Hastings (GA) and Paula
Member Since 2021
Hi from a lurker - I feel bad coming back just to update with sad news since I've been mostly a lurker since I adopted Hercule & Hastings last year and y'all set me up with info, but this forum has so much collected knowledge I rarely needed to ask a question - all the answers were just a search away!
I've had a fantastic time taking care of Hastings and we've bonded more than I thought possible in less than a year, but our time together is very, very likely to be coming to an end soon. I was optimistic because his BGs were dropping so fast (from 1.25u to 0.25u ProZinc in a month!) and his chronic loose stools had seemed to be clearing up. Then last Friday night (why oh why is it ALWAYS on a weekend?!) he developed severe abdominal ascites. A local vet clinic happened to have Saturday hours that weekend, so I took him in, and all initial signs point to lymphoma. There's some glimmer of hope it might be pancreatitis/triaditis because his lipase was abnormal, but a lot of stuff points to cancer and away from pancreatitis - he's the right age, with diabetes as a risk factor, had unexplained cytopenia when surrendered to the shelter, was not gaining weight despite eating massive amounts, the diarrhea, etc.
Anyways, he's home with me now with SQ fluids, gabapentin, appetite stimulants (cerenia and pepcid), and the finest kitty narcotics money can buy. He's still eating with enthusiasm and using the litterbox (I did have to kludge together a low-sided one from one of my shallow yarn bins, ha ha) but otherwise is mostly sleeping. He hasn't wanted to cuddle much but he's always positioning himself so he's right at my feet when I'm sitting down - trying to resist the urge to hug him tight, I know he knows he's safe and cared for.
If the cytology comes back negative for cancer, it doesn't actually rule it out but the vet I took him to said we can try some steriods as a Hail Mary just in case it is actually "just" pancreatitis/triaditis and see if it helps, but obviously that has risks in a diabetic kitty.
Anyways, no matter what happens, I'd made a promise to him to give him the best possible care in the time he had left when I adopted him and Hercule. I feel like I have done so, and this forum was a big, big part of that.
This is a pic of him that always makes me laugh when I see it in my camera roll. If I fits, I sits, even if my brother is already there!
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I've had a fantastic time taking care of Hastings and we've bonded more than I thought possible in less than a year, but our time together is very, very likely to be coming to an end soon. I was optimistic because his BGs were dropping so fast (from 1.25u to 0.25u ProZinc in a month!) and his chronic loose stools had seemed to be clearing up. Then last Friday night (why oh why is it ALWAYS on a weekend?!) he developed severe abdominal ascites. A local vet clinic happened to have Saturday hours that weekend, so I took him in, and all initial signs point to lymphoma. There's some glimmer of hope it might be pancreatitis/triaditis because his lipase was abnormal, but a lot of stuff points to cancer and away from pancreatitis - he's the right age, with diabetes as a risk factor, had unexplained cytopenia when surrendered to the shelter, was not gaining weight despite eating massive amounts, the diarrhea, etc.
Anyways, he's home with me now with SQ fluids, gabapentin, appetite stimulants (cerenia and pepcid), and the finest kitty narcotics money can buy. He's still eating with enthusiasm and using the litterbox (I did have to kludge together a low-sided one from one of my shallow yarn bins, ha ha) but otherwise is mostly sleeping. He hasn't wanted to cuddle much but he's always positioning himself so he's right at my feet when I'm sitting down - trying to resist the urge to hug him tight, I know he knows he's safe and cared for.
If the cytology comes back negative for cancer, it doesn't actually rule it out but the vet I took him to said we can try some steriods as a Hail Mary just in case it is actually "just" pancreatitis/triaditis and see if it helps, but obviously that has risks in a diabetic kitty.
Anyways, no matter what happens, I'd made a promise to him to give him the best possible care in the time he had left when I adopted him and Hercule. I feel like I have done so, and this forum was a big, big part of that.
This is a pic of him that always makes me laugh when I see it in my camera roll. If I fits, I sits, even if my brother is already there!
