I am trying to gather information on how to best help my young three year old cat who has had trauma to her hind leg from an injury. Friends of ours were 'watching her' when she got left outside in the Smoky Mountains. She had a completely vertical deep gash down her hind leg along with a few other minor lacerations, was suffering shock when she was found, and was taken immediately for critical care. Because the laceration was so 'clean', it's hard to say what kind of injury it was, for instance, a dog bite might be more 'of a 'rip' than a straight gash. Initial examination revealed no breaks, but the doctors said that nerve damage was most likely a given. They installed a drain in her back and stitched her up, without bracing or splinting anything or giving the joints any kind of 'crutch' or 'cast' to heal correctly. She was also confined for at least three weeks which they said would help her regain her mobility back and allow it to heal properly. This happened about mid-May.
We since have gotten her back now, and when I watched her limp, it seemed obvious to me that something in the joint was out of place, as her leg looked 'bowed' out. She was taken to a vet where we were at, who did more diagnostics and determined that she had had a minor fracture, and that her hip joint was healthy but that the patella was completely rotated out. She was lightly sedated and the joint was put back in place. I can't remember which he specified, but one or more of the ligaments or tendons is damaged and is unable to keep the knee joint properly in place. It was also determined that her leg is much lighter, as if she has lost bone density, perhaps from having to redistribute her weight from discomfort, and from a lack of proper circulation. After seeing his care, she was taken immediately to a certified animal chiropractor care specialist who could utilize a cold laser to help with the circulation, etc. and were given omega supplements and proper nutrition to help her on the road to healing. The difference of these two visits in one day was so completely dramatic that someone might not have even known she was lame. I was ecstatic to see her feeling so much better and she was completely using the leg to walk, it was in line and even with the other one.
However, it has only been a week since this very effective initial treatment, and despite all our efforts, the patella has completely rotated out again. The difficulty for us is the financial investment we have had to make in her critical care and her follow-up care recently. The second doctor informed me that the time to 'splint' the injury was immediately following the trauma. Therefore he did not split the leg either the second time it was corrected. The sad fact is seeing the effect it has on her quality of life, which is upsetting me tremendously. With few options of managing pain (over the counter not an option), she often hides underneath the bed for the majority of the time. When she lays down, she has to carefully set herself down, and repositions herself often. Walking is completely disformed and awkward, and she still insists on jumping on things despite our trying to keep her from it. She lets out little mews and cries often now in response to weight-bearing movement. However, when she lays down, she can scratch and move it around perfectly.
We are trying to figure out what her options are realistically and her quality of living. I am stressed that about $1000 worth of medical care has not even come close to helping her chances of long-term healing. The closest certified animal chiropractic alternative health provider is hundreds of miles away, so weekly visits are not an option there. She is only three years old and could likely live another ten, inside of course, where she is now kept permanently. I've had her since she was a kitten and love her to pieces, and more than anything, do not want to see her in such discomfort. I do not want to have to make any difficult decisions.
In the case that you or someone you know could enlighten me a little better than the vets I have gone to, or suggest another way I can help her other than weekly visits to reposition her patella, I cannot express my thanks to you enough.
-Sincerely, Leeloo's Sad Mommy
