8/21 OT Sootie’s Tribe: Spunky update

[HWright]

http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/7-13-ot-sooties-tribe-spunky-update.198299/

Hello, L&L

First, vines to all in need, in crisis, in loss and in healing.

My apologies for not updating sooner and being sporadic on the board. Since Spunky’s refollowup recheck last Tuesday that was good news and not so good news that’s thrown me for a bit of a loop, I took a tumble that jostled my back and knees and slowed me up. Then over the weekend while turning in bed, tore something in my knee, the one that doesn’t have much left to repair. It’s feeling a little better but if it keeps acting up it’ll either be try another round of euflexxa injections or a new knee. Ugh. Then DH’s cellphone fritzed out. Being that the texting feature is the lifesaver in life with his deafness, I took him to cell phone store on Sunday (summer Sunday I-95 traffic the pits!) and was there to be his ears. So I’ve been on a slow bell all around.

On Tuesday, the good news for Spunky was that her mouth is healed and her gums are getting pink again. Also the ear polyp does not appear to be returning.

The not so good news included that the polyp ear is infected again. Surgeon cleaned her ear to examine in there and then he put in some ear drops but the one that is contraindicated for ears with no ear drum. Ugh.
I was able to get copy of Spunky's remaining test results that I’d been waiting for and asking about for weeks, specifically the gi blood panel, pancreatitis test and b12 level. Good news is b12 level and pancreatitis in test’s normal range. But the gi blood panel was low in folate and tamu indicated presence of gi disease, what I was worried about bc of her symptoms during the past few months.

For Spunky’s ear, vet suggests ear drops once daily and bring back for recheck this week. For the gi dx, he suggests 1gram folic acid once daily and .25cc cyanocobalamin injection once weekly. Recheck blood in a month. If no improvement he sez consider biopsy or US and steroids. I have dreads about biopsies especially if cancer is suspected (mostly because of what happened with Sootie even if biopsies are the definitive test) and I’m concerned about steroids.

Here’s the upload of the test results. The previous test results are in the previous condo with Marje’s input (link is atop this condo) but I can repost those tests here if it helps.

Appreciate input as I’m sorting this all out while facing / wrapping my head into what might become some monumental caregiving down the road and supplement/nutritional changes again if the traditional vet’s dx is correct.

Hugs And thanks to all,
Sina

 

[Beth 73]

Mercy, Sina, you have experienced a pile on from multiple fronts . Sending healing prayers for you and Spunky Take good care of yourself Feet up, comfy pants on

 

[LizzieInTexas]

Take care of yourself. When it rains it pours. I hope you get some input on the labs. Will be keeping y'all in my prayers.

 

[carfurby (GA)]

I'm so sorry to hear about your fall and your knee. I hope you are doing better now. Take it easy.

I'm glad Spunky's mouth is doing better, but sorry to hear about the infection and gi disease. I hope the treatments help. Sending prayers.

 

[HWright]

Mercy, Sina, you have experienced a pile on from multiple fronts . Sending healing prayers for you and Spunky Take good care of yourself Feet up, comfy pants on

Hi Beth, Thank you. I think I need stand steady pants too lol

Take care of yourself. When it rains it pours. I hope you get some input on the labs. Will be keeping y'all in my prayers.

Thanks, Lizzie. The rain and pour analogy certainly fits metaphorically and meteorologically. We finally had some rain that sent the recent heat and humidity wave packing. Well that was this morning when I started replies. Now it’s steam bath again. Uck.
I’ve contacted hv’s re spunky too and waiting feedback on alternatives. Crossing paws.

I'm so sorry to hear about your fall and your knee. I hope you are doing better now. Take it easy.

I'm glad Spunky's mouth is doing better, but sorry to hear about the infection and gi disease. I hope the treatments help. Sending prayers.

Thank you Carla and I hope those vexing fleas on your household get gone. Theyre a pita and too darned persistent.

 

[Marje and Gracie]

How odd that they also didn’t do a TLI because most GI panels will include a cobalamin, folate, fPLI, and a TLI.

It appears her folate is low and needs supplementation. Typically, you would supplement with folic acid but I’ve never had to do this and so I’m not certain of what product is best or the dosing on it. I do know there are some foods that are higher in folic acid (like liver, i believe) and which might help but it’s best to talk to your vet about this.

