Good thoughts, please

[gwynhefar]

About half an hour ago Fionn started walking around like he was drunk -- no balance, stumbling, etc. I took him to the vet, and by the time we got there, he was back to normal, but they're going to keep him overnight for observation. He didn't seem in any pain while it was happening, in fact, in a move that might have been funny under other circumstances, he kept trying to jump up and steal food off my plate on the coffee table, even though he didn't seem to know which direction his legs were going in. The vet's going to send off some blood work to see if anything shows up there and keep an eye on him tonight in case he has another episode. She said it's possible he may have had a mini-stroke.

So good thoughts and prayers are needed that there's no serious underlying condition at that this was a one-time isolated event. If he doesn't have a repeat episode tonight I can take him home in the morning, and the blood-work will be back in about a week.

Comments

[crystalsage.livejournal.com]

Here's hoping its nothing serious. I'll light a candle for him on my kitty altar. *hug*

[vulpine137.livejournal.com]

*good thoughts heading his way*

[kajivar]

Many good thoughts headed your way!

[rowancat.livejournal.com]

Hope he's ok. I instinctively send positive healing vibes to any sick kitties
on my FL though i don't always comment.

[m0usegrrl.livejournal.com]

Poor baby! I'll keep him in my thoughts [and you too].

[wakingdreaming.livejournal.com]

Definitely sending good energy his way!

I'm looking forward to your report tomorrow saying he's all fine!

Could he have gotten into some yeast that had gone bad or something? Cats like to eat that stuff.

[gwynraven.livejournal.com]

Nope, he hasn't gotten into anything that could cause that kind of reaction. And it was very sudden, one minute he was walking around fine, and it was like with the very next step he couldn't get his legs to co-ordinate. From what I've learned through reading cat health sites on the internet episodes such as this can be caused by diabetes, hyperthyroidism, or strokes. Although with strokes the impairment usually lasts longer than the 20mins or so Fionn was affected.

We already know he's got hyperthyroidism, but he's on medication for that, so that should have controlled his symptoms. So most likely guess right now is either he's not responding properly to the medication and still having hyperthyroid problems, or he's developed diabetes. Neither of which are uncommon in older cats.

I'm kind of hoping it's the thyroid, because that should be able to be solved by adjusting his medication, either upping the dose or putting him on a slightly different drug. If it's diabetes, he'll have to get insulin shots, and have his diet strictly regulated, which will be difficult with 5 other cats in the house, and there will still probably be severe complications. Plus, even with proper medication, a diabetic attack can still happen suddenly, and I won't always be home to help him if it does. I might have to start hiring a cat sitter.

And then of course there's still the more unlikely but still possible scenarios such as brain tumor or severe hypertension or something else equally fatal and untreatable. For my sanity, I'm going to pretend those don't exist until proven otherwise.

But yeah, the poor darlin's going to get some massive cuddling when he gets home tomorrow.

[puddock.livejournal.com]

My hyperthyroid cat used to do this before we discovered she was hyperthyriod. Lots of Metta headed in kitty's direction.

[gwynraven.livejournal.com]

Thanks. I can only hope that's the problem.