CAT LEG CRAMPS & SWELLING - HELP!!

[biogal]

Please help! My 16 year old female cat that I adore started having "leg cramps" a few weeks ago. It appeared to be charley horses / seizing-up which lasted about 5 mins. The leg would be sore for a couple days. Then better for a few, but days later it would repeat. My vet thoroughly felt the area & did blood work. She suspected maybe sciatica but was very unsure. The blood work was fairly normal aside from known kidney issues & an elevated protein (TP = 12.0g/dL) which likely indicates an infection somewhere. She put her on Dasuquin (Glucosamine / Chondrotin) & Zeniquin (antibiotic) but when I got her home that evening things got even worse! She cramped up very severely & could not really walk at all, but was trying. The next morning I noticed the foot had swollen up horribly! I quick ran her into the vet, who shaved her foot & found major bruising & swelling, but no puncture wounds. The swelling did go down some after 2 days, but then a couple days later she cramped & the swelling went up again! Xrays show no problems. I just started trying warm flax pillow compresses on it recently. I can't stand to watch her in pain! HELP! Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!

[Traci]

Get her to a new, more qualified vet, TODAY (or an ER vet) and recheck bloodwork, re-evaluate the leg for punctures, and insect/spider bites, etc. There could also be nerve, ligament or bone problems in which another xray may be useful to detect changes from the last one. Rule out bacterial, viral infection, tick disease, other insect/spider bites, tumors, etc.

Don't wait on this, it's been three weeks according to your post, kitty has suffered too long, get her to a more qualified vet TODAY!

[biogal]

Traci,

Thank you for taking the time to reply. I am miserable because she had another really bad night & day. I gave her some Torbutrol (pain killer), but I know that does not make all the pain go away & I know she does not like how it makes her so dopey, but the cramping just wouldn't let up. I have to go to work tomorrow & leave her home alone, not knowing how she is doing or whether she can make it to the litter box, etc. I already spent $250 and had 2 of the 3 vets in that office look at her and not only is she not better, but we don't even know what the problem is & she is actually worse! I like them & they have been awesome with her & my other kitties in the past but....OMG! On my tight budget I am just terrified that I'll spend another quarter grand and still have no answers. I have been googling my heart out, trying to find any info that might clue me in as to what this could be, but have had no luck. She's an indoor kitty so injury, bites, etc are very unlikely. They said there aren't any real safe anti-inflamitory medication out there for cat, plus her kidney issues limit our options. I read somewhere that someone's vet gave their cat a cortisone shot, but the swelling is right below the pad of her foot & must be intense. She is everything to me! I'm so despirate for an answer or at least a cure. I will call my vet again first thing tomorrow morning & tell them they need to do SOMETHING & that they are not going to charge me any more unless maybe they can permanently resolve the problem. If not, I will take her elsewhere. What option do I have? Thank you again!
~Denise

[mamabear]

I agree here. You can call your vet BUT the outcome is going to be you going to a new vet. If they haven't found something else then they weren't looking hard enough. SOMETHING is there. What about a CAt only vet? Do you have one around by you, all you have to do is a call a vets office and say I'm looking for a cats only vet and see what they tell you, theymight give you a number to call.

you say bruising? Could she have gotten caught in a doorway? something fall on her? One of the other cats and her play and she get trapped somewhere? Get on your hands and knees almost on your belly and get to where they are and walk around home. Pick up all the little nick nacks you find(as I often do when I am down there ) and check for things that would be a danger or something that looks like there was an accident around the house under something that you might not see by standing up. Good luck and please let us know what happens.

[Traci]

With swelling and bruising, there is air or fluid accumulation (edema), so it's imperative the vet determine the source. Obviously, they aren't, so don't waste any more time on the net or with these vets, see a feline-only vet, or a feline specialist, even a well-established ER vet hospital whom more than likely have seen this before.

The problem is there are numerous things that can cause edema...your description of "cramping" may not be accurate, it could be pain prohibiting her from movement, it could be nerve problems, or muscular, or orthopedic...it could be caused by an infection, viral disease, bone neoplasia, or nearly anything else. If the edema is actual fluid, a biopsy on the fluid might be helpful, but only a qualified vet can make that determination.

Call an ER vet hospital or a much more experienced vet in your area FIRST thing in the morning, ask if they can see your kitty, and discuss testing (where they can test and also monitor her, look for other problems, monitor her behavior and mobility, etc throughout the day and update you when necessary). Yes, testing can be pricey, but it's worth it, and your kitty is in obvious pain and/or discomfort, this needs to be diagnosed effectively and promptly!!

Btw, there are safe pain medications prescribed by the vet, some do include NSAIDS, but these must be prescribed carefully and cautiously. A more qualifed vet needs to make the assessment/diagnosis in order to prescribe the appropriate pain medication or anti-inflammatory.

