911 Saoirse - PRAYERS PLEASE: UPDATED MONDAY GMT 21:00 - Steady Progress

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I like that one because it has some bit of height to it.

Newsflash:

Saoirse's not interested in her normal food at the moment but ...

... I did manage to get 4 teaspoons of Liquivite recovery food into her. I think the appy stimulant is helping but I do wonder whether she's still feeling queasy despite the Cerenia. She's got that appy stimulant 'must eat' air about her, not the preferred 'want to eat' vibe. :( Still, it's some food; just hope she can hold it down OK - a major food switch isn't a good plan. I might try drizzling a little Liquivite onto her regular food for the next mini meal. Going to let her settle for a little while then try to get her BG.

So tired. Right now I feel hopelessly inadequate to the task ahead of me. :( :(

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Critter Mom said:
Spent nearly two hours tonight wrapping tissue paper 'cushions' round all the bits on her current cage that might catch the collar.
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I totally would have done the same thing. We love camping and were worried about Snick when she became diabetic because I didn't want to try and camp with her in a tent so we bought a pop-up tent trailer for her (ok, and for the fact I am TERRIFIED of bears). I made DH buy a fan and a heater so she was always comfortable.
 
I think you will be surprised how quickly she will heal. It's been so long since Peek-a-Boo had his eyes done, but I think he was to wear his cone 7-10 days. He really struggled to eat with it on, so after a couple of days I would remove it and sit right next to him while he ate in case he attempted to paw near his face, then put it back on. It gets pretty nasty too, so you will want to wash it from time to time....he was pretty good about letting me put it back on.

Mogs, you are so good to Saoirse, I wish every cat could be so lucky. You really know your cat inside and out and I find that so admirable.

Time for bed....I will check back in tomorrow...lots of hugs and well wishes to you both! :cat::bighug::cat::bighug:
 
Mogs you are more than adequate for the task ahead but you really do need a good battery recharge especially now that you are battling a bug! Keep your chin up and in a few hours you can get a good long rest in while Saoirse is tended to by the hospital staff. All you have to do is get through the next few hours. I'm guessing it's around 5:30am in your neck of the woods?
 
Just got home and caught up. I used to crush Cypro and syringe it in with water for my GA Cinnamon. I couldn't pill her ever (she was a feisty little bugger) so everything had to be liquified. I'm so glad the Cypro helped Saoirse eat a few bites! You must be feeling relieved.

You are not at all inadequate!! You have been an amazing advocate for her, both since this eye thing started and for the past few years as she's had various things come up. It's hard juggling when our darling kitties have multiple issues and it takes a really dedicated and caring person to be able to handle it and figure it all out.

Just remember what I used to tell Marshmallow: one step at a time, one paw at a time. And please get some rest if possible. It's hard to keep up at the pace you've been going, on top of being sick. :bighug::bighug::bighug:
 
(((Mogs))) I'm sorry I seemed to have missed your posts but have just read your story. Just wanted to send you some extra hugs and moral support, to say you have a huge amount to cope with at the moment is a bit of an understatement. I hope you can get some rest yourself so that you are able to care for Saoirse, but having her go back to the hospital for some day care sounds an excellent idea and hopefully will give you time to recharge your batteries, which you so badly need. Prayers and hugs that her recovery goes well and you both start to feel better soon. Take care :bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug:
 
Critter Mom said:
Just had an idea. Wonder whether I could hire a locum veterinary nurse for a few days?
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Great idea. Worth a call to some vet offices. I know our techs will hire out for pet sitting when people go out of town. Good luck and let us know what happens. Or, how is she with traveling? Could she go to the vet for overnight care while you sleep? If traveling and vet offices stress her out, then maybe better to have the nurse come to you.
 
