Pet Question - My Cat Has Gone Deaf

[naenae42day]

Do you mind if I ask how she got hurt?  I wish her all the best.
I am mama to 5 4-legged furries...they are the rulers of the house.

[Steve]

quote:Originally posted by naenae42day

Do you mind if I ask how she got hurt?  I wish her all the best.
I am mama to 5 4-legged furries...they are the rulers of the house.

As much as I hate to admit it, it was an unfortunate accident that occurred when I was trying to groom her, in fact I did not know that she was hurt until several days later when I noticed an infection smell.  She is a long haired cat, with a persian-like coat that mats very easily.  I was trying to remove some very bad hair mats and apparently caused a small skin tear that grew worse and became infected.  I quit fussing with her at the time and the area where the sore is was hidden by hair, so I did not notice it until a few days later.

I was trying to do the grooming myself because she hates strangers and has to be sedated to be professionally groomed.  I have managed to de-mat her sucessfully many times in the past, but this time went wrong.  I learned a big lesson.  I will never groom her again with anything more than a gentle combing.   I feel bad enough that I unintentionally caused the initial wound; this hearing problem is really piling on the guilt.

[cannon_fodder]

Steve, I don't mean to set you off on a panic... but my mom is a cat freak.  Not just a cat lover, but studies their health and breeds and all sorts of stuff.  A well cared for geriatric cat generally suddenly goes down hill.  Often from a stroke or kidney failure.  Their body parts are simply not made to live 20 years and generally give out before then.

It probably has nothing to do with anything you may or may not have done.  Zingo is probably just wearing out.  She recently lost a 19 year old cat in a similar fashion - he seemed fine, then some minor health issues came up, and suddenly it escalated.

Hope I'm wrong, but be prepared in case this issue is related to a larger looming problem.

[Steve]

Thank Cannon for your comments; I am aware of the issues you raise.  Her balance and eyesight seem perfectly fine, but stroke is a possibility that I had not thought of, and I will ask the vet when I take her in early next week.

I think the hearing loss is just probably a combination of factors.  My pet's age and her particular sensitivities, the drugs, the trauma of the whole ordeal.  She is healing nicely and does not exhibit any change in other behavior such as litterbox use.  She seems to be content and the best I can due is make sure she is loved and cared for, stays content and remains healthy.  As I stated before, her blood tests last week show no sign of diabetes, organ malfunction, or any other disorder.

[naenae42day]

Steve,

Don't blame yourself...it was an accident.  You are doing all the right things for her.  Give her lots of love and affection.  I will keep you in my thoughts!
Keep us posted.

[Bumby]

So glad that Zingo is healing well.  Please don't pile on the guilt...Zingo obviously is well loved and has enjoyed a wonderful kitty life after such a precarious start thanks to her caring family.  Cat's can be amazing with recovery, I will be watching for Zingo updates.  My heartfelt furkid thoughts/love are going out to her.

[Steve]

quote:Originally posted by Bumby

So glad that Zingo is healing well.  Please don't pile on the guilt...Zingo obviously is well loved and has enjoyed a wonderful kitty life after such a precarious start thanks to her caring family.  Cat's can be amazing with recovery, I will be watching for Zingo updates.  My heartfelt furkid thoughts/love are going out to her.

Zingo went to the doctor today and had the staples removed.  Her doctor at Ranch Acres Vet Hospital said the wound was healing perfectly and all is well in that regard.  Her hearing problem is still noticeable to me, but I am having indications that she may not be as deaf as I first thought, or the problem has corrected itself to some degree.  

My big concern is her appetite has not returned.  She has always been on the thin side, 80% hair and 20% body weight!  Since the start of this ordeal around 9-15-08, she weighed 6.5 pounds shaved.  Today at the vet, she weighed 5 pounds, about a 20% weight loss in 20 days.  The vet drew blood for more extensive tests such as thyroid function, and gave me some high moisture/calorie canned food (gave me, heck they charged me for it on the bill!)  I actually started crying today at the vet when I was talking with Dr. Scott about Zingo's loss of appetite and weight loss.  She is literally just skin and bones, but she is loved and I am doing all I can to help her.

It may be all coincedence of course, but I just can't help tying all this in to her receiving the Convenia antibiotic shots.  Hopefully, her appetite will return to normal soon.  I will hear the results of her additional blood tests tomorrow.

[dbacks fan]

quote:Originally posted by Steve

quote:Originally posted by Bumby

So glad that Zingo is healing well.  Please don't pile on the guilt...Zingo obviously is well loved and has enjoyed a wonderful kitty life after such a precarious start thanks to her caring family.  Cat's can be amazing with recovery, I will be watching for Zingo updates.  My heartfelt furkid thoughts/love are going out to her.

Zingo went to the doctor today and had the staples removed.  Her doctor at Ranch Acres Vet Hospital said the wound was healing perfectly and all is well in that regard.  Her hearing problem is still noticeable to me, but I am having indications that she may not be as deaf as I first thought, or the problem has corrected itself to some degree.  

My big concern is her appetite has not returned.  She has always been on the thin side, 80% hair and 20% body weight!  Since the start of this ordeal around 9-15-08, she weighed 6.5 pounds shaved.  Today at the vet, she weighed 5 pounds, about a 20% weight loss in 20 days.  The vet drew blood for more extensive tests such as thyroid function, and gave me some high moisture/calorie canned food (gave me, heck they charged me for it on the bill!)  I actually started crying today at the vet when I was talking with Dr. Scott about Zingo's loss of appetite and weight loss.  She is literally just skin and bones, but she is loved and I am doing all I can to help her.

