5/13 OT Sootie’s Tribe: happy Mother’s Day and updates

[HWright]

http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/...ies-tribe-azalea-ga-early-morning-4-3.193703/

Hi, Friends,
First, vines to all in need. So many lately in so many ways. Hugs and healing to all.

Next: Happy Mama Bean Day.

Next some updates:

We are missing Azalea big time...

Brought Spunky to a traditional vet on Wednesday for a recheck and tests bc her appy suddenly went off, had stinky plop poos on Tuesday and I had feeling her polyp ear was bothering her (and had started to exude odorless pus-like stuff). Had to drop her off for the day bc I had to be at work (which meant four 30-40 minutes drive each way that day). I brought in puddle poo to sample. I warned them that she could be mercurial and fractious and that she freaked out at the sight of big leather gloves (I think that is part of her memory from that high kill-shelter). Vet dx’d ear infection and sent us home with a 3-day pack of onsior and Mometamaxan, an ear drop i’d never heard of but apparently is for dogs and used off label for cats (one of the possible side effects being “temporary healing loss that usually resolves itself.” What about if it happens and doesn’t resolve? Vet doesn’t seem to be worried but she’s also one who suggested a drug for Azalea that had warning to not give to fiv cats or cats with or possibility of cancer. Ugh.

Much as I don’t want to add to the worries here in LL, I’d like to post or add a spunky labs tab to ss for those who are better at interpretation lab results than I am. Is this Ok?

Thursday was my turn for medical intervention...i hadn’t been feeling well for awhile and it got worse overnight but I went to work anyway. Then I closed the shop and drove myself to ER because of what I suspected was a divirticulirus flare. Yep and a fever. So after labs, ct scan, IV fluids and IV pain and anti nausea (the latter I think was ondansetron), home with AB, Onda and pain meds and that’s why I’ve been off the radar lately.
@Bobbie And Bubba: kefir has been saving the day!
Spunky’s eating better and Bella and Dancer being their sweet BFF selves.

And....a Kai update. Remember the little kitten who was found by my SS in Roratonga and became the ships cats on their first voyage? Well, the Tiara Taporo had a good maiden voyage, and returned to port a couple of weeks ago. SS sent new photos of Kai....she’s a little bigger, got her sea legs quickly, and seems to like to keep company in the wheelhouse and help with navigation. Here are photos. She still has total Azalea facial markings but her body is like a different cat altogether!

Love, hugs and vines to one and all, near and far
Sina, Steve, Bella, Dancer, Spunky

 

[Bobbie And Bubba]

Hi Sina! Kai is adorable and looks like the perfect ship mate! Her markings are stunning!

I hope that you are feeling better from your diverticulitis flare and so glad to hear that kefir has been helping.

I can't do anything with labs as I just don't understand any of it. Maybe tag Marje and Gracie as she is the to go to person for lab interpretations

.

 

[LizzieInTexas]

Hope you are feeling better. So sorry for the tummy issues for both you and Spunky.

Funny Ondan story here - neighbor got a really bad stomach virus. Up all night, couldn't keep anything down, even water. She txt me and asked if I possibly had any Zofram. I knew it sounded familiar but couldn't figure out why - lol. Finally figured it out and txt her back and told her that I had Ondan but it was Gizmo's RX and had no idea what dose would help her. Ended up giving her 3-4 4mg pills. She threw up the first one but it stayed down long enough for some to get absorbed and she was able to take another pill and get to ER for a shot and fluids.

She txt me a couple days later and told me to give Gizmo head scritches from her and thank him for sharing his meds

 

[carfurby (GA)]

Such adorable pictures of Kai. I'm glad you and Spunky are doing better. I'm glad Bella and Dancer are being their sweet selves. You are family and I think that allows you to post labs for Spunky. I'd definitely tag Marje and Gracie like Bobbie suggested when you do. Sending prayers for you all.

 

[Sienne and Gabby (GA)]

If you do want help with labs, Marje is going to be incommunicado for a couple of weeks. She's on vacation.

Kai is lovely. Sorry that you and Spunky are under the weather, though.

