Camille and Cyclone
Member Since 2009
I guess the last time I posted was on 1/1, when Salem had started behaving oddly on 12/31: walking around aimlessly, staring blankly at walls, walking into corners and having trouble getting out, unable to jump up on anything, not following a hand waved in front of him although he would blink if I made a movement towards his eyes. At that point he would eat only treats and lick up can liquid and baby food.
1/1 - 1/2 : Took him to emergency and specialist hospital. They kept him overnight and did X-rays and blood work. Results: slightly enlarged heart, mild heart murmur, slightly elevated blood calcium, creatinine about 2 (tiny bit higher than last March but not significant), no abdominal tenderness, head tilt to the right and impaired vision but no obvious abnormalities in neurological or vision assessments. They gave an appetite stimulant.
1/3 : At home he seemed about the same - eating very little, disoriented but calmer.
1/4 : Took him to my vet in the morning for an exam and another blood panel. Vet noted the head tilt and that Salem followed the walls while walking around. Gave Mirtazipine for appetite and started him on sub-Q fluids at home, 100 mL per day. In the afternoon we went back to the emergency/specialist hospital for an echo-cardiogram and an abdominal ultrasound. Cardiologist said his heart function is fine with only normal risks of heart failure or blood clots. Ultrasound findings were the same as last July - thickening of the abdominal walls which could be food intolerance, IBD, or lymphoma. My vet and hospital vets were talking about seeing a neurologist and getting an MRI and spinal tap to try to see if this is a stroke or a brain tumor. I wasn't eager for additional stress and the risk of anesthesia for Salem and of course the considerable expense, so put off a decision until Monday.
1/5 - 1/6 : Salem seemed a bit better on Saturday - less aimless wandering and more going deliberately to his water bowl, etc. Still looked very sad plodding around with his head down. Had diarrhea in the afternoon. Sunday he stopped eating completely. I force-fed most of a jar of chicken baby food but in the evening he started vomiting and having more diarrhea. I called for a neurology appt. but they couldn't/wouldn't take him before Wednesday.
1/7 (yesterday) : Despite the huge low point Sunday, I noticed Salem's body language and attitude were much more normal. He's now following my hand if I wave it in front of him, even across the room, walks with his head up and at a normal speed, looks at my face, and just generally seems like Salem again. Took him to vet, who agreed he seems better and it's looking like a stroke which is resolving on its own. The big problem now is that he's not eating, along with the vomiting and diarrhea. Vet started him on Prednisolone for all that plus if the original problem was a stroke it may help with brain swelling.
Today : Last night Salem started showing some interest in food - licked up can liquid and sniffed at food bowls. I force-fed a little baby food. No vomiting, but some 3:00 am diarrhea. This morning he ate a few chunks of freeze-dried chicken and two or three Temptations, licked up maybe a tablespoon of can liquid, and sniffed at solid food. Fluids are going well except he gets restless. He's still at the water bowl a lot. Spends most of his time resting or sleeping in his cat bed or on a towel I put down next to it. Considering he's eaten hardly anything for days he looks surprisingly good - he's grooming a little, his posture is relaxed, and he seems pretty strong under the circumstances. I've been monitoring his bgs once or twice a day and they've been right around 90 - 100.
As you can imagine, this has been hell. Any suggestions on how to get him eating again? Does anyone know how long it should take Prednisolone to work and get his appetite going? He's on 5 mg twice a day. I know it may aggravate his diabetes but that's the least of my worries.
1/1 - 1/2 : Took him to emergency and specialist hospital. They kept him overnight and did X-rays and blood work. Results: slightly enlarged heart, mild heart murmur, slightly elevated blood calcium, creatinine about 2 (tiny bit higher than last March but not significant), no abdominal tenderness, head tilt to the right and impaired vision but no obvious abnormalities in neurological or vision assessments. They gave an appetite stimulant.
1/3 : At home he seemed about the same - eating very little, disoriented but calmer.
1/4 : Took him to my vet in the morning for an exam and another blood panel. Vet noted the head tilt and that Salem followed the walls while walking around. Gave Mirtazipine for appetite and started him on sub-Q fluids at home, 100 mL per day. In the afternoon we went back to the emergency/specialist hospital for an echo-cardiogram and an abdominal ultrasound. Cardiologist said his heart function is fine with only normal risks of heart failure or blood clots. Ultrasound findings were the same as last July - thickening of the abdominal walls which could be food intolerance, IBD, or lymphoma. My vet and hospital vets were talking about seeing a neurologist and getting an MRI and spinal tap to try to see if this is a stroke or a brain tumor. I wasn't eager for additional stress and the risk of anesthesia for Salem and of course the considerable expense, so put off a decision until Monday.
1/5 - 1/6 : Salem seemed a bit better on Saturday - less aimless wandering and more going deliberately to his water bowl, etc. Still looked very sad plodding around with his head down. Had diarrhea in the afternoon. Sunday he stopped eating completely. I force-fed most of a jar of chicken baby food but in the evening he started vomiting and having more diarrhea. I called for a neurology appt. but they couldn't/wouldn't take him before Wednesday.
1/7 (yesterday) : Despite the huge low point Sunday, I noticed Salem's body language and attitude were much more normal. He's now following my hand if I wave it in front of him, even across the room, walks with his head up and at a normal speed, looks at my face, and just generally seems like Salem again. Took him to vet, who agreed he seems better and it's looking like a stroke which is resolving on its own. The big problem now is that he's not eating, along with the vomiting and diarrhea. Vet started him on Prednisolone for all that plus if the original problem was a stroke it may help with brain swelling.
Today : Last night Salem started showing some interest in food - licked up can liquid and sniffed at food bowls. I force-fed a little baby food. No vomiting, but some 3:00 am diarrhea. This morning he ate a few chunks of freeze-dried chicken and two or three Temptations, licked up maybe a tablespoon of can liquid, and sniffed at solid food. Fluids are going well except he gets restless. He's still at the water bowl a lot. Spends most of his time resting or sleeping in his cat bed or on a towel I put down next to it. Considering he's eaten hardly anything for days he looks surprisingly good - he's grooming a little, his posture is relaxed, and he seems pretty strong under the circumstances. I've been monitoring his bgs once or twice a day and they've been right around 90 - 100.
As you can imagine, this has been hell. Any suggestions on how to get him eating again? Does anyone know how long it should take Prednisolone to work and get his appetite going? He's on 5 mg twice a day. I know it may aggravate his diabetes but that's the least of my worries.
