Hello, I’m Dr. Karyn! Read my introduction to be taught 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 together with his quirky persona and distinctive habits. There are additionally some methods through which he contributes to my already vital quantity of grey hair, and never too way back, a kind 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 observed motion out of the nook of my eye. Clutch was lurking underneath 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 have been doing. His head was wobbling ever-so-slightly, and he didn’t appear to have the ability to arise. 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 submit, however as a result of I knew how helpful this kind of footage might 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 following few days, searching for every other indicators or aberrations, and other than his wobbly episode, every thing appeared to be utterly regular. Simply over every week later, he was at it once more, incomes himself a visit to work with me.
Working ALL The Assessments
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 fully insured, I wished to check for every thing. 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, every thing got here again regular, which in some ways was a reduction, however was additionally very irritating.
![Clutch's normal CT scan](https://www.catster.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Clutchs-normal-CT-scan_Dr-Karyn.jpg)
I even consulted a veterinary neurologist, solely to learn that Clutch’s scientific indicators have 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 incorrect, however all of the medical exams got here again regular. It’s excellent news, however it doesn’t clarify what the issue is! As a vet, I usually must take care of the frustration of operating a barrage of exams, solely to have the ability to present fearful house owners with an intensive listing of all of the issues it isn’t. This may be an necessary course of after all, however it doesn’t alleviate the sentiments 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 keeping with the generalized seizures we might anticipate to see with epilepsy.
And Then There Had been None
Aside from a slightly elevated sodium stage, Clutch’s take a look at outcomes have been regular, and now, there have been no extra episodes both. That is nice information, or no less than it must be, proper? He was wholesome, no extra neurological indicators, and his blood exams, CSF evaluation and CT outcomes have been regular – this must be excellent news. However an unsolved thriller doesn’t sit nicely 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 have 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 every thing was clear and tidy, and that’s when it hit me: The salt lamp.
![The suspect- my himalayan salt lamp](https://www.catster.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-suspect-my-himalayan-salt-lamp_Dr-Karyn.jpg)
Not actually after all, in any other case I might need been the one with a neurological drawback, however the realization that this supposedly purifying lump of salt might need been our offender 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… every thing, we at all times hold the spare room door closed, however there have been a number of weeks, earlier that 12 months, once we had allowed the cats to entry the room whereas we have been performing some repairs. And also you guessed it, these weeks have been proper across the time that Clutch began behaving surprisingly.
Why Blame the Salt Lamp?
For anybody that doesn’t know, consuming an excessive amount of salt causes a shift in our electrolyte stability, 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 turn out to be huge juicy grapes too rapidly, and this could trigger short-term, even everlasting, mind injury.
You may not assume {that a} salt lamp can 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 though 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.
![Clutch back to his weird normal self](https://www.catster.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Back-to-his-weird-normal-self._Dr-Karyn.jpg)
But One other Lesson Discovered At House
There are two constructive outcomes to Clutch’s transient and scary expertise:
- Realizing that Clutch is okay!
- Highlighting the potential hazard posed by salt lamps within the residence, one thing that served me nicely when offered with the same case in a canine, one 12 months later.
It wasn’t one thing the canine’s house owners had thought to say, however due to Clutch, it’s one thing I at all times bear in mind to ask, proving as soon as once more that my cats present me, not solely with laughter, cuddles, and a lifetime supply of cat hair on everything, however with data and views I might need in any other case ignored.
Thanks, Clutch!