Please help Darky my paralyzed baby girl

The 20th May 2023 changed Darky the Black Cat’s life forever.

UPDATE I HAVE HAD TO CANCEL ALL FUTURE VET TREATMENT AS I CANNOT AFFORD IT.  THE CREDIT CARD IS MAXED.

She was apparently kicked resulting in the displacement of her pelvic lining and a disc entering her spinal cord causing paralysis of her hind legs, tail and also causing her incontinence.

The first vet I approached insisted it was a blood clot despite me requesting a blood test as a large dead rat was found beside her at the front steps.  He assured me it was unnecessary.  He stated she could only receive the blood thinning medication for two days otherwise it would cause anaemia.  His recommendation was to put her to sleep.  I refused.  She was in his care from Saturday 20th May until Tuesday 23rd when I was able to get her referred for a second opinion.

The second vet was able to refute the diagnose of a blood clot as Darky had a pulse in both hind legs and her paws were warm not cold.  This vet suggested putting her to sleep also but I refused.

She was referred to UCD in Dublin (veterinary teaching university) over 100 miles away.  I brought her there and they keep her for about two weeks.  It was they who identified the disc cutting into her spinal cord, pelvic lining detached and that the she was bleeding internally causing anaemia and a UTI.

They too suggested she be put down.  My son and I had travelled down to be with her in her final moments but when we arrived Darky was so full of life and happy to see us, she purred, enjoyed her tickles and scratches behind her ears and under her chin, we were in shock.  The clinic window was open as it was a beautiful day and when Darky heard the birds outside she literally tried to jump out of the open window to hunt them (back to her old self).

That was it she WASN’T getting put down.  I made arrangements to bring her home.

As I update this page four months later I’m glad I refused to give up hope in her.  

Four months ago she would have been dead and buried if I had listened to her previous three vets.

Having worked with her legs several times a day, washing her, changing her bedding umpteen times a day as she can’t use a litter tray and treated two further UTIs she is now able to use her hind legs to kick.  

She can get onto her bottom and sit up rather than permanently lying down, she is able to stand when assisted and given minimal support but has forgotten how to walk and lacks the strength to hold herself up.

Her new (4th) vet was amazed at her progress having read all the medical notes from the previous three vets.  The new vet agreed she had feelings right down her entire spine.  

She referred me to a 5th vet a holistic practitioner.  This vet is very hopeful Darky will walk again.  Darky hated the hydrotherapy but did respond to acupuncture, two different cold laser treatments and TENS electrical stimuli to her spine.  This practice recommends a weekly treatment which I just cannot afford so I will be going every 2/3 weeks.

The target of £8,000 is actually less than has been already paid and her future bills if I can get her weekly holistic treatment which will cost £5,000 for a years treatment as it will be a long term not a quick fix.

I have already paid £4,000 to the first three vets, that’s on my credit card accruing interest.

To date Darky has received additional treatment from the new 4th vet and the holistic vet.

So I’ve now paid out an additional £1000 and again added to my credit card.

This is the first time I’ve ever asked for charity in my life but as I’m disabled and retired this amount of financial outgoings is just unsustainable.  Darky is enjoying life despite her paralysis and in time, with your help, my beautiful girl might well regain some semblance of her old self.

Join her Facebook group and follow her progress at:

Darky the Paralysed Black Cat

God bless you all for even reading this.