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.

__________________
Hans Weitbrecht
Consultant Homeopath
homeopathy study guide: http://www.homeopathyworldcommunity....hy-study-guide

Thank you, Hans, for posting Julio's case for me.

This morning he passed deep pink colored mucus with no fecal matter which has not done before.

__________________
Sometimes on Earth, you can find something that resembles a little piece of Heaven. And sometimes on Earth, a little piece of Heaven can find you.

Hi GPM, doesn't it always happen over the holidays! Not sure what to suggest, to me it sounds like there might be a length of "dead" colon; not only infection but now some bleeding too. Is it impossible to get this guy xrayed? (is he OK so long as you stay with him?). He's an older and nervous cat and I don't think you can rule out the big "c". At least with an xray, it may indicate whether or not you will choose to keep treating him. It seems to me a "liquid" diet might be of some help if you can get it to pass through quickly. Given your knowledge and situation I'm sure you are able to keep the cat quite comfortable at home and I wouldn't suggest any long term vet stays, given his History either. I recently did have a cat who got so bunged up as too inhibit urine flow. He was put right by causticum and nerve/muscle relaxers. However he had more going on with the urine, having resolved the intestinal issue rather easily. I'm sure you have a list of remedies that suit and you are definitly in a better position than I to choose. Let me know if there is anything I can do, good-luck with him (I have a thing for orange tabbies, although my 12 year old male org drives me insane!!!! quirky little fellas!)

colchicum? - but by no means certain as high thirst and evening agg are typical.

Thank you Krista and Anna for your kind responses. But.....Krista, you give me way too much credit. We know I'm a bull in a china shop about homeopathy and know very little about cat inner workings. And yes, there is never a holiday without some crisis!

Have been reading Colch since seeing the post. Some of it fits quite well but Julio has absolutely no thirst and hasn't for a few months. (Would thirst/no thirst be enough to eliminate a remedy? Guess it would have to be verified what potency was used if this was from a proving....if it was the ending of symptoms from a low or the maintaining from a higher....if all that is true.) He was a water drinker while still getting the Science Diet killer kibble but since switching to more raw and cutting the kibble down, he had stopped completely. It was one of those bad decisions, I think. He was being maintained on that junk and putting him on a higher meat diet, at his age, was more than his system could handle, though I did do it gradually. I should have realized and known better.

He also has very peaceful nights. In fact, unless I force him to face that he should go to the bathroom he's very contented and quiet. He only cries (sometimes, not always) when he is picked up from pressure under his front chest area, kidney/ gall bladder area.

Mid-day yesterday, in desperation, I gave him one dose of Hep S 200 in water. He ate the slurry like I use for the megacolon kitty (with beaten raw egg included) with gusto afterward. Quite a good appetite. Later last night, even having eaten more than he has for a while, he felt and looked more dehydrated than he has. His belly was not distended but he looked more "peaked".....yet had a much improved appetite. I did not give fluids last night yet this morning he greeted me with leg rubs and no dehydrated look about him. Belly still not bloated. Ate more. Took him for a walk and he passed a nice amount of very soft but formed stool of normal color with normal cat posture and effort! No mucus, no sputtering, no globs of whatever the heck that bunch of rosy pink stuff was. He also seemed a little less inclined to lose control of his hind end walking. Attitude great. Happy little guy.

As the day went on, his belly has begun to distend again. He did eat a few more small servings (wanted it) but had 2 unproductive attempts to pass stool. Fell again in the attempts. No urine attempts.

I felt there was a good initial response to Hep S but it hasn't seemed to hold but for about 24 hours. I can't figure out what might be close to Hep that could be a better remedy, to re-dose with Hep (succussed, I saved the water dilution) or what to do....?