I hope tomorrow goes well for you Lucy. :bighug:

Mogs, I'm still here - splitting my time between the computer and cooking dinner for the next few minutes, but I'm not going to leave you on your own for long. :bighug:
 
Hi Shane,

It's good to hear from you. :bighug:

granadilla said:
Just got home and caught up. I used to crush Cypro and syringe it in with water for my GA Cinnamon. I couldn't pill her ever (she was a feisty little bugger) so everything had to be liquified.
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What other meds did you give by that method?

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granadilla said:
Great idea. Worth a call to some vet offices. I know our techs will hire out for pet sitting when people go out of town. Good luck and let us know what happens. Or, how is she with traveling? Could she go to the vet for overnight care while you sleep? If traveling and vet offices stress her out, then maybe better to have the nurse come to you.
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The latter. :(

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Critter Mom said:
Saoirse does not need a UTI on top of trying to recover.

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Anesthesia, bupe, and cypro all can cause urinary retention issues (and constipation) which can cause bladder irritation, and also make UTI more likely. Likely, they gave her some sort of broad spectrum antibiotic with the surgery, so that'll take care of the immediate risk for UTI. As long as you ween her off the bupe when she is feeling better, and she is getting enough fluids, hopefully you won't have to worry about UTI.

Glad to hear she's eating! Hang in there, both of you.
 
@suki & crystal -

Thank you for checking in to see how we're doing, and also for the hugs and moral support: it really, really helps.

I really do need some assistance with Saoirse's nursing at the moment. Having her as a day patient tomorrow will be a start, but I really do need to find someone to monitor and 'semi-assist feed' Saoirse while I get sleep. Don't know what I'm running on at the moment. Certainly not fumes; they ran out several days ago. Must be fear ...


Mogs
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Maybe if you could speak with someone at the hospital tomorrow to see if they could recommend someone - or even if they've got someone who could help you themselves. They will be aware that Saoirse being with them may make her stressed and I'm sure they'll do whatever they can to help you. :bighug:
 
I agree with April, I think your first port of call is the hospital, they are in the best position to recommend a vet nurse for home visits or to point you in the right direction. Things will get so much easier for you if you can get this sorted. Paws crossed you get the info you need.
Whereabouts are you in the UK? I'm a Brit too but now residing in France.
Suki
 
Meya14 said:
Anesthesia, bupe, and cypro all can cause urinary retention issues (and constipation) which can cause bladder irritation, and also make UTI more likely. Likely, they gave her some sort of broad spectrum antibiotic with the surgery, so that'll take care of the immediate risk for UTI. As long as you ween her off the bupe when she is feeling better, and she is getting enough fluids, hopefully you won't have to worry about UTI. Glad to hear she's eating! Hang in there, both of you.
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Hi Meya,

Thanks for checking on us. :) Bupe definitely constipates Saoirse at the 0.1ml dose. Saoirse hasn't pooped at all at the hospital (she did have diarrhoea from about 3pm on Monday (day before admission). I normally give her a little bit of pumpkin with each meal but I'm too paranoid to restart it at the moment.

Very good information about the bladder side of things. BTW would not having her phosphorus binder for the last few days also be contributing to the UTI issue? I brought in the phosphorus binder to them but I don' think they gave it to her. The opthalmologist has her on Clavisept (sp?) now but I failed to administer it to her successfully tonight. Is there any injectable antibiotic you could suggest, Meya, that might be better for her? Should there be something suitable, even if it needs to be given every few days I could ask our own vets if they'd come over and administer the injections at home given that Saoirse's recovering from an operation.

She did eat a bit just now but I forgot to post above that the only way she'd eat it was by licking it off my fingers. Still, it's food - and that's the main thing.


Mogs
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Critter Mom said:
What other meds did you give by that method?
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Pepcid, Cypro, Epakitin and prednisolone. It required 4 hands to give Cinnamon a pill, plus an extra hand to catch the flying spit-out pill. How I loved that cat! She was a docile sweet lap cat but have mercy on your soul if you tried to pill her. :rolleyes:

You're running on adrenaline and yes, fear. You may remember that last summer I was having stomach problems. After Marshmallow crossed the bridge in September I found out I needed to have my gallbladder removed. When I met with the surgeon he asked why I hadn't gone to the emergency room when I first started having such bad pain. My response: "I had a sick cat and I live alone. I couldn't leave her." (I had the surgery in December and I'm okay now.)

