Saddle clot

[ThreeQuartersEmpty]

My cat came home last night crying and not himself. He kept wanting to sit down, his back leg seemed sore. Thought he might have been hit by a car. Phoned the emergency vet who said if his leg not obviously funny shape and not bleeding to leave him be and take to vet this morning.

Got appointment first thing. Vet says he has probably got a clot in his back leg caused by heart disease. Hes on strong painkillers and is staying in.

Ive googled. And I'm so sad.

How did he get on overnight?

Well he didnt attempt to leave the room he was sleeping in. Normally he would bound up stairs to make sure we know its breakfast time. But he was keen for food to be put out in his bowl, so thats a positive. He just picked at it really.

No improvement in the position of his foot and slightly less success this morning with his tablets.

Even if we could let him outside, I dont think he would get very far. Walking is difficult for him, poor wee man.

Poor wee man indeed. It'll be a slow process - but then you knew that I think?

Maybe some other posters can give you tips on pill giving and the best way to disguise them. (I have a pill-phobic cat so I don't even attempt it these days I'm afraid.)

Is he still on pain meds?

Yes, hes on half a tablet twice a day for pain.
One tablet once a day for his heart.
One tablet every other day is aspirin to keep his blood thin.

Thanks for asking after him.

Did you manage to get his tablets down?

Yes. He has decided he hates ham and pate, probably because I had the tablets in them before and now he wont touch it.

He had to get two and a half this morning, so I ground them down to a powder with the back of a teaspoon and thoroughly mixed it into the gravy out of a pouch of wet food. Then I added the chunks in and he ate it all.

He is not a very happy cat. His back leg isnt getting any better. He has obviously no feeling at all in his paw. When he stretches out he cant seem to spread his toes on that paw.

Cats adjust to things pretty quickly so give him a bit more time - are you in phone contact with the vet about him?

I simply can't give Seniorboy pills of any form so he's on liquid pain meds. (His supplemental ones go on the soft tissues of his mouth so are easy to administer.) Given your lad's recent performance with the vet (that night he pulled out his line) would there be any merit in seeing if a different painkiller would suit better eg reduce the number of pills he has to have ? I know they all have contraindications so with all his problems and other meds the vet may already have thought of, and rejected, some others - but I'm thinking of a little bit down the line when you might be running out of ruses. It could be worth a mention.

Does he accept his massages?

I've not had reason to phone the vet, but I wouldnt hesitate to if I cant get him to take his meds, or he needs seen. I have a list of symptoms to look out for and get him seen quick.

We have an appointment for a fortnight tomorrow, to get him checked up and see how hes getting on. I'll discuss any ongoing concerns then.
I only have enough painkiller tablets to last until that appointment anyway.

He accepts the massages for a short time then we get a warning swipe with his claws to leave him be. So massages are little and often.

You're doing your best there, Three. He may only have a 'chance' but at least you're giving it to him. Best of luck to him.

Thanks Cozie.

I have to keep reminding myself its a long road. And there have been improvements in him. He was meowing this morning for breakfast and thats the first he has shown any interest in food. He also had a poo. So thats a positive. And he can get his back leg under him properly when he is sitting, just not when he is walking or standing.

He much prefers to lie down though. Like he will struggle into the kitchen and lie down near his bowl.

How is the lad doing this evening?

Cozie, you are kind to ask. Bless you.

I would describe him as sad, depressed even. He's eating the bare minimum, maybe a tablespoon worth twice a day. Sometimes a little extra at lunch time. He's not in pain, he is eating his tablets. He's lost weight in a week he was 8 kg before, but then that's to be expected he's not eating anywhere near what he was before, even without being topped up next door and with various wildlife in the day.

No interest in leaving the house, or venturing upstairs. He's not as vocal, sad little meows now, doesn't say hello when he sees you. No tail up, but will bump my leg with his head when I'm cooking. Just doesn't want any food if he's offered.

His back leg is definitely paralysed from the knee down. He can't feel a thing in it. When he's asleep you can poke between his toes and he won't wake. But brush against a hair anywhere else and he wakes and looks. When he's hobbling about the paw is upside down and being dragged. His pads are pink, and there's heat in it, but still no feeling obviously.

Maybe the vet was right to offer to pts as soon as it happened.

On the plus side he has managed to jump up onto the sofa by himself, have a snooze, and get down again. It's ungainly and you'd nearly think he was embarrassed if that makes sense.

Weirdly, he also seems to have the cold. Sneezing a lot. That's reminded me to look at his meds and see if that's a side effect.

Ach. It sounds to me as if his pain meds aren't quite cutting it, I'm afraid.

On the sneezing, I know only that Seniorboy, in common with many cats, has the after effects of cat flu - despite vaccination - and it starts to manifest when his immune system is depressed. (That's more common now he's elderly.)

I take it that removing the leg isn't an option because of his heart and lung issues and the risks of GA etc?

Are you talking to the vet about things?