Odd thing, when I combed him last night (which he always loves) the throat from lips down to beginning of chest shed many small wads of hair in small clumps stuck together (no moisture) forming a what looked like a triangle with puffy white hair fanned out and one point hardened dark orange hair in a stiff point. He only has white hair under the throat so I have no idea how the clump ends could have been so dark. Is there some way toxins are discharging out the pores causing this? There are no bare spots left behind on his skin where they came from. He pushes hard into the pressure of the comb on the throat and the sides of his face. The sides did the same thing but less than the throat. Never lost clumps of hair like that before, anywhere on his body and didn't do it today. As though what ever it was that caused it, is over. There are and weren't any eruptions or bumps of any kind. He is very clean, no built up crud to cause anything like that. His coat is think, soft and shiny. The sore spots down his spine were still there and crusty last night .....and gone today! He trembles all over but his head actually shakes with the trembling when combing the sides of his face, in a line from the outer edge of his mouth toward the ears and then under the ears. Bends his head and neck into the comb. Drives him to tremble but wants it done. He continues to tremble for a quite some time afterward. His ears have just a tiny amount of brownish wax but he almost turns inside out when using a swab inside them. As much as he likes the pressure on the lower outside ear area, he dislikes anything inside them.

I don't think there's any value in it but I did send off hair and saliva samples for testing. It was an easy way to get part of him into a lab. They say (?) it determines where the problem is seated. Have no experience with anything like that.

Thank you, ladies.

PS...Spoke too soon. Sir Julio is proud to announce he has pooped again...and piddled. Stool nice color and texture, small amount but that's to be expected. Do you think that if it is cancer or liver or whatever, that he would have a normal looking stool after having so many with horrid things in them, then the one that looked like that mass of a goodly amount of dark pink mucus? Can say it now, that was darn scary. I thought it was part of his intestines at first, it looked so much like flesh coming out of him.

[ 31. December 2002, 06:16: Message edited by: gpm ]

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Sometimes on Earth, you can find something that resembles a little piece of Heaven. And sometimes on Earth, a little piece of Heaven can find you.

Hi GPM, well it looks as if things are going in the right direction for the moment. As for the bits of dark and clumped hair, my guess would be that kitty might be drooling (perhaps while sleeping?)the drool might contain bits of food from the mouth. Is his mouth really wet? I've had a few sick cats with what I think you are describing and thats what I have assumed it was, but it might not fit with your guy.
Having switched many cats to raw food, it is absolutely normal that they suddenly appear to stop drinking. This is normal and happens because they get more than enough water from the food source (ie fresh meat); as you know the kibble is loaded with grains, dry, full of peanut shell "fibre" which dries out the carnivour. Yes its nice to switch them over slowly, but I've switched over many when they were weak, debilitated and diseased with generally favourable effects.
The "pink stuff" to me would indicate bleeding somewhere in the bowel. The fresher it looks the better as it indicates bleeding in the lower tract. The older the blood looks it most likely comes from the upper tract (not good news). I can't really guess with your guy not having the opportunity of seeing it. The white hardened globs you describe may possibly have been the source of blockage (the longer food stays in the drier and harder it will become, eventually resembling "rocks"); the pink matter may possibly be from that site as also the mucous etc.
The discomfort of the abdomin around the bladder one might suspect may be due engorged intestine putting pressure on the area. Retention of urine can also cause thickening of the bladder wall, which takes time to recover after normal urination is established.
However I'm guessing about his problem being of the intestine; but increased grooming may have been an attempt by the cat to force blockage out.
Its wonderful news that the majority of the bowel seems to be working and is able to compact and suck out moisture, allowing for formed stool. I would stay on with the "mega colon" diet for sometime still as it will hopefully allow the intestinal tract to make a full recovery. Also make sure to track his BMs closely, don't let the stool sit, as it will continue to stretch the intestine and cause it to thicken, bringing you back to square one. I assume you will keep him off the Hill's "Sudden Death" diet?

Hi Krista,

He has been off the Science diet junk quite a while. I had him on it mixed with wet food because of my fear that he would have another urinary block, knowing it was not right all that time but too frightened to take a chance of changing it.