It may be all coincedence of course, but I just can't help tying all this in to her receiving the Convenia antibiotic shots.  Hopefully, her appetite will return to normal soon.  I will hear the results of her additional blood tests tomorrow.

Steve, just want to let you know that my wife and I's thoughts are with you at this time. We know how concerned you are for Zingo and that you are doing the best that you can for her.

[cannon_fodder]

I'm glad to hear she has recovered from the initial wound, I hope she continues to improve for you.  My pets (dogs) are among the most loved, as well as the most hated members of our family (my girl dog insists on jumping through screened windows to get to us, argh).  I'm sure Zingo has had similar, though probably less destructive, antics in her life.  

What I'm trying to get at is I understand a pet is a member of the family.  I wish you and Zingo all the best.

[Hometown]

"ut I just can't help tying all this in to her receiving the Convenia antibiotic shots."

I say trust your intuition.

You might want to hang onto bills for any expenses you incur (including estimates for future care) and ask the maker for reimbursement.  I doubt you could get an attorney to take it because there aren't a substantial amount of money damages involved but it wouldn't hurt to ask.

And I want to echo others who say don't blame yourself.  We do the best we can do and we have to cut ourselves some slack.

[Steve]

The mystery continues.  The results of Zingo's last blood work showed no definate cause for her appetite/weight loss.  Thyroid function shows normal.  Kidney numbers actually improved a little from 3 weeks ago.  Liver enzymes slightly elevated but not in the alarm range.  The doctor did mention the possibility of gastric lymphoma which would not be generally detectable by blood work, but she does not have vomiting or diarrea usually associated with this form of lymphoma; she doesn't eat enough to have a normal BM, let alone vomiting.

She does show interest in eating; she loved dark meat chicken so last night I simmered some on the stove for her and she was by my side meowing for it.  When it was done and I put some down for her, she sniffed, licked at it, then walked away.  Never ate any of it;  2 months ago the dish would have been licked clean in 2 minutes.  I made some sausage for breakfast this morning and she was in my face about that too.  I crumbled a little up for her, she licked at it, tried to pick up a small piece, but never ingested any.  The doctor has checked her mouth/teeth/throat for any problem that would make eating difficult.  All was OK.

Nothing much I can do but just wait and see, and hope she starts to eat again soon.

[Hometown]

Bless her heart.  I know you are worried.  Have you tried heavy whipping cream or egg yolks?  There are times when the only thing my girl can keep down is the water from a can of tuna packed in water.  We call it tuna soup.

[Steve]

quote:Originally posted by Hometown

Bless her heart.  I know you are worried.  Have you tried heavy whipping cream or egg yolks?  There are times when the only thing my girl can keep down is the water from a can of tuna packed in water.  We call it tuna soup.

Thanks Hometown.  I know the tuna trick.  For years now her daily diet has been dry kibble and small portion of Chicken of the Sea Chunk Light, water pack.  She hasn't eaten a piece of kibble in nearly a month, but there have been times she will lick up the tuna liquid and leave the solid, most recently about 2 days ago.  I put some tuna down for her his morning and it has remained untouched.  I'll try egg yolks, at least she could get some nutrition from that.

I have felt her body many times for signs of lumps or tumors, none. I check her litterbox for unusual signs, none.  Barring some intestinal abnormality, I am thinking more and more that maybe this is just her way of saying "I am old and tired, and my time is short."  I am preparing for this.

[Hometown]

Steve, I am so sorry.

It is no exageration to say that one of the most difficult deaths I have ever experienced was my boy cat Brad.  If this is what Zingo is facing I truly hope you find that she has passed away in her sleep.

Pet owners have to bury their children.

I'll pray for you and Zingo.  Cut yourself some slack and I'll call you.  Don't hesitate to let me know if I can help.

[Steve]

My gratitude to all that have phoned, private messaged, and shown concern for my sick kitty Zingo.  48 hours ago, I was sure I would have to euthanize within a week.  She is the only pet I have ever owned from infancy to old age, and it has been hard on both of us.  After trying about 15 brands & varieties of both wet & dry food, even cooking chicken, pork, bacon, anything I could possibly think of, she still would not eat.  THEN...

Thursday afternoon, I opened up a can of Friskies Senior Chicken & Tuna in gravy, one I had not tried before.  I held the can under her nose, and she wobbled into the kitchen.  (She was becoming weak from lack of nutrition.)  I set the can down and she started licking, for about 3 minutes!  I dished some out for her and she ate a little.  Within the past 24 hours, she has consumed all the gravy/liquid from a whole can and about 1/3 of the solid food.  Not much, but a 100% improvement from before.  And this is the first food I have found in a month that she shows repeat interest in, and will go back for more.  I think the crisis is slowly taking a turn for the better!

I was digging through some old vet bills this morning, and in 2004, Zingo's weight was 11.75 lbs.  Today, her weight is down to only 5 lbs., with my thumb on the scale.  It will be a slow climb back, but I think she will pull through and be with me for a few more years.  She's a feisty little cuss!