04/25/18 Texas Gizmo PMPS=120, +2=145, +4=113, +5=110, +11=206

Status
Not open for further replies.
LizzieInTexas

LizzieInTexas

Member Since 2016
04/24 +11=214

AMPS=280

Didn't eat much breakfast but ate all of last nights cycle's food. He usually will go back and finish (which I think he just back to the bowl).

Hoping to get answers on what to do for him today. I am going to give some pain meds before I leave for work (yes, I am going in - I need to and I am worried I may need to take off for another vet visit so going to save the day off JIC).

Happy hump day.
 
Last edited:
Bobbie And Bubba said:
Lizzie, I hope you gets some answers today too and that Gizmo will eat his fuds. :bighug:
Click to expand...
He only ate about half his PS food. Trying to not worry too much about that right now. Hopefully the AB will kick in and the pain meds will help and he will continue to eat some but his number are high enough I don't think I need to stress too much about it right now as long as he is eating some of it.
 
Well (per the webcam) he has shown NO interest at all in his +2.5 snack. He is hanging on his usually spot sleeping (could be the Canna and pain meds). I sure wish I had someone that I could use to go and check on him, encourage him to eat and to test him. :( But at least I can see him.

I did a bit of reading on blood clots in the bladder last night and it isn't common but not unheard of. From various diagnosis - it can range from cancer (fairly rare and no mass was seen on the U/S pictures in bladder but it could be a result of cancer in the kidney's that is more common) to stones (none seen), crystals (I think those can be seen in the urine by the lab) or a result of an injury (trauma) or kidney infection.

The good from the research is that he is not actively bleeding (dripping). The blood is diluted in the urine and he has good control over his urination. He has NOT had inappropriate elimination (at least that I have seen). Eliminations in the LB have been significant and his water intake is (has been) significant - so input/output are balanced (to my non-medical mind).

I did not give nausea meds last night. I will tonight. Sometimes I am not sure about the nausea meds with making anything better (not convinced his is nauseated) or making them worse - but since he isn't eating either way I will give Cerenia. I will also give a dose of Mirtz tonight along with fluids and more pain meds. That is my current plan - this may change based on what the vet's says and what the labs/urinalysis results show.

Vet called just now and lab work is "basically unchanged" from a month ago (they are emailing). No UTI. Will be making an appointment with the IM this morning.
 
Lab report ---> here

SS updated with current values also (on Lab Tab)

Other than the blood in the urine it looks to me like a possible panc flare?
 
LizzieInTexas said:
Does anyone know if @Marje and Gracie is around? Anyone else want to chime in?
Click to expand...
Unfortunately I believe Marje has her hands full with family and will be out most of May as well. You can send her a PM but just looking at the labs they are basically the same as last month. I thought kidney infections could be detected via U/S. @Stacy & Asia might be able to help with her recent experiences. Good luck with the IM vet, hope they are able to shed some light and provide a solution. Sending vines, prayers and :bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug:
 
Well, I gave up and drove home to check BG and see if I could get him to eat. The little $#!+ head decided to eat when I was 1/2 way home (thanks webcam) - lol. Checked BG - +5.5=216. Pulled the +2.5 food from the feeder, warmed it up a bit and put it where the eaten +4.5 was - he is eating again.

Silly cats.

Ok, back to work.
 
Called Blue Pearl. Soonest he can be seen by appointment with the IM doc is 05/29 - a month away. I can take him in as an emergency and then the emergency doc can transfer him to internal medicine and he will then be seen the next day. There is a chance that they might make him stay overnight (NOT AN OPTION). I went ahead and booked the appt for 05/29 and I guess I am just going to play it by ear.

I am not sure what else to do. They did give me the option to go to the Katy, TX location but that is over an hour away and with it heating up outside (even with the AC in the car) I don't think that is a viable option - plus I don't know if I went there if I would have to continue to go back to that location which is definitely not an a workable solution.
 
Tanya’s site says any UTI in a CKD cat is a complicated infection (that goes double when you add diabetes to the mix) and should be treated as a kidney infection anyway with 4-8 weeks of antibiotics like baytril or zeniquin. They also specify that nothing may show up in a culture which doesn’t mean an infection isn’t there. If Gizmo can tolerate the antibiotics, I would certainly try it, and make sure you don’t just do a standard 2 weeks because that may only weaken the bacteria and make it come back more resistant the next time. Because of CKD, blood flow is poor and it takes longer for the antibiotics to get to the bacteria, thus the longer course. Convenia likely will not get to a kidney infection, unfortunately.

Maybe your break up vet would agree to help you get over the hump until you can see the IM in a month?

:bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug:
 
Last edited:
Stacy & Asia said:
Maybe your break up vet would agree to help you get over the hump until you can see the IM in a month?
Click to expand...
IDK. I might try talking with Dr. Jen on Friday to see if I can get AB. I read through Tanya's site this morning and read the same thing. The vet I saw yesterday and called with the lab results have basically washed his hands ("it is the end" yada yada - "end the suffering" yada yada). I told him as long as Gizmo was fighting I was going to fight for him.

