12/31 - Salem update, something wrong?

Status
Not open for further replies.
Camille and Cyclone

Camille and Cyclone

Member Since 2009
Hi, everyone. Salem has been doing well OTJ with some ups and downs. For a while I was giving insulin again since he often gets am and pm numbers over 100 and occasionally in the 140's or 150's, but since he comes down under 80 after a meal regardless of insulin or not I discontinued it and am just checking a couple of times a week.

Today something seems wrong - his appetite seemed a little off last night since he didn't finish his midnight snack, but this morning he ate well. This afternoon he keeps walking around aimlessly and stopping to stare at walls. I saw him go into one litterbox and just stand, then the other box and just stand, and a couple of times he went to the water bowl and just stood with his nose just above the water. Eventually he took a drink and then sat down for a while. I tested bg and got 70, and he ate his treat quite eagerly, so hopefully that means he's not in horrible pain or about to keel over.

Naturally my vet is closed until Wednesday, and I'm reluctant to go the emergency clinic unless it's really an emergency. Salem's been just kind of blah for a while - nothing I can really put my finger on but I've thought of thyroid and kidney disease since he's eating normal amounts but has lost some weight over the last months. He's also 16 years old (I think) and I've read that some older cats get a sort of dementia.

Now he's finally settled down, and is meatloafed (on his tummy but not hunched or tense, and looked around when I went to pet him) in front of the radiator where it's warm.
 
I Cyclone prone to UTI? If he has one peeing could be painful and that's may be why he doesn't do anything in the LB. Any sign o fblood in his pee if he does fgo? Drat on the holiday, it always happens when vets are closed!
 
I hear you about stuff happening on holidays! The other favorite time is the middle of the night.

No, Cyclone has no history of UTI and I've never seen blood in his urine. He wasn't squatting or trying to go, just standing, so I'm inclined not to think there's a blockage or pee problem, but you never know and I'll watch for signs.

He looks more relaxed now so I'm hopeful this was just a who-knows-what. Will definitely take him to the vet this week, though; I don't like the whole way he's been looking lately.
 
Try some Pepcid (famotidine) and see if it settles his tummy and improves his appetite?
Older cats do tend to have "senior moments" where they seem to forget where they are and what they're doing.
Definitely check thyroid and renal profile at your next opportunity.

MJ
 
I've been giving a small amount of Pepsid every day for several days - in fact I wonder if he's getting too much??

Just now he walked into a narrow space between pieces of furniture and seemed unable to figure out how to back up to get out. I'm really thinking this may be cognitive - maybe he's had some kind of mini-stroke?

Edit: He's eating his afternoon snack with a good appetite. Will see if he sleeps now.

Son of Edit: He mostly just slurped up the liquid so I mixed in some water and he licked that up too. Possibly this is a pancreatitis flare - for Salem they can be subtle and show up as decreased appetite and depression.
 
I see why you're worried, that sounds like some odd behavior. I would definitely take him in when you can, which you are already planning to do. I hope nothing serious is going on. We'll send vines and keep you and Salem in our thoughts.
 
He doesn't follow my finger but I can't tell if he just doesn't want to be bothered - if I move my finger towards his face (without touching any whiskers) he'll blink and turn his head. Possibly he's not seeing well - he'll walk right up to a wall or another cat before turning. He sees small obstacles well enough to step over them.
 
Sending Healing Vines to Salem, Moonie does some of those behaviors too sometimes-Could he be constipated?
Moonie sometimes sticks her head by the water bowl & just sits there for a while, drinks a little & then sticks her paw in :roll: -Cats are strange creatures, hope he is better later tonite. Hugs & Love from us!!'
Saying Healing Prayers for him!!
 
Re: 12/31 - Salem update, something wrong? Hospital 1/1

Thanks so much, Roni, Anne, Libby, MJ, Ann. This morning Salem was much the same - calmer but still disoriented and behaving strangely and only eating a few bites although he seems quite hungry. I took him to the 24/7 hospital where they found no neurological or vision problems and only a slight change in kidney values - higher Creatinine (sp?) to just above normal range and BUN a bit lower. He peed and pooped normally at home and they were able to express urine. BG was 146 just before we left and 180 at the hospital - probably stress and/or hunger. (Eating brings him down and he's not eating.) He has elevated blood calcium and while I knew he had lost some weight it turned out to be 2 lbs since July which is not good. They're talking cancer and doing x-rays and tomorrow an ultrasound; he's there overnight for IV fluids, injected Pepsid, and monitoring. :( I felt bad leaving him there but they have a very nice comfortable quiet ward for cats.
 
Prayers that he is OK!! And tests find nothing! Moonie has lost a lot of weight also, but there are ways to help that too...Keeping you both close to my heart & Healing vines to Salem+Hope tomorrow brings answers & good news~~ Hugs & Much Love from us!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top