Topic: Casper has been hit by a car - phantom limb pain? (Read 28773 times)

Pinkbear (Julie) · « **Reply #165 on:** December 07, 2008, 11:38:06 AM »

Poor soul!

The grass trays grow in no time and are very popular here as we have no lawn.

I recall last year when we had a farm kitten who had lost his back leg at a very early age - around a week the vet thinks. When I picked him up he looked fairly clean, but the back of the ear on the side his leg was missing was crusted with muck and flea dirt.

It took me an hour of washing and brushing and the poor mite seemed ever so grateful afterward.

Sam (Fussy_Furball) · « **Reply #164 on:** December 07, 2008, 10:56:44 AM »

Poor little lad .... you can buy trays of "grow your own" cat grass http://www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/cats/supplements_specialty_cat_food/cat_grass from zooplus.

Desley (booktigger) · « **Reply #163 on:** December 07, 2008, 10:52:38 AM »

The ear scratching is normal, that doesn't stop with it being amputated, as they have an itch and want to scratch it. What I did with Pebbles was when I saw her trying to scratch her ear, I would do it for her.

Bryony84 · « **Reply #162 on:** December 07, 2008, 10:48:40 AM »

I don't think the vet is really sure what is causing it, theres a possibility that it is caused by the shock of waking up one day with a leg missing, he certainly hasn't entirely figured out that the leg isn't there as he went to scratch behind his ear on Friday with the missing leg and his head went back and the stump wiggled but he didn't quite figure out why it wasn't working. The only out of the ordinary thing is that he is doing otherwise is drinking a lot of water and drooling when he is fussed more than he used to. The thing that upsets me is that he seems to have absolutely no control over his back end movements, you can see it in his face that he just doesn't understand why he isn't going where he wants to. Sometimes his remaining back leg just seems to collapse under him as well. The vet had a good feel of both legs and he didn't twitch or anything, so if it is causing him pain, it must be sporadic and just a reaction of the nerves to being cut. He said that time may be a huge factor, it may just take him a lot longer to get used to coping.

The good thing is, he isn't in the slightest bit interested in going out now since his escapology, I think he has connected the outside with the accident now, he was terrified of the traffic outside the vets, was doing circles in his box. Mum is thinking that there is a good chance of him being a permanent indoor cat, so I have been trying to think of ways to construct some kind of activity/scratching area that is suited to a disabled cat and she is beinging grass in every so often from the garden to try and help him bring up hairballs.

Janeyk · « **Reply #161 on:** December 07, 2008, 09:31:28 AM »

oh poor thing, I do hope whatever it is gradually get less. If it is a mental thing one thing I'd be tempted to do is talk positively towards him and encourage him, if you know what I mean sort of keep telling him he's fine etc, you may be already doing that or it probably sounds daft as I know he can't understand human but he may sense the reassurance - so like even though you're worrying try not to show it in case he's sensing that, ie try and act as before, it's worth a try?

Desley (booktigger) · « **Reply #160 on:** December 07, 2008, 09:18:47 AM »

I hope that it can help, poor little thing.

Sam (Fussy_Furball) · « **Reply #159 on:** December 06, 2008, 22:07:56 PM »

Oh Bryony I'm so sorry Caspar is struggling. Do the vets think his trouble is purely related to the amputation of could it be a "mental" thing - as a result of the car accident ... a sort of blow to the head reaction ... if you understand what I mean.

I hope Caspar gets well soon

Bryony84 · « **Reply #158 on:** December 06, 2008, 21:23:20 PM »

Well the vet yesterday didn't really have a concrete answer for it, he said he was a little worried as most cats have started coping pretty well with only 3 legs by now, and as he can't tell us whether his crying and growling is due to pain or just being damn well p'd off tht he's going backwards instead of forwards, he said the best thing we could do was put him back on the metacam and limit him to just the kitchen again and see if there is any improvement. Its so sad to watch him now as he was doing so well and still is when he's in control of his back end. I'm really hoping that the painkillers and reduced freedom will help as watching him struggling like this is awful especially knowing that theres very little we can do other than give him tons of extra fuss.

Desley (booktigger) · « **Reply #157 on:** December 04, 2008, 20:15:15 PM »

Fingers crossed it is something that can be treated

Kirst · « **Reply #156 on:** December 04, 2008, 17:53:47 PM »

Hope it goes well at the vets for Caper tomorrow.

clarenmax · « **Reply #155 on:** December 04, 2008, 16:39:08 PM »

Fingers crossed all goes well at the vets tomorrow

Janeyk · « **Reply #154 on:** December 04, 2008, 16:36:30 PM »

I really hope you can find an answer to Casper's problem and help him xx

Bryony84 · « **Reply #153 on:** December 04, 2008, 16:31:41 PM »

Casper has another vets appointment tomorrow, his condition has been getting gradually worse and his backwards walking episodes are now accompanied by crying, growling and biting anyone who comes near him or tries to pick him up (the rest of the time he's a big soft thing!). I am starting to wonder now whether he is suffering from the phantom limb pain that I have read about and will be mentioning this to the vet tomorrow. Mum is distraught as watching these episodes is extremely distressing and she's worrying that theres nothing that the vet will be able to do. I suppose in a way I am hoping that it is the phantom limb pain, as another course of painkillers would make life much more comfortable for him.

