Shannon

[Peg]

They did do the CBC, urinalysis, calcium, potassium and glucose ( which is always a little high at the vet). She is exhibiting no other symptoms other than the lameness and falling. Xrays showed her previously fractured left leg to be malformed from scar tissue and arthritis. Since she always limped, she depended on her right leg which now has arthritis too. She is eating well, using the litter, urine and bowel ok. She thinks she can run and her legs don't hold her up so she falls. She is not hiding or howling or crying. In fact, she is pulling herself up on the sofa and cuddling with me like always. She was ok before we had the dental done. She was slow coming out of the anesthesia. Could that be a factor?

[Auntie Debbie]

Traci can better answer and reply to your concerns about Shannon. I will say this though....there is something to be said about one leg overcompensating for the other over time. I pulverized part of my left knee when I was 17. Back then, I was told there was nothing much they could do to make it completely better. IU got along just fine, just some occasional swelling which would go down by itself, and not being able to use it 100%. I could still walk, run and do stuff. Breaking my foot on that same leg in 7 different places complicated use of that leg even more. But I did well with most things. Then one day about 8 years ago or so I went to get up from being on the floor and just couldn't. Seems after years of overcompensating and doing most of the work my right knee finally said, "Screw it. I'm done. Make other arrangements."
I guess kiknee replacement would be a good way for me to go, but that's too long of a recovery time and until recently I was on my own. I'm fine as long as I avoid going up stairs.
Maybe Shannon has a simialr deal going on with what was her "good" leg. She has my prayers to overcome whatever it is that is affecting her....hope it can be easily corrected once diagnosed!

[Traci]

I doubt anesthesia from the dental has anything to do with this, although that doesn't mean you shouldn't ever be concerned with slow recovery from anesthesia, no matter what the procedure.

See what the orthopedic says, ask him what his opinion on an MRI is. I assume he will have faxed to him all of Shannon's records, including the xrays for review?

[Peg]

I took all Shannon's records with me to the hospital so they have everything already. A lot sounds like what happened to Aunt Debbie. Shannon has limped for 15 years due to that bad leg and she now has arthritis in the good knee. So her rear is very unstable. The only disc they said had a problem in the radiographs was the one at the dock of the tail which would have borne the brunt of the imbalance all these years. Some have told me she could have spinal cancer. After Noodles I don't even want to think about that but I feel she would have other symptoms, as Noodles did, if it were cancer. I don't even want to think of that. The orthopedist is Tuesday. I hope he can help her.

[momPaws]

Prayers are coming Shannon's way, Peg...

[Traci]

Do you have a pet step for her? (i.e., carpeted steps with around 3 steps, so she can get onto furniture and your bed easier)? Maybe you should consider getting one for her.

I wish I could offer you more advice, if she's not in obvious pain or crying out etc, then hopefully it's nothing serious, beyond the arthritis. You might also consider, if you haven't already, a heated cat bed for her, this often times helps them rest and sleep better and soothes the joints to some degree.

Shannon remains in my thoughts and prayers, update us when you know more, ok?

[Auntie Debbie]

She's in my prayers too. I do have a question...once she's been walking a bit, does her gait improve at all?
Sometimes I need to walk a bit before my legs (aand at this point in life, the rest of me ) gets into gear.
I just hope there's nothing serious going on with Shannon and all sheneeds is some TLC!