5/30 Trixie PMBG 162 "+4" 85 - BW results are in.

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Amy&TrixieCat

Member Since 2011
Yesterday

Thank you, everyone, for yesterday's visits...not only am I overwhelmed by all the information, but I am also overwhelmed by all the love and support I get from my LL family. What an amazing group.

Trix is eating MUCH better today. Last night, I increased her Pepcid from 2.5mg to 5mg, and she also got cerenia. As the evening progressed, her appy improved pretty significantly - although she's still not eating quite as much as she should...kitten steps, though. Since we are probably facing some sort of ulcer situation, my guess is that increasing the pepcid is what did the trick. I also gave her 5mg again this morning, to keep her on track. I know it's a high dose, but for now, the lower dose doesn't seem like it was enough. Maybe switching to Prilosec will be the right answer for Trix...hopefully it won't interact with her BP meds.

When I got up after my BTB, Trix followed me to the laundry room, where I was prepping a fresh snack for her. She was right outside the door, so I just put the plate on the floor for her...and she ate a decent amount (relative term, of course) without me holding the plate! Then, it was as if she suddenly remembered she wasn't supposed to do that (eat without me serving her), so she walked off. She headed to the water bowl for a few sips, and I put the plate down next to her. When she was done drinking, she ate a little more with the plate on the floor! It doesn't seem like much, but this little thing was huge. Any time I've put the plate next to her at the water bowl since all of this started, she has walked away and not even sniffed it...but today, she ate a few bites.

So far, she's only had a couple kibbles today...I'm playing it by ear with those.

My suspicion goes back to the pepcid again. She has probably liked me holding the plate because it is slightly elevated when I do that, and I know how the stomach acid can bother them if they have to hang their heads down to eat, but with the higher dose of pepcid, that stomach acid is in check better than it was before. DH is planning on building her an elevated station, but for now since she doesn't eat in one place, it's not something she'll actually use. But hopefully in the future that would be where she'll eat.

I should have her BW results back at some point today, so I will certainly update when I have that information.

I'm off today...I have chores, of course, but no matter what, it as a relief that I'm not stuck at work with no escape like I was yesterday.

Have a great day, LL!

Amy

ETA: No evidence of fresh TrixiePoop, but you all will be the first to know, you lucky souls :lol: !
 
Re: 5/30 Trixie AMBG 150 "+4" 82 - eating MUCH better!

Hi Amy, I don't want to disappoint you... you are doing such a loving and wonderful job taking care of your Trixie. You might already know this, but Famotidine (Pepcid/Zantac) reduce the stomach acid that breaks down food, but it will not heal an ulcer. In fact, Famotidine can interfere with the absorption of nutrients from the foods that she does it.

The ulcer needs a protective coating on top of it to heal, like Carafate. Even though it might be easier for the CG to give, with Jomo I found that pilling with Carafate just didn't work to heal the ulcer. The liquid Sulcrafate works much better. :YMPEACE:
 
Re: 5/30 Trixie AMBG 150 "+4" 82 - eating MUCH better!

How wonderful to hear that Trixie is eating better! Even a little bit is great news!!

With all that's going on with Trixie, I'm all for encouraging you to use whatever works, so if you see positive effects from increasing the Pepcid, I say go for it!

She's got so many things going on, and is on so much different medications, that I know it's a crazy balancing act to find things that work for her and don't cause more problems.

Keep up the great progress! Kitten steps will get you there...just takes a little longer!
 
Re: 5/30 Trixie AMBG 150 "+4" 82 - BW results are in.

I just spoke with the vet. I don't have the results in my hands yet so I can't update the labs tab, but in a nutshell, all of her bloodwork shows things are basically stable. Yes, she has Stage 3 CKD, but this is about as good as the news gets. Once I have the report, which she is e-mailing to me this afternoon, I'll get all the info into her labs tab, but here are the basics:

BUN - 67 (was 71 on 4/19)
Creatinine - 4.7 (was 4.6 on 4/19)
HCT - 32% (was 34% on 3/22)
Platelet count is normal
Potassium - 5
Phosphorous - 5.3 (was 4.9 on 3/22)

Given the data, Dr R actually feels that she does NOT have internal bleeding or an ulcer. She said when she has a cat with an ulcer, their BUN is usually through the roof and they have an HCT in the low 20% or so, among other things. She feels this is probably a flare of the pancreatitis which has been smoldering, and said to stay on course with the 5mg pepcid BID, the cerenia ever other day, the fluids, and give her a call with an update next Wednesday. She's not really sure why Trix's poop was black...maybe there was something related to how full her glands were???? She didn't analyze that sample from the other day. I'd love to see a nice fresh sample that I know for sure is from Trix! (Boy, this is my wish for may day off: fresh cat poop. Crazy cat lady to the core!)