I’m sorry you’ve had an accident and I hope you will feel better soon. And Spunky, too!

 

[Ella & Rusty & Stu(GA)]

Hi Sina,
I am so sorry to hear about your knee/back and hope you are on the mend. Do you use a knee brace? I have used them for my various knee injuries over the years, but always found them uncomfortable and not especially helpful. What I have found to be helpful are those very lightweight, copper-threaded, compression knee sleeves. They give just a bit of support to help, and they don't slow you down when being active. The brand I have is Tommie Copper. Feel better soon!

Sorry I can't be of any help with regard to Spunky's ear issue. But I'm glad her mouth is better. I hope that you and the vet will be able to find the right combination of meds.

Bummer that your weather continues to be awful. We are finally getting some cooler weather, especially at night (down into the '40s), but it is still pretty humid.

Take care of yourself and the tribe and Steve. I wish I could get Edward to learn how to use his iPhone better. About all he does is ask Siri what the weather is!!

Hugs and scritches,

 

[Bobbie And Bubba]

Oh Sina! I am so sorry that you had a tumble and it's your bad knee.

I don't understand this:

Also the ear polyp does not appear to be returning.

The not so good news included that the polyp ear is infected again.

Bummer on DH's cell phone fizzling. Mine is a very old generataion and I am not ready to have another equipmemt payment on my phone bill.

I wish I could decipher the labs but, I am useless there.

Sending you and yours hugs and more hugs.

 

[Sue and Luci]

I hear and appreciate all that you're going through...same here on many fronts...health, elderly mom to take care of, Luci girl, DH...ah the list goes on and on...hang in there mama...hopefully you're all making some headway on getting better...or at least back on an even keel??? Sending vines and hugs!!

 

[HWright]

Hello friends,
My apologies for not replying sooner and to each and all. I won’t go into the accumulating turmoils of late, idk if the quixotic weather, the moon cycle, my getting more enervated with each day or all of the above. But your encouragement, prayers and suggestions mean the world and I thank you all.

Re spunky I’m finding that she won’t take the oral folic acid and b complex; and she finds me out when I’ve tried mixing it in with kefir or chicken broth. She’s been back to the vet since the start of the post: ear infection improving but signs of polyp continuing to re-emerge still visible. Ok I deferred to try prednisolone short term that he hopes will quiet the polyp and maybe quiet the gi issues. but spunky thwarted me doing the pills and I have to go really slow with the icky pink liquid. If we can’t get the polyp to recede he suggests the risky surgery that both of us would like to avoid.
HV sending change of remedies.

I do have to give Spunky some gold stars because she jives with the other oral stuff: remedies, cbd oil, plain kefir and her standard process tabs. And she’s good with the b12 injections though I may have to get slightly thicker gauge needles:her skin is thick indeed.

@Marje and Gracie thank you for looking at Spunky’s newer labs. Idk why TLI not included in what I asked to be full gi blood panel. I don’t have an answer to the question bc the vet in the practice who ordered the tests has been out.

This past weekend civie Dancer vomited up a hairball and blood. In hindsight I wish I’d taken her to Er then and there but at the time she ate ok afterwards and seemed ok for a day or so. I called vet first thing Monday morning and their earliest opening was this morning. Then by last night her appy decreased and she did a hefty food pukus no blood. The relief vet did Blood work today Showed low wbc and low “...phils” among other stuff. Crea up but bun ok. T4 on low normal. Did x-ray and recommended u/s PDQ at the specialty hospital, the earliest appt being tomorrow morning. They’ll also get a u/a bc she didn’t have enough urine today. She also got fluids and cerenia with fluids today. Once Dancer settled in at home she’s been resting and eating pretty well. Everyone there loved Dancer especially the relief vet who as it turns out has a special affection for cats with ch. He carried her around in his arms instead of in carrier.

I’m to bed soon it’s an early day tomorrow and long drive. And the heat wave has returned ugh.

I’m sorry, too, I haven’t been on the board lately. But you all have been in my prayers and healing vines for all in need or crisis.

With love hugs thanks and vines,

Sina and Sootie’s Tribe.

