I'm sure you have all seen Schrodinger over the past couple of years on my facebook page. Schrodinger is one of my cats. I adopted him as a 5 month old rescue deaf manx. When I picked him up, he bunny hopped at speed as many manx cats do, and was exceedingly friendly and confident. However has he approached the 12 month mark, we noticed that he stopped jumping as much, and although he liked human company, he didn't want to be touched.
He had a few consultations with orthopedic specialists and work up and we discovered extra vertebra and prolapsed discs. Pain medication trials only helped briefly. In May this year he had deteriorated. We could barely touch him, he was crouched, and had slow reflexes in hind leg and took excessively long to urinate. We were considering the possibility of surgery. He had a CT scan which point we identified a few extra issues. He unfortunately was not a good surgical candidate. So we decided before giving up on him and considering euthanasia to attempt some other therapies.
He had a few consultations with orthopedic specialists and work up and we discovered extra vertebra and prolapsed discs. Pain medication trials only helped briefly. In May this year he had deteriorated. We could barely touch him, he was crouched, and had slow reflexes in hind leg and took excessively long to urinate. We were considering the possibility of surgery. He had a CT scan which point we identified a few extra issues. He unfortunately was not a good surgical candidate. So we decided before giving up on him and considering euthanasia to attempt some other therapies.
Ideally physio was the best option, however as he was untouchable that wasn't the easiest thing to do. We started with teaching him to wear an Elizabethan collar. Pairing the collar with lots of good things, as well as lots of time in and out of his crate.
Before we could do manual physio, we started laser therapy. He surprisingly was cooperative and we were able to complete a number of sessions and were convinced we saw improvement.
Before we could do manual physio, we started laser therapy. He surprisingly was cooperative and we were able to complete a number of sessions and were convinced we saw improvement.
Before we knew it he was comfortable with hands on manipulations. We also began some balance work and the micro but many step plan to introduce him to the underwater treadmill. We aren't in the treadmill yet (well not with it moving and water all together), I plan on not rushing the process. My aim is for 12 months.
We are working toward this by getting him walking on a normal treadmill, as well as standing in increasingly deep water. Now we are in the treadmill at VSS pairing it with his favorite foods.
A key to his comfort and many visits to VSS - taking a dog with us. He very much loves his pups, so having a dog with him really does increase his confidence.
We are working toward this by getting him walking on a normal treadmill, as well as standing in increasingly deep water. Now we are in the treadmill at VSS pairing it with his favorite foods.
A key to his comfort and many visits to VSS - taking a dog with us. He very much loves his pups, so having a dog with him really does increase his confidence.
At his last surgical review, Drs Dave and Nick were very impressed with our progress. He now stands tall, with no neuro delays and has built some muscle in hindlimbs. His time to urinate is also now down to 1/2 the time we started with.
So we will keep on keeping on. I cannot thank Lindsey and Lisa from Animal Physiotherapy Solutions for working with us. We certainly have a much more comfortable cat and I am so happy to see his progress.
Lisa even had a cuddle with the once untouchable cat!!
So we will keep on keeping on. I cannot thank Lindsey and Lisa from Animal Physiotherapy Solutions for working with us. We certainly have a much more comfortable cat and I am so happy to see his progress.
Lisa even had a cuddle with the once untouchable cat!!
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