Falcor-my dizzy Cat\Dog

[Shelsteree]

1st- the name Falcor came about because my oldest son has always wanted a dog, and when he was about 5 he saw the movie Neverending Story (73 times) and said that when he got a dog he was going to name him after Falcor the Luck Dragon in the movie. I cannot handle taking care of a dog and two boys, so when we moved into our new house we got kittens. He said "might as well name HIM Falcor since I'm never going to get a dog. whatever.

He couldn't have picked a better name for this cat. He's like having a dog. He chews on everything. You can't leave a cardboard box out- he chews it up like a 11 pound hamster. He'll pull down food left on the counter, gets into the garbage can, chews on my sons football pads, has to run to the back door and jump up on the table EVERYTIME someone comes in - and you have to pet him to get in. He's too much. and Two weeks ago I was ready to do ANYTHING to make him settle down.

I found out the hard way I didn't mean it.

Last Weds night we all realized that we hadn't really seen him that day. And Dragon was driving us nuts crying for him to come out. We finally found him in the way way back of a closet. It was awful. His head was shaking like he had Parkinson's disease and he had to lean up against the wall to walk straight.

Took him to the pet ER. $900 later... when we picked him up at 7am, they weren't sure what was wrong with him. He had a 106 temp but no obvious toxins or disease in his blood work. but there were signs of some kind of infection.

We took him to our regular vet and told him we had just spent our vacation money at the ER - and we wanted him to get better but we didn't have unlimited funding. Late Thurs afternoon he told us that if the fever didnt break soon we were either going to have to take him to a specialty care place or euthanize him. That was the worst day I have had ever. I mean - how do you say "this life that I love, is not as important as $$" - when you don't have the $$ to do whatever it take to save it?!?!
especially when the other little lives in your house are walking around miserable because he's not there (two boys and a cat spending the greater portion of the day crying wears you down to a place its hard to maintain composure)

at 11:45pm when he called (I made my husband answer it) the fever had broken. hoorayy. To wrap this up ..

He was in the hospital for 5 days. He has 5 medications. He's still OBVIOUSLY dizzy. Can't jump up on ANYTHING- keeps breaking my heart by trying and falling on his back. Spends most of his time under the bed. (Where there is a cardboard box and he hasnt even noticed it yet!) He is eating and finally used the litter box (who knew I would someday be watching a litter box like the Royal Guards at Buckingham Palace?!!)

Our Vet didnt run any additional blood work. He said it was a large expense that wasn't really necessary. He says he's not really sure what it is- he thought maybe an ear infection? That we should expect it to take 4-6 weeks for him to get back to normal- and he may not even then. In order to be sure we would.have to take him to a Feline neurologist to check his brain and nervous system- and that is going to cost a couple thousand dollars at least - not including the cost of fixing anything that they find wrong.

I dont know what to do. He doesn't act like he's in pain at ALL. But he's not himself either. But he is much better than he was two days ago. Should I just wait and see how he progresses? Should I make the Vet do the "unneccesaary" blood tests too? Cuz now my brain is thinking maybe he didnt do them because he thought we were going to euthanize the cat if it cost too much money?

I am limited greatly by our finances but my heart keeps telling me - get a credit card, a loan, sell a kidney, do something - CAT scans, MRI , whatever it takes because he is obviously not right and he is depending upon YOU to take care of him...

stupid mushy furry lovable pain in the butt - I'd gladly let him have all the chicken breasts and bacon that would fit on the counter if he JUST got better (but leave my plants alone)

[JUDY S]

I am so sorry you are going through this. I can't tell you what to do, but I did want to extend my thoughts and prayers for you, your baby and your family. I have often wondered how much money I would spend to heal a furkid, they are the only kind I have, but I have never had to find out. I do know when I have lost one I think of all the things I would give up to get them back. I hope yours get well soon.

[Tambrey]

shoot!...I am so sorry you are going through this...
yes, I would insist on bloodwork...

does your cat have access to the outdoors?
access to plants?
chemical closet?
anything that he could have ingested?....

did he eat any of the recalled foods?

I am just tossing ideas out here...

but I would want the bloodwork to try to determine what is going on and what to do about it...

I am trying to find a site that has a form to fill out for emergency medical assistance, whether for a human or animal...but I cannot for the life of me remember the name of the company!!

Hopefully someone who reads this will be able to remember or know the organization I am talking about...

[Marty]

I know of many people who have a card from Care Credit, and save to use for animal emergencies.

http://www.carecredit.com/

[Marty]

BTW, I'm sorry to hear of your kitty's problems. Many, many years ago, we had a kitty with something that sounds similar. She did go outside, so it could have been anything, but I let her in one day only to find her going in circles and totally losing her balance. I got her in to see our Vet immediately and she stayed for 4 or 5 days also. He did pull her through, but it took quite a bit of TLC at home as well. Her balance never was very good after that, so she became an inside cat.

Several years later, she had another episode, and we went through the same thing again, and then another a few years later, but by then we had moved to another state. Neither of the Vets ever determined the identity or cause of this mysterious attack, for lack of a better word.

Good news was that she did live a happy life until kidney failure took her at 18! My tough gal, Patches...

[Tambrey]

Care Credit!!...Thank you Marty!!

[Shelsteree]

Thanks ALL of you for your support. This website is yet another fantastic present from Google search.

Thought I would update - Falor, my crooked cat, is doing much better. He's still not himself- but he's getting there! On Sunday when we came home from Easter at my Mom's and I found him chewing up one of my flip flops I cheered! which- is the polar opposite reaction that he would have received three weeks ago.

He's jumping up on small things- the highest he has gone is the couch. Otherwise he falls. It's so sad. When he jumps down h's very slow going and he *beep* his head to one side as if he can't see. He's tracking toys and such but still won't play with the other cat or run around.

Each day I see an improvement from the day before. Now I am hoping that the Vet was right and it's just a matter of time. He actually suggested at one point that it was an inner ear infection- and with this depth perception\jumping thing that Falcor has going on - I think maybe that's it-because when you you pet him- he forces the same side of his head, behind his ear onto your hand if you try to rub him anywhere else. (the same side that he tilts towards all the time-making him looking crooked now)

[Shelsteree]

oh and I am definitely checking out that Credit Care thing- I don't want to have to make that decision like that again!

[mamaof4soon]

FYI, I too loved Falcor and wanted to name my dog that but we didnt. LOL

I am very happy that he seems to be getting better. The very high fever could have done some damage so please remember that and dont be surprised. The emergency vet said that this was an infection? What was the bloodwork they did? Get it from them if you dont have it already. High fevers for any reason can do damage and change behavoir and it does take a long time to heal from that. Lots of love and prayers to you that Falcor gets better. Keep us posted please.

[k9Karen]

The high fever definitely suggests an infection of some sort - most likely bacterial. The dizziness could have been due to the fever itself, but would go along with an inner ear infection or even meningitis (don't panic - it's a bad word, but that doesn't mean anyone can catch it from the cat - your vet would have warned you if he even suspected there could be a danger to your family or the other cats). If the inner ear was inflamed due to infection, it will take some time for the inflammation to heal and the area to return to normal. Hopefully, he will be the same mischief-maker he was before this incident, and he will be so much better you'll be fussing at him like before!

I'm so glad to hear he is already so much better - that's a very good sign that he'll be back to his old 'evil' self in no time!