I just am frustrated that I can't seem to get it through their heads that it is (may be) a kidney infection. Yes, could it be something worse (cancer) but they won't look at anything but the labs and urinalysis and nothing on those indicate kidney infection - even though they have admitted that kidney infections can sometimes be difficult to dx.

I am looking at this AB
https://felinecrf.org/treatments_antibiotics_painkillers.htm#enrofloxacin

It states that it is in pill form and less likely to have side affects.
 
LizzieInTexas said:
IDK. I might try talking with Dr. Jen on Friday to see if I can get AB. I read through Tanya's site this morning and read the same thing. The vet I saw yesterday and called with the lab results have basically washed his hands ("it is the end" yada yada - "end the suffering" yada yada). I told him as long as Gizmo was fighting I was going to fight for him.

I just am frustrated that I can't seem to get it through their heads that it is (may be) a kidney infection. Yes, could it be something worse (cancer) but they won't look at anything but the labs and urinalysis and nothing on those indicate kidney infection - even though they have admitted that kidney infections can sometimes be difficult to dx.

I am looking at this AB
https://felinecrf.org/treatments_antibiotics_painkillers.htm#enrofloxacin

It states that it is in pill form and less likely to have side affects.
Click to expand...

Yes, that’s baytril, I have read the package inserts for that and Zeniquin (I recommend you do not), they both can have side effects, but you’re going with the benefit can far outweigh the risk and in those cases, I really do think ignorance is bliss. :rolleyes:

I hope Dr. Jen isn’t as insensitive! Sheesh! I think you’d be a much better judge of when your cat tells you it’s the end of the road. :mad:

I hope you can convince her to prescribe the abx. Plead your case, that’s exactly what I did. Given all the signs and the history and CKD and diabetes (both extremely prone to UTI), and his age, what exactly do you have to lose even if abx may not be necessary, and if they work, you’ll know very quickly! And maybe they could dx kidney infection with an ultrasound, but really, what is the point if you treat a UTI like a kidney infection anyway? Back in the day, having blood in the urine was worthy of a diagnosis on its own.

Sending vet be reasonable vines your way! :bighug:
 
Stacy & Asia said:
I hope Dr. Jen isn’t as insensitive! Sheesh! I think you’d be a much better judge of when your cat tells you it’s the end of the road.
Click to expand...
He is the "owner" and I kinda got the feeling that it wasn't worth their time - IDK - he wasn't rude about it but it was just the undertone.

I have veraflox at home. I have plenty to give for a month. He didn't tolerate it well before but I could try it again. Maybe between the convinea shot he got yesterday and the veraflox I could get it managed until I can get to the IM. What do you think? What is your opinion of Veraflox? Comparable to Baytril?

ETA - here is the link
https://felinecrf.org/treatments_antibiotics_painkillers.htm#pradofloxacin
 
LizzieInTexas said:
He is the "owner" and I kinda got the feeling that it wasn't worth their time - IDK - he wasn't rude about it but it was just the undertone.

I have veraflox at home. I have plenty to give for a month. He didn't tolerate it well before but I could try it again. Maybe between the convinea shot he got yesterday and the veraflox I could get it managed until I can get to the IM. What do you think? What is your opinion of Veraflox? Comparable to Baytril?

ETA - here is the link
https://felinecrf.org/treatments_antibiotics_painkillers.htm#pradofloxacin
Click to expand...

I’ve never heard of that before, but it’s a fluoroquinolone? I would hesitate because I don’t know what the proper dosage would be if you’re assuming a kidney infection. I would try to get baytril from the vet first and maybe have that as a back up if you have no other options?
 
Stacy & Asia said:
I’ve never heard of that before, but it’s a fluoroquinolone? I would hesitate because I don’t know what the proper dosage would be if you’re assuming a kidney infection. I would try to get baytril from the vet first and maybe have that as a back up if you have no other options?
Click to expand...
Ok, will do. It was Dr. Jen that prescribed it for the UTI/kidney a month ago (based on high WBC count on the labs that were ran on 03/04). Unfortunately she did not do a urinalysis at the same time so she was kinda guessing (I think). Anway, he (Gizmo) was already sickly and not doing well and wasn't eating on top of it already and then started to vomit (small amounts and sometimes stomach acid) so I (we) discontinued and switched to the Convenia shots.
 
LizzieInTexas said:
Sorry to bother you again @Stacy & Asia

How would I address this issue with Gizmo's feeding? What is the dosing? Is it 1x/day? 2x/day? Before I pursue this I need to make sure I will be able to give it effectively.

https://www.vetinfo.com/urinary-tract-infection-baytril.html
Click to expand...

Hmmm, I didn’t know that. Asia hasn’t been on baytril for hers, we have Zeniquin. It seems like it can be once a day but they make it twice a day if it causes tummy upset to make it less harsh? That is really odd about the no food before and after. I wonder why that is? Zeniquin I give right before her meal and I just don’t use p binders in that meal because p binders and calcium can interfere with the absorption. She does get a bit of calcium with it anyway because wrapped in cheese is the reason she will eat her pill.

