Cat lameness evaluation

[Guest guest]

I am hoping to solicit the aid of some expert eyes to view the following linked

videos (found below).

This is a 3.5yo 18# NM FIV+ DLH. Hx sudden onset lameness LF in January 2012.

No known trauma. Presented to RDVM with a swelling behind left elbow, afebrile.

Responsive to course of amoxicillin (lameness 100% resolved at end of abic

course). Recurrent lameness LF 3 weeks ago, afebrile, non-responsive to

clavamox and cosequin. Patient beginning to exhibit self induced alopecia at

craniomedial aspect of LF elbow. Evaluated by neurologist, radiologist, and

orthopedist. Their opinions respectively: r/o C6-T2 neuropathy vs. orthopedic

dz, very mild DJD left elbow and left radiocarpal joint, elbow OA with Rx weight

loss.

Evaluated by me today on acupuncture service. Static lameness x 3 weeks, not

exacerbated with exercise or relieved with rest. No improvement on glucosamine

and fish oil. Difficult to evaluate gait during exam due to patient compliance,

but lameness much more subtle in exam room while cat in a crouched ambulatory

position. Self induced alopecia now noted all along craniomedial aspect of

humerus and left pectoral region (hey dummy, hurts here!). Basically could not

elicit repeatable source of discomfort on soft tissue palpating, and no abnormal

end feels palpable ( including elbow). Left clavicle (this cat has clavicles)

perhaps more prominent/cranial than right clavicle.

When I view the lameness videos, there appears to be such a gross motor issue

that I am embarrassed that I can't figure out what it is! Have some zebra

thoughts (unilateral pectoral avulsion, unilateral high rise syndrome), but

think they are kind of cuckoo. Any help with evaluation of the gait, as well as

suggested diagnostics, palpation techniques etc. would be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

Lee

Check out this video on YouTube:

Check out this video on YouTube:

[Guest guest]

I know this is going to sound off the wall and completely out there, but I had a case like this very early in my career, and we ended up doing a biopsy of the synovium of the affected joint.  To everyone's surprise, it came back as an atypical presentation of a eosinophilic granuloma complex.  I don't know if that helps, but I do know that the cat responded to chloramphenicol (yes, we still used it back then). I do not remember why we chose not to use depo on this cat, but there must have been some reason--perhaps because it had responded to the antibiotic and we were concerned about immunosuppression while were were waiting for the biopsy results.

 The general information article linked here suggests doxycyline might help (Dr. Lappin at Colorado State University says if you butter the pills you do not have to chase them with 6 cc of water as recommended--he did a study to prove that buttered pills or meds in pill pockets went down and did not hang about in the thoracic inlet)

http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_eosinophilic_granuloma.htmlAs for the weight loss program, the only way I have seen cats quickly yet safely lose weight is with the Catkins diet.  It's astonishing how quickly and easily cats will lose weight *if* they will convert to an all canned diet.  I have also converted at least five diabetic cats to a normoglycemic state with the Catkins approach--one of which had been on insulin for over four years. This linked article gives a layman's view of Dr. Greco's recommendations, which may be useful for your client.

I transition the cats from canned to dry over a period of several weeks if they have never eaten wet before, and the goal is no dry, and one 5.5 oz can per 10 pounds body weight divided into multiple feedings. Your patient should get 1/2 can three times daily until he slims down, cutting back as this occurs until he reaches his appropriate goal weight.

http://www.notthemama.org/tag/dr-greco/I'm sorry, I couldn't lay my hands on the actual articles by Dr. Greco.Sally Suttenfield, DVM, CCRP

http://www.fourpawsvetrehab.com/

 

I am hoping to solicit the aid of some expert eyes to view the following linked videos (found below).

This is a 3.5yo 18# NM FIV+ DLH. Hx sudden onset lameness LF in January 2012. No known trauma. Presented to RDVM with a swelling behind left elbow, afebrile. Responsive to course of amoxicillin (lameness 100% resolved at end of abic course). Recurrent lameness LF 3 weeks ago, afebrile, non-responsive to clavamox and cosequin. Patient beginning to exhibit self induced alopecia at craniomedial aspect of LF elbow. Evaluated by neurologist, radiologist, and orthopedist. Their opinions respectively: r/o C6-T2 neuropathy vs. orthopedic dz, very mild DJD left elbow and left radiocarpal joint, elbow OA with Rx weight loss.

Evaluated by me today on acupuncture service. Static lameness x 3 weeks, not exacerbated with exercise or relieved with rest. No improvement on glucosamine and fish oil. Difficult to evaluate gait during exam due to patient compliance, but lameness much more subtle in exam room while cat in a crouched ambulatory position. Self induced alopecia now noted all along craniomedial aspect of humerus and left pectoral region (hey dummy, hurts here!). Basically could not elicit repeatable source of discomfort on soft tissue palpating, and no abnormal end feels palpable ( including elbow). Left clavicle (this cat has clavicles) perhaps more prominent/cranial than right clavicle.

