Not wanting to walk??
 

I am wondering if anyone might have some input about this. Hot Rod had a UTI and I have to call the vet tomorrow for his follow results so I am going to ask her about this "problem".

The other day I thought I noticed that he seemed to be stiff in his hinds during our walk. Hubby didn't notice anything. Well on Friday, hubby said to me to watch him over the weekend because he noticed that Hot Rod would pick his leg up every 3rd or 4th step (for a short while). In the last few days, it seems as though Hot Rod didn't want to walk. I mean, he would just not want to walk and we would literally have to pull him.

I had taken Hot Rod to the vet a long while back for what I thought was a problem with his leg, she diagnosed a loose knee but it was more of his anal glands-they were impacted. My 2nd vet graded it a level 1 and she also said his other knee was slightly loose but nothing to worry about there, just watch it.

She also then talked about worse case scenario about the uti and kidney stones--I don't think he has stones as he is able to pee. Should I be worried about his legs or knees or something else? He and Maggie still run around the house like maniacs with no problems. Thanks.

hmm... don't know much about UTI= but i'd imagine that peeing is painful when you have one right? Maybe he associates walks with peeing- and that was painful so he just wants to avoid the walks all togehter?

Stones are possible even if he can pee.
Were crystals seen in the urine last time?
What was his pH?

The only thing I can think of if he is fine not walking is luxating patella (perhaps worse than the vets are saying?) or legg calve perthes (not probable).

Well, he seems to be peeing okay, and he does his marking thing outside. He doesn't seem to be in pain doing it. He just stops walking and stands there or sits there. He's done it in the past but now it seems as though it is every walk. I just had to literally pull him out of the garage tonight to go out.

Yes, there were crystals present. I don't know what the pH was. If it is luxating patella, would he be able to run around with Maggie? I mean they really chase after each other and I haven't seen him "sit down" like I did that one time I took him in. Also he jumps up and down from the sofa with her.

Yes because it can pop in and out, so you will see a problem sometimes and sometimes it will look normal.

Thanks. I will be talking with the vet tomorrow and I think I will go ahead and see if she can see him. It's really unusal for him not to want to go for walks. He's done it in the past here and there but never like the last few days.

Thanks for your input. I am very curious to talk with the vet tomorrow and see if the uti is cleared up or what and then talk with her more about his. Is the pH level indicative stones?

There are three types of stones that are most common (calcium oxalate, struvite and ammonium urate). A high pH would be good conditions for struvite to form and a low pH for the other two. Oxalate are common in males and ammonium urate are seen with liver disease. It was very likely just a plain old UTI though. If the urine is too alkaline or acidic (the vet will be able to tell you), messing with the diet can sometimes help. For example, a dog who gets oxalate stones would need to eat low oxalate foods, etc.

Thanks for getting back with me. Now I can be a bit more prepared when I talk with the vet. I will have to try and get a hold of a friend who has a silky. He must have had calcium oxalate type of stones as he was put on a very strict diet. I can't remember how many stones he had removed (I know it was A LOT). I'm going to have to try and get a hold of her and find out more about it.

I really appreciate your input. :)

Kepping him in my thoughts and prayers, my little Mickey had calcium oxalate type of stones / crystals and had surgery 2 x in 6 months apart.hes on a special diet food and drinks bottled water and seems to be doing gret now.

heres a web site that has some info on it.
Bladder Stones

Glad to hear the Mickey is doing well. Thanks for the link, very informative. I will actually be able to understand some of that vet will have to say or at least I can ask more in depth questions now. :)

My cat Suki had struvite crystals in his bladder and urethra about 10 yrs ago. I noticed that he wasn't moving and was in a crouched position. I called the vet immediately and he said to bring him in. I brought him in right away and sure enough he said that his urethra is blocked and he couldn't urinate, so his bladder was very full. So they had to catherize him and he was fine for a few days. About half a week later, I noticed that he had the same symptoms again and called the vet at 11pm at night. He was such a caring vet that he re-opened the office and around midnight he performed the catherization procedure again. In any case, after a change of diet Suki never had a problem again. Is there a possibility that Hot Rod may have some large crystals that is stuck in his urethra? That's what happened to Suki and the Vet had to literally squeeze his penis to crush the crystals so that it could pass (I was there when he did this, b/c I was his assistant during the midnight catherization procedure). I hope everything works out for Hot Rod and that he returns to his normal self.

