12/26/21 - Squeaky better! Eating. waiting for preshot. Thanks for support.

Jan D & Squeaky

Jan D & Squeaky

Member Since 2020
Hi Friends, I have not posted for a long time. Life has been stressful. Squeaky's numbers have been relatively steady and we didn't need extra help so I have not posted.

Last week he had a GI upset, with vomit and diarrhea, it happens from time to time. With extra budesonide and cerenia, slippery elm bark and a blander diet, he got better in a few days.

Today Squeaky didn't look so great and he vomited this evening. May be my fault, I gave him some chicken. But when I gave him his medicine routine, something was different, he was shivering. Actually I can't remember / don't know if he vomited before the medicine or after. However he continues to shiver/shake.

@Bandit's Mom
But I just checked his BG a few minutes ago and it was 189, so he's not hypoglycemic.

His respirations are about 30/31 per minute which seems a bit fast.

He didn't want to be covered and he isn't going over to his heated cat bed. So it may be that he isn't running a fever and is not cold.

I will immediately update his spreadsheet while I am waiting to see if any of you are there and can answer. Thank you in advance for your assistance. Of course it is 1:30 in the morning, the day after Christmas.....

With thanks, Jan and Squeaky

Additions: This afternoon, something seemed strange about his back legs/hips. And now he doesn't seem to be shaking so much, but I am still concerned. He is also not interested in any food or treats. @Bandit's Mom 1:55, doesn't seem to be shaking, but he isn't going to sleep, and usually he sleeps lots.
 
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Bandit's Mom said:
Hi Jan, I'm here but can't think of what could be causing the shivering/ shaking..

Let me see if any members with more experience are around..

@Bron and Sheba (GA)
@Sienne and Gabby (GA)
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Thanks Bhooma. He doesn't seem to be shaking at the moment, but he isn't going to sleep which has me concerned. Usually his sleeping respirations are around 20, he's awake now and breathing around 30. Something's definitely off.

Thank you. Jan and Squeaky.

Edit: I'm working on catching up the spreadsheet. I just did all of December and I'm so tired. Might sleep for an hour or so and see how Squeaky is doing. Maybe if I go to sleep he will, too.
 
Bron and Sheba (GA) said:
I can’t think of why he might be like this either. Can he walk ok?
Is there an ER you could ring and ask advice?
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Oh no emergency vet ever gives advice over the phone. They want an office visit (costly). I did find this: https://www.vetinfo.com/causes-feline-shaking.html

Let me rouse him and make him walk. His gait was strange a while ago. Let me see now: He's not wanting to move around much. Kind of limp when I pick him up.

EDIT: It's like when he doesn't feel well, he kind of goes into concentration mode like he's trying to fix whatever the problem is. He's like that now.
 
Bron and Sheba (GA) said:
Have you checked for ketones in the urine?
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No I have not. he has never had an issue with this before. I checked about 5 weeks ago he was normal. I can try to catch it next time he urinates.

EDIT: I just offered him some water, he did not drink. I am going to warm up his baby food and try it again.
 
Bron and Sheba (GA) said:
I think if I were you I would take him to the ER. He doesn’t sound well.
I would also recheck the BG
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Yikes. The ER. I might wait a little bit before doing this. I personally think ER visits are so stressful they should be avoided whenever possible. Stressful for the cat and for me.

He is hovering over the water, thinking about it.

EDIT: at this point, I don't think he is getting worse.
 
Bron and Sheba (GA) said:
Did you recheck the BG?
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No, because it was so high an hour ago and he stopped shaking. He doesn't like frequent testing at all and I don't think we are near dangerous levels.

He tried a little water and seemed pleased about it.

EDIT: Unless it seems really urgent, I would rather wait and take him to one of the regular vets tomorrow morning. Less stressful, they know him, and less expensive. So far he seems to be doing okay, not getting worse. I am ready to take him if I think it needs to happen.

EDIT: I will continue to watch him for another half hour or hour.
 
I see he has had pancreatitis before. If he’s not hungry and vomited and also vomited a few days ago, I am wondering if he may have a flare.
I would try and get that ketone test if you can. When did he last eat?
 
Bron and Sheba (GA) said:
I see he has had pancreatitis before. If he’s not hungry and vomited and also vomited a few days ago, I am wondering if he may have a flare.
I would try and get that ketone test if you can. When did he last eat?
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I'm a little fuzzy right now, but he last ate not long before his preshot, and he vomited up only what he ate. (Not what he had eaten earlier in the afternoon).