The point is, we get it. I wouldn't leave Marsh when she needed me and you'll run yourself ragged for Saoirse. It's what we do. But if at all possible, find someone to help you so you don't make yourself worse. :bighug::bighug::bighug:
 
Mogs, if I still lived on the Isle of Man, I'd be there like a shot to help you take care of your girl. But this time, I think you need help faster than I could possibly get there (not to mention I'd be useless from jetlag for the first 3 days). :bighug: :bighug: :bighug:
 
In the US there's a human over-the-counter product called Miralax that I gave Marsh for constipation. 1/8 of a teaspoon mixed with water or pumpkin or food, and I syringed it twice a day. Worked well for constipation for her AND for me when I was recovering from gallbladder surgery and was taking pain killers. Is there an equivalent in the UK? (1/8 teaspoon is the kitty dose; human dose is 1 tablespoon)
 
Nice part of the world. I'm from London but lived out in commuter land in rural Essex.

Don't suppose there are any other UK members living close by that could help you out? I'm not sure how you would find out, maybe a separate post asking just that question? Just a thought.
 
Mogs, antibiotic injectables are intramuscular injections, a totally different animal than giving insulin and a lot harder to do on your own. I tried when Menace had her dental because I figured I never be able to pill her. I managed 2 injections and then resorted to the pills. Intramuscular injections can be much more uncomfortable than subQ, take longer to do because of the amount being injected and you have to be very careful about where you give them so as not to hit a nerve or bone depending on the site used. In short I think if you could get a liquid suspension you'd have a much easier time or stick with the pill.
 
Hiya Mogs. I'm sorry I haven't been in sooner. I've had a Crash and Burn night.

So you have a chest infection? Remember to do some deep breathing excercises, to expand those lungs. Stand up, lift your arms over your head and breathe in deeply. You might find yourself coughing but this is good. It will help to clear out the mucus, even if it's an uncomfortable process. Hot, spicy soup is good if you have any. Got any spicy Indian food around? That's usually good to get rid of chest congestion. The heat will warm your innards and help you to rest. Cough out loud, and TALK out loud, to clear your vocal cords of mucus too. It'll also make sure your eustacian tubes clear out..so you won't get an ear infection.

Saoirse has had her head shaved? :smuggrin: Don't think of it as being ugly or sad. Her appearance is now quite exotic. Like a Sphinx kitty. :cool: Add the eyepatch and she'll look like someone from a superhero movie.

Speaking of superheros, you and Saoirse are both in that catagory. :bighug::bighug::bighug: You're an amazing CatMom, proving that motherhood can even cross species boundaries. Saoirse must adore you or she would have never made it this far. And most owners would have thrown in the towel by now. Not you. You're the ultimate mother.:kiss: :bighug::bighug::bighug:

Right now I hope you are asleep, even if it's FDotKB, preferably with a mars bar in your hand, because I'll know you were sucking in energy from any food you have handy. You've eaten, right? Had enough fluids that your own body isn't going to quit at the worst possible time? Take a shower to help you wake up. The steam will help your lungs, too, and get the blood flowing so you can get her to the vet for her day care. Then you come home, don't get distracted by dishes, or dust or anything. GO LIE DOWN and sleep while Saoirse is at daycare.

If you are awake.... How's your your baby doing, right now? Is she sleeping? Did she sleep? I just caught up with the thread, and I see the soft edge playpen. It's a VERY GOOD idea. Cats can freak out and bang themselves suddenly, and that eye will be a target, even if she has a collar on.

Saoirse's eye might benefit from a cold compress inside a sterile baggie . Something cool and clean, to help the swelling. Poor little baby, she's a real fighter, just like her adopted mommy.
 
