04/19/2026
Bud Bud 💕💕
Since December time Buddy has been having a few
mobility issues and not as active as he once was. The biggest sign I knew something was wrong was his refusal to use the stairs anymore so I took him in to see Matt who’s been caring for him for the last two years and he got the orthopaedics team to have a look at him.
The ortho team were unable to complete their exam at all without gabapentin and then even with that buddy wouldn’t allow the stifle part of the test. A clear indicator something was also wrong as he’s no chilled out in general and great at the vets usually.
With arthritis you don’t tend to see a cat refusing to use the stairs so the ortho team wanted to do a CT scan. The CT showed no sign of orthopaedic disease so they were a bit puzzled. They got the neurology team to have a look and they could see some things on the CT that meant a MRI was then needed. So buddy had the MRI and it was discovered that he has something called lumbosacral degeneration. Which is super common in dogs but really quite rare in cats. The neurologist has only treated one cat himself with it. Luckily buddys isn’t super severe. The neurologist reccomended a epidural steroid be administered so Buddy has had this and he has started to use the stairs again 🥳🎉 and is much more mobile already.
Whilst this provides great relief, how long it lasts differs greatly from case to case and with every time it’s needed, buddy would need a general anaesthetic so I wanted to do everything I can to extend how long it lasts and to limit how often he needs the procedure. The best way to maximise the lasting time is to do physiotherapy alongside the epidural steroid. So this week he had his first session at home with Jools Howe - Veterinary Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation who came highly recommended. Jools will be seeing Buddy weekly and has given me excercises to do daily in between visits as well as a red light therapy device to use on Buddy.
The CT also showed a couple of other issues that need addressing, with the main one being he has otitis media which is a middle ear canal infection. He’s been having issues with one of his ears for a while and despite me cleaning and treating it daily it’s progressed to the middle of the canal which means it can no longer be topically treated and he needs further intervention. Buddy’s care has been taken care of by eastcott referrals for the last two years who are amazing but sadly they don’t have an ear specialist and it’s to specialist for a main practice vet so I’m told he needs a specialist ear professional. So we’re waiting on that. He will likely be going to the willows referal centre in Solihull who have what’s regarded as the best ear specialists in the uk from doing my research.
Here is my amazing boy having his first session and also some photos of him doing one of his exercises on the stairs. He’s such a happy boy. Full of purrs and wanting a fuss.
I’m super grateful for all the amazing care buddy receives and that I’m able to have some of the very best specialists in the country take care of him. Always the very best for my boy ❤️