Ps @Ella & Rusty & Stu(GA) : thanks for the tip about the tommie topper. I got a knock off awhile back and it was....meh.
I’ll look for the real thing!

 

[Beth 73]

Continued extra hugs and prayers to you and yours, Sina

 

[HWright]

Continued extra hugs and prayers to you and yours, Sina

Thank you Beth.

 

[LizzieInTexas]

Vetty vines for a clear u/s and no polyp growth. I am so sorry there are so many issues to deal with right now. Praying for a cool ride tomorrow.

 

[HWright]

Vetty vines for a clear u/s and no polyp growth. I am so sorry there are so many issues to deal with right now. Praying for a cool ride tomorrow.

Thank you, Lizzie. And vines for you and Gizmo, too.

 

[carfurby (GA)]

Sending prayers for Spunky and Dancer. I hope you are feeling better.

 

[HWright]

Thank you Carla
Vines

 

[HWright]

Dancer ultrasound update: tech said that dancer’s ultrasound was normal...no anomalies whatsoever. And they were able to get a good sterile urine sample to send out to lab.
I’m much relieved that’s for sure but mystified as heck by the lab results and vet’s interpretation. And what’s now even more of a mystery.

 

[carfurby (GA)]

I'm glad the ultrasound was normal. I hope you can get some answers soon. Sending prayers.

 

[HWright]

Thank you, Carla. I hope so, too.
How are you and the kitties?

 

[carfurby (GA)]

How are you and the kitties?

We're doing okay. Still fighting fleas, but I think it's getting better.

 

[HWright]

We're doing okay. Still fighting fleas, but I think it's getting better.

I hope so.

 

[Squalliesmom]

Oh Sina, I’m so happy to hear the US looks good! What a relief!

How are you doing? I hope you’re on the mend and feeling better.

 

[LizzieInTexas]

Dancer ultrasound update: tech said that dancer’s ultrasound was normal...no anomalies whatsoever. And they were able to get a good sterile urine sample to send out to lab.
I’m much relieved that’s for sure but mystified as heck by the lab results and vet’s interpretation. And what’s now even more of a mystery.

Very good news. Please keep us posted.

How are you feeling? Hope the drive wasn't too horrible.

 

[HWright]

@Squalliesmom @LizzieInTexas
Thank you. Hope you all hanging in. I’m sorry not to have been on the board again lately. Talked to ER this morning even though it’s a holiday weekend bc no word re u/a results even though it’s been since Wednesday and Dancer’s appy is way off again and she is not herself at all. They won’t release results to me bc the vet is off til Tuesday; they won’t say if they sent results to the reg vet clinic (which is closed til Tuesday). I’ve been in touch with local HV this morning, am on my way out to get some other foods to try. If she doesn’t eat (and she hates being assist fed; clamps her mouth, froths and fights), I’ll have to take her to ER (a goodly 40-minute drive). I want to cry. I just want our little miss joy dancer to feel better.

 

[LizzieInTexas]

Eat yr fudz lil Dancer.

How frustrating on the u/s results. I hate it when they (vets) don't communicate with us. Do you have any mirtz (appy enhancer)?

 

[Squalliesmom]

@Squalliesmom @LizzieInTexas
Thank you. Hope you all hanging in. I’m sorry not to have been on the board again lately. Talked to ER this morning even though it’s a holiday weekend bc no word re u/a results even though it’s been since Wednesday and Dancer’s appy is way off again and she is not herself at all. They won’t release results to me bc the vet is off til Tuesday; they won’t say if they sent results to the reg vet clinic (which is closed til Tuesday). I’ve been in touch with local HV this morning, am on my way out to get some other foods to try. If she doesn’t eat (and she hates being assist fed; clamps her mouth, froths and fights), I’ll have to take her to ER (a goodly 40-minute drive). I want to cry. I just want our little miss joy dancer to feel better.

Oh Sina, I'm so sorry! Sending you tons of hugs and a shoulder to cry on, if you need one. I wish I had more to offer. Dancer is in my prayers, as are you.

 

[Bobbie And Bubba]

Oh Sina! I am so sorry to be reading about Dancer not eating now. I am sure you have tried all the tricks and even baby food. I hope that you won't have to make a trip to the ER and some of the HV food choices will help. Gosh, I hate that you haven't received the results back yet!

