Post-vet and scared

shelaghc

shelaghc

Very Active Member
Jester's been on Royal Canin prescription food for a little over a week and the last couple of days he hasn't been eating very well.

We went in to see the vet - he's down another half pound and she was concerned about dehydration and labored breathing.

They took an x-ray - she thinks the labored breathing was from some pain because he was very constipated (she "helped" him a bit and showed me the hard stools she got out of him), but there's something else she can't identify in his abdomen. She said it could be fluids or something more concerning.

So Jester's going on sub-q fluids for dehydration with no definitive amount of time for that. And I have to start mixing laxative in with his foods for constipation.

His AMPS was 73 today. I wish I could be happier about that.

The vet wants me to be prepared for the worst because Jester isn't in great shape right now. But she also wants to try some more because his eyes are still bright, he generally still eats, and for the most part he behaves like a normal kitty.

I'm just getting very afraid that I'm going to have to say goodbye to my baby soon.
 
Things to be happy about (for now). AMPS 73 means he's not developing insulin resistance. He's got bright eyes, wants to eat and otherwise looks like a normal kitty. There's no science behind how the eyes look but I disagree. You know Jester like no one else and his eyes will tell you a lot.
The labored breathing is beyond me but maybe the constipation is high enough in his system that it's pushing on one organ, then another and finally his lungs.
If he's constipated badly that may explain weight loss. Maybe there's an impacted hairball but that's just a guess. Has anyone mentioned an enema?
I won't give you false hopes but let's wait and see what further testing reveals. You got through your vacation when I gave you a temporary "following you/voodoo" so I'll try some especially positive thoughts again.
I'm not being flippant about any of this. I've been down this road too many times so my wishes are genuine. :bighug:
 
Noah & me (GA) said:
If he's constipated badly that may explain weight loss.
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The weight loss has been an ongoing thing over the last year, although he was somewhat stable at a more than lean 9-ish lbs for a few months. But after the pancreatitis his weight took a nosedive.

I'm supposed to give him miralax for the time being to see what that does for him.

And there's a blessing of the animals coming up soon. You can never tell with these things, but Bastian was supposedly going to die from a tumor in his jaw last fall. I took him to a local blessing and four months later the vet concluded that it wasn't a tumor but a very bad infection. That was despite several vets, including an oncological vet, looking at the x-rays and agreeing that it was a tumor.

I had Jester at the same blessing last year. We'll go again and see if he gets a miracle too.
 
Give the miralax a try and see what happens. He might not be eating enough because of constipation...that can make them feel icky. I surely hope that you and Jester aren't having to say goodbye soon...it doesn't sound like it's time YET and that's something to focus on. Just keep spoiling him and taking care of him and give the miralax a try..and the animal blessing...and see if that helps. I really think it might.

And know we are here for you, no matter what. :bighug::bighug:
 
Oh Shelagh, I'm so sorry you're dealing with this, and I do hope it isn't time to say good-bye. One day at a time, and hopefully the blessing of the animals will be just the thing you and Jester need.
 
Jester's appetite was way better after the vet dug out the stuff that was stuck inside him. He ate about 1 1/3 cans, in fact.

I was a little concerned that I had to pick him up to bring him to bed, but after a while he snuggled up under my arm like he used to do. He stayed with me all night - hasn't done that in months.

This morning he behaved almost like nothing was wrong and ate almost 1/2 a can of food. Now, of course, I'm concerned that he'll eat too much and get constipated again before the laxative takes effect.
The vet reassured me earlier this week that if he ate a decent amount the day before, less wasn't bad the next morning.

One other thing - his AMPS was 65 today. Is there a worry that he might go too low?
I haven't seen numbers like for Jester this except when he was getting too much insulin (vet prescribed) just over a year ago. And I haven't given him insulin in over a week now.

Tonight, after choir, I'll give him his fluids. A little nervous about that. I wish they'd let me watch at the vet's office when they were doing it. I haven't given fluids for nearly 25 years......
 
My civvie regularly tests in the 40s and 50s. With the exception of some rare conditions, its not possible for him to go too low if he's not on insulin. Sounds like he's well on his way to remission!! That's so great!!
 
