911 Saoirse - PRAYERS PLEASE: UPDATED MONDAY GMT 21:00 - Steady Progress

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Oh Gosh, I am so sorry you got that kind of response when questioning the eye drop. ;) We did not get anything like that post op. About getting the AB into her while she is not interested in eating, could you crush the AB with a spoon and put it is a small amount of water and syringe it into her mouth?
 
Mogs, The problem with some of these "medical" folks is that they think they are above and beyond making a mistake. When I switched Menace over to the pill antibiotics from the shots, they put double the number of doses I needed in the bottle and I too ran into the issue of being treated like the panicky pet parent who just didn't have a clue when I called to inquire if there was some reason for the extra doses. I had to repeat the problem several times before I finally got the receptionist and vet nurse to listen and the vet who did the script (not Menace's surgeon) finally called me back all apologetic. I'd call again and ask to speak to the surgeon directly and don't take no for an answer. You are entitled to an explanation of why the eye drops were in the bag and why they now cannot take Saoirse for the day. That duty vet's job is overstepping her bounds and not listening or registering that your question is totally valid!
 
I've been out of touch since last evening, so first and foremost, "Welcome home, Mogs and Saoirse." Have been reading through the very numerous posts subsequent to your return, and it looks like you and your FDMB family have been on top of this, never missing a beat. I cannot possibly say enough about all the wonderful folks who have taken the time to be there for you and Saoirse. They are the cream of the crop, the best of the best. I'm sorry about all the concerns that have arisen for you, but I'm so glad some of them are getting resolved... especially glad to know that Saoirse is now eating at least something. I agree with the finger feeding, Mogs. That's good for both of you, so keep doing that until Saoirse is able to eat on her own. She'll get there. She's just not feeling her best as of right now, but as time passes, you'll see improvement. Yep, definitely one foot, one paw at a time. I can't seem to come up with any better suggestions for at-home help, as others have offered up some really good thoughts on that. But I can keep praying that God will send more of his angels to be there when you need them. Your taxi fellow is a wonderful example of what I'm praying for. So here are more hugs and prayers toward that purpose. Be blessed.

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Sorry, not been on for a few days and firstly, I'm glad that Saoise is through the operation and home. You must look after yourself too though. Do you have to keep the cone on and keep her caged? My previous cat had his eye removed at 18 years old, and when he came home the day after the operation, he had no cone and could come and go as he pleased. That may be part of why she is cranky and not eating. Maybe things have changed in the 10 years since Sammy lost his eye and he has now been gone for 8 years and he wasn't diabetic though he did have an over active thyroid.
 
Bobbie And Bubba said:
I took off the cone when Bubba wanted to eat and then just put it right back on. He was required to wear it for 7-10 days. I went with 10. At first, I was scared he wouldn't let me put it back on but I was steadfast with knowing that it WAS GOING BACK ON so he let me.
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I think carefully removing Saoirse's cone for eating might be worth a try. If it worked for Bubba, it could work for her, as well. Something else I find helpful when trying to get my own fussy eater interested in food is to offer up a couple of different flavors, on different plates. Sometimes we even have 3 flavor choices going at once. I'd say about 90% of the time, this works. In her case, she'll pick the one she dislikes the least and start nibbling. Then I notice she moves on to the next and does the same. We can waste a lot of food this way, but I figure just getting her to eat something is worth the cost of what the garbage can gets to digest.
 
manxcat419 said:
My biggest problem is that I'd rather cuddle a cat than tidy up. I figure with all the assorted problems our kitties have had, the cleaning will still be there another day. Our time with our kitties isn't guaranteed so I'm making the most of it. If anyone shows up here and doesn't like it, they know where the door is! ;)
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Or I will show them where the vacuum and cleaners are. ;)
 
How great to hear that you two are adjusting and making things work.

I have the mesh "cage" for my civie, Niko. He goes outside in it to watch the birds and lay in the sun. (We got him from the humane society and he had been declawed so he has never been able to be outside otherwise.) We like the cage. It stores easily and the mesh has lasted. We have used it for 5 years. Course, he doesn't have a cone. It is good sized - I think 3 feet across.
 
Mogs, I'm so sorry that I wasn't around to offer support during this time, but looks like you got plenty of support and then some! I'm glad that Saoirse's home with you. And take care of yourself as much as you are taking care of her. :bighug::bighug::bighug:
 
Critter Mom said:
The duty vet at the hospital would not readmit Saoirse for the day.

