Tucker, 4pm update

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tuckers mom

tuckers mom

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Tucker has been doing pretty well for a while. He's senior, probably over 18 yrs old, was dx with Hypoaklemia and brain tumor early this year. He takes prednisone, potassium, and levemir.

He looked tired Sunday and Monday, I brought him to the vet last night to check his potassium level, measured 4.1, normal. He seemed okay.

This AM he looked bad. Meatloafing, not eating, BG was 333. I gave him injections of pepcid, buprenex, B12 and 1/2U of Levemir. By lunch not better, went to vet and got Cerenia injection and 150 ml subq fluids.

Tonight, (5 hours since Cerenia injection) still not eating, licking his lips, meatloafing, scrunched head. Gave him Flagyl, vet said 10 days for IBD, since giving him the Flagyl he is now agitated and walking around looking a little disoriented. Similar to how he was in March when his potassium crashed, like a cat who had a seizure, that kind of disoriented.

He just did his business, so I can see he's not constipated, checked urine - ketones are negative, urine glucose is looking like 1000. BG is 310.

Vet did not palpate any obstructions, kidney felt a little large. Tucker is to take Cerenia for the next four days, Flagyl for ten, Pepcid as needed.

Our spreadsheet is not up to date, since he's on steroids keeping his SS doesn't seem too necessary, BGs are usually in the 200 range on 0.5U Lev BID. When given 0.75U BID after four days he goes too low, below 50, so he stays at 0.5U Lev.

I'm wondering if I should force feed him? Any thoughts on whether that would be a negative at this point?

Thank you in advance for any advice.
 
Re: Tucker, CP Flare? Force feed?

It seems like the tumor may be progressing and causing some discomfort, poor baby. And it may have metastasized to the kidney.

It may be time to let go.
 
Re: Tucker, CP Flare? Force feed?

I would at least try to get some fluids into him.It has only been one day.you can try small amounts of baby food or make a liquid "catfood" shake by mixing water and wet food in your blender. If he had been like this for days it woukd be different.This is a hard decision, but I think it is too soon to think about letting go.
 
Re: Tucker, CP Flare? Force feed?

Hmmm I see it was this AM when he got fluids at the vet. Are they all gone already? Do you think he needs more fluids, or did they settle down by his chest or arms? I say go for the syringe feeding.. can always take it slowly. Sometimes it just gets something in their tummy & makes it start feeling better, so it gets them eating again.

Oops.. just previewed this before posting, and see the subject says CP flare... I have NO experience with CP, so not sure about the force feeding.. sorry!
 
Re: Tucker, CP Flare? Force feed?

depends on how stressful forced feeding is for him. i syringe fed cleo, and she liked it. after a few days she ate on her own again.
i wouldn't let a cat go 24 hrs without food because of the propensity for hepatic lipidosis.
i certainly wouldn't make any assumptions about metastasis without more diagnostics. BJ, some of us on the board have cats with multiple health issues. if general quality of life is good, occasional downturns are not a reason to give up.
 
Re: Tucker, CP Flare? Force feed?

Isn't withholding food what is best for CP flares though? I wouldn't go more than about 2 days though I'd think..? Course, I don't know very much about CP flares.. so just going from what I remember. My cousin's cat went through that years ago when I was there visiting (& I was posting on the old board asking for help) - and she just needed food withheld for a couple of days, then she started feeling better & eventually started eating again.
 
Re: Tucker, CP Flare? Force feed?

might try lower fat food. some cats get CP flares with higher fat food. not all do, tho.
 
Re: Tucker, CP Flare? Force feed?

Jen, sorry Tucker is not feeling well.

The cerenia is great for vomiting, but I found that it does not work as well for nausea.
Have you ever tried ondansetron on him? It is very safe, cheap , and can be used w/ cerenia and pepcid too.
You have to get it from a human pharmacy ( usually) I used pills , but there is an injectable form.

I would try to get him to eat. and yes, I would force if necessary. He's at risk for ketones and HL otherwise.
Have you tried the usual enticements? I know you are experienced caregiver, but I offer this link to my list of appy enticements just in case there is something that might help:

viewtopic.php?f=28&t=26965

Has the metronidazole/flagyl ever bothered him before?
what about the bup? it can make some cats jittery ( <snip>he is now agitated and walking around looking a little disoriented. ) I hope it wasn't a seizure.

any appy stims on board? mirtz? cypro?
of course if he is nauseous they won't work. I'd see if you can get a script for the ondansetron.

I'm a big roid fan. upping the dose to get him through a CP flare might not be a bad idea if nothing else is kicking in. something to talk to your vet about.

I hope as I write this things have calmed down, he has eaten and you are sleeping.
Feel Better Tucker !!
 
Re: Tucker, update below, prayers please

Tucker had a bad night. He slept on my chest and did not move all night. His cheek was on mine the entire time. He did not look he was alive this morning, if it weren't for the fact that he was breathing I would have thought he was gone.

He's at the clinic now.