When I view the lameness videos, there appears to be such a gross motor issue that I am embarrassed that I can't figure out what it is! Have some zebra thoughts (unilateral pectoral avulsion, unilateral high rise syndrome), but think they are kind of cuckoo. Any help with evaluation of the gait, as well as suggested diagnostics, palpation techniques etc. would be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

Lee

Check out this video on YouTube:

Check out this video on YouTube:

[Guest guest]

Mmmmm. . . Buttered doxy . . . Yet another reason Mike Lappin is a feline hero.

Thank you so much for sharing your experience and knowledge! I'll keep you

updated.

Lee

>

> > **

> >

> >

> > I am hoping to solicit the aid of some expert eyes to view the following

> > linked videos (found below).

> > This is a 3.5yo 18# NM FIV+ DLH. Hx sudden onset lameness LF in January

> > 2012. No known trauma. Presented to RDVM with a swelling behind left elbow,

> > afebrile. Responsive to course of amoxicillin (lameness 100% resolved at

> > end of abic course). Recurrent lameness LF 3 weeks ago, afebrile,

> > non-responsive to clavamox and cosequin. Patient beginning to exhibit self

> > induced alopecia at craniomedial aspect of LF elbow. Evaluated by

> > neurologist, radiologist, and orthopedist. Their opinions respectively: r/o

> > C6-T2 neuropathy vs. orthopedic dz, very mild DJD left elbow and left

> > radiocarpal joint, elbow OA with Rx weight loss.

> > Evaluated by me today on acupuncture service. Static lameness x 3 weeks,

> > not exacerbated with exercise or relieved with rest. No improvement on

> > glucosamine and fish oil. Difficult to evaluate gait during exam due to

> > patient compliance, but lameness much more subtle in exam room while cat in

> > a crouched ambulatory position. Self induced alopecia now noted all along

> > craniomedial aspect of humerus and left pectoral region (hey dummy, hurts

> > here!). Basically could not elicit repeatable source of discomfort on soft

> > tissue palpating, and no abnormal end feels palpable ( including elbow).

> > Left clavicle (this cat has clavicles) perhaps more prominent/cranial than

> > right clavicle.

> > When I view the lameness videos, there appears to be such a gross motor

> > issue that I am embarrassed that I can't figure out what it is! Have some

> > zebra thoughts (unilateral pectoral avulsion, unilateral high rise

> > syndrome), but think they are kind of cuckoo. Any help with evaluation of

> > the gait, as well as suggested diagnostics, palpation techniques etc. would

> > be much appreciated.

> > Thanks in advance,

> > Lee

> >

> > Check out this video on YouTube:

> >

> >

> >

> > Check out this video on YouTube:

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Is anyone worried aobut the shuoler in these videos? His reach sure seems to be limited. I am interested in the eosinophilic granuloma theory but would not discount a high rise syndrome in an 18lb cat- he wouldn't have had to jump very far to injure himself.

Definitely a fan of Catkins!

Calverley DVM CCRT

Re: Cat lameness evaluation

Mmmmm. . . Buttered doxy . . . Yet another reason Mike Lappin is a feline hero. Thank you so much for sharing your experience and knowledge! I'll keep you updated.Lee> > > **> >> >> > I am hoping to solicit the aid of some expert eyes to view the following> > linked videos (found below).> > This is a 3.5yo 18# NM FIV+ DLH. Hx sudden onset lameness LF in January> > 2012. No known trauma. Presented to RDVM with a swelling behind left elbow,> > afebrile. Responsive to course of amoxicillin (lameness 100% resolved at> > end of abic course). Recurrent lameness LF 3 weeks ago, afebrile,> > non-responsive to clavamox and cosequin. Patient beginning to exhibit self> > induced alopecia at craniomedial aspect of LF elbow. Evaluated by> > neurologist, radiologist, and orthopedist. Their opinions respectively: r/o> > C6-T2 neuropathy vs. orthopedic dz, very mild DJD left elbow and left> > radiocarpal joint, elbow OA with Rx weight loss.> > Evaluated by me today on acupuncture service. Static lameness x 3 weeks,> > not exacerbated with exercise or relieved with rest. No improvement on> > glucosamine and fish oil. Difficult to evaluate gait during exam due to> > patient compliance, but lameness much more subtle in exam room while cat in> > a crouched ambulatory position. Self induced alopecia now noted all along> > craniomedial aspect of humerus and left pectoral region (hey dummy, hurts> > here!). Basically could not elicit repeatable source of discomfort on soft> > tissue palpating, and no abnormal end feels palpable ( including elbow).> > Left clavicle (this cat has clavicles) perhaps more prominent/cranial than> > right clavicle.> > When I view the lameness videos, there appears to be such a gross motor> > issue that I am embarrassed that I can't figure out what it is! Have some> > zebra thoughts (unilateral pectoral avulsion, unilateral high rise> > syndrome), but think they are kind of cuckoo. Any help with evaluation of> > the gait, as well as suggested diagnostics, palpation techniques etc. would> > be much appreciated.> > Thanks in advance,> > Lee > >> > Check out this video on YouTube:> >> >

>> > Check out this video on YouTube:> >> >

>> > > >>