Malaysia Veterinary Forum (Archive)

rasem · Joined: 20 Nov 2007 Posts: 5 Location: klang

hello everyone,

its been 3 days since we took our cats to the vet to check on their diarrhoea. the vet checked them and gave each of them an intramuscular injection of enrofloxacin and put them back in the carrier. as soon as we opened the carrier at home, we realized that Rumi (9 months old) had paralysis of the leg injected . she drags that hindleg and paw when she walks banging it against eveything as if she cant feel it, when we pick he up she splays all her paws and claws except for that leg which remains limp. she is miserable, unable to run, scratch the side of her neck, defecate or climb things normally. we have been carrying out warm compressions and massages and have put her in a cage to rest as advised by the vet. today we noticed that leg is getting swollen but not warm nor tender and the swelling is not localized to the injected area.

im sure this is a sciatic nerve palsy but have no clue on the pathology taking place (nerve cut?swelling around the nerve? neuritis? the medication collecting around the nerve?) and whether its permanent or reversible. i could find no conclusive websites on the matter. it is a complication of an injection given in good intentions but the indication for it in a cat able to take orally is very questionable, more discretion should be practiced.

i would like to ask all of you your opinions, suggestion and any similar experiences as to what i should do next.
also, i'd like to appeal to everyone not to simply resort to an injection if not necessary as a complication like this, although rare, can be debilitating to the cat.

Dr HanMRCVS · Joined: 07 Jun 2006 Posts: 566 Location: Johor Bahru

dear rasem, have you taken the cat back to the vet for his/her opinion in regards to this matter? we almost never encounter this problem in practice whenever or if ever we give injections, as most common sites for injections are very safe with minimal nerve or anything running through the site.

rasem · Joined: 20 Nov 2007 Posts: 5 Location: klang

yes i have, she told us to continue with massage, hot/cold compressions and neurobion.
just saw a good vet, he confirmed its a sciatic nerve injury with likely permanent sequelae. he's arranging for electrostimulation sessions and kiv steroids to suppress the inflammatory response.

he also highlighted that it is now wrong to give an IM injection into the gluteal region as the risk of this complication, although rare, is unacceptable.

Dr HanMRCVS · Joined: 07 Jun 2006 Posts: 566 Location: Johor Bahru

if that is the case, perhaps you should ask the vet that gave the injection for an explanation or maybe a letter. you can even ask for the proper certification (to make sure that he/she is a recognized vet in malaysia. we have had cases of non vets consulting and giving injections before!

it may be also wise that you notify the vet who gave the injection that you have been seeking 2nd opinion and you would like to work WITH all vets to help your cat.

cda · Joined: 21 Sep 2007 Posts: 7 Location: Klang

Dear Rasem,

sorry to hear about ur cat. I've been thru the same condition as you last year.
my cat suffered a disease. i brought him to the vet. unfortunately, the person who we taught have some vet background gave my poor cat an injection. to make it worse, the doctor juz gave instructions thru the phone. since we were all in unstable condition, we juz let he gave the jap to our poor kitty. on the way back, my cat died in the car in my arm. how sad is that? all the way back to my house, i've been giving my cat a spirit not to die. =(( i really missed my little kitty.

so the main point here, don't let the same mistake happen. ask him/her for their cert if u have to. it's ur right and cat's right!

:)

Dr Nat · Joined: 07 Dec 2005 Posts: 1834 Location: Klang Valley

Hi Rasem and cda,
If you think there's any wrongdoing by a vet, please lodge an official complaint to the Malaysian Veterinary Council, Jabatan Perkhidmatan Haiwan and the Veterinary Association Malaysia. Please get all vets involved to write an official medical report or a letter from the vet explaining what has happened and forward it to the authorities.

But of course, before things get out of hand, its always the best thing to clarify with your vet (and the second vet that you seek). There may be another reason for unfortunate things to occur. Many of the things are just simple miscommunication between the vet and the pet owner.

rasem · Joined: 20 Nov 2007 Posts: 5 Location: klang

will do dr.nat
i'm actually a physician so i pretty much know whats going on.. and thats whats actually making me upset.

i have already informed the 1st vet as i said earlier. the 2nd vet told me frankly that this is a case of mismanagement: no indiaction for injection, poor choice of antibiotics, poor management of complication and failure to follow up or refer. i mean, i wanted to be a 'good' 'obedient' pet owner who doesn't get all up in arms just because i'm a doctor... gave that vet a chance to do some damage control...what did she do? added insult to injury by wasting precious time that could have been used to administer steroids. now the limb is swollen and i know for a fact it must be Wallerian degeneration....... too little too late right now and that too little is costing me a whopper in treatment!

but i will notify the authorities involved as you advised. thank you

varanus · Joined: 12 Feb 2006 Posts: 472

rasem wrote: will do dr.nat
i'm actually a physician so i pretty much know whats going on.. and thats whats actually making me upset.

i have already informed the 1st vet as i said earlier. the 2nd vet told me frankly that this is a case of mismanagement: no indiaction for injection, poor choice of antibiotics, poor management of complication and failure to follow up or refer. i mean, i wanted to be a 'good' 'obedient' pet owner who doesn't get all up in arms just because i'm a doctor... gave that vet a chance to do some damage control...what did she do? added insult to injury by wasting precious time that could have been used to administer steroids. now the limb is swollen and i know for a fact it must be Wallerian degeneration....... too little too late right now and that too little is costing me a whopper in treatment!

but i will notify the authorities involved as you advised. thank you

I respect you for that.

rasem · Joined: 20 Nov 2007 Posts: 5 Location: klang

cheers veranus

rasem · Joined: 20 Nov 2007 Posts: 5 Location: klang

hi everyone,
thought i'd update those of you who took the trouble to read the thread earlier on.

after the injury we sent Rumi to the animal hospital in KL. they did what they could (physiotherapy, steroids, nerve stimulation sessions) over 5 days.

since then, we kept treating her at home with the meds and physio instructions given by the docs.

sufferred a lot (the cat and us) especially with dragging poo all over the house and with ulcers that developed over the back of the paw (due to dragging) despite dressing and wild frustrating attempts at splintage.

now the ulcers have healed and she is in good spirits and health (put on weight even) but that limb's function is lost. its almost 2 months now with no improvement so the next step is amputation to rid the poor girl of the dead weight and the potential dengerous infections.