Well, she didn't love it but I crushed a quarter of a 10 mg Pepcid, mixed it with a little water and pumpkin or baby food to disguise the flavor, and syringed it in. Baby food might be too fatty for her pancreatitis but you could probably use the Liquivite. Or if she's used to getting pumpkin, that might help her constipation too.
 
There 2 main issues with not giving the phosphate binders. 1. hyperphosphetemia/relative hypocalcemia which can cause cardiac issues and muscle spasms. 2. GI changes (constipation or diarrhea), because phosphate binders act in the GI system, and discontinuing them can lead to changes. I'm unaware of any significant bladder changes that can happen. Blood in urine is -usually- a bladder issue, but could also be a kidney issue, so there's a possibility.

Clavaseptin/clavamox - This should be able to knock out some common forms of UTI. I don't really know what all is available in injectable form for cats unfortunately. As well, any injectable antibiotic can be tricky if there is an allergic reaction, and antibiotic allergies are very common. Still worth talking to the vet about if you can't get the med in her.

As for the constipation, keep an eye on it, as it could be a barrier for eating.
 
Meya14 said:
As for the constipation, keep an eye on it, as it could be a barrier for eating.
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Historically, that has been very much the case with Saoirse.

After all that has happened over the past week I am scared of giving Saoirse anything apart from her basic food at the moment, even the stuff she's used to. :(

I'm finding this all very scary.
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Managed to get Saoirse to take a little more Liquivite off my fingers. She seems to have developed an aversion to her normal food. I sincerely hope and pray that this is only going to be temporary. :(

I'm only giving her small amounts at a time. The abrupt change is not the way I want to fly in this situation. :(

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Mogs, if the vet can't suggest anyone or a way to get vet nursing care at home, it could be worth investigating pet sitting agencies...there are some very good ones out there, some will visit x times a day or x overnights etc as you wish... Obviously mainly meant for people going on holiday but useful at other times. Of course not all pet sitters are trained vet nurses but some are; some do this sort of thing to supplement their income. You might just strike lucky and find someone who would fit the bill.... Just a thought.

Diana
 
Anything she'll eat for now is a good thing. If Liquivite is all she'll have, at least it's calories. It's time-consuming when she'll only lick it off your fingers, but there's time enough to get her back onto her usual food as she starts to feel better. I do think the last week has probably left her feeling a little confused, and I have heard it said that it takes weeks for anesthesia to be fully out of a human's system, so I'd guess it's the same for cats though every day brings big improvements. And she's had all the upheaval of being in hospital too. I think her food aversion will be temporary - she just needs a few days to get back to her usual self. :bighug:
 
Morning, Diana.

Thank you for the suggestion. I'd never have thought that any pet sitters might be trained nurses so I'd never have explored such an avenue.

:bighug:

Mogs
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manxcat419 said:
It's time-consuming when she'll only lick it off your fingers,
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I don't mind it, actually: It's easier to feed Saoirse that way with the collar in place, April. Plus it's a way to do some small little thing to try to comfort and reassure her a tiny bit. I think it makes both of us feel a little better.

Saoirse just managed to eat another tablespoonful of Liquivite. I think because it's a soupy consistency it's easier for her to eat; with her little face all swollen it must be very sore to chew. :(

Praying very, very hard that she keeps it down and it doesn't upset her tum. It's a good bit lower in phosphorus than her regular food so it might keep her in a good range without the need for a binder (and leave me with one less variable to fret over).

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Could someone please do me a favour? Sara (@phlika29) used to give Remi a recovery food but I can't remember the name of it. It would be a great help if someone could search her post history for me to find out the name, please. I'm just not able to do it myself right now. :(

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Critter Mom said:
Morning, Diana.

Thank you for the suggestion. I'd never have thought that any pet sitters might be trained nurses so I'd never have explored such an avenue.

:bighug:

Mogs
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Some definitely are. I know two vet nurses who do this myself and a friend of mine runs a hugely successful company which matches clients' very specific needs to the 'sitter'. If you Google 'vet nurse pet sitter/sitting' specifying your area should show some up. You can interview them or otherwise check out their credentials. Might be worth a look for future requirements even if not this time....
 
