Feline paralysis-hind leg/tail due to a possible bloodclot in spinal area. Looking for any help?

Question

My cat Honeybunz had a sudden paralysis of the hind legs/tail on Nov. 16 (13th b-day Nov. 17). He's had a heart murmur for a few years. Possible blood clot in the spinal cord area. Had no deep pain response in legs, after 3 accupuncture treatments one leg is moving (shaking). After over $1,500, I need any info on what else I can do. Has anyone used herbal, holistic therapy for this?(transfer factor, oils, etc.) Accupuncture was working, but $85 due at the visit-just can't do it. He is my baby, and he is dealing with it, but it has been 3 weeks and I need to do something. I do exercises on his legs, one foot now won't even bend-is completely straight (the one that moves). He is able to sit up, eats-organic can food mixed with vitamins and drinks -water and health drink. Wets and poops-on pee pads. UTI last week-Clavimox fixed it. He can scoot a little by dragging his back end. If you know of anything that may help him, please let me know. We live in the Green Bay, WI area. Thanks!!!

Answer 1

Only you can know when it is time to give your cat his final rest, peace and freedom from physical problems.

I euthanized my 22 and 1/2 year old cat a couple of weeks ago. She had several incidents in the last six months of her life where she lost control of her back legs - they passed and she regained her mobility. I did about seven sessions of acupuncture for her and it did not seem to help with her arthritis so it was discontinued. Her loss of leg function was probably due to failing kidneys which is common indication of kidney failure.. Since she was always such a good eater I think the criteria in my mind was that when she no longer wanted to eat that would be the time. And the time came.

You are taking such good care of your guy. If he still seems to be happy and is enjoying his food and your love I wouldn't give up on him. It is a very difficult situation to deal with. I have a picture of Cameo on her last day - she went outside as usual to soak up some of the warm sunshine she loved to feel on her body so much.

What happens when we leave the physical body will never be known to us here on earth. I truly hope for Cameo that her "death" is a release to a spirit world that is free from physical limitations and that she is floating around out there somewhere in a wonderful new existence. She will always remain in my thoughts and heart.

Answer 2

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Feline paralysis-hind leg/tail due to a possible bloodclot in spinal area. Looking for any help?
My cat Honeybunz had a sudden paralysis of the hind legs/tail on Nov. 16 (13th b-day Nov. 17). He's had a heart murmur for a few years. Possible blood clot in the spinal cord area. Had no deep pain response in legs, after 3 accupuncture treatments one leg is moving (shaking). After over $1,500,...

Answer 3

So sorry to hear about your Honeybunz. I've fostered for almost 15 years now and have a colony with health issues I care for daily. In the last 3 months I've had 2 older males that just went through the same thing. I love and people tend to think I go above and beyond in taking care of mine as I feel like they are my children and I'll do anything to make sure they are happy, comfortable, loved and cared for. Both these last 2 the clots came on very suddenly with no warning. The last one, however DID have a seizure about 2 weeks before the paralysis came on, and I wasn't sure why, but as soon as I saw the paralysis, I knew.

It's so hard to let go, but I've heard is very painful. I couldn't/wouldn't let any of them suffer knowing the outcome will still be the same eventually. Thank God you only have one to care for. The expenses of caring for pets with health issues can be astronomical, especially those of us who aren't financially blessed. I can't for theym or myself and the others I care for see putting them through anxiety, shots, pills, etc. when I know it's just prolonging the inevitable. You will know when it's time because you don't want your baby to suffer. It's not the money factor, it's the QUALITY OF LIFE FOR YOUR PET. They don't want to be confined in having to have us pick them up to go pottie or #2 or carry them to where we think they want to be. That's no way to live for a happy, loving fur baby. They long to be free and wild.

Good luck to you & your baby. I know you'll make the right decision. My heart & prayers are with you.

Answer 4

Sounds like Honeybunz is getting old. Have you taken him to the vet? At this point in time, it would probably be the best thing to do because then you and the vet can discuss options. If Honeybunz is in pain, wouldn't you want to put him out of his pain? Especially at his age? As tough as it is, sometimes it's better for them. If the vet says it's something that meds can help with (and he won't be in pain) then get him on the meds and just make him comfortable until it's his time.

