GPM asked me to put this up for her:
Julio:
Orange tabby cat with white legs, face, belly
Neutered male
Approx 14 years old
Trapped as a feral kitten and remains very wary of being t--rapped again.
Extremely timid, fearful. Very nervous. Worries, particularly about who can be trusted. Never fully trusts he won't be hurt or "trapped" Will not even eat unless I put the food in front of him, he says no one else can be trusted
Loves to be pet and talked to, very affectionate.
Always exceptionally well behaved and gentle with other cats and people, good house manners.
Very small, delicate, fine features
Jagged freckling with age on edge of lower lid margins -somewhat common for orange cats
Vaccinations - Feline Leukemia, rabies, distemper -when about 1 year old
Several episodes of cystitis -urine blockage with sabulous material-, two of which at about 5 and 8 years old requiring catheterization
Last episode -at about 11 years old-- 3 years ago resulting in overnight stay at emergency clinic from which, on morning discharge, must be admitted to regular vet. He was so upset --he thought he was coming home-- to be readmitted that he vomited, aspirated and was pronounced dead by the vet. She made attempts to revive, his breathing returned but he was immobile, cold, comatose. I used homeopathy on him at the vet office and he revived almost to normal within approx 1 hour. That vet and I both agreed he shouldn't be left at a clinic again since he is so terribly stressed
.
No serious urinary trouble since above. Diet changes and Kali C as per Geir Marcussen prevented further major situations although a few times has looked on the verge, was usually given Acon which seemed to eliminate the symptom of repeated, unsuccessful trips to the litter box.
Several years ago began to show balance problems in hind quarters after the cystitis/urinary blockages. No longer would jump downward. If needed to jump up or down, would land with a grunt. Seemed to have difficulty holding hind end stable when urinating or defecating. Tends to only want to urinate in patch of ground ivy. Prefers to stand and spray to urinate. Swayed back and forth when voiding with the effort not because he was straining to go, I don't think, as he seemed to not have difficulty going but holding himself upright. Always much effort at stool. Developed a stiff legged walk. One day, after napping he arose and walked lifting his right hind leg very high with each step. He walked out of it after a while.
About one year ago he was suddenly barely able to hold his back end up, very unstable and wobbling from side to side, in discomfort but not seeming to be in pain. It was an abrupt worsening, very incapacitating. He improved from that drastic condition but remains very unstable walking. Since then, walked with slow deliberation, hind quarters slightly lowered, back legs bent somewhat at hocks --hind leg knee--. There was a "hitching" of each leg with every step originating from the hip area. -- I hate to sound so cruel but I can't remember if I gave him any remedy at that time. For very selfish reasons, I may not have. Julio has to have a routine, he insisted on going outside to potty and he would lie in the hot sun all day. He would be very anxious, threatening a urine blockage !! if he couldn't follow his routine. But he also was a "birder" and a "squirreler".....constantly in wait for something he could catch. Made my life miserable to always be watching him watching for something to catch. It was a relief to think he couldn't catch anything and I may not have treated it since it seemed an inconvenience to him but didn't seem he was in pain.
Three months ago, Julio began to cry out in pain before urinating and defecating. Very difficult to pass stool hard, --small lumps-- and began to fall --usually on left hip-- on completion. Some attempts at stool without success. Gave one dose Kali C 200 --in water- and cat laxatives and began to put psyllium --with water-- in one feeding per day. Abdomen distended. Seemed to have pain in hip/base of tail area.
Three weeks ago:
Appetite diminished for a few days preceding and had passed burned looking dry stool night before morning vomiting of food from previous night combined with brown liquid.
Involuntary diarrhea
If made it to litter box, collapsed at each passing of liquid stool --different from the falling over after stool when he would get right back up--
Restless, almost frantic
Exhibited pain in right ear
Shook all over
Sought heat, stayed flat on top of heat vent
No thirst, no appetite
Nux V 6C, three doses, succussed over one hour period relaxed him, passed 4 inch normal looking stool, light brown, with hair in it
Vomited/gagged up white foam immediately after stool
Wanted to stay in confined room --next to litter box--, anxious if carried outside or to another part of house
Unsuccessful attempts to urinate
Infrequent, insufficient amount stool passed
Began adding psyllium, milk, bran, more raw meat to food and cutting back on the Science Diet prescription --dry-- food used to prevent crystal formation
12-24 continued to worsen, no stool or urine 48 + hours
Cried with pain at picking up or trying to void
Trembling/quivering
Seeking heat
Greatly distended abdomen, painful, > rubbing, <pressure
Nux V 30, Nux V 200, Nux V 1M --succussed, started 30 and moved up over a few days--
Sulph 200, one dose in water
After Sulph 200, intermittent, infrequent, succussed doses of Nux V 30
Enemas of olive oil or water with lemon juice and chlorophyll several times per day
Olive oil and cat laxatives orally
Vitamin C, B complex, zinc
Syringe fed chicken or beef broth
Ate small amounts infrequently on own of raw ground chicken, watered psyllium, digestive enzymes, commercial canned mixed
Passed formed --light brown--, hard, small diameter stool followed later by unformed liquid stool
Forcefully vomited very solid, cigar like, hard, packed hair mass about 4 inches long
Thought hair ball --"trichobezoar"-- was the problem and he seemed better after but the pattern continued....seeming improved each evening, worsening during day, given various treatments then better late evening.