Saoirse's BG average being in the low teens (Alphatrak) is apparently absolutely fine and I shouldn't be the least bit worried about not giving her any insulin (despite the fact she hasn't had any for over 30 hours!). The fact that she's had difficulty eating for days and has had frell-all nutrition in that time is apparently just tickety-boo because she ate something during the night. It seems there is "no need to stay up all night trying to feed [Saoirse]"; better to leave her to her own devices because, as we all know, cats suit themselves when it comes to eating and will do so when they're ready. I wasn't even given the opportunity to explain that the only reason she managed to get some food down was that I spent the night offering the food up to her on my fingers.

Saoirse's BG being in the teens (mmol/L, Alphatrak) along with her inappetence and post-operative increased level of infection risk is no worry at all from a DKA perspective, and neither apparently is the fact that Saoirse wouldn't take the antibiotic for me in her food last night. I was asked why I didn't give it to her by pilling.[!!!!] I don't think she liked it when I advised her, quite truthfully, that I was given specific instructions by the opthalmologist herself not to administer any medications to Saoirse by the pilling route.

Apparently what I need to do now is go back to our own vets because "they are treating [Saoirse's] diabetes" and that is "not what she was referred [to the hospital] for." Excuse me???? Saoirse is recovering from a procedure that she most certainly was referred to them for and her diabetic status has direct bearing on the appropriate aftercare for said procedure. Also, because I can't pill her I cannot reinstate Saoirse's pancreatitis support regimen. What in all that is holy has that got to do with our own vets?

I went on to ask about Cerenia when Saoirse received her most recent dose and I asked whether it was possible to continue giving it at home. The answer I got back was along the lines of it can be given once a day IF deemed necessary. (The 'if' was almost spat out.) Got no answer about whether or not it has to be administered by a vet; just referred back to our own vets because "they're treating for that."

I then proceeded to enquire about the eye drops that were in Saoirse's medication bag from the hospital. I advised that there were no instructions in the discharge notes about it and was seeking advice on how to proceed. Have you ever been in a situation where you say something perfectly rational and reasonable to someone and for some unknown reason they start behaving towards you as though you've suddenly grown a second head? That's how I felt after the part of the conversation that went pretty much like this:

Me: Saoirse was sent home with some eye drops in her medication bag but they're not mentioned in the medication list on her Post-operative Care plan. I don't know what to do with them. Could you please clarify this for me? They're Azopt and the pack label says to apply 1 drop 4 times a day to the right eye (the eye that Saoirse has lost). What are they for and do I need to give them to her?

Vet: They're for swelling. of the eye.

Me: I'm not sure I understand properly: is it for swelling of the eye itself, or the eye area?

Vet: Why are you asking that?

Me: Because the instructions on the pack says to apply them to the right eye.

Vet: And?

Me: Erm, Saoirse no longer has her right eye?

Vet: Is it on the care plan?

Me: No, it's not. But when I found the drops in the prescription bag I didn't know whether or not I should be giving them. I want to make sure I give Saoirse the right treatments and it was confusing.

Vet: [in a very don't-be-stupid tone]But it wasn't on the care plan.

Me: Yes. But the medicine was in the bag. I didn't want to make a mistake.

Vet: If you were meant to give it then it would be on the plan. [Delivered in a very impatient, ennui-laden, 'don't be so stupid' tone.]


Guess not everyone would think to check in such circumstances. Bad Moglet. How very dare you not be a mindreader and then have the temerity to look out for the safety and well-being of your cat! Tsk, Tsk.

Right now I really did not need to be talked down to and dismissed by a veterinary jobsworth. That woman was the veritable antithesis of everything I rated so highly about the hospital and all the other staff I dealt with, and is egregiously representative of much that both infuriates and disappoints me about some members of the veterinary profession.

One foot. One paw ...



Mogs
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Mogs, I am horrified to read this! Especially when everyone else at the hospital was so understanding and did so much for Saoirse. How dare she talk down to you like that! All you were trying to do was make sure that Saoirse gets the care she needs so you can rest a little, and make sure you are giving her the right medications at the right times. All of the concerns you have for Saoirse are valid ones. And your questions about the eye drops are perfectly logical - if she is sent home with a medication then you expect it to be something you need to give her. I can completely see why the opthalmologist didn't want you to pill Saoirse - the whole area around the right side of her face is probably going to be feeling pretty delicate to her right now and you certainly don't want to risk causing any damage while she heals. I have several words I would like to use for that duty vet, but I think all of them would get my post deleted! Don't EVER doubt that you are doing the very best for Saoirse - you are an extremely dedicated and caring cat-mom. It's just so unfortunate that you had to run into someone like that today when you so needed someone to give you some instant and practical help so that you can keep on doing what you're doing for your girl. :bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug:
 
Sending tons of healing vines & prayers for Saoirse and you from Riverside, California.
Please know that Michael and I are thinking of you both.:bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug:
 