Honestly though, it sounds like there's so much going on with him that you could be spending a lot of money to keep him comfortable. And if $85 per visit to the acupuncturist is too much...I don't think you'd be able to handle the financials of keeping Honeybunz comfortable.

I've been through it with one of my cats and I only had my cat for 1 year! He was about 12/13 yrs old and his health problems just got to be too much and he was in a lot of pain. It wouldn't have been fair to prolong his life for my sake (and obviously I wanted to keep him as long as I could), when it was clear that he was going to have many medical problems, so I did what had to be done and even though I miss him every day, at least I know that he was probably thankful to be put out of his pain.

So please think about your kitty and what would be best for HIM, not you. Good luck.

Answer 5

This is not what you want to hear, but you must let Honeybunz go. My cat suddenly came down with this very same condition on June 8 of this year. She was 13 years old. I took her to the vet that same morning and he explained what was wrong and advised that I should let her go. He said he would do the same if it were his cat. He did explain there were some treatments we could try if I did not want to euthanize her; but she would never be cured, the treatment was long and expensive; and she could be in pain for awhile. Her chance of survival with the treatment was only about 5%. It was heartbreaking but I sent her to heaven to be with the other pets she had previously known and loved. I understand what you're going through and how you must feel. The hardest part was the suddenness of the whole thing. I went to sleep the night before with her curled beside me purring away as usual and woke up to see the poor girl suffering so. It was the right choice. I can tell how much you love Honeybunz. That's what he needs, too....so his suffering and pain are gone.

Answer 6

This is sometimes called a "saddle thrombus" if you want to google that term. It's fairly common in cats, and it sounds like you are doing all the right things. Is he on an anti-clotting medication? Sometimes that can help. Unfortunately, nerve injury is a wait-and-see sort of thing, it takes a long time for nerves to heal. You can do some gentle range of motion exercises on his hind legs to help keep things moving. Good luck to you.

Answer 7

My beautiful shelter kitty Mr. Freeway Fluffers was stricken maybe with a blood clot (so says the vet with nothing more than feeling for hind leg pulse and getting none) which left him in pain and paralysis to back legs. They said he would not get better and gave me pain medication which I used for about 4 days. He didn't eat or drink water for a full 3 days. I just didn't want him to die and decided to get an eyedropper out and start forcing him to take water. After a little more than a day, he drank on his own. Then on to eating same method same result. I looked and looked on various google searches for many days and found nothing till the 2nd week of his paralysis. Then I found a product to dissolve blood clots in both humans and animals that has been used for 100's of years in Japan and now in Europe. It's made from soy. Look it up Nattokinase and also a product made from silkworms called Serapeptase for pain and swelling and inflamation of many conditions including blood vessels that form clots. I'm having trouble giving him the pills He hates it resists and sometimes spits it out after clawing at me. I am so far giving 1 100mg capsule of Nattokinase each day. They say not to give too much and cause internal bleeding. I gave him Serapeptase once but he's not in alot of pain. He's getting somewhat better and now I'm massaging his 2 back feet one of which is hard and has a big lesion with skin showing I used dilute apple cider vinegar on it to start some healing and now coconut oil. He loves to eat the coconut oil so I give him some but tried a bandage once and never again He nearly bit me when I tried to remove it. He clawed me good. so I soaked it with water till I could carefully cut part of a slit and eventually pull it off. Now I just use the coconut oil that I cover with a makeup pad and lay a pillow case loosely on top to let it soak in for a while till he finally removes it and licks the oil off. Good luck Now I learning how to hold him to try and walk to his food a few steps and learning more all the time Start searching for cat therapy for paralysis of hind legs and you'll find lots of stuff. I feel for you
Toni

Answer 8

The same thing happened to my cat suddenly last Feb. I took him to the vet and he has 7 bloodclots. He could not use his back legs and his paws were so cold. He passed away about a week later. I hope everything works out for you and the kitty. The only thing they could do was liquid tylenol to calm him down, heating pad to warm his paws.

Answer 9

Blood Clot In Spine

Answer 10

I would never put my cat through that suffering. I would put him to sleep at the vets and find a new cat to give a home to.. There are so many sitting at rescues and shelters that need a home this time of year.
We just put to sleep our 17 year old MaineCoon in June he had kidney failure and I still weep about it but we now have a 2 year old Siamese from a rescue and a little10 year old maltese from another rescue. They aren't the same but there are so many that need our love too.... let go!