Spinal Cord Trauma - Stray Kitten

[MegEich]

Hello,

My husband and I found a kitten in a mall parking lot last night who cannot move her hind legs at all. I rushed her to an emergency vet last night who initially thought she had some sort of neuro disease. Her blood work (thankfully) came out okay though her bacterial white blood cell count was a little elevated.

The vet then x-rayed her spine and it appears there is a little something going on there. I brought her (Annie) home this morning and will be giving her Clavamox and Prednisone for two weeks.

I'd just really like some more insight on her injury and what her chances are of recovering. I'm growing attached already. She cannot feel us when we touch or pinch her hind paws and cannot voluntarily go to the bathroom...we have to squeeze her bladder and bowels. Please let me know your thoughts on little Annie.

Thanks

[Traci]

The vet then x-rayed her spine and it appears there is a little something going on there.

Such as? (i.e., breaks or seperation? Non-fused? Inflammation? etc) Is the vet experienced or do you think you'd benefit from seeing a feline orthopedic vet surgeon? (which would be my recommendation). Did he recommend STRICT confinement and a followup, further testing?

I'd just really like some more insight on her injury and what her chances are of recovering. I'm growing attached already. She cannot feel us when we touch or pinch her hind paws and cannot voluntarily go to the bathroom...we have to squeeze her bladder and bowels. Please let me know your thoughts on little Annie.

Did the vet show you how to properly express the bladder without causing injury? If you do not do this correctly, you risk tramatizing the bladder, rupturing it and causing a serious complication or fatality.

One does not express the bowels, what exactly are you referring to? What are you feeding her? How old is she?

Without seeing the xray or knowing what your vet diagnosed specifically, I'm afraid the description is too vague to comment further. If the spine is not fractured or is not compressed causing additional injury, the chances for recovery are good, but I'd strongly recommend a new exam with a qualifed veterinary surgeon with experience in spine problems.

You MUST be extremely careful with her, her movement, and STRICT confinement, keep her clean and dry and free from elimination soiling (use puppy pads, gently slide her on/off of them, use safe pet wipes to gently clean fur, provide warm, fluffly blankets/padding for her, etc),....but depending on the injury and extent, will depend on her recovery. Please see a vet surgeon if possible, immediately, and take extreme care while transporting her (use soft padding/blanket in an open-top carrier, but ensure she cannot get out of it!)

[MegEich]

Thanks for your response. The vet's notes are "No fractures to the lumbar spine, pelvis or femur. Cranial lumbar/caudal thoracic spine has poss. deviation. Repeated VD--> suspect c6-T1 integrity."

They did show us how to express BOTH bladder and bowels. Thus far, I have expressed her bladder only. I am trying to make an appointment with my regular vet as well.

Annie is about 7 weeks old and is eating baby food (without onion) per the vet's recommendation. She is confined to a box with blankets and does not really move about in there.

[Traci]

Please make the appointment with your regular vet for ASAP, he can either determine the extent of injury or refer you to a surgeon who can determine for certain.

I would caution on the baby food...it truly is not formulated for animal species...your vet can give you Hill's prescription A/D, which is safe to feed to kittens for short-term, and would help aid in her digestion and keep stools on a consistency.

May I ask, just how did the vet explain to you to "express the bowels"??? Did he simply mean to imply gently massaging the abdomen or something else?

[Auntie Debbie]

I hope there will be something your vet can do for him. Thanks for caring so much about him to get him help. Please let us know how he's doing, ok?