 

[HWright]

Hi, all and thanks for well wishes and vines.
@Bobbie And Bubba : kefir rocks.the brand you’ve been using and suggested is holding up nicely, too.

@LizzieInTexas quite a story re Ondan and kind of you and Gizmo to share some of his stash. During my d’titis bout earlier this winter, ondan was very effective. Like your friend, I was puking then, too. I remember thinking “wow, this is how it must feel when it works for Azalea.” This time around, not so much. ..and the feeling that, as for cats, sometimes something works some times and not others. Glad it got your friend over the hurdle to get to ER.

@carfurby : thank you, Carla. Yes, little Kai is adorable and quite the brave little girl. Looking forward to more updates. Hope you all are today!

@Sienne and Gabby (GA) : Thanks . I’d read that Marje has been out of the loop with family commitments for awhile. Thanks for the update. I’d tag Gill but I know she’s going through a lot with George right now. Other suggestions much appreciated.

I added a “Spunky's Labs” tab to Sootie’s SS but am also uploading copies of her labs here.

Vines of healing and to all in need and in challenges and thank you all.

 

[Bobbie And Bubba]

Wish I could help you with the labs, but it is Greek to me. Hope you are feeling better. I am so glad the kefir is helping. It is great stuff. My dog, Lucy has decided she doesn't really like it all that much. The rest of the gang get some every morning. Good that you are taking it while on the AB.

 

[LizzieInTexas]

I hope someone can give you some input on the labs. I know what to look at in Gizmo's but that is the extent of my knowledge

Marje is checking in periodically. She does check for tags or you can send her an IM.

 

[Marje and Gracie]

Thanks for sending the PM...I am out of town but checking in occasionally.

The albumin, hematocrit, and RBCs are most likely high due to dehydration. I had this same thing occur with my Tobey so I started adding a lot more water into the balanced raw I make for them and his levels are all now normal.

The calcium is on the high end of normal so something you want to watch. I’d also watch the glucose. Vets will say that white coat syndrome can cause it to be as high as 180 and because she sounds fractious, it could be just that. Can you home test her and see what you get? Of course, if you’ve had labs done before and the glucose is always mid blue, then it is likely just high for her due to the vet stress. If she has pain with her ears, that could also cause it.

Other than that....looks good!

 

[HWright]

Thanks for sending the PM...I am out of town but checking in occasionally.

The albumin, hematocrit, and RBCs are most likely high due to dehydration. I had this same thing occur with my Tobey so I started adding a lot more water into the balanced raw I make for them and his levels are all now normal.

The calcium is on the high end of normal so something you want to watch. I’d also watch the glucose. Vets will say that white coat syndrome can cause it to be as high as 180 and because she sounds fractious, it could be just that. Can you home test her and see what you get? Of course, if you’ve had labs done before and the glucose is always mid blue, then it is likely just high for her due to the vet stress. If she has pain with her ears, that could also cause it.

Other than that....looks good!

Thank you, Marje!
It’s assurung that the anomalies are possibly dehydration. I do add plenty of water to her food and she avails of her water dish/fountain. Her poops have always been quite normal and not stinky....But the day before I brought her to traditional vet, she had major stinky pudding plops, the kind of stinky that burns your nostrils and eyes. And she’d vomited which they attributed to ear pain and ear infection. No reason has been attributed to the sudden change of poops but it fully resolved by the day after her adventure at the vet. Perhaps the pukes and puddle poops created perfect storm of dehydration? They didn’t give fluids.

Tonight her ear had a bright red bleed in with pus while I was cleaning her ear. I have a feeling it’s the polyp breaking through. I’ve been in touch with HV and will call trad vet first thing in morning to bring spunky back in tomorrow. Hope I don’t have to leave her for the day. I did warn them! She’s more calm with people family present...or at least her obligatory “so there’s” are fewer and much less intense, lol.
I’ll look for her labs from last year if you’d like to compare. I remember, if my memory serves, that she was all in normal range and glu was much lower then, too.
Thanks again, Marje

 

[Squalliesmom]

Hi, Sina, hope you are feeling better!

Poor Spunky, glad the tummy issues have resolved, but sorry about the ear problems. Hope it clears up soon.

