The basics–thirteen-and-a-half year-old cat, indoor all her life. I raised her from a kitten, and she was a present for my thirteenth birthday. She’s been in good health. About three weeks ago, she started limping. Her left hind leg was kind of weak. Since then, it’s gotten progressively worse.
I’ve taken her to the vet three times. She’s losing weight, too, even though she’s being carried to food and eating several times a day. She’s had blood work–pancreas, liver, kidneys, blood sugar, thyroid, heart have all come back fine. A radiograph–I’m assuming he means x-ray–came back not showing anything wrong with the spine or pelvis. She now can’t move the leg at all; it just flops. Her other rear leg is fine, as are both her fronts. She doesn’t seem to be in pain. She can, however, feel pain in that leg if it is pinched.
The doctor’s basically said that he doesn’t know what’s wrong–in almost thirty years, he’s never seen a presentation quite like this. To go further, I’d have to pay a cat neurologist, spend money on a CT scan, and all sorts of things that I really don’t think I can afford. But. . .the Dope is free, and full of smart people, and I thought I’d at least give it a shot.
Sounds like my Doxie. Pinched nerve in her spine. Since she didn’t appear to be in pain, and wasn’t incontinent, I let her go. After several months, I was sure it was permanent. Then one day she got up and walked away like none of it ever happened. Strangest thing I’ve ever seen. It was another 6 years before she had any other kind of back pain.
The vet has mentioned thrombosis, but says that it’s extremely unlikely, given that it’s just the one leg, and that she hasn’t lost the ability to feel pain in it. He seems to be pretty sure it’s neurological. Whatever enzyme is used to check the heart, he checked.
He also mentioned slipped discs causing something similar in dachshunds, but according to the x-ray, the spine looks okay. She’s not showing a lot of interest in eating on her own, though if I bring her to the food, she’ll eat a little. Food has been left in a convenient place for her, as well.
Sorry for the lame question; it’s just that I’m beside myself right now.
Have you considered discussing her condition with a few other vets? I’m sure yours is good but different people have different experiences and therefore know different things. I’d try at least two or three more.