Hello, I’m Dr. Karyn! Learn my introduction to study extra about me and meet my 5 hilarious cats: Clutch, Cyril, Alex, Zelda, and Zazzles.
You may already know that my buddy, Clutch, enriches my life along with his quirky character and distinctive habits. There are additionally some methods by which he contributes to my already vital quantity of grey hair, and never too way back, a type of was having a spate of neurological episodes.
One morning, as I used to be chasing the ultimate dregs of cornflakes round my cereal bowl, I seen motion out of the nook of my eye. Clutch was lurking below a chair with a perplexed look on his face, slowly reaching one leg in entrance of the opposite, seeming confused about the place he was and what his limbs had been doing. His head was wobbling ever-so-slightly, and he didn’t appear to have the ability to get up. This odd habits didn’t final very lengthy, however lengthy sufficient for me to seize my cellphone and take a brief video clip. Not as a result of I assumed it could make an entertaining TikTok put up, however as a result of I knew how helpful this kind of footage could be when making an attempt to diagnose an issue.
Regardless of my preliminary intuition to PANIC!! I stored an in depth eye on Clutch over the subsequent few days, searching for another indicators or aberrations, and aside from his wobbly episode, the whole lot appeared to be fully regular. Simply over every week later, he was at it once more, incomes himself a visit to work with me.
Working ALL The Checks
I used to be lucky sufficient to be working at a veterinary hospital with a CT scanner on web site, and on condition that Clutch was absolutely insured, I needed to check for the whole lot. We drew blood, carried out a CT scan, and obtained a pattern of his cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from a spot slightly below the bottom of his cranium. Aside from a slight change in one among his electrolytes, the whole lot got here again regular, which in some ways was a aid, however was additionally very irritating.
I even consulted a veterinary neurologist, solely to learn that Clutch’s scientific indicators had been “fairly uncommon.”
I’m positive you’ve had the same expertise, whether or not with your personal pet, your self, or a member of the family, the place there was one thing unsuitable, however all of the medical exams got here again regular. It’s excellent news, nevertheless it doesn’t clarify what the issue is! As a vet, I typically should cope with the frustration of working a barrage of exams, solely to have the ability to present fearful house owners with an intensive record of all of the issues it isn’t. This may be an vital course of in fact, nevertheless it doesn’t alleviate the emotions of irritation and helplessness.
One attainable clarification for Clutch’s neurological episodes was epilepsy, a analysis solely supported by his in any other case regular take a look at outcomes. However these episodes weren’t in step with the generalized seizures we might anticipate to see with epilepsy.
And Then There Have been None
Aside from a touch elevated sodium degree, Clutch’s take a look at outcomes had been regular, and now, there have been no extra episodes both. That is nice information, or not less than it needs to be, proper? He was wholesome, no extra neurological indicators, and his blood exams, CSF evaluation and CT outcomes had been regular – this needs to be excellent news. However an unsolved thriller doesn’t sit effectively with me, and I used to be decided to resolve it.
A Ornamental Design Flaw
It was now a number of months after Clutch’s well being scare, and there had fortunately been no extra incidents. We had been making ready for the arrival of visiting household, and I used to be getting the spare room prepared for visitors. I placed on contemporary sheets, checked the whole lot was clear and tidy, and that’s when it hit me: The salt lamp.
Not actually in fact, in any other case I may need been the one with a neurological drawback, however the realization that this supposedly purifying lump of salt may need been our perpetrator lit up brighter than the lamp itself. Why had it not occurred to me earlier than?
Aware that not everyone seems to be as tolerant of cat hair on their… the whole lot, we all the time hold the spare room door closed, however there have been a number of weeks, earlier that yr, once we had allowed the cats to entry the room whereas we had been performing some repairs. And also you guessed it, these weeks had been proper across the time that Clutch began behaving surprisingly.
Why Blame the Salt Lamp?
For anybody that doesn’t know, consuming an extreme quantity of salt causes a shift in our electrolyte steadiness, which impacts how water strikes out and in of our cells. An excessive amount of salt basically dehydrates our cells, inflicting them to shrivel up like a wrinkled raisin. This makes us extraordinarily thirsty, and if we drink too rapidly, our little raisin mind cells change into massive juicy grapes too rapidly, and this will trigger non permanent, even everlasting, mind harm.
You won’t suppose {that a} salt lamp could be all that interesting to a cat, however ask anybody who tries to place a bag of potato chips down as soon as they’ve began munching, salt is fairly moreish!
So even supposing Clutch now not had entry to the lamp, I wasn’t taking any probabilities – it needed to go! Don’t fear – it discovered a loving residence in a brand new, pet-free residence.
But One other Lesson Realized At Dwelling
There are two constructive outcomes to Clutch’s temporary and horrifying expertise:
- Realizing that Clutch is okay!
- Highlighting the potential hazard posed by salt lamps within the residence, one thing that served me effectively when introduced with the same case in a canine, one yr later.
It wasn’t one thing the canine’s house owners had thought to say, however due to Clutch, it’s one thing I all the time bear in mind to ask, proving as soon as once more that my cats present me, not solely with laughter, cuddles, and a lifetime provide of cat hair on the whole lot, however with data and views I may need in any other case missed.
Thanks, Clutch!