SpotsMom said:
My civvie regularly tests in the 40s and 50s. With the exception of some rare conditions, its not possible for him to go too low if he's not on insulin. Sounds like he's well on his way to remission!! That's so great!!
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I'd be happier if he gained weight with or without remission. That's the big problem here.

If he keeps losing weight, remission or no, I'll lose my sweet silly boy.

:-(
 
shelaghc said:
see if he gets a miracle too.
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I'm agnostic but I've looked up to the clouds more than once asking for a favor. The oncologist that said Hannah wouldn't make Christmas should have seen her the following spring. We all have Faith in something or we wouldn't have these little souls in our homes. Jester has a soul that doesn't want to be separated from yours. :bighug:
 
If no insulin the reading is perfect.

Next is trying to keep him going. Have you tried pure pumpkin? Start with 1/4 tsp in one meal daily . Can also use miralax at same time just in different meal (at night works best for miralax). Keep doing daily without fail to prevent constipation. Some people use Natural Moves.
 
Olive & Paula said:
Have you tried pure pumpkin?
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He's on a prescription cat food right now because of the unrelenting weight loss. The vet wants him only on that right now. I've heard of using pumpkin, but not sure I want to risk Jester rejecting this food because of a foreign flavor mixed in.
I still can't believe he's eating it without much fuss.
 
The vet who's been treating Jester is on vacation. I needed to ask for advice and the owner of the practice stepped in.

She thinks things are getting worse rather than better.
Her exact words via email are:

I am concerned about him overall after reading his notes from his last exam. My understanding is we want to keep him as comfortable as possible, which is what we are trying to do. If you feel we are not being successful in keeping him comfortable then we need to start discussing his quality of life and what is the best thing for him.
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I'm not ready for this. My birthday is just a month away and our anniversary is supposed to be in November.

I wanted the new treatment to work. I'm just not ready to say goodbye.
 
shelaghc said:
He's on a prescription cat food right now because of the unrelenting weight loss. The vet wants him only on that right now. I've heard of using pumpkin, but not sure I want to risk Jester rejecting this food because of a foreign flavor mixed in.
I still can't believe he's eating it without much fuss.
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Lots of kitties like the taste of pumpkin. My kitty does. I’ve used it as a delivery vehicle for probiotics, antibiotics and currently use it mixed with about one fourth of a hard boiled egg yolk about every three days to help with hairballs and constipation. He hasn’t thrown up in 3 weeks whereas he had been having hairballs once or twice per week and straining to produce a BM almost daily. Granted, this is only my experience.

If your vet is ready to give up on him and you are not, maybe it’s time to consult another vet. It would seem this prescription food is not working for him if the weight loss is continuing. How is his appetite? Does he like the food?
 
shelaghc said:
not ready to say goodbye
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Any vet will not see Jester the same way you do. It doesn't sound nice but he is just one of many patients and her compassion for both of you gets spread thinly. By all means feel free to consult another vet. I know this is a standard Hallmark remark but only you will know when the time comes. Sorry, that's all I've got for now but I've been there many times. :bighug:
 
Noah & me (GA) said:
Any vet will not see Jester the same way you do. It doesn't sound nice but he is just one of many patients and her compassion for both of you gets spread thinly. By all means feel free to consult another vet. I know this is a standard Hallmark remark but only you will know when the time comes. Sorry, that's all I've got for now but I've been there many times. :bighug:
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This is a different vet.

I'm waiting for the vet Jester has actually seen to come back from vacation. Also, there's a vet at a university who specializes in diabetes who they've consulted with over the phone. That's how we got Jester's most recent treatment plan. She's willing to consult again for free.

I can't make this decision lightly. I'm just so gutted. I couldn't get the previous vet at the practice to do much of anything. Every time I asked why Jester might be losing so much weight, all he would do is slap me in the face with the possibility of thousands of dollars in vet fees from a specialist.

I went to a different vet and that was a disaster so I went back to the practice but on the advice of a friend I switched vets within the practice.

I just feel like we ran out of time because of all the delays and I don't know if anything will help now.
 
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