9/25 Bear Man Oldtimer

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Linda and Bear Man

Linda and Bear Man

Member Since 2009
Last week: viewtopic.php?f=9&t=25292

Emily's arthritis condo on Health: viewtopic.php?f=28&t=25345

Bear Man has had a week of not feeling too well. He has vomited almost daily, and has no appetite at all. He doesn't even want the things that used to tempt him like Babycat or HC gravy. Temptations, however, are still accepted. He appears comfortable otherwise. He hasn't lost a lot of weight, but his hips feel very bony. I wonder what to do for him ... His weekly vet visits for anemia rechecks and shots have been streteched out to every two weeks, as he seems to be able to hold his PCV for two weeks after an Aranesp shot.

As you would expect when the kitty doesn't eat, the BG numbers run fairly low. I dropped a hair from his dose, and he is now on .25U, but he has had a BCS or skipped shot at almost every pm dose. The custom Bear protocol aims to keep him in fairly comfortable blue colors and (hopefully) never go too low. He's almost an SID dose kitty right now. I suppose it might be better to lower the dose some more and be able to shoot BID.

Miss Emily is having great difficulty walking. She had a thread on Health regarding arthritis treatments. I have started giving her heat pads, which she is loving, and have added in a supplement which contains MSM and hyonaluric acid. She has an appointment with a vet here in town at a very respected animal hospital for an initial assessment for acupuncture treatments. My problem is that I don't believe in acupuncture, although I have heard some favorable comments from a few people. I will give it a shot, as we have few options, and she is close to not being able to walk at all. Her appetite is off, which is alarming in Emily, a kitty who has always enjoyed her food (and has the fluffy waistline to prove it). I think she is partially in too much pain to sit at the dish, and partially disgusted by all of the powders, supplements, oils, and binders in her food. I am giving more FF and less Wellness, and bits of renal kibble to entice her, as she seems to like the taste better.

Teddy Man is in charge of making everyone feel better:

 
I didn't believe in acupuncture or chiropractic till I read a book about how successful both are in animals. Now I love my chiropractor, but have not yet tried acupuncture. The good news is, it can work on Miss Emily even if you don't believe in it ;)

Hope Bear's appetite improves and he starts feeling better. Also hoping the treatment gives Miss Emily some much-needed relief. I hear good things about the MSM/hyaluronic acid combo. I'm giving my horse a supplement with glucosamine, chondroitin and MSM. I couldn't find one at the store that contained the hyaluronic acid that wasn't incredibly expensive, but I'm considering adding it in as a stand-alone supplement if the current one doesn't help enough. It's supposed to be good stuff.

That Teddy is such a sweetie.
 
Good job Teddy! I hope things go well for Bear Man - come on big fells - food is good. I wish you luck Linda. It is good to read that he is comfortable.

For what it is worth: I have a friend who has an arthritic cat, though not yet severe. She opted to try acupuncture for her kitty. It has made a world of difference for her cat. She walks now, and no longer hobbles or limps. Pain level is much less - her kitty is feeling much better. Good luck with your decision - I hope Emily will improve.

Have a great Caturday. I am glad to be able to read a Bear Man report. :-D Day is complete now.
 
Great pictures of Teddy taking care of your furbabies. He looks like he's doing such a good job.

:YMHUG: :YMHUG: :YMHUG: :YMHUG: :YMHUG:
Many hugs for you Linda and your babies

Sending good appetite vines to Bear Man, acupuncture works good vines to Miss Emily,
a feeling of accomplishment vines to Teddy Man, not feeling left out vines to Pinkerton.

Have a better week, all of you :-D Linda too.
 
(((Linda and Bear Man and Teddy and Emily)))
You are having a lot of issues there, Linda...I am hoping for good results with the acupuncture for Emily. Just don't share your negative thought about it...she might find it helps her! :razz: And I hope both she and Bear man have more success with eating soon. How about the aroma of Mama's Beef Stew to perk up their senses? That might help if they smell that good stuff cooking away. ;-)

Please give Teddy a special hug from us...it is good that he is so watchful and concerned over them....and hugs to Emily and Bear Man too....
Bear Man was wonderful with Raja the other night at the party....she respects him and loves him so much. She told me he gave her great advice and she is trying to follow it...but it is hard for such a strong willed little girl. She doesn't want to disappoint Bear Man. (but oh, she is having a hard time with this poky attention she is getting from the foolish woman...)

Thinking of you Linda...sending love and hugs to you from us all... :YMHUG: :YMHUG: :YMHUG:

(Maybe I could make some furniture with the used syringes and lancets...do you think my DD would find that amusing? I could decorate it with the tissues I have used to stop the bleeding too...that would be colorful, dontcha think?) :lol:
And I could display the back up boxes of test strips in a curio cabinet with a little light shining on them...oh...that's a good one! :lol:
 
((((Linda))))
I'm sorry to hear that Bear Man is not feeling well. I'm assuming you're already giving him pepcid, which I think can really help. Or slippery elm bark is supposed be good too. I'm sending good tummy vines to Bear Man.

I'm also sorry about Emily's arthritis. We have battled that with Blackie too. Have you tried adding some methylcobalamine? I know that is usually for neuropathy or CRF, but I saw dramatic results in Blackie's walking and jumping when I added it to his supplements.