PS - let us know how he's doing in a day or two? I know that with my own boys, I would take them to bed to cheer them up but appreciate that that's maybe not your lad's style. (When Seniorboy had his suspected minor stroke and was all to pot mentally, I lay with him on my bed and played countless movies and TV series to provide an atmosphere of calm. I won't even admit to what I was reduced to watching in the wee small hours - but he recovered. That was him, though, and your boy is doubtless different.)

I just read the whole thread. Your poor boycat, but am glad to hear he's pulled through the initial illness. Would your vet give advice over the phone? It's hard to tell if cats are in pain or not - and a fortnight is a long time to watch him if he's like this.
My ancient old boycat was ill in a very different way to your cat but at times we had to take things week by week or even day by day and it was surprisingly stressful as I spent so much time being worried about the cat, checking if he was eating or not, sorting out his medications etc. My vet was very kind about it and I did phone him for advice fairly often.
Good luck with seeing some more progress

Thanks.
I've read the side effects leaflet of the heart meds, there's no leaflet with the aspirin or pain killers. One side effect of the heart meds is reduced appetite and lethargy.
Im going to phone the vets in the morning.

He's lying beside me on his favourite cushion, curled up and sleeping. Purrs when he's stroked on his head. Tears are streaming down my face.

You sound tired and depressed, Three. Get yourself some shut-eye (beside him if it suits) and things should look better in the morning - or if not, come on here and dump on us. (Between us all, we have very broad shoulders.)

And speak to the vet as you suggested. It's difficult to stay calm and positive when you can't actually do anything so I feel for you. I've been there myself as have many others here.

Take care, both of you.

You're very perceptive Cozie.

I've spoken to the vet. He suspects cat flu due to a low immune system just as you said Cozie. Said if he cant smell due to the flu, then he wont eat. Also said its difficult to tell if cats are in pain, some cry and make noise while others go quiet. Hes not happy, I know that.

We've had a long conversation and the short story is we have to sit down as a family and consider his quality of life.

Yes, you do.

On the principle of considering going the full mile, though, can the vet give him an AB injection for it or has he had other ABs too recently? (The ABs can't cure a virus but they can do a major job in assisting with any associated opportunistic infections such as post-viral rhinitis which is what it sounds like with your lad. See here for a read. Seniorboy gets a nice long lasting AB injection because he's pill-phobic.)

I'd also discuss with the vet if you can get some non-pill pain relief for him. There's a fine balance to be struck between giving them so much that the side effects cause problems and/or they become so doped-up cocky that they do themselves a damage - and having a cat that's so uncomfortable that they start to become miserable. The vet is best placed to determine the physical side of it but I do know that I thought that I was about to lose Seniorboy earlier this year when the pain from his arthritis was clearly so bad that he was just wihthdrawing into himself and becoming sad and hunched. Some extra pain relief has made him a much happier and more relaxed chap and even though he can't have that long to go (I still doubt whether he'll make Christmas due simply to being so old) he's having a contented sunset time.

cozie how lovely you sound making your seniorboys life so long and comfortable. I'm sure he knows he's loved.

I've slightly better news to report. I am getting him to take his meds a lot easier by cutting the tablets in half and hiding them inside a ball of tuna and hand feeding him. Tuna! Why did I not think of that earlier, I even mentioned it on here! He's been taking them like this since Friday evening and I can really see the benefits of him getting regular meds at the correct dose.
He's a lot happier, he's got his voice and appetite back.

He still can't feel his back foot from his knee down, so he can't scratch his head and confuses himself when he's washing it. But he is sort of lifting that leg higher and throwing his paw forward when he walks so that it lands the right way up on his pads and not upside down.

He can manage the stairs, after a fashion, the noise he manages to make thumping up them. This is on carpet!

He's still sleeping all day in random places around the house and not been outside. But he's happier, and I'm happier that he is.

Not out of the woods yet by a long chalk but there's been an improvement no doubt.

A lot better news. (I was going to ask at the weekend how he was but I thought you'd have enough on your plate.) Is he still sneezing?

You're very kind to be thinking of us.

A few sneezes just. Nothing major.

One big concern is that he just will not tolerate any touching of bad leg for massages. I've been lifting him to carry him back down the stairs as he cant work that bit out and I have to be careful not to touch it at all or he cries out. I'm leaving it for a few days to see if resting it helps.

Maybe his immune system is recovering a tad now that he's feeling more chipper.

I'd phone the vet soon and ask about his massages if I were you. (They were quite insistent about it weren't they?) Maybe he's developed a 'thing' about it but equally, it might be something to be worked through.

Let us know how it goes?

Yes that's true. There was a great deal placed on the massaging.
I just thought maybe the increase in using the leg especially limping up stairs may have been too much too soon.
But a phone call in the morning can't hurt.

Thanks for all your help and advice Cozie.

So glad to hear that there has been some positive progress ThreeQuarters

With the massage problem - maybe if his leg is getting a bit better, all the nerves could be super-sensitive to any stimulus at the moment and that might be causing discomfort if he is touched?

Definitely check with the vet though.
Good luck