Pandora cruciate ligament update.

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HRFLTiger - 23 Jun 2006 21:34 GMT

You may remember that Pandora hurt herself quite badly in March?

Well, a brief update, Pandora visited a Feline orthopeadic specialist
today as she started having problems with severe lameness in both hind
legs on Wednesday. From his assessment and X-rays, it seems that she
has congenital Medial Patellar luxation which is causing her to strain
and sprain her cruciates if she jumps awkwardly, or over exercises. It
seems that it something she is going to have to live with, surgery is
not neccessary at this point as her knee joints are relatively stable,
and they will be helped by Metacam when she has really bad days and
Glucosamine supplements.

It seems that all my kitties are crocks of one kind or another. ;o)

Helen M

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Karen - 23 Jun 2006 21:57 GMT

Well, so are mine. Welcome to the club. I hope that you can get her feeling
better. You might think about acupuncture too, if she is reasonable. I hear
it really works for this kind of thing.

> You may remember that Pandora hurt herself quite badly in March?
>
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
>
> Helen M

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HRFLTiger - 25 Jun 2006 19:57 GMT

> Well, so are mine. Welcome to the club. I hope that you can get her feeling
> better. You might think about acupuncture too, if she is reasonable. I hear
> it really works for this kind of thing.///

I may well be going down the accupuncture and chinese medicine route.
I've found a veterinary specialist near by, and will be seeing my vet
for a potential referal. :o)

Helen m

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Shirley - 23 Jun 2006 22:36 GMT

Chocky is on Metacam too. Is Pandora having any problems with the med?
Chocky suffers quite a lot with furballs and vomits quite often so I'm
a bit cautious about giving her a med that can cause tummy upsets.

Purrs for Pandora's sore legs.

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Shirley
http://community.webshots.com/user/shirleycatuk

> You may remember that Pandora hurt herself quite badly in March?
>
[quoted text clipped - 17 lines]
>
> Helen M

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kilikini - 24 Jun 2006 09:28 GMT

> You may remember that Pandora hurt herself quite badly in March?
>
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
>
> Helen M

Well this is distressing news! How are you going to feed her the
glucosamine?

Purrs are going out to Pandora for limited pain. I'm sorry, Helen.

kili

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HRFLTiger - 24 Jun 2006 11:04 GMT

> Well this is distressing news! How are you going to feed her the
> glucosamine?///

I'll probably put everyone on it and mix a supplement into the wet
food. It's something I need to talk through with my vet on Monday. :(

Helen M

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Exocat - 24 Jun 2006 11:53 GMT

"HRFLTiger"

> I'll probably put everyone on it and mix a supplement into the wet
> food. It's something I need to talk through with my vet on Monday. :(

Hiya Helen. So sorry to hear about Pandora.

If she's allowed to take human glucosamine (several of my neighbours'
dogs do with excellent results, as do I and various other 2-legs) this
outfit
www.healthspan.co.uk
do a liquid version which could be syringed/eyedroppered into her mouth.

HTH
Purrs
Gordon & the FF

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Helen Miles - 25 Jun 2006 17:09 GMT

> If she's allowed to take human glucosamine (several of my neighbours'
> dogs do with excellent results, as do I and various other 2-legs) this
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> Purrs
> Gordon & the FF///

Thanks for this Gordon - I'll look into it with my vet. The poor girl is
creaking about like a little old lady, and she is only 6. :o(
Fortunately, she doesn't appear to be in much pain, but I'm wondering if
it's worth getting her referred for surgery as it has apparently had
good results.

Helen M

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Jo Firey - 25 Jun 2006 19:27 GMT

>> If she's allowed to take human glucosamine (several of my neighbours'
>> dogs do with excellent results, as do I and various other 2-legs) this
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> it's worth getting her referred for surgery as it has apparently had
> good results.

Not to say poodles are prone to this injury but I still have a card for the
emergency orthopedic vet in my wallet. I also had to have knee surgery on
two unweaned pups that were born with bad knees. With amazing good results.

However dogs usually handle surgery better than cats so I do understand
being reluctant. We never had a choice as it was always a complete rupture.
It comes down to a risk vs quality of life thing. And she is still pretty
young.

Jo

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Helen Miles - 25 Jun 2006 20:03 GMT

> Not to say poodles are prone to this injury but I still have a card for the
> emergency orthopedic vet in my wallet. I also had to have knee surgery on
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>
> Jo/////

Pandora has 2 options.

1) Surgery for both legs at £2,000 a leg.
2) No surgery.

Pandoras vet, who is an excellent feline specialist has recommended
no surgery as he has seen good recovery without it - which at the
moment, I am comfortable with.
Fortunately, mula ££ for it is no longer a problem, I had the sense to
insure her last week before it happened,
and it seems her pet insurance is valid for this.

Whilst I really like and trust Pandas vet and respect his opinion, I
also happen to have several friends who
are vets thankfully, one of whom is a top veterinary orthopedic surgeon
in London & another who specialises in
accupuncture. Having spoken to them about it today and taking Pandoras
vet's opinion into account, I've decided on a
course of treatment that should hopefully help her.

I'm going to leave Pandora for 6 weeks until I get back from Army Cadet
Camp, to see if her legs improve with rest. If they haven't, I'm going
to start her on accupuncture as that has been
shown to have good results - there's a good veterinary accupunctuarist
who comes recommended by my friend near me,
and she will travel to Cardiff and treat her at home. If *that* doesn't
work, then around November, we'll look at surgery
via a referal to Bristol University vet school.

Sheesh. All this fuss for a fraidy 6 year old semi-feral pet moggie. I
must have rocks in my head to take all this grief - it's only a cat. ;o)

Helen M

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polonca12000 - 24 Jun 2006 17:37 GMT

> You may remember that Pandora hurt herself quite badly in March?
>
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
>
> Helen M

I'm so sorry to hear that.
Lots and lots of purrs for Pandora and hugs for you for taking such good
care of your kitties, Helen,
Polonca and Soncek

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Monique Y. Mudama - 25 Jun 2006 00:33 GMT

> You may remember that Pandora hurt herself quite badly in March?
>
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
>
> It seems that all my kitties are crocks of one kind or another. ;o)

Glad to hear that no surgery is required.

Glucosamine really helped my knees while I was on it -- but with all
the belly stuff, I've stopped taking anything I don't have to. I can
tell; my knees click and creak a lot more. For now, though, I think
I'm better off avoiding it.

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monique, who spoils Oscar unmercifully

pictures: http://www.bounceswoosh.org/rpca

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Christine Burel - 25 Jun 2006 17:52 GMT

Poor kitty; hope she isn't hurting too badly. Purrs for her!
Christine

> You may remember that Pandora hurt herself quite badly in March?
>
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
>
> Helen M

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