He's lost his vision, he's blind. His brain tumor has grown. Could losing prednisolone and switching to prednisone have caused the growth so quickly? I have no idea. I now know why he was walking around disoriented last night. His pupils are not large, so I didn't suspect vision loss, but he was walking near walls. His BP is fine.

All blood work is perfect except for potassium. Vet is starting what she called a steroid blast, 10 mg prednisone and an IV with potassium.

Prayers for Tucker would be very appreciated.
 
Re: Tucker, update below

((((((Jennifer)))))

I'm so sorry to hear Tucker isn't doing well. Of course we will be sending everything we have that Tucker will be feeling better really soon. He is just such a fighter.

All fingers, toes and paws crossed in Nebraska for dearest Tucker.

Mel, Max and the fur gang
 
Re: Tucker, update below

(((((((((((((((((((((((((((JEN)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))) Tucker you big orange dude, we are crossing all paws for you here for a turnaround and sending many cyber hugs.
 
Re: Tucker, update below

Many prayers coming for Tucker and you too, Jen. So hard on the emotions and I'm praying that Tucker lets you know if you should keep fighting or if it is time to let him go. Poor baby.....fought so many battles.
 
Re: Tucker, update below

Rather than think that the brain tumor has suddenly grown - I would think the change in medication has been less effective at helping -- the Pred reduces inflammation -- the swelling and irritation of the tissue that the tumor is pushing on.

Pred is not necessarily doing anything to the tumor itself -- just helping the rest of the body cope in more comfort.

So it is possible that the change from Prednisolone to Prednisone is causing the swelling to be worse -- which in turn would make the symptoms worse in a potentially reversible manner (change back to prednisolone which is more effective)

It is possible that increasing the dose of Prednisone might help -- but hard to guess

((((((hugs))))))
 
Re: Tucker, update below

you have 'em, jenn. fight, tucker, fight! hope you score some prednisolone soon (does drsfostersmith.com have it?)
 
Re: Tucker, update below

Sending all my prayers and good vibes for you and Tucker. I'm sorry to hear this. Please let us know how it is going.

After I found out Justin was blind I remembered that he had been wall walking quite a bit and I had found it odd.

Take care,

Patti
 
Re: Tucker, update below

oh jenn... :cry: (((((jenn and tucker)))))
 
Re: Tucker, update below

Thank you everyone. I'm very tired so I might not be making a lot of sense, but here's where we are right now.

BG was down to 169 at noon after the R insulin, his levemir was given before I took him in. Vet gave him valium because he does get up sometimes disoriented and is getting wrapped up in the IV line. They will try to syringe feed some A/D.

I've contacted a pharmacy that Patti recommended and they do have prednisolone in stock. If things look good for Tucker to come home I will order the prednisolone.
 
Re: Tucker, update below

((((((((((((((((((Jen)))))))))))))))) I'm so very sorry to read this about Tucker....

Sending prayers, good vibes, healing white light and anything else I can think of to you and Tucker.
 
Another round of bloodwork shows potassium is now normal, but there is no change in his condition. Valium did not calm him and he's getting tangled in his IV lines. Dr. L does not want him alone tonight so I'm to pick him up at 6:30. Before then they'll give another dose of steroids and any other meds he needs.

His BG is 151, she does not expect he'll eat any food or need insulin tonight but I'll check that myself.

I'll bring him back in the morning.
 
continued prayers and purrs coming in from Nebraska.

Come on Tucker buddy you can fight this, look at how much you have already overcome.

((((((Big cyber hugs)))) Jenn, we have all our fingers, toes and paws crossed for both you and Tucker.

Mel. Max and the fur gang.
 
Sending many prayers for you and Tucker. I know when my cats are sick the vet recommended
slightly warm meat based baby food (chicken or Turkey)and they did eat it when they wouldn't eat anything else. I thought I saw someone suggested it previously, but thought it might be worth
mentioning again.
 
(((((((((Jen))))))))) ((((((((((((((Tucker)))))))))))

you're in my thoughts. I hope you can have a good night together.
 
(((Jennifer))) (((Tucker)))

My thoughts are with you both. I hope you have a good night together and the morning looks much brighter.
 
I've been thinking of Tucker all day, positive thoughts, hoping for some improvements.
I am sure it must be distressing for him at the vet with everything going on and the IV and stuff, so I hope being home with you will calm him down and maybe you can get him to eat a wee bit and have some rest.
 
Thank you everyone, your well wishes and advice amaze me.

Tucker paced the house for about an hour trying to find his way. He got stuck a few times but did pretty well. Still not hungry, I did force a little baby food. BG was 344 so I gave him insulin. He's with DH right now, just resting.

He's tired but we will see how things go.
 
I am sure he needs his rest and his body needs it to heal as well. Will be keeping you and sweet Tucker in my thoughts and will be sending "eat some food for mommy" vibes your way.
 
(((Jennifer))) (((Tucker)))

Prayers and positive vibes heading your way...I hope you have a good night with Tucker and he starts feeling better.
 
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