(((((((((((((((((((MOGGY)))))))))))))))))))))
((((((((((((((((((SAOIRSE)))))))))))))))))))))
moggy, i'm SO HAPPY you got her to the opthalmologist so quickly. it sounds like she is in great hands. Mogs, you are amazing. you would be a fantastic vet yourself !!! I know in my heart, that you will get her through this. please, please try to sleep. i will check back here for update. Please, please Skype me if you need me.
Love you, Nadine
and i'm so sorry you had to deal with an uncaring person from that hospital. i would def try to speak with the surgeon about your questions. my dear friend, i wish for you and your baby a peaceful day. i am sending tons of prayers across the pond to you. xoxoxi
 
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Squeaky and KT said: ↑
if he starts tanking, give him some med. carb or even high carb
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Thanks for this. You've given me an idea of how I might help Saoirse while she's like this.

I know ECID but could you maybe give a stab at how long it takes for gravy from a higher carb food might nudge numbers up, Lyresa? (Looking at Hill's i/d Chicken flavour pouches.)
Mogs
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Mogs - you asked this in Tigger's condo but I'm answering you here. It's up to the individual cat as to how fast it's absorbed. KT started digesting within 15-20 minutes raising numbers. Dakota takes 30-45 minutes for anything to start raising his numbers, even Karo.
 
Mogs, I'm so very sorry for all the issues you've been having with the hospital and vet. And your sweet girl not wanting to eat. You are doing fantastic for her; we all know you are exhausted but you are amazing.

Sending you both prayers for strength,
 
Sue and Oliver (GA) said:
How great to hear that you two are adjusting and making things work.

I have the mesh "cage" for my civie, Niko. He goes outside in it to watch the birds and lay in the sun. (We got him from the humane society and he had been declawed so he has never been able to be outside otherwise.) We like the cage. It stores easily and the mesh has lasted. We have used it for 5 years. Course, he doesn't have a cone. It is good sized - I think 3 feet across.
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Thanks for the comment on the mesh cage, Sue. I think I will have to get one and keep it around. Tying Dottie to my leg with a leash was the only solution I came up with after her surgery...it would have been nice to have had something like the cage to put her in. I certainly would have gotten more sleep!
 
Mogs, I don't know what foods have been tried with Saoirse, but recently I've found Gourmet Gold pates to be very useful for inappetent cats.

I had to get food into 5 poorly kitties over Christmas and New Year (they all had a URI), and now my old tortie girl is ill and off her food. Of all the foods I tried the GG pates have been the most popular. They appear to be very palatable. They're also very soft and easy to eat (no chewing needed). I've known some people use them for syringe feeding because of their texture and the fact that they're quite high calorie.

For my tortie girl I'm mixing the pate with a little hot water to make it soupy and even easier to eat. She's able to lap the food up. The fact that it's warm also increases the smell of the food and makes it even more appealing.
If she doesn't eat as much as I'd like then a little sprinkle of Fortiflora or nutritional yeast flakes usually stimulates her appetite again.

The GG pates are around 30% calories from fat (dry matter), I think. Is that OK for Saoirse?

The only downside I've found is that all the flavours spike Bertie's blood glucose. (And I know of someone else's cat for whom they also cause BG spikes). I countered this by adjusting his insulin requirements a bit (it wasn't ideal, but we muddled through...).

Really hoping that Saoirse will recover her appetite very soon.

Hugs and prayers,

Eliz
 
Update: Saturday GMT 09:00: Baby eats. Mama sleeps.
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My girl ate a whole pouch - a whole pouch! - of her regular grub on Friday afternoon. :cat:

Thank you everyone for being here for us (and for the validation about the ignorant behaviour of that vet). I am so grateful to all of you. Thank you all for helping me to keep going.

:bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug:


Had to skip insulin again today. BG 13-ish (Alphatrak) but thankfully ketones 0.7 (human meter). Need more sleep; between the exhaustion and the rotten lurgy I've picked up, I'm completely banjaxed. Full update later.



Mogs
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Awesome update, Mogs! I'm so, so happy to hear that Saoirse has managed to eat a full meal for you. :)

Just update as and when you feel up to it - that good news is what we've all been hoping for today. Anything longer can wait until you're feeling more up to it. :bighug: :bighug: :bighug:
 
Mogs, sorry I didn't get a chance to check in yesterday, l-o-n-g day at hospital. So glad to hear Saoirse ate a whole pouch of food!!! I am hoping that you also were able to get some decent rest? I hate to keep beating the same horse here, but I am just so worried about you.