Maybe keep an open mind about using either and see what the vet thinks re: dosing twice a day and why no food. Antibiotics are usually recommended to take with food so they don’t cause stomach upset. Maybe it works better/faster on an empty stomach but it’s not a must.
 
Vet said NO to AB :mad:

PMPS=120

History:
AMPS=280, +1.5=276,

Shot short shot 0.75U - until I know he will eat I got to be very, very conservative.
 
Flew in the door and gave Cerenia and Ondan. No MMR in PS food so I can give Mirtz and pain meds (along with BP meds) sooner rather than later.

He ate all but a tiny bite of his PS food. He ate about ~80% of this AM cycles food. Left a about 1/2 of one "snack" of the wet and a few kibbles of YA.
 
LizzieInTexas said:
Vet said NO to AB :mad:

PMPS=120

History:
AMPS=280, +1.5=276,

Shot short shot 0.75U - until I know he will eat I got to be very, very conservative.
Click to expand...

Why??? I think I might go vet shopping. I wonder if there is any way to find out if other practices in the area are well versed in CKD? Or if maybe the IM could prescribe abx while you are waiting for the appt (doubtful if they’ve never seen him, but you never know).
 
Stacy & Asia said:
Ugh! I hope you can go vet shopping. I’m sorry this has to be so frustrating! :bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug:
Click to expand...
I am about out of option for the distance I can travel with him. He stress out so badly and now we are coming into summer and the Houston heat will make it nearly impossible to take him anywhere. He will start panting and yowling as soon as we get in the car, then add the stress of the vet visit and the drive home is terrifying for me. I am scared to death he will have a heart attack or stoke.

Right now I am treating this as a panc flare, which it may be. I feel like we may be close to a point of no return but will do what I can. He came and got lovins and brushing from hubby while I was fixing feeder and shot. I went and gave him lovins on his bed after his tfs and brushed him some more. He was purring, but is content to stay on his bed for now.

I gave him his bp meds, Mirtz and pain meds an hour after his shot and I have fluids warming to give in about 30 min.

I will give Ondan, Mirtz and pain meds at 5:30a tomorrow AM before I leave for work.

I truly appriciate your advise and support today. It means a lot to me (and Gizmo :cat:)

:bighug::bighug:
 
I may try and plead my case to the IM. At least see if he could review his records (for a fee?) prior to the appt and try and instill a sense of urgency.
 
Did they check him for a P'titis flare? Is it really over a month wait for the IM? And is that to accommodate your work schedule? Ask them to put you on a call list in the event of a cancellation. Ugh!!!!!
 
Bobbie And Bubba said:
Did they check him for a P'titis flare? Is it really over a month wait for the IM? And is that to accommodate your work schedule? Ask them to put you on a call list in the event of a cancellation. Ugh!!!!!
Click to expand...
The labs indicate it could be panc. Numbers are slightly elevated.

He is the only IM at that location. That is the soonest per their schedule not mine. :arghh:
 
Lizzie, just reading all of this makes me a bit dizzy: unprofessional vet, concern re diagnosis, and the immense amount of effort you're putting in to try to keep Gizmo safe and get him to eat. I know how exhausting this is and how stressful. I really hope that you can take care of yourself, too! I know that's hard to remember, though, when you've got a cat who needs you. I really, really, really hope you can find a better vet near you. Having an uncooperative vet is nightmare city, for sure. :mad:

It sounds like you're getting lots and lots of good advice. Sending you and Gizmo lots of hugs!! :bighug::bighug::bighug:
 
Well the blood in the urine scares me but if I hadn't seen it on the towel I would have never known. I don't think it just "showed" up Monday and given how good he has been feeling this past month I think the pain? nausea? inappetance? may or may not be tied to it so treating for panc flare. If the "other" is the cause the meds are still helping.

He has had his fluids and the Mirtz has kicked in and he is up and actively hunting for food. He finished his +2.5 (licked it clean) so regardless of the med cocktail he is on, he is doing better tonight.

I will continue through at least the weekend and evaluate.
 
Bobbie And Bubba said:
Are you still giving the Pancreas Booster?
Click to expand...
No. He will no longer tolerate it in his food. Nothing added to his cycle tonight at all except for water. I am religious with the b12 and b complex and the phos binder has caused no issues to date but when he is off I pick by battles.

BTW-his phos level is 4.1! Down from 6.3 in a month! Woot. BUN down another 2 points (60) and creatinine is the same (2.8) and bun/creat ratio is 21!

Blood looks good too. HTC the same (25), RBC & WBC are normal and very close to what they were last month.

But per he vet he is declining and won't get better. He has no idea what we have already accomplished gettng him through these episodes. :rolleyes:
 
Marje and Gracie said:
Karen is right....lots of family health issues going on but I’m still here. I peek every few days to see if I have a tag :)

We are getting ready for dinner so I’ll br happy to take a look tonight if that’s ok :) :bighug::bighug::bighug:
Click to expand...
:bighug::bighug: you are so sweet. Nothing blaringly changed but take a look see at the phos level :D.

Concerned about the blood clots in the bladder more than anything else. See yesterday's condo for more info and pics of blood on towel on 04/23 condo.

God bless you Angel :bighug:
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top