Prayers going out to you and your tribe. Reiki on the way!

 

[HWright]

Eat yr fudz lil Dancer.

How frustrating on the u/s results. I hate it when they (vets) don't communicate with us. Do you have any mirtz (appy enhancer)?

Thanks Lizzie. I get frustrated with some aspects of the vet stuff too. I wouldn’t be surprised if the results were faxed or emailed to the clinic on Friday and the results got filed without even a look-see.
That happened with spunky’s Gi blood panel.

I do have some mirtz left over. I tried a very small dose in food yesterday but she outed me. And she refuses to be pilled or orally doses or orally fed. Idk whether to try it again or not. Thoughts?

Oh Sina, I'm so sorry! Sending you tons of hugs and a shoulder to cry on, if you need one. I wish I had more to offer. Dancer is in my prayers, as are you.

Thank you, Lucy, an back home with smorgasbord of new fuds to try. Including some shaved sirloin that is slow simmering right now.
Crossing paws and hugs to you and Squallie.

Oh Sina! I am so sorry to be reading about Dancer not eating now. I am sure you have tried all the tricks and even baby food. I hope that you won't have to make a trip to the ER and some of the HV food choices will help. Gosh, I hate that you haven't received the results back yet!

Prayers going out to you and your tribe. Reiki on the way!

Thank you, Bobbie. Hobbling upstairs in a few minutes with some new food choices. Trying not to stressssssss....Crossing paws. Thank you too for vines and reiki for Dancer. And vines and healing vibes for you all too.

 

[carfurby (GA)]

Sina I'm so sorry Dancer is not eating. I hope you can get her to eat soon. Sending prayers.

 

[HWright]

I’m sorry she’s not eating, too.
Leaving now to take her to ER bc she still won’t eat anything. I’m trying not to freak out. Bbl.

 

[Bobbie And Bubba]

I’m sorry she’s not eating, too.
Leaving now to take her to ER bc she still won’t eat anything. I’m trying not to freak out. Bbl.

Oh no! Vetty vines!!

 

[LizzieInTexas]

I’m sorry she’s not eating, too.
Leaving now to take her to ER bc she still won’t eat anything. I’m trying not to freak out. Bbl.

Prayers and vetty vines

 

[Beth 73]

Sending more prayers and love to Dancer and you , Sina Hoping ER helped get Dancer set right

 

[HWright]

We are home. No tests but the Er vet took vitals and did physical. Said nothing unusual. I had to ask about her weight which is 9.8 today, down from a little over 10# last Tuesday. The vet didn’t want to do any labs bc she thinks they should be sent out and they only do in-house labs there. Wha?
No suggestions other than another cerenia injection (she would not give fluids, thought dancer not dehydrated) and 4 oral doses to give once a day (lotsaluck with that) and directions for Pepcid ac, 5 mg once daily.
Got copies of the urinalysis and ultrasound reports. I’d like to post them and her labs for interpretation but I hate to keep asking for help and Marje has gone above and beyond to look at Spunky’s labs on the midst of the demands in her life. Idk. What’s going on with Dancer is all a mystery and idk and am totally pooped out tonight.
Thank you all for your vines,much needed and welcome indeed, and appreciate any suggestions.
Hugs vines And scritches from us all here.

 

[carfurby (GA)]

I don't think anyone minds if you ask for help for Dancer. I hope the cerenia helps. Sending more prayers.

 

[LizzieInTexas]

Post the labs and tag Marje. I want to look too.

Do you have fluids at home? Can you give them? Even a tiny bit (50) might help, especially if it is LR that has other supplements (it does with Gizmo fwiw).

 

[HWright]

I don't think anyone minds if you ask for help for Dancer. I hope the cerenia helps. Sending more prayers.

Thank you, Carla. Yesterday’s cerenia injection didn’t improve situation alas.

Post the labs and tag Marje. I want to look too.

