10/3, Susie, 241 AMPS

Scdal said:
Summer, have you tried just tipping Susie's head back to give her a Cerenia? Here is what I do and it may work for you. Do not wrap Susie in a towel and approach her like she is getting medicine. Say to her " Do you want a snack?" and give her one when she is just standing or sitting next to you. Then, ask her if she wants another snack. Lift the snack a little above her head so she is looking up. Have the pill in your hand and gently put your finger in one side of her mouth and tilt her head further back. Just drop the pill in the back of her throat. She will swallow and it is gone. Then give her another snack. When she is used to it, just do this with 1 snack.

Phoenix is 34 pounds and I have gotten in the habit of doing this every day. I give him zobaline and Zyrtec and cobalaquin tablets daily.

It is when they think you are going to give them medicine that they put up a fight. The cerenia is so small that Susie won't realize that you have given her a pill. Please try this method. It may take a few times to get the hang of it but when she realizes she is getting a treat, Susie will come running. Just try to stay calm and act natural.

Phoenix had pancreatititis almost 2 years ago and completely stopped eating. The cerenia also treats inflammation and worked wonders for Phoenix. You may not want my opinion but if I were you. I would just try the cerenia and pain meds for a week to see how Susie does.

I would hold off on any more exams. My doctor told me that as we get older, every time we get a test done chances are they will find some abnormalities. Then they do all sorts of other tests just to find out that it is nothing to worry about. Don't go looking for trouble. I had a previous vet that was giving Phoenix all kinds of treatments and tests. The stress alone almost killed Phoenix.

Let Susie and yourself relax. Take it a day at a time. If you are unsure as to what to do, sometimes the best thing is to do nothing and wait and see. I think Susie and you are both going through a rough time but I really think Susie will get better. Take care of yourself and relax. Susie picks up on your emotions. If you relax, she will also.
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Thank you for all the information. I will try to relax and not show stress around Susie. Wow, Phoenix is a big kitty. Susie has been getting the cerenia. I put it in a pill pocket and then into her meal. I only hope this doesn't cause her to not want to eat because she taste the cerenia when eating.
 
Summer and Susie said:
Thank you for all the information. I will try to relax and not show stress around Susie. Wow, Phoenix is a big kitty. Susie has been getting the cerenia. I put it in a pill pocket and then into her meal. I only hope this doesn't cause her to not want to eat because she taste the cerenia when eating.
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Did she eat her "cerenia meal" okay?
 
Warm the fluids before giving so it’s not such a shock to Susie’s system. Here’s what I wrote to Gina on Baba Kitty’s condo of a few days ago:

“Warm the fluids in a bowl or pan or sink of hot /warm water and leave them there for a while. Be sure to keep the line out of the water. Then turn it upside down (right side up, I guess) and hand/hold it up and let the cool water that will still be in the line to flow out and test the warmed water on the inside of your wrist/forearm like you would a baby bottle to make sure it doesn't feel too warm or hot to you. I know some people who buy a digital thermometer to scan at the bag to see the temp. I've never had to go to all that trouble (although it's a cool thermometer that tests the surface temperature of objects). This can help with some cats. Keeping in mind that the body temp of a cat can be from about 99 to 102 degrees you can either try to go a little above that or just to get it in that range. But, like I said, I don't actually measure the temp. I go by what feels comfortable on my wrist. Some people use a Sous Vide machine that circulates water around the bag at the exact temperature you specify (I don't have one of those either, but I guess I could cook with it :) ) So.... this is a lot of info and you'll probably come back and tell me that you already warm the fluids! If so.... my apologies! :) You're an awesome cat mama!”
 
As to CERENIA, Is she getting 1 mg/kg? Susie is a little over 5 kg. So about 5 mg of Cerenia? I don’t know how many mg are in the tablets of Cerenia you are quartering up? Is it the 16 mg tablets (they make many different strengths).
 
Summer and Susie said:
https://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/10-2-susie-186-amps.253724/#post-2860751

Today I will be giving Susie fluids for the first time. She had them at the vets yesterday and was very good. We will see how she does in her own environment. Might be a little more feisty.

Have a great day.
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Do you have a high place to hang your bag from? I got my mom to stand behind and watch the bag levels while I was down on Bama’s level to pet and comfort. Better than having to continually squat and pet then stand and look at where the fluid levels were on the bag and then squat again. Then again, maybe I earned some workout points doing that. We here on the FDMB could probably design a cardio routine involving all the maneuvers we perform doing various cat care tasks. :joyful:
 
Summer and Susie said:
The last two days she has eaten 1/4 a pill when I put them in pill pockets. I hope that last. I might have to get it compounded.
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This will sound weird but I do taste all of Dolly’s meds first. If you have a bitter pill compounded even with sugar free flavor it will be a bitter liquid. I would try to just give her the pill pocket with other treats if she starts leaving it in her food dish. Compound as a last resort or get the prescription filled so you have it on hand. For Dolly I give her the pill pockets as a treat, it usually works for us. Good luck and prayers.
 
