmas

I think the vet was trying to tell me, when she came back from ringing the 'hospital' but at least the cat is out of pain, being tube fed & on antibiotics

[cozietoesie]

2 nights isn't too bad although I hope you or the cattery owner can get her to eat something under her own steam - maybe some warm Xmas day fowl with juices if you're roasting?

Poor lass. The best of luck to her.

Best of luck with her

[cozietoesie]

Sorry. Seniorboy is attention seeking and sitting half on the laptop so my posts are going to be a tad approximate!

[Lonecatwithkitten]

Hello Katy sorry this is one of our busiest times of year so getting to Mumsnet is difficult.
I'm sorry to hear your cat is so poorly. From what you have described your cat is in a very tricky position and from the sounds of things you are seeing a specialist vet ( ? A neurologist) they really are the best people to advise you and help you to make the right decision for your family and your cat.

[KatyMac]

No - she's just my normal vet; we can't afford a specialist

She says the op she is best at is the third one

But we are going to see how she is after Christmas

Thanks

[cozietoesie]

Well that's admirably honest of her.

You're in a difficult position, Katy. I think, myself, I'd be inclined to go for Option 1 and see if she improves. And keep her extra warm - a heating pad/heated bed or an electric blanket for example. They're not expensive.

[KatyMac]

I've just been and seen the veterinary nurse she is stable & we can collect her at 3:30

She talked it over with me & we are going with 1, she might have another attack in 6 week, 6 months or years from now; when it next happens affects what we do next

She will be on antibiotics a long time we think

[TheSparklyPussycat]

DCat had this - very badly for a few days, leant on walls then hid in wardrobe and I hand fed her. She recovered, and vet said the cause was unknown. It did seem to recur a bit if she went out in the cold, but got better soon after she'd come in again - but that could have been the beginning of her spinal arthritis.

With medical advances come harder decisions In the old days there was little option but to hope and pray, and leave things to nature. The same big decision for the ultimate kindness was still there though.

So glad to see she is stable and able to be with Her People again.

[KatyMac]

Thanks Sparklypusscat, she ate much better this evening the medicine is working !

We will just have to see how it goes

[cozietoesie]

That's good, Katy. I'd keep things as quiet and calm as you can - for her at any rate - and as toasty warm as she'll take.

Let us know how she gets on.