Diarrhea mixed with hair
Falling over with strain of passing stool or urine and completing while lying on side
Pain at either side of spine from above hip area to base of tail
Two days ago:
Verat A 200 in water
Gave castile soap and water enema
Vomited hair not tightly wadded immediately after
Quickly passed water from enema along with several -- 1/2 - 3/4 inch globs-- pieces of hard, whitish, fat looking matter
Later passed white, stringy, opaque mucus --not in fat like lumps as above-- stool with no fecal matter
Thru the next day --12-27-- passed mucus with and without hair several times, belly less distended, walking better --stronger, not falling--, ate some on own
As day progressed --no remedies or enemas given after passing mucus-- appetite for raw beef chunks, much improved overall even though about 10 unsuccessful attempts at stool
Later that day --yesterday, 12-27-- forceful, sputtering, voluminous watery diarrhea mixed with hair, no mucus, darker, more normal in color than the light --almost peanut shell color-- stool had been for some time
Seemed happy, relaxed, content and comfortable after.....wonderful change. Abdominal bloat gone. Improvement throughout the night and seemed quite well this morning. Made two puddles --had 100ML sub-q fluids last night, as has as needed during the past 3 weeks-- in litter box upon arising, effortless and with good balance. Walked well.
But, as the day --Saturday 12-28--- progresses, he digresses. Beginning to exhibit belly pain and distention again. No appetite during day but now, at about 5 PM, is eating some raw beef cubes.
Changes during last 3 weeks:
Total absence of thirst for water ---coincided with upping the amount of raw meat in diet, which I think now may have been a partial causative, had always consumed considerable water when getting the horrid Science Diet kibble mixture--
Normal ear sensitivity has intensified tremendously --yet was not so this morning when seemed so well--
Voluptuous response to scratching/combing throat/chin area ---again, this was gone this morning with what I thought was good overall improvement--- Also intense response --pleasurable, pushes back against comb--- to hard combing on sides of face from mouth to cheeks to ears.
Consistent/increased weakness left side, lower. Intensified mincing gate, front legs. Left lower leg buckles under, falling to left hip more. Has more difficulty gaining his feet after falling, clutching at the earth with front feet to pull himself up, will turn in circles on hip until finally can rise.
When walking, left hind end doesn't track straight behind but veers off to his left, spine stays straight, no curving. When the back left side gains too much forward, left hind leg buckles under him and he falls on left hip.
Obvious --wasn't prior, looked before like entire hind quarters were equally lame/weak--- limp/hitch in left hind leg.
Has line of small red --not bleeding-- dried-raw sores --about 4--- down the center of his spine from mid-back to near tail. Some crusting. Itchy and very much likes it combed. Never has had any skin eruptions before in his life.
Pain reaction to pressure along sides of lower spine between hip area and tail base ---this, too, gone this morning after his nice explosive diarrhea last night and apparent improvement ....that I fear isn't permanent--
For anyone who has read this all the way through, I commend you for your fortitude! If anyone has any suggestions or advice, I would be most genuinely grateful. If not, this has been an excellent exercise for me, to go back and put it all down. I have a tendency to forget all that preceded the momentary "crisis" and it has been benefit to review the forgotten past history. I was thinking the present condition was just that, that he has an intestinal block but looking back has reminded me of all that he has been through before, that brought him to this point.
I do want to explain to those who may think I've been cruel not seeking vet care, that it isn't simple neglect that has kept me from taking him to a vet but the knowledge of what would happen to him if I did. As much pain as he must be in, he is also constantly attended and is very appreciative of it all. Always, throughout all this discomfort, he has responded well to all treatment --including the many enemas-- and has not once objected to anything done to him. He has purred with pleasure not just the purr of pain. He has an overwhelming need to be in his own "place", more than any cat I've ever experienced. My guilt for not admitting him to the hospital is enormous. I have made appointments to admit him the next day, every day for the last week, canceling each morning. The only "cat" chiropractor I trust is away for the holiday until Jan. 7th. I will take him there when she returns, is he is still with us. There were a number of times the past few weeks that I would have put him "out of his misery" if I had the capacity to do so with a pill or an injection that wouldn't cause him any fear or pain. Euthanasia at the vets isn't as peaceful as one would like to think. I wish there was a quiet, peaceful way to accomplish that goal, at home, where they belong.
Thank you.
Last night, Julio began to cry if picked up, from pressure behind front legs and belly which he has done this past week when unable to pass stool but this was even worse. Gave him another soapy enema ---actually 3 in a row---. He doesn't stuggle against enemas and actually seems to want them. First time he passed a pencil thin piece of normal looking stool but only about 11/2 inches long. Still not relieved so gave the next 2 enemas. Then passed chunks of whitish fat looking matter mixed with the water and some hair, one glob with some blood. He vomited several times, some with hair. He was in great stress, trembling/weak after --worst he has been--- and I gave him one dose Verat A 200. Gave 75 ML fluids as he had lost a lot. He settled and has slept quietly, without trembling since.
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