Suzanne & Darcy said:
Warm the fluids before giving so it’s not such a shock to Susie’s system. Here’s what I wrote to Gina on Baba Kitty’s condo of a few days ago:

“Warm the fluids in a bowl or pan or sink of hot /warm water and leave them there for a while. Be sure to keep the line out of the water. Then turn it upside down (right side up, I guess) and hand/hold it up and let the cool water that will still be in the line to flow out and test the warmed water on the inside of your wrist/forearm like you would a baby bottle to make sure it doesn't feel too warm or hot to you. I know some people who buy a digital thermometer to scan at the bag to see the temp. I've never had to go to all that trouble (although it's a cool thermometer that tests the surface temperature of objects). This can help with some cats. Keeping in mind that the body temp of a cat can be from about 99 to 102 degrees you can either try to go a little above that or just to get it in that range. But, like I said, I don't actually measure the temp. I go by what feels comfortable on my wrist. Some people use a Sous Vide machine that circulates water around the bag at the exact temperature you specify (I don't have one of those either, but I guess I could cook with it :) ) So.... this is a lot of info and you'll probably come back and tell me that you already warm the fluids! If so.... my apologies! :) You're an awesome cat mama!”
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Thanks, Suzanne. It is pretty warm in my bedroom where I give the fluids so I don't think I need to warm the container. Susie did well but I did have my Mom holding her.
 
Suzanne & Darcy said:
As to CERENIA, Is she getting 1 mg/kg? Susie is a little over 5 kg. So about 5 mg of Cerenia? I don’t know how many mg are in the tablets of Cerenia you are quartering up? Is it the 16 mg tablets (they make many different strengths).
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16 mg tablets that I first gave a 1/4 then the next day 1/2. I did not give any to her today. She just doesn't seem nauseous except for the occasional swallow and lip licking. She is eating fine, no vomit, no diarrhea, urinates normally. It just doesn't even sound like IBD to me. I might have to be looking more at the Lymphoma possibility. Will ask my vet tomorrow - if he calls. Mondays are his busy surgery days.

By the way, great article from Cornell. You have mentioned a lot of things that were mentioned in the article. I found it interesting their statement "Intestinal lymphoma, a form of cancer, can be particularly difficult to distinguish from IBD in cats". Also, if the stomach is inflammed (which is where the intern said the thickening is) then it (IBD) is called gastritis. It is really sad that these endoscopies are so expensive. Sure would be nice to know what is going on. Susie is having a very good day today!
 
Bama Kitty Mom said:
Do you have a high place to hang your bag from? I got my mom to stand behind and watch the bag levels while I was down on Bama’s level to pet and comfort. Better than having to continually squat and pet then stand and look at where the fluid levels were on the bag and then squat again. Then again, maybe I earned some workout points doing that. We here on the FDMB could probably design a cardio routine involving all the maneuvers we perform doing various cat care tasks. :joyful:
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Yes, a cardio routine is a big part of the "sugar dance" especially when other medical issues come in to play. Yes, I hang the bag from the top of my back bed board. It is raised up pretty good but it probably would be better in a higher location. I like to put her on a towel on my bed so I'm not doing the cardio routine. My Mom holds her while I insert the needle and open the flow. Then, I help with the holding and petting until she has had enough and Mom takes over the holding while I turn off the flow and remove the needle. Susie did well but did try to get up a couple of times. It seemed the flow was not very fast. I have 20g needles. Maybe I need the 18s. Well, at least I got through the first time with her and it should get easier. Good luck with the fluids with Bama. NICE set of blues today, Gina! :D
 
Our Dolly Girl said:
This will sound weird but I do taste all of Dolly’s meds first. If you have a bitter pill compounded even with sugar free flavor it will be a bitter liquid. I would try to just give her the pill pocket with other treats if she starts leaving it in her food dish. Compound as a last resort or get the prescription filled so you have it on hand. For Dolly I give her the pill pockets as a treat, it usually works for us. Good luck and prayers.
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Susie has "jaws of steel" when it comes to pilling. I would be thrilled if she could take all her oral prescriptions with a pill pocket. I worked two days in a row. Prayers for you, Rob and your Dolly Girl too, Adrienne.
 
Afternoon Summer, I'm glad to see the fluids went well today
I used to give them to Perry also for awhile before he passed
He would actually sit there and purr when I gave him them and turn his head and look at me with his big eyes. He was such a good boy.
Susie will get used to them. You're doing great. Nice blues today Summer.
I'm glad she's feeling better today .Kisses for her :bighug::bighug::bighug::cat:
 
:bighug::bighug::bighug: Relieved to hear you’ve been able to sneak Susie her pills with the pockets and glad the fluid went well. Hopefully between the two, she starts to feel more like herself.
 
On the "lighter side" a few of my friends decided to stop by this evening for some stale Doritos treats.
Diane Tyler's Mom said:
Afternoon Summer, I'm glad to see the fluids went well today
I used to give them to Perry also for awhile before he passed
He would actually sit there and purr when I gave him them and turn his head and look at me with his big eyes. He was such a good boy.
Susie will get used to them. You're doing great. Nice blues today Summer.
I'm glad she's feeling better today .Kisses for her :bighug::bighug::bighug::cat:
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You are so sweet. I can tell you miss your Perry. You have talked about him frequently. I'm sorry for your loss. We never forget.
 
On a lighter note - does anyone else ever find themselves wishing for a specific glucose number when they are testing and before they get the result? I do it all the time. I actually got the exact number I was wishing for tonight. 160. Just a little higher than Susie's PMPS but not too high. Funny, how I finally got the number I was wishing for. :D
 
Summer and Susie said:
On a lighter note - does anyone else ever find themselves wishing for a specific glucose number when they are testing and before they get the result? I do it all the time. I actually got the exact number I was wishing for tonight. 160. Just a little higher than Susie's PMPS but not too high. Funny, how I finally got the number I was wishing for. :D
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Maybe that’s a good sign!
 
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