Critter Mom said:
Saoirse just managed to eat another tablespoonful of Liquivite. I think because it's a soupy consistency it's easier for her to eat; with her little face all swollen it must be very sore to chew.
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Could you try pureeing her food with water to get a similar consistency to food for syringe feeding? Maybe if she could just lap up the food she would have an easier time eating. The last time Bama was nauseous she would barely touch her pate style food but gobbled it up when I turned it into kitty soup.
 
It looks like it was Royal Canin Convalescence Support, Mogs. It might be higher carb than is ideal - I can see I talked to Sarah about it at one point and it looks as though we worked out that it's somewhere around 18% carbs, but as we discussed at the time, for a few days while a cat is healing the higher carb numbers can be handled where not eating enough calories can cause a real problem.
 
Mogs, if you were to puree the Royal Canin Convalescense Support, and add some of the dried chicken to raise the protein content, and perhaps a tiny bit of pumpkin to raise the fiber you could balance out the higher carbs..and Saoirse might eat it. The flavor would be enough different from her regular food, that she might accept it.

Catsoup works for Dottie. She started out lapping it up, but I got her in a habit of licking it from my fingers, or using a plastic spoon, and letting her lick it from the spoon. (Catsoup doesn't stick as much to a plastic spoon).
 
Oh Mogs, I'm sorry it's so difficult right now. I do think part of the problem is you're sick and exhausted. That tends to make things seem 20 times worse than they are. Trust me, I've been there (I think we all have at some point). I'm glad the hospital can take her during the day. Please use this day to get as much rest as you can. Comfort yourself knowing that she is where she will be well taken care of. Plus know that you get her back at night so you'll be able to care for her yourself tonight.

Please take care of yourself Mogs. I know everything is kind of coming down on you right now, which is why it is all the more important that you get some rest, lots of liquids, and some food.

Continuing to send hugs to you, chin scritches to Saoirse, and general healing and appetite vines to both of you!!
 
The duty vet at the hospital would not readmit Saoirse for the day.

Saoirse's BG average being in the low teens (Alphatrak) is apparently absolutely fine and I shouldn't be the least bit worried about not giving her any insulin (despite the fact she hasn't had any for over 30 hours!). The fact that she's had difficulty eating for days and has had frell-all nutrition in that time is apparently just tickety-boo because she ate something during the night. It seems there is "no need to stay up all night trying to feed [Saoirse]"; better to leave her to her own devices because, as we all know, cats suit themselves when it comes to eating and will do so when they're ready. I wasn't even given the opportunity to explain that the only reason she managed to get some food down was that I spent the night offering the food up to her on my fingers.

Saoirse's BG being in the teens (mmol/L, Alphatrak) along with her inappetence and post-operative increased level of infection risk is no worry at all from a DKA perspective, and neither apparently is the fact that Saoirse wouldn't take the antibiotic for me in her food last night. I was asked why I didn't give it to her by pilling.[!!!!] I don't think she liked it when I advised her, quite truthfully, that I was given specific instructions by the opthalmologist herself not to administer any medications to Saoirse by the pilling route.

Apparently what I need to do now is go back to our own vets because "they are treating [Saoirse's] diabetes" and that is "not what she was referred [to the hospital] for." Excuse me???? Saoirse is recovering from a procedure that she most certainly was referred to them for and her diabetic status has direct bearing on the appropriate aftercare for said procedure. Also, because I can't pill her I cannot reinstate Saoirse's pancreatitis support regimen. What in all that is holy has that got to do with our own vets?

I went on to ask about Cerenia when Saoirse received her most recent dose and I asked whether it was possible to continue giving it at home. The answer I got back was along the lines of it can be given once a day IF deemed necessary. (The 'if' was almost spat out.) Got no answer about whether or not it has to be administered by a vet; just referred back to our own vets because "they're treating for that."

