Hi, I’m Dr. Karyn! Read my introduction to learn more about me and meet my five funny cats: Clutch, Cyril, Alex, Zelda, and Zazzles.
You may already know that my friend, Clutch, enriches my life with his unique personality and quirks. There are also several ways in which he contributes to my massive amount of gray hair, and not long ago, one of those was having a series of neurological episodes.
One morning, as I chased the last dregs of cornflakes around my cereal bowl, I noticed a movement out of the corner of my eye. Clutch was hiding under the chair with a puzzled look on his face, slowly putting one foot in front of the other, seemingly confused as to where he was and what his feet were doing. His head was shaking slightly, and he seemed unable to stand. This strange behavior didn’t last long, but it was long enough for me to grab my phone and take a short video clip. Not because I thought it would make for an entertaining TikTok post, but because I know how useful this type of footage can be when trying to diagnose a problem.
Despite my initial instinct to PANIC!! I watched Clutch closely over the next few days, looking for other signs or aberrations, and aside from his shaky episode, everything seemed completely normal. Just over a week later, he worked with me again.
Runs ALL Tests
I’m lucky enough to work at a veterinary hospital that has a CT scanner on site, and given that Clutch is fully insured, I want to try everything. We drew blood, performed a CT scan, and took a sample of his cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from an area just below the base of his skull. Aside from a slight change in one of his electrolytes, everything went back to normal, which was in many ways a relief, but also frustrating.
I even consulted a veterinary neurologist, only to find out that Clutch’s clinical signs were “quite unusual.”
I’m sure you’ve had a similar experience, whether with your own pet, yourself, or a family member, where something went wrong, but all the medical tests came back normal. This is good news, but it doesn’t explain what the problem is! As a veterinarian, I often have to deal with the frustration of running tests, only to be able to provide worried owners with an extensive list of all its things. is not. Of course, this can be an important process, but it does not alleviate the feelings of irritation and helplessness.
One possible explanation for Clutch’s neurological episodes is epilepsy, a diagnosis supported only by his normal test results. But these episodes are not consistent with the generalized seizures we expect to see with epilepsy.
And Then Nothing
Aside from a slightly elevated sodium level, Clutch’s test results were normal, and now, there are no more episodes. This is good news, or at least it should be, right? He is healthy, no more neurological signs, and his blood tests, CSF analysis and CT results are normal – this should be good news. But an unsolved mystery doesn’t sit well with me, and I’m determined to get to the bottom of it.
A Defect in Decorative Design
It is now several months after Clutch’s health scare, and thankfully there have been no further incidents. We are preparing for the arrival of the visiting family, and I am preparing the spare room for guests. I put on fresh sheets, checked that everything was clean and tidy, and that’s when it hit me: The salt lamp.
Of course, not literally, otherwise I might be the one with the neurological problem, but the realization that the supposedly cleansing salt lump might be our culprit is brighter than the lamp itself. Why didn’t this occur to me earlier?
Remember that not everyone is tolerant of cat hair in their… all, we always keep the spare room door closed, but there were a few weeks, earlier that year, when we allowed the cats into the room during construction we did some repairs. And you guessed it, those weeks were right around the time Clutch started acting weird.
Why Blame the Salt Lamp?
For anyone who doesn’t know, consuming excessive amounts of salt causes a change in our electrolyte balance, which affects how water moves in and out of our cells. Too much salt essentially dehydrates our cells, causing them to shrivel like a wrinkled raisin. This makes us very thirsty, and if we drink too fast, our little raisin brain cells turn into big juicy grapes too fast, and this can cause temporary, even permanent, brain damage. .
You might not think that a salt lamp would be all that attractive to a cat, but ask anyone who tries to put down a bag of potato chips when they start eating, salt is even more ferocious!
So despite the fact that Clutch no longer has access to the lamp, I’m not taking advantage – it has to go! Don’t worry – it has found a loving home in a new pet-free home.
Another Lesson Learned At Home
There are two positive outcomes to Clutch’s short and terrifying experience:
- Realizing that Clutch is fine!
- Emphasizes the potential danger posed by salt lamps in the home, something that served me well when presented with a similar case with a dog, a year later.
It’s not something dog owners think to mention, but because of Clutch, it’s something I always remember to ask, proving once again that my cats give me, not just laughs , hugs, and a lifetime supply of cat hair. on everything, but there is information and insight that I may be overlooking.
Thanks, Clutch!
