Great news from the neurologist!!!
I am so so so thrilled. It’s a bit premature to fully celebrate, but the news at our visit today was more than I had hoped for!
The neurologist disagreed with my primary vet, and is quite certain that Feta has “deep pain” and sensation in her weirdly-stiff remaining back leg. We had x-rays taken of the spine and leg to see if there were any skeletal problems interfering with normal leg function – e.g., if the leg had broken and healed badly in the past, or something had calcified or grown poorly and was interfering with the joint, or if there was a problem with her spine.
Bad news: in addition to a very slight heart murmur, she does have a disc issue in her lower spine, in the lumbar region, I believe between the 4th and 5th vertebrae. (Ironically, this is very similar to the issue my dog has, which made me promise to myself, “My next pet will have no pre-existing complications or health problems!” So much for that.) This is probably a result of being hit by a car, or whatever it was that caused her initial injury. This may be be causing some of her pain and interfering with her leg function as well as whatever is going on in the stifle joint area, but the neurologist thinks the problem is primarily muscular, which is GREAT news because it means it can be improved with time, patience, exercise, and therapy.
Our primary goal right now is loosening up the muscles and getting them to relax enough to get more movement out of the leg. More details on how we will do this in a later post.
For now, I am going to go cry a few more tears of relief and apologize to Feta for starving her, carting her into Manhattan (big thumbs up for Dr. Williams Blue Pearl, by the way!), letting people poke her and stick her with stuff, doping her up, taking pictures of her bones, and then not letting her have dinner for another several hours yet (lest she puke from the sedatives). SORRY-NOT-SORRY, you will be glad of this when you are jumping around like a real tripawd some day (we hope)!
Also, Feta is most likely closer to 2 years old than to 5. But we may never know, and as she is a rather traditional lady, she’s not telling.
I’m so glad for you and Feta! Thank you for sharing the hopeful update with us. And, I continue to be charmed by Feta’s adorable captions (“I wonder if I have enough use of my back leg to jump up and escape through that ceiling vent…”). I see a book, or at least a series of greeting cards, in your future!
Hahaha thanks! It could be the next great sequel to “I could pee on that.” Maybe, “I could scoot my butt on that”? 😀
This is GREAT news. I’m so happy for our little buddy. Phew, she needs to start to breathe, to relax, let that muscle in the leg go. I saw in some of the rehab photos that she can relax it even though it’s really hard work and she has better things to do. I’m so happy for both of you. Phew, I feel your relief.
Kerren and Tripawd Kitty Mona
Thanks!! Yes, I am quite glad, because while I could move her leg a bit I didn’t know if she could do it herself. There may be some pinched nerve / disc issues yet, but the neurologist was optimistic, which was honestly more than I’d expected! So sorry, poor lil kitty, more leg torture is in store!
Yeah!!! So glad you’re able to get a full work-up for her! Now to get a rehab program in place 🙂
Donna
Thanks!! You bet, we’re on the case 🙂 First stop: heating pad and leg rubs!
Really seems like pretty good news on balance and I am so happy for you and Feta!
Lisa Marie (also from Penguin group)
Thank you! I am pretty happy too 😀 😀 😀 Feta less so, because she got Cone of Shamed for biting her toes and also has to have more of the Yucky Medicine, but I think in time she’ll agree it’s worth it 😀
Great news! Hopefully you will start to see progress soon!
Okay Feta, it’s “get back” time!!! Time to eat ANYTHING you want ANYTIME 24/7!!!
Sooooo glad the leg issue WILL GET BETTER!!! And good for you for pursuing more opinions!
And on top of that you jave miraculously gotten younger!! I need to go to your Vet and see if he can make me years younger too! 🙂
Good job sweet Feta!! Keep knocking those hurdles down! 🙂
Hugs!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!