As far as the veterinary hospital goes, when you are better rested and not feeling so brittle, I would suggest you definitely call them and let them know what transpired, and how awful that woman made you feel. I doubt very much that that is the face the hospital wants to present to patients/clients. In my personal opinion, her behavior to you was beyond appalling; I hope you never have to deal with that woman again!

Please update us after you've had a chance to get some rest. Fingers and paws crossed that Saoirse is over the worst of the hump and thing will keep looking up, now! Sending prayers and healing vines, and love to you both! :bighug::bighug::bighug: and more :bighug::bighug::bighug:!!!
 
So glad she finally ate for you, and a whole pouch! She was ready and is ready to have this all behind her now. Great job Dr. Mogs. Now heal thyself! BTW I like that enclosure you posted. Have to look into one so my babes can go out on the deck (once its put back together) during the summer.
 
Hi ladies,

So lovely to hear from you today after having some good news to share. :bighug:

And there's more: Saoirse has eaten another two pouchfuls of food for me since yesterday afternoon. :D (@Bobby and Bubba - followed your suggestion: I take the collar off and watch over her while she's eating so that she doesn't stick the sore side of her face into the food.) She is also getting some restful sleep, too.

I'm still poleaxed but I have managed to eat something and I'm going to try to get more sleep now. Will report back later.

My heartfelt thanks to you all for your continuing prayers and healing wishes for my beautiful baby girl. And again, thank you whoever is hearing and answering them.

:bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug:



Mogs
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Critter Mom said:
Hi ladies,

So lovely to hear from you today after having some good news to share. :bighug:

And there's more: Saoirse has eaten another two pouchfuls of food for me since yesterday afternoon. :D (@Bobby and Bubba - followed your suggestion: I take the collar off and watch over her while she's eating so that she doesn't stick the sore side of her face into the food.) She is also getting some restful sleep, too.

I'm still poleaxed but I have managed to eat something and I'm going to try to get more sleep now. Will report back later.

My heartfelt thanks to you all for your continuing prayers and healing wishes for my beautiful baby girl. And again, thank you whoever is hearing and answering them.

:bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug:



Mogs
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You and Saoirse just made my day!!!!!!
 
So glad to hear that Saoirse is getting some good food and rest! Sounds like she must be feeling better. Please make sure you get some rest and eat when you can too!
 
Rachel said:
Sounds like she must be feeling better.
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Sue and Oliver (GA) said:
Hope this is the start of a wonderful recovery for you both.
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Woodsywife said:
She was ready and is ready to have this all behind her now.
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That's very much the strong vibe she's giving off now. She is eating with great gusto! She is still sore, and a bit cranky at times, but I know from her that she's definitely starting to feel better. Superfluous to say so but that automatically makes her mama bean feel better. By several orders of magnitude. :)


Mogs
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Woodsywife said:
Would this help instead of cone? I've even seen where people make their own, stuffing a sock or pantyhose, pillowcase. It might be more comfortable especially when trying to eat.

http://www.keepdoggiesafe.com/kong-air-collar.html
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I had to use one of these plus an e-collar on my Bengal when he hurt his eye, because he kept getting the e-collar off. They are great collars when you need to keep kitty from licking or chewing at a wound, but provide no protection to the face and head in terms of bumps and bangs from outside influences, if you know what I mean.
 
How lovely to hear that Saoirse has her appetite back - pretty much fully I'm guessing if she's eaten another 2 pouches of food. :) She's clearly feeling better and letting you know she is too. Onwards and upwards to a full recovery...for both of you. :bighug: :bighug: :bighug: :bighug: :bighug:
 
So happy see Saoirse eating! And that she is feeling better! I know when I or my kitty doesn't feel good we are cranky to everyone, lol!!
 
This is wonderful, wonderful news. Isn't it great that just a few days can make such a difference?! Kitties can do amazing things... but it's usually on THEIR terms and in THEIR own time, not ours. Sometimes we forget that. Thank you, Saoirse, for reminding us! We've all had so much hope that she'd perk up, feel better, start eating, and put a song in Mogs' heart once again. Hope is a beautiful gift. I have a saying pinned to my bulletin board that I'd like to share: "Hope is like a road in the country; there was never a road, but when many people walk on it, the road comes into existence." With all the hope that's been going on here for Mogs and Saoirse, I think we've managed to pave a four-lane highway!
 
So happy for a positive update!!! We were super worried after hearing about the hospital fail. Hopefully you are getting some rest today:)

Continuing to send prayers & mega vines

:bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug:
 
Mogs - I am so happy she is eating and everything is looking bright!
Positive thoughts and hugs for you and Saoirse - I know how joyful it is when our kitties eat!!
Keep it up, Saoirse!!
 
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