6-8-17 - Jones - AMPS 113 - What a really scary night!!

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Tracey&Jones (GA)

Tracey&Jones (GA)

Member Since 2016
Just some background. My BIL arrived last Friday night from Ontario. He was to stay a few days and then pick up some equipment he bought and drive it back home. Weellll, that hasn't worked out. This guy is driving me crazy for many reasons but the #1 reason is my cats are all out of sorts. Jones is not really eating well for the last couple of days - needs lots of coaxing; CKD civvie isn't eating either and I think may have the runs (I have not done her subq yet as BIL thinks every night should be a drinking party with friends while he is here) so putting foot down and asking for an hour of quiet tonight; Civvie Missy is now hiding again - took me 3 years to get her to start coming out and be petted.

So last night I got home from work and noticed that Jones hadn't eaten a lot of his food. Did his PMPS - 232! Found out he and Civvie Libby broke into the closet and decided to eat the KD kibble. Otherwise everything else seems normal. Feed and pill the cat troop. Had to coax Jones to eat about 1/4c of FF, but felt safe with giving his shot given that I have reduced it even further as it seems his body is coping with the increased pred. I left about +1 for my workout - all seemed normal. Knew I would be back around +2.5 or so to test. When I got home - he jumped down from his bed and tried to walk to me. His back legs just gave out and he laid down and was looking at me. I went to grab MC food I have for him. DH is instructed to grab the corn syrup and testing supplies. I give the syrup and open the can of food thinking he looks like he is ready to pass out! Do the test......124:confused:. He seems to have all the clinical signs of a hypo but it isn't that in regards to numbers. I really should of retested thinking back, however we did a scoop and run to the ER Vet. By this point he tried to walk away and basically face planted and couldn't move. He was basically almost unconscious when we started the 20 min drive to the vet. About 5 mins out, he starts to open his eyes, looking around but very disorientated. Rush in and say "I don't know what is wrong - maybe hypo but number is 6.9 (124) and is coming to. They do an immediate triage and say his vitals are stable and he is up and walking like a drunken sailor. Please wait.

Sooo, 2.5 hours later finally get to see the vet. He examines him. Asks questions. Looks at him again. Plays with him. Listens to his heart. Doesn't really have an answer. By now Jones has a slight issue with back legs dog tracking but otherwise alert and aware. He sends us home with a 24 hour watch and gives the following scenarios:
  1. It was a hypo type event but he doesn't really understand why as his number was not low. He said hypos are not the drop but an absolute - when the number is too low it is a hypo.
  2. He could of had a stroke - the only way to know for sure is an MRI.
  3. He could of thrown a clot or partial clot to the spine which has basically resolved itself. May want to get an ECG and blood pressure check.
  4. Really have no idea get a full blood work up and maybe the blood pressure check and go from there.

I am so wondering if he ate something that he shouldn't have.

So, I am tired, worried and just plain want the BIL gone so I get my house back into the somewhat order I had it in.
:arghh::banghead::(:(:(
 
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Yikes Tracey! My guess is #2 or #3. I would watch him closely and get those follow up tests. Yep and certainly put your foot down with the BIL :mad:
 
Doodles & Karen said:
I would watch him closely and get those follow up tests
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I will be doing that! Thinking of working from home tomorrow so I can watch and assess what is happening and push the BIL issue.

It scared me how fast it happened and then how he seemed to come out of it. It was like he was drugged! He has been doing some serious Pica behaviour lately so wondering if he ate something...but what that could be????

He has a follow up with the IM in two weeks so I will make sure to make that appointment and ask for the initial blood work.
 
Like Karen, my mind went straight to heart issues. I had a civie with a stroke caused by HCM, two days before his scheduled echocardiogram. :( His was complete stroke and he lost all ability to use his hind legs. It happened in an instant while DH watched. Did vetty check Jones' temperature in his legs? Clots can block blood flow. I wouldn't wait two weeks to follow up.

:bighug::bighug::bighug:
 
Not to scare you but I'd get his heart checked. Have an X-ray done checking for fluid and echocardiogram if needed. I'm certainly not an expert but pred is hard on their heart sometimes. Doodles had similar episodes and pica symptoms occasionally. Only the echocardiogram showed his CHF and HCM. Neither were caused by pred but I do know of other kitties that pred did cause CHF. Doodles blood work remained normal until the very end.
 
Oh Tracey, I am so sorry you are going though this. Gosh, family and friends just don't get how stressful peeps being in the house are for our cats. Even our healthy cats but with cats with conditions......... dog people don't get it.

I don't have experience with any of the conditions mentions, just family that come to stay........ Sending hugs...:bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug:
 
Doodles & Karen said:
Have an X-ray done checking for fluid and echocardiogram if needed.
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X-ray may show nothing - my civie Buster's didn't show a thing. B/W was fine. But he had a murmur so we were doing a followup echo. But Karen is right about the pred. Neko couldn't have pred due to her heart condition. It can cause fluid retention. But I don't think it would be related to any stroke. The fact that Jones has some mobility now is good.
 
Ohhh Tracey sooo sorry for you terror!!! What a nightmare, so glad he's back to somewhat normal. Big hugs and healing vines for your babies. And a big boot for the BIL hiney. :bighug::bighug::bighug: head bumps
 
Wendy&Neko said:
X-ray may show nothing - my civie Buster's didn't show a thing. B/W was fine. But he had a murmur so we were doing a followup echo. But Karen is right about the pred. Neko couldn't have pred due to her heart condition. It can cause fluid retention. But I don't think it would be related to any stroke. The fact that Jones has some mobility now is good.
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X-ray showed nothing for Doodles either
 
So sorry things are scary and unanswered. I think a cardiologist is a good idea. I thought Smokey was drooling because of a broken tooth and ab he was getting. His chin was wet all the time, now I know because he couldn't keep his head up out of the water bowl. He was as vet put it "senior cardiac cat". CHF, enlarged heart, HCM. When he had his 6 month echo done and heart had improved, cardio said he would see his 19 yr. He was gone one month to the day after echo. They said it was a series of strokes (all day) with the major one that night. It happened fast and no warning less than 24 hrs. They all have different symptoms. Having the cardio done could rule out some major issues. Good luck, keep strong.
 
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