Bryony84 · « **Reply #152 on:** December 02, 2008, 10:34:50 AM »

Thank you so much Helen. Mum can't quite believe how supportive everyone on here has been for Cas, I'll have to try to get her signed up, though she's not very computer literate, not very technology literate to be quite honest!

Tiggy's Mum · « **Reply #151 on:** December 02, 2008, 00:54:44 AM »

Payday has finally arrived so have sponsored you

Here's the link for anyone else who was waiting for payday!

http://furrytripod.wordpress.com/

Bryony84 · « **Reply #150 on:** December 01, 2008, 21:27:13 PM »

No improvement in the backwards walking, it seems like its getting worse, but in reality I think its just because he's up and about more and it doesn't happen when he's lying down/asleep. Its not so bad when it happens and he's on the floor but he's fallen off a bed and a chair because his back end has said go backwards when his front end seems to know its not quite right.

Janeyk · « **Reply #149 on:** December 01, 2008, 17:42:15 PM »

glad he's still doing well and hope the vet can give you some insight into his walk xx

clarenmax · « **Reply #148 on:** December 01, 2008, 17:36:17 PM »

Aww bless him, was wondering how he was doing since the weekend?

Bryony84 · « **Reply #147 on:** December 01, 2008, 17:27:23 PM »

Latest News: Casper is now out of the cage all the time, his favourite places being the heated bed that Amber and Chilli unknowingly donated to him, and on the floor outside the airing cupboard where the hot water pipes run underneath!

He is back at the vets this week to see if we can get any closer to finding out what is causing him to walk backwards and whether it is something that will heal/can be healed/he and we will have to adapt to.

Bryony84 · « **Reply #146 on:** November 27, 2008, 10:15:41 AM »

He only falls over when going backwards though, and when he falls over its because his back end has curled round like its trying to walk back the other way. When he's walking forwards normally its absolutely fine. I've kindof got a video as he did it at the beginning of one of the vids I took of him walking around last week, but I won't be able to go to the vets with him as I've got to work.

Indys Mamma · « **Reply #145 on:** November 27, 2008, 09:59:26 AM »

can you video it? then if he doesn't do it for the vet you can show a video to him

maybe Casper is just trying to find a comfy balance but with still adapting he tries til he falls over then gives up?

Bryony84 · « **Reply #144 on:** November 27, 2008, 09:36:14 AM »

Once he's going forwards he's absolutely fine, can do the stairs really quickly and jump onto beds and stuff, its just that he doesn't seem to be able to control it, its not like when a cat normally backs up really, anything can be in the way, like my leg last night, he just keeps going backwards until he falls over then gets up as if nothing happened.

He's got a vets appt next week so hopefully he'll demonstrate this to Greg and we'll be able to get some idea of whats going on.

Desley (booktigger) · « **Reply #143 on:** November 27, 2008, 08:01:38 AM »

I would give the vet a quick ring to be on the safe side, Gill is right, PEbbles didn't do anything like that - she was going outside 2 days after finishing her cage rest, as she had figured out the stairs and the bed!!

Gill (sneakiefeline) · « **Reply #142 on:** November 27, 2008, 00:54:47 AM »

He is looking fantastic and very chilled

Ducha was all healed up when he came to me so no probs.

I dont remember Desley saying anything like this about Pebbles.

Maybe he is trying to adjust his position for some reason but his brain is still telling him he has two paws at the back, so when he steps back he falls cos he hasnt got his balance quite sorted , or he tries to stand on a leg thats not there.

Unless he is hurtin himself I wouldleave if for a while because he probably will just sort it out, but if its getting dangerous for him, then speak to the vet.

Its very early days yet for him

Debsymiller (Rufus' mum) · « **Reply #141 on:** November 26, 2008, 22:36:10 PM »

What a lil pickle!

Still, it does go to show how well he's healing :D He looks so happy and all snuggly in those piccies

Bryony84 · « **Reply #140 on:** November 26, 2008, 22:10:58 PM »

Some more Casper pics today to show how well his leg is healing and a bit of a story, someone is a very naughty and very sneaky boy!

Casper is now free to roam to kitchen but still has his cage with his bed in with the door open, the kitchen door stays shut unless theres someone home. Yesterday morning mum came downstairs, opened the kitchen door and saw.... no cat. Of course this sent her into blind panic looking for him, he was no-where to be seen and she noticed that the catflap door looked odd. Despite being locked for in and out, he had managed to batter it so much that he had got it open and got out. Mum was in a blind panic looking on the road out and front and in the gardens and lane round the back for him, feeling sure she was going to find a body somewhere as he isn't great at getting around still (I'll come to that later). Anyway her and dad looked for a while before coming back to the house, just as they were discussing what to do, in walked mr smug, wondering what allthe fuss was about. This happened pretty soon afterwards:

On to the getting around problems, since he has been up and about a bit more, he has started going backwards a lot, at first we thought he was just getting used to the loss of the leg, but now we are a bit concerned that the nerve damage may be causing problems as he looks confused when it happens and it seems like his back end is telling his front end what to do rather than vice versa. It can happen at any time and he has fallen off chairs and things because of it a couple of times. Has anyone ever had anything like this with a cat who has had rear end injuries?