Do you have fluids at home? Can you give them? Even a tiny bit (50) might help, especially if it is LR that has other supplements (it does with Gizmo fwiw).

thank you, Lizzie. Yes I have a spare bag of LR, line set and some needles. I’m thinking that it was the combo of fluids and cerenia last Tuesday that eased dancer’s inappy. Yesterday’s injection (Er vet would not do fluids and would not rx any pain meds) hasn’t helped at all. I will try to give her 25-50ml fluids today, crossing paws.

This morning she frothed and fought me again about assist feeding and any oral liquid dosing. Forget trying pills. Unless she does it on her own by her choice, forget it. Although she has watched assist feeding, meds and herbals dosing, sub q fluids with keen interest with and support for the others, she has never been the recipient. She turns away from all manner of food choices, some her now seemingly former faves, and ate about a tsp of ff turkey in creamy broth and about a tsp of Orijen kibble that I’ve had on hand for crumbled toppers. I went out to find other fuds this morning at the local pet fud store. They were closed but owner was outside having a/c unit serviced. When I explained the situation, he went in and brought me a bag of fromm small bites and said I could pay for it next time I’m in. Would dancer eat any? No. Ugh.

It’s so hot again today. I got not much sleep last night, Dancer took a purry nap on my chest this afternoon and I dozed off too.

Our local HV will make housecall tomorrow afternoon if he’s not backed up with client calls tomorrow morning bc of the long holiday weekend.

Thanks for your interest in and encouragement to post civie Dancer’s labs and to tag Marje. @Marje and Gracie
Of course all eyes who can shed insight when they can are most welcome and much appreciated especially since this is a holiday weekend.

Here they are (idk how to put them in a single file). Thank you all.
Sina

 

[Beth 73]

Sina , an HV that makes house calls ??? What a huge blessing ...Prayers that he will easily fit Dancer in tomorrow

 

[LizzieInTexas]

Will be curious to see what Marje says. I am a novice with labs. The LR will hopefully help with the lower potassium.

How is Dancers fluid intake? Is she drinking on her own? Maybe the heat has something to do with it? Hope your HV can make it by and offer something that will help. Have you tried the liver shake?

 

[LizzieInTexas]

Forget trying pills.

Have you tried the pill pockets? If you can get the pills smashes then into a pill pockets, roll it tight? The pill pockets are gooey, maybe stick it to the roof of her mouth If she won't eat it on her own?

Have you tried drizzling tuna water over some of the wet food?

Just throwing out ideas.

 

[HWright]

Will be curious to see what Marje says. I am a novice with labs. The LR will hopefully help with the lower potassium.

How is Dancers fluid intake? Is she drinking on her own? Maybe the heat has something to do with it? Hope your HV can make it by and offer something that will help. Have you tried the liver shake?

Have you tried the pill pockets? If you can get the pills smashes then into a pill pockets, roll it tight? The pill pockets are gooey, maybe stick it to the roof of her mouth If she won't eat it on her own?

Have you tried drizzling tuna water over some of the wet food?

Just throwing out ideas.

Thanks Lizzie.
Dancer nixed liver shake, raw liver, steamed liver, liver mixed with steamed chicken, beef. Nixed sardines, sardine water, human grade tuna bits, tuna water, mackerel, mackerel water, baby fud, ff classics, grilled, etc (except for this morning about a tsp of one in a “delicate sauce,” was ok with light cream a couple days ago for a day, now won’t touch it, nixed kefir, nixed weruva, nixed bff, nixed Fromm Pate, nixed wellness, nixed the Fromm small bits (wild game), nixed raw, nixed scrambled egg, nixed steamed sirloin, nixed steamed chicken (that has been her fave), trying steamed turkey burger now (haven’t found plain turkey breast in stores), nixed rotisserie chicken, nixed the chicken inside fried chicken (another of her faves), nixed home made chicken broth, nixed Rawz turkey, nixed earthborn, nixed rx recovery, nixed the hills rx gi canned,.....ate about a tsp of Orijen kibble this morning and now won’t touch it....what have I left out! And I’ve tried combos of the above.

If I could get SEB or mmr into her I think her gut would feel better. But I added one or the other to everyone’s food (lately it’s been mmr) but if she won’t eat, can’t pill or orally dose or assist feed, I’m sol.