He isn't drooling at all. No moisture around his mouth/lips at all. This hair loss in small clumps was something I've never seen before. It was from the throat area and a small amount from the sides of the face where he is so very sensitive to touch and really wants hard combing there. He is not able to scratch with his back feet at all because of such limited movement in his hind end but I feel he would be scratching there a lot, if he could. I only happened the one time, a few hours after Hep. Left no bare spots at all. Really odd, I thought.

Julio had two nice bowel movements today, seems quite chipper. Hope this continues. I'm amazed. Crossing paws, as Anna would say!

Happy New Year..........

__________________
Sometimes on Earth, you can find something that resembles a little piece of Heaven. And sometimes on Earth, a little piece of Heaven can find you.

Dear GPM,

Interesting case progression! I'm sorry I've been too preoccupied to participate.
BUt I'm glad you decided to post, give us all something to think about.

HOpe you, Kkrista and Anna had a wonderful Christmas Season. Wishes to Hans too - he's done the first posting, but no idea if he's still visiting!

doctorleela

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Seeking advice. On the third day after one dose of Hep S 200 ( having then passed soft, light color stools), Julio's stool began to darken and become harder in texture. The last good sized stool passed ( 2 days ago) was with effort, after several attempt and was covered with streaks of dark blood.

Late yesterday he began making frequent, unsuccessful attempts at stool, not continuously but for a period of about an hour, then stopping and sleeping for an hour or so.

In the last 18 hours he has passed stool 3 times of thin diameter, very dark (black) and very hard.

He has passed small amounts, by slow drops, of watery, light red liquid from the rectum on several attempts at stool or what I thought attempts at stool. He may be attempting to void the bloody water/liquid rectally.

He passed on 5 inch thin like string, tenacious, very bloody strand from rectum.

He is not acting frantic, depressed or stressed. (since Hep)
Not crying when attempting. (not new)
Abdomen not distended. (since Hep)
He is not raising his back end up higher with strain of attempting stool as will some cats trying to force. (had done this prior to Hep)
More or less is quietly/calmly squatting in box for 2-3 minutes, leaving, walking around a bit and returning. (pre Hep, would collapse in box)
Spasms (for want of the right term) visible when cat attempts to push out stool are less. (may be that he isn't trying to pass stool but the fullness felt by the bloody liquid...he has more the urine stance than the stool stance)
Did drink water twice, once each day yesterday and the evening before. First time observed him drink water in months. Normal amount for a water drinking cat, not hanging over bowl or repeating visits. (new since Hep....or due to less raw diet?)
He ate small amount of the liquid-y food last night and this morning. (not new, has been eating and only getting small amounts per feeding)
More difficulty rising after falling on left hip (can't seem to get left leg under himself to push up) but walking OK (well, as formerly described) when on all fours. ( worsening)
Remains very appreciative and responsive to petting and conversation.
Right ear remains extremely sensitive to pressure on outer head, pushing into pressure.

I feel he remains generally improved overall since Hep but have no idea what to do now. Very much need guidance and will be grateful for any suggestions.

Thank you, Dr. Leela, for your holiday good wishes. Wishing you the same.......

__________________
Sometimes on Earth, you can find something that resembles a little piece of Heaven. And sometimes on Earth, a little piece of Heaven can find you.

HI Gpm,

My idea of this situation is some sort of paralytic obstruction in a small part of the bowel, similar and probably part of the same pathology and affecting the same spinal level that caused his motor weakness and earlier LL abnormalities.

Like an Animal MS?
Obstructions generally produce the type of bloody stool you describe. BUt this does not seem to be the typical type of strangulated obstruction as it is intermittent. So it is of nervous (as in nerves) origin. Like some part of the bowel just gets spastic for a period of time and he goes into these episodes of being unable to pass stool or urine properly.

I'd suggest a remedy like Plumbum for this. Others to consider are: Alumina, Platina, Thallium.
All the best,
doctorleela

[ 03. January 2003, 05:37: Message edited by: doctorleela ]

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