Here are some piccies of him enjoying the hot water pipes outside the airing cupboard! His fur is growing back nicely as you can see.

Debsymiller (Rufus' mum) · « **Reply #139 on:** November 19, 2008, 16:01:00 PM »

Well done Casper, you gorgeous, clever boy! xxx

Kirst · « **Reply #138 on:** November 19, 2008, 13:30:30 PM »

Oh bless him hes done so well!!! I shall be donating to his fund , what a little fighter xx

Bryony84 · « **Reply #137 on:** November 19, 2008, 13:14:03 PM »

I have to admit, when I got home I did have a good cry, its pretty emotional starting to see the cat his was before coming back after everything he's been through in the last couple of weeks. I think I'd been storing up the crying reading all of jamesons memorial posts and the purrs 2nd birthday ones. I'm so proud of him!

Loads of hugs to all of you who've been so supportive

sheryl · « **Reply #136 on:** November 19, 2008, 10:49:09 AM »

What a brave and clever boy - brought a tear to my eye to see how well he is doing. Way to go Casper xxx

I will donate next week when I get paid x

clarenmax · « **Reply #135 on:** November 19, 2008, 10:41:36 AM »

Bless him, he looks like he's doing ever so well

Leanne · « **Reply #134 on:** November 19, 2008, 10:35:43 AM »

Glad to hear Casper is doing well

Tiggy's Mum · « **Reply #133 on:** November 19, 2008, 01:20:46 AM »

What a clever boy

I'll be donating to his fund, just need to wait til after payday

Bryony84 · « **Reply #132 on:** November 19, 2008, 00:08:58 AM »

I hadn't noticed it before, but now you've said so and I've looked at the video again, he is holding his tail towards the legless side, I guess it all helps with balance. In some of the videos I've seen of 3 legged cats walking/running, I've noticed how the remaining leg seems to be more central, its really very clever how they can adapt!

Gill (sneakiefeline) · « **Reply #131 on:** November 18, 2008, 22:15:54 PM »

Cats are so great and he is doing wonderfully

He has lost the same leg as Ducha and apparently its the usual one that tends to be lost.....very strange stat that. Do you se in the video hoe he is using his tail on the side the leg is missing......Ducha does that two and also seems that Duchas other leg not is more central than it used to be.

He has been with me 3 years and lost the leg in the year before and is 15, so Casper is gonna be just fine

Bryony84 · « **Reply #130 on:** November 18, 2008, 22:06:18 PM »

Casper is improved in leaps and bounds now! We let him have his first taste of freedom outside the kitchen last night, and he can get around really well considering its not been long since the op, his remaining back leg does get very tired if he's too energetic too. He also does a strange going backwards thing which he definitely didn't do before the op.

I've posted a couple of videos of him exploring the hall on his wordpress page to show off what a clever boy he is!

http://furrytripod.wordpress.com/

Thank you so much to those who have donated to the tripod fund! I will post the tattoo design soon I promise, its really difficult designing something for myself as I'm my own biggest critic, lol!

Janeyk · « **Reply #129 on:** November 17, 2008, 11:39:50 AM »

Glad to hear he is doing well, I'm sure he'll feel a bit frustrated it's early days yet but in time he'll be fine xx

Bryony84 · « **Reply #128 on:** November 17, 2008, 10:31:35 AM »

Thank you so much Janey, apparently I have to do something to my Paypal account to be able to accept credit cards, but hopefully I will be able to sort it at lunch time. I've got a few more pics to put up of him being an amazingly brave boy and standing/walking round the kitchen. I am amazed by how quickly he is back up on his remaining paws, although he does end to misjudge and overbalance. I expect thats something he'll get used to though.

His main problem at the moment is that he doesn't realise that he can't jump as far as he could, so we have to watch him like a hawk as he will try to jump up on the counter, misjudge it and fail. Yesterday he managed to get up onto the kitchen table (naughty boy) via a chair, but then tried to sit down too close to the edge and toppled off before anyone could catch him. I'm a bit worried that he will hurt himself doing something like that, but I suppose its something he has to learn gradually.

He stands by both the back kitchen door and the door to the hall wailing pitifully and trying to get out, which is a bit heart rending as he is desperate to be somewhere other than the kitchen. He has unfortunately taken to biting anyone who picks him up to stop him getting out, but I suppose I don't blame him really as in his head, he can't understand why we are being so mean and keeping him prisoner.

tigerbaby · « **Reply #127 on:** November 16, 2008, 23:53:22 PM »

I am SO glad Casper is healing up. You must've been besides yourself with worry. Sending healing thoughts and vibes. x

Debsymiller (Rufus' mum) · « **Reply #126 on:** November 16, 2008, 20:24:00 PM »

He is looking wonderfully well, what great news

Author Topic: Casper has been hit by a car - phantom limb pain? (Read 28773 times)