Karen and Chispa (GA)
Very Active Member
Yesterday: https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/1-17-chispa-303-amps-75-4-75-5-vet-visit.297564/
Chispa continued to eat small amounts last night -- not much, but something. The vet who saw her yesterday called this morning and said her labs were pretty normal except for potassium, which was very low at 2.7 (normal is 3.4 - 5.6). I've long been giving her potassium supplements mixed with her food ... which she hasn't been eating ... so that made sense. Vet recommended I take her to ER for supplementation, but when I questioned, she confirmed that it goes in and out of the system pretty quickly and would probably rise if she would take her meds at home. So far I've been able to get 2/3 of her daily dose into her mixed with Churus and hopefully will continue throughout the day. That's the good news.
My more immediate concern is getting the rest of her meds into her. She's not accepting them in treats, and I'm not confident about pilling her (never had to do). However, the vet said one effect of low potassium is inappetence, so maybe she'll eat the treats if her level goes up? I think I will give it another few hours before rushing off to the ER. She's not in any obvious distress, and her face doesn't look nauseated today. I don't want to overreact (and pay an arm and a leg, AND put her in a stressful position) if she can improve at home. Is that reasonable?
The vet we saw yesterday was quite young, not that that's a bad thing, but I have to wonder if she was being overly cautious with the ER suggestion. She said raising the potassium level had to be done "very, very carefully," but even if I can get Chispa's level to double in the next 24 hours, she'll still be within the normal range. The vet didn't want to prescribe Mirataz or Cerenia because of possible interactions with Chispa's other meds, but I looked at the Mirataz website this morning and saw that the only interactions are with MAOIs, which Chispa is not taking. The Cerenia website says it should be used "WITH CAUTION" in pets with known heart disease, which Chispa has, but very early stage, not even enough to require meds. I guess that's why I'm taking her advice with a grain of salt.
Update: She vomited a small amount of clear foam while I was typing this. She's been drinking her normal amount of water, peeing regularly, and was pooping like a champ until this morning, when she produced a very soft stool, possibly from eating unfamiliar food.
Should I continue to try to get food into her at home, or just take her to the ER?
One benefit I just thought of would be that they could sedate her and check her teeth to see if that's the problem.
@Wendy&Neko
@Bandit's Mom
@tiffmaxee
@Bron and Sheba (GA)
Chispa continued to eat small amounts last night -- not much, but something. The vet who saw her yesterday called this morning and said her labs were pretty normal except for potassium, which was very low at 2.7 (normal is 3.4 - 5.6). I've long been giving her potassium supplements mixed with her food ... which she hasn't been eating ... so that made sense. Vet recommended I take her to ER for supplementation, but when I questioned, she confirmed that it goes in and out of the system pretty quickly and would probably rise if she would take her meds at home. So far I've been able to get 2/3 of her daily dose into her mixed with Churus and hopefully will continue throughout the day. That's the good news.
My more immediate concern is getting the rest of her meds into her. She's not accepting them in treats, and I'm not confident about pilling her (never had to do). However, the vet said one effect of low potassium is inappetence, so maybe she'll eat the treats if her level goes up? I think I will give it another few hours before rushing off to the ER. She's not in any obvious distress, and her face doesn't look nauseated today. I don't want to overreact (and pay an arm and a leg, AND put her in a stressful position) if she can improve at home. Is that reasonable?
The vet we saw yesterday was quite young, not that that's a bad thing, but I have to wonder if she was being overly cautious with the ER suggestion. She said raising the potassium level had to be done "very, very carefully," but even if I can get Chispa's level to double in the next 24 hours, she'll still be within the normal range. The vet didn't want to prescribe Mirataz or Cerenia because of possible interactions with Chispa's other meds, but I looked at the Mirataz website this morning and saw that the only interactions are with MAOIs, which Chispa is not taking. The Cerenia website says it should be used "WITH CAUTION" in pets with known heart disease, which Chispa has, but very early stage, not even enough to require meds. I guess that's why I'm taking her advice with a grain of salt.
Update: She vomited a small amount of clear foam while I was typing this. She's been drinking her normal amount of water, peeing regularly, and was pooping like a champ until this morning, when she produced a very soft stool, possibly from eating unfamiliar food.
Should I continue to try to get food into her at home, or just take her to the ER?
One benefit I just thought of would be that they could sedate her and check her teeth to see if that's the problem.
@Wendy&Neko
@Bandit's Mom
@tiffmaxee
@Bron and Sheba (GA)
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