Had a call this morning from Sarah who told me they couldn't get near him to take some blood - Blackie was fighting like a demon - so would it ok for them to go straight to anaesthetic? Blackie is like a wild animal if strangers try to do something with him. I told her to do whatever necessary as these x-rays needed to be done.
Results from the whole spine showed a lot of bone spurs in the vertebras (Blackie and I have something in common!). His hips were fine though his patella slipped out of its socket easily. She felt that the x-rays didn't give the whole picture and that its more than likely that a bone spur or spurs have grown large enough to compress a nerve (or nerves) which would cause pain. I had the choice of going for the MRI scan or a myelogram - the latter could be done at their hospital but they don't have a MRI scanner. Blackie would need a referral letter to another vet hospital for that which they will give.
I asked the difference and she told me, apart from cost, the MRI scan is the crème de la crème, though she felt the myelogram would also show most of what was being looked for - but not everything. It also has some small risks attached. Even though it means moving Blackie to another hospital, I decided to go for the MRI scan - also hoping that they can find a hospital where the scan can be done asap and not too far away.
Sarah did say the cost would be very high for a MRI scan but as my late mother left me a fair sum of money (apart from her house) I explained that as Blackie was so dear to her, I couldn't justify doing anything other than the very best for her beloved cat who has become our beloved cat. I can still hear Mum saying to me 'sell the house, he's worth it' when she first went into the care home. (Mind you, the week before when speaking to her on the phone she'd told me to put him down
).
I am hoping we hear very soon about the scan - I will have to warn those who come into contact with Blackie that he fights like a wild beast when approached by vets
Is this the same cat who, on Sunday night came and laid on the pillow by my head and woke me up with his deep purring? He is a real Jekyll and Hyde - fortunately he is Jekyll with us.
This is a difficult time especially as Sarah told me that, having managed to get some blood from him after all, the results were all good and that for a cat of 14+half Blackie is otherwise healthy which is why I won't give up on him until we've exhausted all avenues or until I can see that Blackie has had enough.
Thank you all again for your support - it means so much - moved me to tears.
Upshot of the nearly hour long consultation involving his medical history, was the vet's verdict that Blackie has a squashed nerve in his lower back. She thinks this is most likely because the pain is intermittent. She said an x-ray would definitely rule out any arthritis and confirm her diagnosis. Next stop would be a MRI scan if we wanted to go down that route. 