[biogal]

Thank you for all the great advice mamabear & Traci. I called the same vets office today & insisted on getting in right away. As fate would have it, my usual 2 younger lady doctors were in surgery or out sick, so the got me in 9am with the older male doctor. He thoroughly palpated the area again (which nearly made me loose it, because it clearly causes her intense pain, but I guess it is necessary) & re-examined the xrays. He said he has never in all his years seen this in a cat before, but based on symptoms & the patchy bone density, he strongly suspects multiple carcinoma in that leg bone (& perhaps other bones in her body) (my heart sinks & eyes well up...sigh!). He said it can seep fluids out which then gravity would pull towards the foot, resulting in the swelling. He said that at this point I have the option to drive her all the way to Purdue animal hospital & leave her there for several days so they can run tests, draw bone marrow for testing, & observe her. Treatment would be chemo & cortisone more than likely. At 16.5 yrs I hate to put her through that. I asked him if just skipping to the cortisone/ predinsone would be an option to at least make her more comfortable. He agreed that was probably a good idea. I have to research it much more & think this through, plus see if the predisone helps. So far all day today after her appointment, she has been doing better & in good spirits at least. Luckily my mom was off today & agreed to stay home & watch her because I had to go to work. I have numerous serious health problems myself & am despirately hoping for at least a good nights sleep tonight for the both of us. A year & 5 months ago she was diagnosed with <25% kidney function left, and no one expected her to be around this long. I want her to live forever of course, but realistically if the predinose, etc gives her relief / comfort for months, or dare I wish longer, that might be better than dragging her around, stressing her out, jabbing her with needles, suffering through chemo,etc. What do you think?
Still weighing my options with a heavy heart,
Denise

[mamabear]

Denise, I would like to say this.........first off KUDOS for taking kitty to the hospital and not delaying it. For demanding that the kitty be seen AND someone had a HUGE hand in having those other Vets not around and you were able to see a more experienced older vet within the same practice. Traci is out Vet Tech on here and she takes everything that everyone says here to heart and wears it on her sleeve. She adores animals just that much that she I know would be sobbing until she knew what happen to your kitty, although she wont like the outcome I am sure, she will be happy to know that you fought to find out what is going on and you will be researching this. She will know that you wont let your kitty suffer and that is all that matters.

I am DEEPLY sorry for this and know that in her condition that this is what you and your vet have decided. I stand by what ever disision a person makes with their vet as it must be so painful to bare that burden. What ever your disision please don't doubt yourself. Your vet will give you the proper information (only talk to the older male) and he will be able to help you with what you need to do. He knows she is old and will put that into perspective and weight the kidney issues as well. Personally I would not put her through that stress and being away from me. I know hospitals are good and do a great job BUT for her age I would want her home with me every second so I can spoil the hell out of her until her time. Hey her time might not be for another year who knows but at least I spent all I can with her and she wasn't suffering while away from me. Ask your vet if he sees that her age is a factor and her kidney as well.

I don't have any advice that I can give for what the dr. said it was. Best to get it from Traci when she sees this she will be sure to respond.

I can offer prayers that kitty not suffer and is very spoiled while you are with her.

I will also offer prayers for your own health so you may take care of her. Stress is a huge problems with medical issues in humans so please take care of yourself as well. Plenty of water, vitamins, sleeping 8-10 hours a day, eating the right foods throughout the day is essential to keeping a keen brain functioning and some perfume and makeup can boost your attitude 100% dont forget!!!

I have had my moments for sure so I try to offer my PM box when people have health issues and are trying to take care of their pets when I myself am feeling up to speed.....If you need to vent please PM me (cursing allowed ), sometimes just getting it out helps.

Hugs for both of you!!!

[Traci]

Call the vet back and ask him to consult a feline specialist on your behalf (he can call/discuss vets at Perdue for you!), it should only cost you the price of a long-distance phone call for a consult. When a vet cannot diagnose, the vet is obligated to refer you to someone who can. That's what referrals are for, to benefit the patient and the client.

Without proper testing, it is impossible to say this is neoplasia. While it very well could be, you don't want to ASSUME, without proper testing. Since he said HE hasn't seen this in a cat, doesn't mean another vet hasn't, and you owe it to yourself and your kitty to get a qualified opinion before ASSUMING the worst.

I understand the cost involved, but, a consult can help lead you in the right direction, it may only require a biopsy of the fluid to diagnose specifically. Wouldn't you want to explore that option before assuming the worst and proceeding with treatment that might not even fit the condition?

[mamabear]

Call the vet back and ask him to consult a feline specialist on your behalf (he can call/discuss vets at Perdue for you!), it should only cost you the price of a long-distance phone call for a consult. When a vet cannot diagnose, the vet is obligated to refer you to someone who can. That's what referrals are for, to benefit the patient and the client.

Without proper testing, it is impossible to say this is neoplasia. While it very well could be, you don't want to ASSUME, without proper testing. Since he said HE hasn't seen this in a cat, doesn't mean another vet hasn't, and you owe it to yourself and your kitty to get a qualified opinion before ASSUMING the worst.

I understand the cost involved, but, a consult can help lead you in the right direction, it may only require a biopsy of the fluid to diagnose specifically. Wouldn't you want to explore that option before assuming the worst and proceeding with treatment that might not even fit the condition?

excellent advice. I didn't even know a vet could call for consult like that...Learn something new everyday!!

THank you traci