Kai is absolutely adorable! She looks like a brown (or possibly silver, I can't see her color really well in the pic) marbled Bengal. Even her facial markings look Bengal. Bengals are high-energy, talkative, and lots of fun.

 

[carfurby (GA)]

Tonight her ear had a bright red bleed in with pus while I was cleaning her ear. I have a feeling it’s the polyp breaking through. I’ve been in touch with HV and will call trad vet first thing in morning to bring spunky back in tomorrow. Hope I don’t have to leave her for the day. I did warn them! She’s more calm with people family present...or at least her obligatory “so there’s” are fewer and much less intense, lol.

I'm so sorry to hear that. I hope you can get her some relief tomorrow. Sending prayers.

 

[HWright]

Hi, Sina, hope you are feeling better!

Poor Spunky, glad the tummy issues have resolved, but sorry about the ear problems. Hope it clears up soon.

Kai is absolutely adorable! She looks like a brown (or possibly silver, I can't see her color really well in the pic) marbled Bengal. Even her facial markings look Bengal. Bengals are high-energy, talkative, and lots of fun.

Thank you, Lucy. Hope all is well with you the Bengal aspect of little Kai is fascinating! I’m looking forward to hearing more about how she is doing when they return from the second voyage.

I'm so sorry to hear that. I hope you can get her some relief tomorrow. Sending prayers.

Thank you, Carla. I hope so, too. A big squall came through tonight, luckily we didn’t lose power. The vet is north of us, and I just heard that the storm was worse north of us and some power outages.
In the meantime, spunky is settling in after the storm.
I hope you and your wonderful clowder have a good night and a good tomorrow.

 

[Squalliesmom]

the Bengal aspect of little Kai is fascinating!

The more I look at her picture, the more convinced I am that she's a Bengal or Bengal X. She even looks like she has some of the Bengal "glitter" going on.
For reference, here are a couple-three pics of my brown marbled Bengal:

 

[Ella & Rusty & Stu(GA)]

Hi Sina,
I hope you and Spunky are feeling lots better. Great that Marje could interpret the labs for you. Love the pics of the sailor kitty! How neat!

We are still in nyc. Hectic!

Hugs,

 

[HWright]

The more I look at her picture, the more convinced I am that she's a Bengal or Bengal X. She even looks like she has some of the Bengal "glitter" going on.
For reference, here are a couple-three pics of my brown marbled Bengal:

View attachment 36182 View attachment 36181 View attachment 36179

Lucy, Wow beautiful! And I see what you’re seeing. Glitter and all! Thank you!

Hi Sina,
I hope you and Spunky are feeling lots better. Great that Marje could interpret the labs for you. Love the pics of the sailor kitty! How neat!

We are still in nyc. Hectic!

Hugs,

Thank you, Ella! Thanks too for your well wishes. Yes, much appreciated Marje’s help with Spunky’s Labs. Hope you get to rest up from all the city hectics when you get home. and scritches for Rusty, too.

Spunky update: brought her back to vet this morning. They were quite pleased that the Spunkster was quite mellow with mama bean in the mix, lol.
Did in-house look at ear pus under microscope. Changed to a different kind of ear drop (zymox), once daily 7-10 days, added oral AB clindamycin (twice daily 10 days). recheck on May 29, call and bring in sooner if any adverse changes. Vet got a better look further down in her ear than last time. She agreed with my hunch that the polyp might have started to break through the ear drum, hence causing the environment for infection and the pain and the bleeds. If pus not fully resolved by checkup, she suggests next step is sedation to wash out ear in order to get thorough look all the way in.

Spunky enjoyed the car ride to and from. She usually eats right away after coming back home but not today. So we go day-by-day...

I’m btb. I think we both were kinda whooped out from it all.

Vines and sweet dreams, all, and thank you.

 

[carfurby (GA)]

I hope the meds help clear the pus out and make Spunky feel better. Sending prayers.

 

[HWright]

I hope the meds help clear the pus out and make Spunky feel better. Sending prayers.

Thank you, Carla. I hope so, too. Heaps of vines for you and your awesome kitties