I don’t see her drinking water but I have been replenishing the water dish (DH replenishes the water fountain and doesn’t always tell me). She must be bc how can she be hydrated (according to the Er vet if she’s not eating enough food let alone wet food that I always add water to)? Er vet did nt think b12 injections of any benefit (did anyone test the b’s? I don’t think so) but I’m thinking off adding it with fluids.
I’ve done the tent test m, it springs back but she’s also lost weight so fast that she’s gotten loose and today her beautiful soft shiny coat has begun to get that scruffy look. Not good sign, at least it seems so to me.

I haven’t tried pill pocket yet. I’ll try that tonight with the Cerenia. I have a fresh package of pill pockets that I tried with Spunky but she outed the pill.
Is mirtazapine ok to do if there’s pain of unknown source and with cerenia?

She’s clearly nauseated and I think in discomfort but I can’t get any pain meds and she won’t even let me put drops of cbd oil on her gums or a paw.

She’s upstairs now. I’m about to go try doing fluids. Either that or wait for DH to come home so he can hold her in his lap like he did with Azalea.

 

[HWright]

Sina , an HV that makes house calls ??? What a huge blessing ...Prayers that he will easily fit Dancer in tomorrow

Thank you, Beth. I hope so, too. Yes, he does energy, acupuncture and TCM too. I’ve sent stuff to long distance hv too.
I’m hoping housecall hv can get a handle on it all. I keep thinking that there must be going on either in her mouth/teeth or esophogus/ gi (worries going back to Sootie). The longer this goes on the worse it gets for sweet Dancer.

 

[LizzieInTexas]

By chance is she constipated?

 

[Beth 73]

Oh, Sina Big prayers and love coming your way ....healing for Dancer and wisdom/peace for you You are the BEST momma bean Hopefully with DH holding her you can get SEB or MMR down her with NO frothing . Prayers to that end Around here , when I resort to DH holding them they know the jig is up Prayers upon hugs upon successful treating of dear Dancer

 

[HWright]

By chance is she constipated?

She doesn’t seem to be. I know it’s a weird answer but since Steve has gotten into the lb groove and can distinguish which poops belong to whom, I pretty much rely on his assessments bc Bella and Dancer’s lb’s are upstairs and the days when I can do the stairs are more on the iffy side than not.
When I did go upstairs this afternoon I found a well formed poop on Dancer’s lb , quite darker than what he has described as dark brown. Tonight he confirmed that he cleaned the boxes this morning so Dancer must have pooped today. He did say though that it was smaller. If she’s pooping and barely eating, did she have a back up that’s working its way out?

Also when I went upstairs I couldn’t find her and tumbled. Texted Steve to help find her. He came home PDQ and found her in Sootie’s carrier (yes, I still haven’t had the whatever to put her carrier away). She cane out on her own, came downstairs on her own, looked at food... no interest.....but I decided to try a pill pocket it being a toss up whether to try the mirtz or the cerenia. Cerenia won the toss...and she ate it! Thank you Lizzie for the suggestion.
I just tried pill pocket again with mirtz in it...nope. She nixed turkey supper, nixed ff, nixed kibble, nixed cream but is now discovering vanilla ice cream...

We’re going to try fluids and b12 in a little while.

 

[HWright]

Oh, Sina Big prayers and love coming your way ....healing for Dancer and wisdom/peace for you You are the BEST momma bean Hopefully with DH holding her you can get SEB or MMR down her with NO frothing . Prayers to that end Around here , when I resort to DH holding them they know the jig is up Prayers upon hugs upon successful treating of dear Dancer

Thanks Beth. I sure don’t feel like a very effective bean for her. I hope she will like DH lending a hand with fluids. On a side note though: last night on way home from Er, I took the old road instead of I-95. Dancer liked it. She popped her head out of her carrier and did lots of look about as we wended our way along old route 1.

 

[carfurby (GA)]

I hope you can find something to help Dancer. Sending prayers.

 

[HWright]

Thank you Carla. I just tried again a bit if crumbled freeze dried chicken hearts/livers and a bit of Fortiflora, both of which she had nixed earlier. She ate a little with some interest.

 

[LizzieInTexas]

Hoping she ate more overnight and is feeling better today. Might send Marje a PM. She has said before that she doesn't always see tags.

 

[Sonia & Leo]