1/10 KT PMPS 283 CHF questions answered-TY!

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Squeaky and KT (GA)

Squeaky and KT (GA)

Member Since 2011
Good morning World! Yesterday

+11 - 218
AMPS 342

Bad bad bean this morning - I served him the wrong bowl (hc gravy food!) which he absolutely LOVED and ate every little bit before I realized what I'd done. So....YUCKY AMPS but it's soft food so shouldn't hang around for a long time...I hope.

OK - trade day! I'll trade one sick DH for 5 diabetic cats - It's easier to take care of them. :evil: He got my sore throat and bad chest cold. I'm still trying to kick the last of it - how can one head make THAT much ..err...ok, snot...? I'm doing the finish coughing, he's doing the terrible croupy starting cough.

Remember the jay from a few days ago? Yesterday and today, there's a huge jay hanging around the front of the house. When I went outside yesterday afternoon, he sat right there and sang me a whole looooong song. Wonder if it was the same one?....was he saying Thanks? I'm gonna think it was and HE was.... :-D

Today, we're thinkin' of Weezer's white whisker that Mama's gotta lay to rest...no more Fu Manchu for Miss Weezer.

BIG HUGS!!!
 
Re: 1/10 KT AMPS 342 Trade-sick DH for 5 Diabetic cats

I bet KT loved the special fuds. At least you know what the high # is from and that it will pass. No way on the trade! Men are...difficult when they are sick. Healing vines to DH that he gets better soon! Have a great day Lyresa!
 
Re: 1/10 KT AMPS 342 Trade-sick DH for 5 Diabetic cats

LOL - man, did you give me a good giggle this morning - and I soooo know what you're talking about!

I bet KT was happy with MamaBean's booboo...hopefully he'll clear it soon.

I hope, for your sake, DH is feeling better ASAP!

~Amy
 
Re: 1/10 KT AMPS 342 Trade-sick DH for 5 Diabetic cats

Come on down KT, no fun up there!

I disagree with Melissa, men are difficult when they are well. They are impossible when they are sick! Healing vines from me too for DH, so he'll only be difficult.

I'm with you on Jay. He's thanking you. My DS was keeping watch over a nest of cardinals with babies in his yard last year. One morning he went to work. When he got out of his truck at the first work site he heard a little peep. He looked in the back of the truck and there was a not quite ready to fly baby who had somehow hitched a ride. DS spent all day bird sitting, even catching bugs for the little guy. When he got back home he put it back in the nest. The parents made a huge display of welcoming and thanks.
 
Re: 1/10 KT AMPS 342 Trade-sick DH for 5 Diabetic cats

Hi guys,
Lots of healing vines for your DH, Lyresa. I guess that since you gave him your cold, you have to put up with him! Hope you both feel better very soon.

Great story about the BlueJay. He was certainly thanking you for saving his life.

Now, KT, you've had the special fuds, so pretty soon you can come back down to a lower floor, OK?

Ella & Rusty (busy picking healing vines0
 
Re: 1/10 KT AMPS 342 CHF question please

KT - +3 - 353 dat wuz weally weally gud fud Mama...canz I haz mor? NO WAY JOSE sayz MamaBean - I iz onle stOOpid wonce (today :-D )!

I finally took Scruffy to the vet this morning as he's still noticably gaining weight by the day. Unfortunately, the dx wasn't good - congestive heart failure which I already suspected. He has Lasix twice a day and Emp.something once a day. The Lasix is for 2 weeks, the other is forever. Vet said we caught it early so hopefully will be able to control it easily. I noticed this morning that he'd used his litterbox for the first time in a long time. He usually takes care of his business outside but right now, he's evidently not feeling like walking very far. He's still eating and drinking well...

Question - is there other things I need to do for CHF? I know WHAT it is, just not how to take care of it.

Please give your babies extra hugs from us today,
 
Re: 1/10 KT AMPS 342 CHF question please

Lyresa,

I have no information or advice, just hugs. I hope as the vet said, you caught it early and it can be treated. :YMHUG:
 
Re: 1/10 KT AMPS 342 CHF question please

Lyresa, I am sorry to hear about Scruffy's diagnosis. :YMHUG: It is good that you caught it early. I have never cared for a cat with CHF, but I can tell you a little about meds. The Lasix is a strong diuretic, he will need to pee a lot with this medication and probably will be thirstier too. It is used to help drain the fluid around the heart and lungs and should make him feel a whole lot better. Could your second med be enalapril? It's an ACE inhibitor used in CHF a lot, and is more helpful in preventing progression than the Lasix (which is more for kitty's comfort & breathing). Good luck with this new challenge.

KT, come on down to the yellow floor! That's where the fun is at today :-D

Melissa
 
Re: 1/10 KT AMPS 342 CHF question please

That's it Melissa - enalapril. I tired of having to learn new drug pronouncations (an I cain't speel tuday eithere).
 