Hmmm, maybe a flare. That's a good thought.

He peed before the preshot I think but by now it's all clumped.

Thank you for being the detective and helping me work through this.

EDIT: I am going to try to get a tiny bit of sleep. He's still hovering over the water. Didn't want the baby food.

Be back soon.
 
I'm brainstorming....

I wonder if he has a fever. That may be one reason for shaking. Another thought may be a small seizure but they are typically short-lived. Could he have gotten into something he shouldn't have? (With the holidays, there are all sorts of things around that are not particularly good for cats.)

I'd talk to your vet.
 
:bighug::bighug::bighug: Try and feed a very small amount every hour or two if it stays down. Even if he seems very hungry soon stick to small amounts. It’s good he did drink. One sign of nausea is sitting over the water bowl but not drinking.
 
tiffmaxee said:
:bighug::bighug::bighug: Try and feed a very small amount every hour or two if it stays down. Even if he seems very hungry soon stick to small amounts. It’s good he did drink. One sign of nausea is sitting over the water bowl but not drinking.
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Hi Elise, thanks for your wisdom. I didn't know that about the hovering over the bowl.

He ate more last night, then I was exhausted and had to sleep. This morning he seems better. He was sleeping in his heated bed, and ate some greenies then some baby food. Now he's sleeping on the sofa, which is a good place. He told me he is doing better. I'm just going to let him sleep and take it slow. Increase his cerenia and budesonide again. And take care of myself. Vet will probably answer emails on Monday but they'll be swamped so it is likely a moot point to do anything about this other than keep an eye on Squeaky. As long as he is not worse, I think he should be okay.

Thank you everyone for all your support and encouragement and prayers.

Do you think I need to update October and November? It doesn't really matter now, right?

EDIT: His sleeping respirations are back down to 20 per minute, and he's sleeping soundly. I have communicated the current status to both vets via email and that I think we can manage from here but to let me know if they think he needs to be seen at some point.

UPDATE: YAY! He went over and ate by himself! Definitely feeling better.
 
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Sienne and Gabby (GA) said:
I'm brainstorming....

I wonder if he has a fever. That may be one reason for shaking. Another thought may be a small seizure but they are typically short-lived. Could he have gotten into something he shouldn't have? (With the holidays, there are all sorts of things around that are not particularly good for cats.)

I'd talk to your vet.
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Thank you Sienne for your great help during Squeaky's recent crisis! Much appreciation to you! He is doing just fine now. Thank you so much! :bighug::bighug::bighug:

I am probably not going to post everyday.... I think we're doing pretty well most of the time and there are others who need more help and attention and teaching how to do this. Unfortunately I don't have enough resources to help others at this time. But I'll pop in from time to time. Thank you for all you are doing as moderator.
 
Bron and Sheba (GA) said:
Ok. I would try and get him to eat a small amount of something. Even if it’s not low carb. We want him to keep eating.
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Thank you Bron, for all your help during Squeaky's recent health crisis. He's doing just fine now! Your help and support were so appreciated. I don't post everyday because I have so much going on, and I don't have time to help. I don't want to take resources away from others who are learning and need more help than we do -- we are kind of used to this now. Again thanks for your support. I have so much appreciation that I have a place to go to when we have a problem. :bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug:
 
tiffmaxee said:
I am glad he’s feeling better. I wouldn’t bother to fill in all the numbers unless ocd about it. Then do it at your leisure.
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Thanks Elise! Yes he is doing just fine now. I will take your advice and not bother. I keep track of them in a spiral notebook and that works great for us. Mostly I think we've got this going pretty well and don't need as much help as we did before. So I'm not posting everyday so that the helpful resources go to others. It is wonderful however to have a place to consult when we have a problem. Thanks so much for all your help over the years, and happy new year to you!!! :bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug:
 
Bandit's Mom said:
Hi Jan, I'm here but can't think of what could be causing the shivering/ shaking..

Let me see if any members with more experience are around..

@Bron and Sheba (GA)
@Sienne and Gabby (GA)
Click to expand...

Bhooma, I breathed a sigh of relief when you answered! Thank you for being there! Squeaky is doing fine again. I probably won't post everyday again, I think we have a pretty good sense of what to do, and others who are newer need the helping resources more than I do. Unfortunately I have so much going on that I can't offer much help at this time. But I surely have deep appreciation for you and the others who are helping everyone! Happy new year to you! :bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug:
 
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