Question Details
Lame Vomiting Non Pruritic Cat
by flaviaz - March 11, 2010
Hi Steve, hope your travels are safe
11y SF Maine Coon cat, typical cat, but not typical. Owner’s chief concern is her forelimb lameness, has radiographic evidence of pretty severe osteoarthritis of elbows, and fluid drained from forelimb joints consistent with cystic or synovial fluid. She vomits several times a week, stool is normal, not sure if hypoallergenic trial worked, 1 of 4 cats and questionable compliance. She is a very sweet Fire cat who is the boss of the cats, but runs and hides because there are children in the house with some pretty severe disorders (adopted from Russian orphanage) that chase her.
Tongue: red sides and purple underneath.
Pulses right: rapid slippery and very deep; left I could not find.
She has dry dandruff dorsally, NO pruritus, scabs on the neck, inguinal alopecia. Very tight BL 20 or Bl 21, and Deficient BL 24 an BL 25. Cool areas: tail and inguinal, warm areas paws and ears.
Most of the formulas refer to lameness in the context of lower back and hind, so I am a bit stumped. Spleen Qi Deficiency causing Blood Deficiency and rebellious Stomach Qi? Qi stagnation causing pain?
Would you recommend an herb to try?
Thanks
flavia
Replies
by naturevet
March 12, 2010
Hi Flavia,

When you said 'warm areas', I assume you meant you were physically touching the paws and ears?

Assuming yes, I would look at Si Miao San to get started. The cat may have generalized Damp Heat tendencies, with the Damp producing Qi and Blood stasis (causes purple tongue) and resultant Heat (causes red tongue). As well, the GI is frequently involved, and is often the first site of pathology, at least histologically. Damp Heat is essentially an insulin-resistance driven tendency towards inflammation that cats and dogs appear even more sensitive to than people. Perhaps this is because of their carnivorous nature. At any rate, Si Miao San would be the place to start.

If the paws and ears were not warm to the touch, I'd look at Yi Yi Ren Tang, also a Damp Heat formula, to help with the elbow swelling and inflammation and stop the vomiting. It is especially well suited to elbow problems that create heat and swelling on the medial aspect of the limb, near SI 8.

Hope this gets you started. A home-cooked or raw diet might help inestimably in either situation, and is the antidote to Damp Heat and insulin resistance in many animals. Ensure both are grain-free.

Good luck!

Steve
by flaviaz
March 15, 2010
I will try it.
I understand insulin resistance as relates to grain diet, but could you help connect the dots on insulin resistance and and inflammation?
thanks
flavia
PS I did mean physically warm
by naturevet
March 16, 2010
Hi Flavia,

The research in this area is extensive, and is done on animal models, but veterinarians have been slow to apply it. I gave a lecture on it at the AHVMA in September 2009. You may want to go to their site and pick up the notes and CD. The talk was entitled "Management of Inflammation Using Diet and Herbs". It should only be ten or twelve dollars.

Have a great day!

Steve
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