Trix does keep all of us guessing, that is for sure.

Thank you for the information, Tina. Believe me, I'm not brushing any of it off...I have it tucked away in my mind, because anything can change in an instant. Maybe we ARE dealing with an ulcer, even though her BW doesn't seem to point that way, so I am holding on to every little bit that I hear. Our vet is so very thorough, I do have the utmost confidence in her. At the same time, she listens to everything I have to say and doesn't mind at all when I pose questions. If I feel for an instant that Trix may truly have an ulcer after all, I will be on the phone and I know Dr R will be very responsive to my concerns.

I know the pepcid isn't ideal...my husband won't ever take it because the idea of it freaks him out. I agree...but sometimes you just have to weigh the pros and cons of all the factors, and hope that the benefits outweigh the risks. Hopefully she won't be on this high of a dose for long, but for now, the amount she was eating without it was nowhere near enough.

It is definitely a physical, mental, and emotional challenge trying to figure all this stuff out for a critter that can't speak....
 
Re: 5/30 Trixie AMBG 150 "+4" 82 - BW results are in.

Looks like we posted at the same time, Tricia...the info is there now!
 
Re: 5/30 Trixie AMBG 150 "+4" 82 - BW results are in.

Looks like we posted at the same time, Tricia...the info is there now!
 
Re: 5/30 Trixie AMBG 150 "+4" 82 - BW results are in.

Hi Amy:

Sorry for the cross-post. I deleted mine when I saw your next post was up so I could start again, but you were too fast for me and had already read it! Anyway, I will repeat that I think you do an incredible job with Trixie, and I am very happy to hear that she is eating better and making those "kitten steps" - which I think are a little bigger than that!

I'm so glad the bloodwork showed no ulcers, although, as we all know, sometimes it's harder to not know what the problem is!

Sending healing and good appy and poo vines for Trixie. Enjoy your day off - even though you are on poo watch! :lol:
 
Re: 5/30 Trixie AMBG 150 "+4" 82 - BW results are in.

Hi Amy,

You and Dr. R are doing a wonderful job with Trixie. I think that your trial and error approach, in consultation with your vet, is what's going to help you better read Trixie's signs. You've noticed an improvement with the increased dose of antacid and that's great. It doesn't mean she'll need this amount forever but in time, you may notice she's doing better and doesn't need any or maybe a smaller dose. The close observations you make of Trixie's overall health and behaviours will help you determine what might be wrong and how to treat the symptoms. In due time, I'll bet all this will become old hat to you and you'll be able to provide advice to others on what to do. My thoughts are with you and Trixie as you climb this steep learning curve. Anne
 
Re: 5/30 Trixie AMBG 150 "+4" 82 - BW results are in.

I'm glad the b/w shows Trixie is stable. I hope the extra Pepcid continues to help her appy. That is great news she ate from the plate on the floor on her own.
 
Re: 5/30 Trixie AMBG 150 "+4" 82 - BW results are in.

Hi Amy,

This all sounds good. :-D So great that Trixie is "forgetting" (at least some of the time) that she needs special treatment! Now maybe her personal maid can get an hour or two off.

Have a fine weekend,

Hugs and scritches,

Ella & Rusty
 
I can't believe how much better she is feeling and eating today and tonight....paws crossed and prayers that this trend continues. And the snuggles...oh, how I love the snuggles. She and I are both addicts these days!
 
I'm so glad she is doing better tonight and her numbers are pretty stable :-D :-D :-D

We've been having some discussions elsewhere on the board and in Lucy's condo about Azodyl. I can't remember if your vet has discussed it with you; I did a search of your posts and didn't see it mentioned. It did not seem to help my Max's numbers. I gave it to Teddi for a bit but her numbers were never very high; it didn't improve them but, as I said, they weren't really bad to start with. I never gave it to Gus. It's another capsule to get in her :roll: but it could help. You never know......
 
Hi Amy, I am just sharing information with you about ulcers in cats because I've actually treated it before, successfully. It's not easy to do, that's for sure. I know that you are handling a lot, I've been down that road with a CKD kitty myself. Trixie is your cat and you're going to do whatever you think is best for her and help her the most, which is how it should be. ;-)
 
just adding how glad i am to hear that her bloodwork is basically normal! keeping her eating is so important and if the extra pepcid helps, i'd keep it up.

in my perspective, pancreatitis flare-up is one of the better things she could have. :-D

:YMHUG:
 
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