I then proceeded to enquire about the eye drops that were in Saoirse's medication bag from the hospital. I advised that there were no instructions in the discharge notes about it and was seeking advice on how to proceed. Have you ever been in a situation where you say something perfectly rational and reasonable to someone and for some unknown reason they start behaving towards you as though you've suddenly grown a second head? That's how I felt after the part of the conversation that went pretty much like this:

Me: Saoirse was sent home with some eye drops in her medication bag but they're not mentioned in the medication list on her Post-operative Care plan. I don't know what to do with them. Could you please clarify this for me? They're Azopt and the pack label says to apply 1 drop 4 times a day to the right eye (the eye that Saoirse has lost). What are they for and do I need to give them to her?

Vet: They're for swelling. of the eye.

Me: I'm not sure I understand properly: is it for swelling of the eye itself, or the eye area?

Vet: Why are you asking that?

Me: Because the instructions on the pack says to apply them to the right eye.

Vet: And?

Me: Erm, Saoirse no longer has her right eye?

Vet: Is it on the care plan?

Me: No, it's not. But when I found the drops in the prescription bag I didn't know whether or not I should be giving them. I want to make sure I give Saoirse the right treatments and it was confusing.

Vet: [in a very don't-be-stupid tone]But it wasn't on the care plan.

Me: Yes. But the medicine was in the bag. I didn't want to make a mistake.

Vet: If you were meant to give it then it would be on the plan. [Delivered in a very impatient, ennui-laden, 'don't be so stupid' tone.]


Guess not everyone would think to check in such circumstances. Bad Moglet. How very dare you not be a mindreader and then have the temerity to look out for the safety and well-being of your cat! Tsk, Tsk.

Right now I really did not need to be talked down to and dismissed by a veterinary jobsworth. That woman was the veritable antithesis of everything I rated so highly about the hospital and all the other staff I dealt with, and is egregiously representative of much that both infuriates and disappoints me about some members of the veterinary profession.

One foot. One paw ...



Mogs
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:bighug: :bighug: :bighug: :bighug: Mogs!!!

How awful for you to end up connecting with a cold-hearted vet with no understanding about the big picture.


Is there any way you can get in touch with the vet/staff that said you could bring her back for the day and who seemed to have a better understanding of the big picture?? Would your vet refer you back to the hospital?? Can you contact the surgeon and get some support from him?

The duty vet seems to be washing her hands of it all, since Saoirse was released she seems to feel that they are no longer involved. You had a confirmation of further care from the hospital..someone should be able to provide the service they said they would.
 
Critter Mom said:
I like that one because it has some bit of height to it.

Newsflash:

Saoirse's not interested in her normal food at the moment but ...

... I did manage to get 4 teaspoons of Liquivite recovery food into her. I think the appy stimulant is helping but I do wonder whether she's still feeling queasy despite the Cerenia. She's got that appy stimulant 'must eat' air about her, not the preferred 'want to eat' vibe. :( Still, it's some food; just hope she can hold it down OK - a major food switch isn't a good plan. I might try drizzling a little Liquivite onto her regular food for the next mini meal. Going to let her settle for a little while then try to get her BG.

So tired. Right now I feel hopelessly inadequate to the task ahead of me. :( :(

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Mogs, I took off the cone when Bubba wanted to eat and then just put it right back on. He was required to wear it for 7-10 days. I went with 10. At first, I was scared he wouldn't let me put it back on but I was steadfast with knowing that it WAS GOING BACK ON so he let me. Also, he wanted to hide the first day and a half . I kept my closed door opened and he went into it to sleep.
 
Oh dear, you had to deal with a gatekeeper. Iwould file a complaint with the vet who did the surgery, Mogs. This woman obviously loved discounting the instructions you were given by the surgeon. Doggone power freak :banghead:Perhaps she has a beef with her colleagues and chose to kick you instead. The hospital needs to know how shabbily you have been treated. She''s a detriment to the hospital.
 
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