RTA Cat

Re: RTA Cat

Butterfly — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 20:22:46 GMT

Thanks Jo your post made me feel more hopeful, he has a fracture on his sacrum but his tail is paralised, he can walk but very wonky, he was so much brighter when we went to visit and he is coming home tomorrow night and im going to express his bladder for him and lactulose if needed. What kind of physio would you suggest and when do we start?

Re: RTA Cat

Lor12 — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 20:21:48 GMT

Totally agree it all does very much depend on the cats temperament and if not coping then quite rightly it isn't fair to continue.

Nice to hear a success story

Re: RTA Cat

Jo Oakden — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 18:09:42 GMT

We had a beautiful cat in that the owners had run over. They were distrought and were willing to try everything and she must have been in with us for about 3 weeks in total. We expressed her bladder daily for the first week and then found she was emptying on her bed, and passing faeces with lactulose (unaware as she was unable to get up). Her pelvis was completely smashed and she was paralysed.

at week two the swelling went down in one leg and she was able to move around - turn herself over etc. She went home on week 3 on metacam and started physio. We are now about 4months on and she is walking around, happy and almost (bar some muscle wastage and a slightly wonky pelvis) 'normal'.

This only worked because she didnt get depressed and very much enjoyed being nursed. We called her princess c! It would not have worked if she had become depressed and off her food as it would have been cruel to keep her going. Thankfully she loved it and still loves coming in for her re-checks!

Re: RTA Cat

Fuzzyduck — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 15:30:46 GMT

[quote user="Lor12"]

[quote user="Fuzzyduck"]

We ususally give them 3-4 days to see whether function returns, sometimes it does but sometimes it doesnt, it depends how badly the nerves have been damaged.

[/quote]

I'm really surprised your vets only give it days? I'm in agreement of 6-8 weeks really as nerve damage certainly takes weeks to resolve, by giving it that time you are giving them the best chance of recovery. In all the years I have never seen nerve damage resolve in days!

[/quote]

The problem and reason why we only give it days is most owners cannot afford to keep the cat hospitalised and cannot manage it at home. Only 2 days ago we PTS a cat which we had had in hospital for about a week and the owners took her home to manage at home and see if function returned. The owners were unable to express the bladder at home so it meant coming to the practice daily for us to express it which was traumatic for the cat and inconvenient for the owners. The cat was understandably getting grumpy and aggressive and becoming more difficult to express.

Obviously in a ideal world you would give it as long as possible but this isnt an ideal world and unfortunately i have never seen an owner sucessfully manage it at home. However i would like to think if it was a member of staffs pet then it would be better managed

Re: RTA Cat

Butterfly — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 15:23:20 GMT

Thanks so much for all your kind words, so we should give it at least 6 weeks, he should've had his catheter out this morning so fingers crossed, he also has tail paralysis

Re: RTA Cat

Lor12 — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 12:18:19 GMT

[quote user="Fuzzyduck"]

We ususally give them 3-4 days to see whether function returns, sometimes it does but sometimes it doesnt, it depends how badly the nerves have been damaged.

[/quote]

Re: RTA Cat

Caro Laithwaite VN — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 08:41:39 GMT

We used to give at least 6 weeks for bladder/bowel function to sort to some degree

Re: RTA Cat

meep_ kitten — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 23:55:25 GMT

I've seen some come in like that, and it's like a temporary paralysis for a short while from the trauma but they've regained function. Really hope that's the case with your cat. I know how heartbreaking it is to see them in such discomfort but if its short term and they recover, its worth it. Best of luck and I'm sure you'll make right decision if it comes to it. Will keep fingers crossed its a happy outcome.

Re: RTA Cat

Fuzzyduck — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 22:48:02 GMT

We ususally give them 3-4 days to see whether function returns, sometimes it does but sometimes it doesnt, it depends how badly the nerves have been damaged.

Some owners have tried taking them home to express the bladder at home but if function doesnt return i have never seen a case where it has been sucessfully managed at home long term.

I always find these cases some of the saddest as the cats are fine otherwise and its heartbreaking to have to put them to sleep when they are otherwise so well, but unfortunately i have never seen another solution.

I really hope your cat gets better xx