Cancer of Spine or Stroke in Cat, What Is Best Natural Remedy?
Dear Cat Lovers,
I ask you kindly for help. My 12 year old rescue male cat lost suddenly over night the ability to use his back legs. I rushed him to the ER because I thought it was a stroke. He never was sick in his life, never had a vaccination. The next day he had a MRI of the spine and tests of the spinal fluid. The Neurologist is not sure if it is cancer or it was a stroke. The spinal fluid test was negative for cancer cells. If he can not use his back legs in a few days, I was told then it might be cancer, because from a stroke he would recover slowly. The Neurologist want to start steroids if he does not get better, to "shrink maybe the cancer". Radiation was also recommended. (yes, I do have pet insurance and all the years I never used it). Please help me to find a natural treatment, I need help and recommendation what might work. Essiac Tea from Canada, or something else. The cat only eats dry food (Rawz, without any fillers and carbo.) This once very shy feral cat is so special to me because years ago I brought him to a friend, seven miles away. She should take care of him for three weeks, when I had to leave the town for work. Already after only two days the cat went through the screen, was gone. I was very sad. After six weeks the cat showed up in front of my house, it was a great happy end. I would be really thankful for any recommendation. Thank you so much.
Mpls., Mn
01/11/2018
Bellevue, Wa
01/22/2018
Although not for a sudden episode of loss of the use of their back legs, I have read that some cats need a little extra potassium when they start walking on their hocks. I can't say just how much, but his blood work should indicate if it is low. There is a company (name of R_ _ _K) which provides potassium gluconate for cats.
Another thing which it could indicate is the need for methylcobalamin B12, which you can read about at these two sites (though this was for a cat with diabetic neuropathy):
http://bigorangegoodness.com/
http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/vitamin-b-12-methylcobalamin.96093/
Ca
01/26/2018
Thank you so much for your advice. Your knowledge is very impressive. Yes, Mutzi's Potassium levels where very low in the last blood test in August. But at that time the Vet did nothing. Now after an MRI, they thought it is cancer in the spine, bone cancer and I gave prednisone. After 2 weeks Mutzi could walk on 3 legs, still the Neurology Vet was sure it is cancer. She suggested me last wednesday to go for radiation. Later the evening she called me and told me now she changed her mind, after speaking with other Neurology Veterinarian, it was indeed a stroke. But now as you write it was maybe not at all a stroke, it was the very low potassium level. I need to find now immediately an internal medicine Vet to regulate the potassium. Tonight Mutzi began walking on 4 legs, a miracle. Thanks again for your post and advice, I would wish you were my Vet, you are amazing.
Oakland, Ca
01/27/2018
Dear Theresa,
Thank you so much for your post. Yes, I thought the same because of the sudden inability to use the back legs. And I did rush the cat "Mutzi" (honey in german for feral cat) to the next ER at 2 a.m. in the morning when I noticed the back legs are kaput. After an MRI the next day the Neurology Vet thought it was cancer and not a stroke. Somewhere I could not believe it. They told me to go ahead with radiation last wednesday even one back leg got so much better. I gave Prednisone for cancer. Then on wednesday evening, the same day the Neurology Vet said it is cancer, she told me after speaking with other Neurology Vets, that indeed it was a stroke. Mutzi's potassium was extremely low at the last blood test in August, but the Vet said it was o.k. That was probably the problem. Today saturday, after 3 weeks, the fourth back leg is somewhere moving, amazing. I need now immediately an internal medicine Doctor to regulate the potassium, otherwise there could be another stroke. Thanks again for your kindness sharing your thoughts with me. Antonia
