Elbow Dysplasia

[JorisBonson]

This may be long!

Some may remember my previous post about my 2 year old boy limping on and off for months. He was finally x-rayed and diagnosed with elbow dysplasia a couple of months ago - a suspected dislocation which didn't heal properly.

We were told we could manage him with supplements and metacam where necessary.

He is now taken to hopping on his good leg most days and I don't know what to do.

99% of the time he is a cheery little soul. He still tears about the place, chases our girl cat, gets into (a lot of) mischief. Appetite is great. This is even when he is hopping.

The other 1% you can tell it's bothering him and he just looks fed up.

It's getting to the point where he's having metacam 4/5 times a week, as well as a You Move supplement every day. I'm very aware of the side effects of metacam on his belly and kidneys, but I hate to think of him in pain so give him it more often than I'd like.

The surgery will cost around £5,000, but our insurance will only cover £1,000 of that. I don't think the year timescale our vet gave us is feasible, or fair on the poor cat.

I'm in between a rock and a hard place. He's such a happy little boy and always up to something, even when he is hopping like a rabbit. I hate to think of him in any pain whatsoever, but I am slightly clinging on to the fact that he just cracks on with life. When he has been genuinely ill / in pain in the past he has hidden away and not eaten, and we don't even have a hint of that.

We just don't have £4,000 lying around and I really just don't know what to do. Do specialist vets do payment plans? I'm reluctant to get a loan as we have to remortgage in the summer.

A rant and a WWYD rolled into one!

[JorisBonson]

(case in point - he's currently on top of the fridge playing with a potato).

[Toddlerteaplease]

Treat with metacam for a while then increase your insurance cover?

[Lonecatwithkitten]

Unfortunately @Toddlerteaplease if you increase the insurance cover companies regard this as a 'new' policy and exclude pre-existing conditions I had a client burned by this.
There are other pain relief options that can be used in combination with metacam so you have not exhausted everything.
Specialist referral centres don't tend to offer payment plans I am afraid.

[JorisBonson]

I ordered some devil's claw last night which I've researched and can offer natural pain relief.

@Toddlerteaplease I did think of that but, as @Lonecatwithkitten said, it's not a pre existing condition. In all my years of having cats, I've never had to use the insurance until this mad boy came along.

I'm wondering if it's worth asking the vet to start him on some kind of steroid treatment?

[JorisBonson]

Now*

[Grumpyoldpersonwithcats]

This sounds a very severe option - but if he gets too bad and you have to do something you could consider amputation as a more economical (also has the benefit of rapid recovery) option.
I've known several three legged cats who seem to operate perfectly normally.

[JorisBonson]

@Grumpyoldpersonwithcats that is one of the options I've considered.

He gets around great hopping with his bad leg up, but I'd just be worried about him outdoors - he's very much an outside boy.

Believe me, it's not the most severe outcome that's crossed my mind 😥

[Lonecatwithkitten]

I would give other analgesics a chance before steroids ( which honestly are not good for animal arthritis).

[JorisBonson]

Thanks @Lonecatwithkitten

The devil's claw arrived today and I'm really keen to try it, however it can't use used with metacam as they are both anti inflammatory. So not entirely sure what to do there. He's had metacam today (managed to get a 2 day break in).

Still being a very happy, silly boy.

[Suzi888]

I’m with one of the other posters, either pay for the operation or amputate. Not a nice decision I know, but better then being in constant pain. Animals don’t always show pain like humans do.

If you are on a low income/ benefits the PDSA may operate for free/ you give a small donation.

[JorisBonson]

We just don't have £4,000 lying around, which is why I'm researching payment plans.

[Lonecatwithkitten]

@Suzi888 there is a middle ground there other painkillers beyond metacam for cats that have good results.