feline hip issues

I have 2 cats, 17 and 18 years old. both of them seem to have some trouble with their hips and rear legs. Is there a feline formula of Osteo Bi Flex that will help their joints out there? I currently cannot afford a vet visit and these guys are at the age in which I am almost not expecting them to see this winter even they are okay except for starting to lose some eyesight such as not noticing milk on the floor. Thank you much for any advice. Neither cat is a lap breaker, they are both under 10 pounds.

 

Sorry to hear about your kitties. I know when mu dad's dog is hurting from too much hunting the vet told him to give her some pain meds like Tylenol, or aspirin. Not sure how much but he only gives it one or two days and that is all that's needed. Since this is a chronic problem I doubt there is much that can be done.

 

NESportsfan,

I am sorry to hear your cats are showing their age. I understand that you want to help them.

Please, DO NOT Give aspirin or tylenol to your cats...either could actually kill them. Many things safe for dogs will cause death or very serious illness in cats.

I would suggest a good supplement for joints such as:

Cat Joint Support with Glucosamine: Joint Care Level 3 at Drs. Foster and Smith

or this one, along the same line:

Cat Joint health: Joint Care Level 1+ at Drs. Foster and Smith

Here is a good article about older cats and degenerative joint disease:

Glucosamine & Chondroitin for Hip Dysplasia & Arthritis in Cats

Hopefully the supplements will ease their discomfort and not be too much cost for you. I can tell you that it can take several weeks (at least in my experience) for the stuff to really work for them, so don't give up too soon.

Do keep us posted on how they are doing.

 

Thank you much!! I didn't want to pay $200 to the vet and just hear the words "They are old". I kinda figured that out for myself. I'll check out the links Rhainy, thank you much, and I'll keep posting on their health.

 

Am I allowed to upload pics? If so I will try to take pictures of them with my webcam. Have a lot of pics of them on my cell phone but it is pre-bluetooth.

 

NESportsfan,

You can post pictures using a link to an image hosting service such as Photobucket, Imageshack or Flickr.

I am glad I was able to help. Hopefully the supplements will help your cats. I know for certain that they have helped all our animals, and us people too!

 

A fisher got the 18 yer old last night. At least that is what I think happpend. A neighbor told me there was one in the area.

 

Why those darn fishers, they oughta just... wait ...what's a fisher?

 

NESportsfan,

I am so very sorry to hear that! Wildlife is one reason why all our furkids stay indoors only. I hope you keep your other furry friend inside just in case.


Mick, a Fisher is an endangered type of Martin, they can be very aggressive if hungry. Sadly they are slowly disappearing from the wild...



http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/s...acific_fisher/

 

Funny, I don't live on the West coast, is here another breed?

 

NEsportsfan,

Yes I just grabbed one of the first informational links and pictures I hit on the search machine. Here's another about the species:

North American Mammals: Martes pennanti

They are one of the world's garbage disposals from all I recall...

Again I am sorry to hear about your loss. I miss my furkids when they cross over, more than many believe.

 

At least I hope it was quick. I am very surprised I didn't run over him when backing into the driveway. He always moved out of the way at the very last second. It is definitely easier when it is expected for a different reason the 17 year old is missing a tooth after being hit by a car about 8 or 9 years ago. He still seems to play chicken with cars. No idea why. the neighbors have mentioned that they have almost hit them due to their lounging in the middle of the road.

 

Cats tend to lounge in the street, because it's warm. They like baking as we call it around here, on the road, the car hood wherever they can find nice warmth to lay on. That's one of the many reasons we keep all our furkids indoors only, except to take the pups out to do their business, when we are home.

I too hope that your old one went quickly, I honestly believe he probably did, as most wild animals are quick with the kill.

 

This is the main reason I do not bury a dead pet in the yard. They go into a compactor so I won't see reamins strewn all over the yard.

 

Outdoor life is more dangerous for pets than it used to be. Indoor life is cleaner, safer, flea/tick/worm free (usually), and as a result, cheaper. Outdoor pets can cause neighbors to feel more responsible than they should have to, especially when pets are in dangerous situations.

Her in Pa., the fisher is making a comeback near creeks/water due to the Pa Game Commis.'s stocking efforts. Coyotes are coming on strong in spite of everyone's efforts. Coyotes are very efficient hunters, especially of pets, sometimes even when leashed/fenced inside yards.

Large hawks and even bald eagles are increasing in population and they do take small animals such as kittens/pups.

 

Would hip dysplasia be instant or gradual? With the 17 year old, Checkers, he was fine one day and the next had some trouble turning around and not liking his lower back being petted. Almost wondering if he got hit by a car or animal again even though there was no blood on him.

 

Hip dysplasia is actually normally a gradual thing, getting worse as time goes on. It sounds more like an injury to Checkers, and would suggest a trip to the vet as soon as possible, as damage can be permanent if it is a spinal injury. It could be he was grazed by a car, fell or something struck him. I'd definitely get it checked out.

 

Thank you!! I wasn't sure.

 

If Checkers was grazed by a car, it would be the second time it happened. 8 or 9 years ago he lost a tooth after it was broken off and driven into his jawbone the first time.