10/23 Cleo Oldtimer Is Better

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chriscleo

chriscleo

Member Since 2009
Hi. When last I posted, Cleo was doing very poorly. Her BGs were high for her (high 300s and 400s, which she hasn't had really since she started insulin 3+ years ago). She'd stopped eating so I was finger feeding baby food just to get some calories in her. Took a lot of requests before we got a urine test done on her (the IM vet kept thinking worst case scenario or extremely simple explanation, and neither assumption was correct), and a C&S showed a pretty severe bladder infection so we started her on Baytril about 4 nights ago. (Still hoping infection hasn't spread to the kidneys.)

She's doing much better now. Still in severe enough pain that I'm giving her bupe once a day, which spaces her out a bit, but she's not wanting it more often. I've been syringe feeding her, which is an interesting experience. She's taking it just like a baby would, cradled in my arm. I'd heard syringe feeding could be traumatic for some kitties but she's enjoying it, which is pretty funny. Yesterday (I think) she started eating some solid food on her own, which was such a relief. Still not enuf on her own to stop the syringe feeding, but at least it's not every 2-3 hrs like it was. No more collapsing in pain starting yesterday, so that's good.

We have her oncology recheck on Monday with the new oncologist her specialty practice hired (her old one left for another job). I'm hoping we can discuss her anemia more, and will be switching her back to leukeran. Unfortunately, we had to discontinue the cytoxan she'd been on, because it most probably caused the bladder infection, so she's been off chemo for a week. Still on prednisolone, tho.

Blood glucose is getting better now, too, now that the Baytril has started helping. Mostly seeing 100s and 200s now. :)
 
Thanks for the update Chris. Glad shes doing better and enjoying being fed like a baby. Ive never had to syringe feed so I give you a lot of credit. Keep us updated.
 
Thanks for updating us, Chris. I've been wondering how Cleo was doing. I'm glad you finally got the answer, sometimes you just have to be persistent. It sounds like she's on the right track anyway, I hope she continues to improve!
 
Chris -- I'm so relieved to hear Cleo is on the mend. There's a saying that they tell med students -- when you hear hooves, think horses not zebras. It seems particularly apt for your IM vet. A UTI would seem like an easy thing to consider, especially since you know Cleo so well.
 
chris - she's cradled in your arms when you feed her? does that mean she's on her back, or somewhat upright?

really glad she's feeling better!
 
I'm so relieved Cleo is feeling better. It always amazes me how very, very sick a cat can be and still pull through. Gooooo Cleo!

When I had to syringe feed Lucy, it was a huge mess but I did notice that it went better when I kept a warm damp washcloth nearby and washed her face for her after every couple of squirts. She liked the face washing enough to forgive me for the food squirting.
 
lol, wcf, yes she is upright (just slight recline so food doesn't spill outta mouth). sometimes i even burp her afterward (i kid ya not!). :)

she hates the washcloth but i use it anyway. what i do is pick her up, put her on my left leg, cradled by my left arm, wrap a pillowcase around her like a barbershop cape, give evo mixed with about 3 tablespoons of water and nuked slightly, use about four 6-ml syringes tapped to make sure no air is in them. she licks pretty eagerly as i try to squeeze a little food at a time onto her tongue (so faster than your DH does it, WCF, but in tiny drips and drabs, only removing the 6ml syringe when it's empty). then when she's done (she takes 24-26ml of food) i wipe her mouth with a damp washcloth, remove "cape," and lean her over my shoulder as i stroke her til she burps or asks to be let down.

thank you for the kind wishes. yes, the IM vet kept thinking her lymphoma had spread to her lungs or brain so she wanted an x-ray. to conserve funds i did one thing after the next, ruling each out, before i went to the next test. nothing definitive from immediate CBC, BP check, xray, and had to wait for results from full blood/urine panel. i'd asked repeatedly for a urine test at her onco recheck last week of september, that wednesday i brought her in, then 4 days later on sunday when i brought her in and said we weren't leaving without that urine test. they found the bladder infection the next night when C&S results started coming in. i kept saying i was worried about bladder infection and the other IM vet kept saying no need for urine test yet. remember, that wednesday they sent her home saying she had a soft-tissue injury mid back.

really a chronology here of how you have to be persistent and INSIST on things your inner voice tells you you need. i really do love the vets there but cleo suffered needlessly for 10 days, and the outcome could have been far worse. and these guys are WORLDS better than her regular vets. we are not out of the woods yet, either.
 
I'm so glad she is doing better, and I will send vines for continued improvement, and a good vet visit on Monday. This is a very good lesson about listening to your inner voice, and standing your ground with the vet.
 
oh good. jojo wanted meowzi upright to reduce risk of food aspirating into the lungs. i believe it can still happen in upright positions, but it's not as high risk. not likely with cleo, though, i'd think, if she is licking eagerly. i think it's hilarious that she gets burped :lol:
 
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