Wow, your poor kitty. It sounds like your vet was a very caring and conscientious vet.

Well, it figures, since I made the appt to take him in for xrays on Wed, he's been walking. He is still able to pee and it doesn't look as though he is in any pain. The vet said that there are still crystals present so we are going to xray to see what might be going on. I will get to talk my regular vet on Wednesday so I'll have more info. He is still running around like crazy, eating and drinking so whatever it is may have shifted (could be good or bad). Will be glad to get some definitive answers though.

Yes, the vet was absolutely amazing. My friend went to him too and had a very good experience. Too bad he moved.

I'm thinking perhaps he might have some crystals that were stuck in his urethra and that's why he was walking funny and it probably passed, so now he's back to usual self. I hope you find your answer and that the issue can be easily remedied. :)

Thanks, that would be an ideal scenario. :)

I know what you mean about vets, finding one that you really trust and like is not the easiest thing to do. My current vet used to literally be right across the street from our old house and I was taking my cats to her. She wound up selling her practice due to having twins and not being able to handle it all-that was 9 years ago. Last year we had a scare with ringworm from one vet and hubby insisted on getting a second opinion and lo and behold we found our old vet!!! I was and am so thrilled.

UPDATE on Hot Rod
 

Well, we went to the vets today and got somewhat good new and some bad news. At this moment in time, he doesn't have stones but definitely still has a UTI. There is still a lot of crystals in his urine. Vet can not be sure if he will develop stones from this as it can happen or not. So we are doing another culture, trying a new diet and new meds until we get results-hopefully by Friday. His pH level was at 8.

Now for the new issue that was seen today...

The vet can not be 100% sure, as they did not sedate him for xray, but one of Hot Rod's legs is is shorter than the other. It is also bowed outward. He wasn't very cooperative so she is not sure if it is in fact shorter since he didn't want to extend it. The hip alignment is off. She thinks that this is a probable cause for not wanting to walk. And in addition to this he has an apparent injury to his back. Could be from playing with Maggie or just overcompensating for his leg. She wants to figure out the UTI issue first and then figure out what is going on with his leg.

I hope with the meds and diet you can restore the pH level in his bladder. I'm sorry to hear about the new issue with Hot Rod. I hope it's nothing serious. I have to actually take Cassi to an ortho specialist in May. At the last visit, the vet said Cassi has LP on both legs and will require surgery. However, I've been keeping a close watch on her and have never noticed her limping or favoring any leg. In any case, I'm going to take her for 2nd opinion. I'll continue to keep Hot Rod in my thoughts!

Thanks, sorry to hear about Cassi. Did they say what level of LP? I'll keep her in my thoughts and prayers. Through all of this the vet thinks that his hip is possibly the cause of the LP as she really didn't think is LP was that bad prior to this. I did see that he was favoring his hip when we got home. Now in retrospect I can see that he has been off in his walking. We'd thought that one of his coats was a little tight on him and was making him kinda "waddle" but I am thinking it has been his hip all along. (?) He's always kinda moved his hips in a strange way. I remember thinking how he seemed to be stiff or weird in the way his backside sometimes moved. This could be why. :confused:

The vet said one leg was a grade 1-2 and the other a grade 2 or possibly 3 for LP. She's been doing well and does not show any signs or symptoms of LP. She runs, jumps, and plays normally. Not once have she limped or showed any signs of favoring any leg. In any case, I'm going to take her to an ortho specialist.

From what I have heard, if surgery is done early the chance for a full recovery is greater. I wish you luck with that. That can't be too easy to have to deal with in both knees. Do you think you will do one at a time or both at once?

If she has bilateral LP and the ortho recommends surgery, then I would opt to have it done at the same time. It's tough to do one leg at a time b/c it takes several weeks to recover and I don't think she can stand to be in her crate for so many weeks. I just hope that she won't need surgery. Is Hot Rod doing any better today? I hope the poor little guy is on his way to recovery from his UTI.