Re: 1/10 KT AMPS 342 CHF question please

I'd take him to a cardiologist. My dog lived 19 months with severe heart disease and CHF and there was an amazing yahoo group. Her cardiologist was key to her survival. If you have access to a cardiologist/vet school I would do this. There is no way her vet would have known what the cardiologist did. We saved a lot of money driving 3.5 hours to the vet school (University of Montreal) vs the ruthless specialty hospital here. We were also taught to measure Sleeping (not dreaming) respiration rates. You may want to start a diary on this.
 
Re: 1/10 KT AMPS 342 CHF question please

Thank you Karrie!
Oh what a dream to be able to take our babies to specialty vets. I SO know they all deserve it. Then reality sets in...and we'll just have to continue to do the best we can with what we have each day. Today, the vet clinic only charged me for the meds at their cost for Scruffy, no exam or aspiration charges. Just 'cos they know what we do and how many we and they have treated over the years. Our account has so many animal's names - looks like the local phone book... :roll: We already know about counting sleeping respirations because of Shu's asthma - thanks for reminding me of that.

I hope this Lasix starts getting rid of this fluid quickly, he's so miserable.
 
Re: 1/10 KT AMPS 342 CHF question please

What an absolutely upbeat condo for all the things you have going on!
That's so cool!

Our relationship with the local avian population is a little less congenial...
wish I could find the condo from last year when Binks dragged a baby Magpie indoors,
and its parents flew into the house to rescue it! It was hilarious. :lol:

Happy tuesday, guys!
 
Re: 1/10 KT AMPS 342 CHF question please

The drug the vet prescribed is most likely enalapril. It's what's called an ACE (angiotensin converting enzyme) inhibitor. It's a drug that's used in humans so you can probably shot around for the best price.

The biggest issue with managing CHF is that exercise/activity may be reduced. I wouldn't push Scruffy to run around until he's feeling better. Because the heart's ability to effectively pump the blood around is impaired, fluid can build up in the lungs causing pulmonary edema. Any change in breathing sounds is something to be on the alert for. However, the Lasix, a diuretic, may help to reduce fluid overload.

If you want more info, Jess (of Jess and Earl) is a vet tech who specializes in cardiology. She can probably offer you some links and good information on managing CHF. I'd send her a PM.
 
Re: 1/10 KT AMPS 342 CHF question please

Also I'd be happy to donate Nike's Lasix pills. We just filled a prescription for her the day before we said goodbye. They are 10mg generic furosemide pills that can be quartered with a pill splitter. I don't have enapril but I have 5mg benazepril (with 1/2 scores in them) which I believe was prescribed for Nike because it was easier on the kidneys. I am not sure about its use in cats. So talk to the person Sienne recommended and let me know. I know with Nike she could never go off lasix. We could play with her dose. Maybe its different in cats though.
 
Re: 1/10 KT AMPS 342 CHF question please

THANK YOU SIENNE! THAT'S what I've heard about but could never find - searching google for 'test for bazillion things' doesn't work... :roll:
 
Re: 1/10 KT AMPS 342 CHF question please

Hi Lyresa, I am so sorry to hear the news about Scruffy. I hope the meds will help him and that he'll be much more comfortable when the diuretic kicks in. I did some checking on enalapril on the CanadaDrugsOnline website and see that the generic is not outrageously expensive. Check this out: http://www.canadadrugsonline.com/DrugMoreInfo2166.aspx I order Rusty's insulin from this online Canadian pharmacy and have always found them to be reliable.

Thinking of you tonight. You have a lot on your plate, but you are a remarkable person and I know you can handle it. Hope you and DH are feeling better.

Hugs,

Ella & Rusty
 
We close out the evening with almost the lowest number - at least it's YELLOW!

PMPS 283

Scruffy is already peeing quite a bit so the lasix is starting to work. I decided that since he's using the lb, I'm closing up the cat door for a while. He doesn't need to be outside - it's cold, wet and yucky...I don't think it's gonna bother him at all. He usually goes in and out the storm door with us anyway.

May sweet dreams visit on velvet paws....
 
(((Lyresa))))...so much on your plate...what an angel you are. Sending healing vines for your DH.

Along with the breathing sounds Sienne told you to watch for, also watch for labored breathing. I had a kitty with CHF and never heard breathing sounds but I could tell by her respiration rate when her chest was filling.

I'm not sure why you are testing for protein in urine and is it for the cats? If so and you are looking for whether there is proteinuria going on related to chronic kidney disease, you can't tell just by those sticks. You have to have a special test done called a protein:creatinine ratio. That lets you know whether the protein in urine is as a result of compromised kidneys. Our CKD kitty, Gus, always has +1 protein in his urine but his P:C ratio is totally normal.

Sending you prayers.
 
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