I know you have a lot on your plate and you are doing everything you can to help. Its so hard to see our babies grow old. I hope you are taking care of yourself.

ps. Your pics of Teddy with Bear Man and Emily are priceless. :-D
 
Hope that Bear's appetite picks up, I wish I could give him some of Punk's...she has extra.

I've only heard good things about the accupunktcure too. When Punk sprained her leg, I gave her the arnica montanna (sp) and it really helped, is that something that might help Miss Em?

I'm glad Teddy's in charge of making everyone feel better, I know it's working for me. :mrgreen:
 
(((Linda)))

You do have your hands full. What about those feeding stations that are up off the floor so that the cat can eat standing up? Would that help Miss Emily?

I hope both of their appetites get better. Hugs to your group and especially to you. :YMHUG: :YMHUG: :YMHUG:
 
My vet has received some feedback from posting Emily's case on VIN, and it is very worrisome. This is what Dr. Mandelker on VIN says :shock:

I would recommend hospitalizing this patient and start SQ fluids with low dose lasix (0.1ml)
to force diuresis. Start antibiotics to rule out kidney infection...ie Baytril bid 2.5mg/kg.
For pain start low dose tramadol ie 1/8th tab bid or less if sedated (compound the drug)
and SAM-e for joint disease. Add 250mg/day niacinaminde for arthritis and for use as
a phosphate binder . Stop the ALOH. Continue with other meds but don't need glucosamine
powder if using Cosequin. I think acupuncture is a good idea....

By lowering BUN the cat should feel better as well. Use cyproheptadine 1/4 tab
to stim appetite.

Is Acarbose really necessary??
Gabapentin may or may not be effective... consider stopping until cat
improves with renal function and appetite.

Lester Mandelker DABVP, FAAVPT
 
(((((((Linda and Bear Man))))) no advice really just hugs and support hope things can be better this week I have never tried acupuncture although am seriously considering it for myself for my migraines since I have exhausted all other means have to admit I am skeptical as well but its been around for such a long time that it must do something
 
Linda you're such a great loving bean to your gang. I hope bear gets a better appy and Emily can find some relief for her arthritis. As always Teddy is doing a wonderful job looking afther his brother and sister.
 
((((Linda))))
The medical chemistry is... well over my head I'm afraid.
I am here for moral support and I'm very happy to read that Teddy is also doing his share.
 
Well the hospitalization is worrisome. :sad: But at least he's offering some treatments. We have used Tramadol in our dogs and it works really well for pain. I have also read on the CRF group that some of those members have used it successfully in their cats. I hope you can find something that will work. Sending healing vines your way.
 
linda, i can't advise anything, but FWIW would like to share this...my 56 yr old sis is paralyzed on her left side...but is suffering from arthritis and neuropathy there as well...actual pain...not imagined. we began acupuncture treatments a week after i arrived here in june...and are seeing a marked reduction in her pain level. granted...she is aware of the treatment so there is a possibility that a small amt of relief is caused by a panacea effect...but both her neuro doc and i feel the acupuncture has had a beneficial physiological effect.

i wasnt sure how i felt about the procedure...but thought hey...anything that might help.

celi
 
Was your vet open to what that other guy said? Could you give the SQ fluids at home maybe?
And the ABs are doable, right? what about the other meds he mentioned....I don't know anything about them of course, but if they would help her, maybe that would be a good thing. I don't know that the hospitalization is necessary...maybe you could do that yourself???
What did your vet say to you about it?
 
Pat+Raja+Shadow said:
Was your vet open to what that other guy said? Could you give the SQ fluids at home maybe?
And the ABs are doable, right? what about the other meds he mentioned....I don't know anything about them of course, but if they would help her, maybe that would be a good thing. I don't know that the hospitalization is necessary...maybe you could do that yourself???
What did your vet say to you about it?
Click to expand...
I was thinking the same thing.....you can do the squids at home and the rest is just meds which you can clearly do at home.
 
I was wondering about the hospitalization too, I know there is a difference between IV fluids and subq fluids but it sounds like you could do most of this at home. Sending hugs and vines for you and all the kitties.
 
I have to say how much I admire you for all you do for your babies, they get the very best care and lots of love. Its hard on you though, living in a sick pet retirement home, I have one here so I understand. I have one diabetic, two who cant walk, one with IBD and all 6 with adrenal tumors and life seems like a constant round of worry and medications and trying to get them to eat. It takes a lot out of you, it really does but like me you can do no less than give it your best to help them.
Having been arthritic myself I feel her pain, nothing really helped me except cortisone injections and pain meds, admittedly I didnt try accupuncture though, finally joint replacement was my only option. One thing I do know is keeping moving helps as much as anything, if you dont use the joints because they hurt they get worse and more painful much faster so keeping her up and moving is important.
I wish I had a magic wand and could wave it and make them all healthy and happy, I dont, but I do send lots of good thoughts and prayers for them and a special prayer for your Bear Man that he start to enjoy eating again soon.
 
Hi Linda
just popping in to give you a big (((((( :YMHUG: ))))))
and hoping this week goes smoothly for your kitties.
 
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