Tucker's potassium - Sat., it's only getting worse

Status
Not open for further replies.
Re: Tucker's potassium - Sat. AM - he's at the vet today

Things aren't good and it doesn't look like there's much time or much that I can do.

Dr. L consulted with a neuro vet at VCA Shoreline. Tucker's potassium level is normal now but his symptoms are worse. They feel that either he has a tumor in his brain or he threw a blood clot and had a stroke or seizure, I don't remember which.

I can get an MRI next week and if it's a brain tumor all I can do is continue with steroids. He's too old for the surgery, she doesn't think he'd survive that and the chemo that he would need after.

If it's a blood clot I guess we wait it out and see if it dissolves. I really can't think right now so I'm not even sure what she said about that.

He can't stay at the vet overnight because with his circling he'd get caught up in the IV lines so he'll come home at 1:30 and the vet will be calling me tonight and tomorrow. I'll give him fluids, the potassium and she said that it's important to continue the steroid.

I don't know what will happen this weekend, I don't have any answers or ideas or thoughts on this so even though I wish I could tell you all that I had a plan, I don't. I don't know what to do.
 
Oh ((((Jennifer))))((((Tucker))))

I am so so sorry to hear this. There are never any words that are right or good enough. Poor Tucker. Poor you. All you can do now is what you already know. Bring him home and love him and hope that it's a clot that will dissolve. I'm crying for you because I know, we all know, the terrible feeling of helplessness that comes with news like this. You go to the vet for one thing and come back with something that is so much worse than you expected.
I just don't know what to say other than love him, help him and we are here to help you.

Stay strong, Jenn. And, don't lose hope until you absolutely have to.

hugs~
Caryl

ETA: would you consider a second opinion or are you confident with the one you got?
 
I am so sorry that you and Tucker are going through this. Praying that you have the strength and courage needed for Tucker and that he pulls through all of this.

Lisa & Spooky (GA)
 
Thank you all, again.

I am confident with my vet, there are three vets at the practice and they not only consult with eachother but they often consult on VIN and with VCA Shoreline, my vet is a VCA vet so she has access to a lot of information.

My plan is to take Tucker home, keep him comfortable, hydrated, keep his meds up, feed him A/D as much as he will accept and to let him rest. My hope is it's a blood clot.

I've thought about the MRI, but if it is a tumor, he can't have surgery, he had major surgery in '05, biopsies and removal of a hairball from his belly. He was healthier then and barely survived that surgery. I don't think he could survive any surgery or chemo at this point. But if this was just a seizure or clot and there is any possibility that he could get better, I wil keep him comfortable for a time and see how he progresses.

I'm trying to write this between crying fits, so if it comes off strange, I'm sorry for that. Tucker is a part of my soul and the thought of losing him, it's just a lot to take in right now.
 
Jennifer, I sincerely doubt that any of this is related to a potassium level of 3.3. That is barely outside of the normal range--sometimes samples like that can be repeated and the next value will land inside the normal range. A level of 3.3 is not a critical value and should not cause such severe symptoms. I get the feeling that your vet isn't quite sure what's wrong and is grasping at a slightly abnormal lab result for the answer.

Sorry to say but with the continued weight loss, I would be highly suspicious of some form of cancer.
 
tuckers mom said:
Thank you all, again.

I am confident with my vet, there are three vets at the practice and they not only consult with eachother but they often consult on VIN and with VCA Shoreline, my vet is a VCA vet so she has access to a lot of information.

My plan is to take Tucker home, keep him comfortable, hydrated, keep his meds up, feed him A/D as much as he will accept and to let him rest. My hope is it's a blood clot.

I've thought about the MRI, but if it is a tumor, he can't have surgery, he had major surgery in '05, biopsies and removal of a hairball from his belly. He was healthier then and barely survived that surgery. I don't think he could survive any surgery or chemo at this point. But if this was just a seizure or clot and there is any possibility that he could get better, I wil keep him comfortable for a time and see how he progresses.

I'm trying to write this between crying fits, so if it comes off strange, I'm sorry for that. Tucker is a part of my soul and the thought of losing him, it's just a lot to take in right now.
Click to expand...

I'm so sorry this is going on. I will be thinking of you and Tucker. I know he is your heart kitty and that makes it so much more difficult to think clearly. I'll pray for guidance for you. (((((hugs))))))
 
((((Jennifer))))((((Tucker))))

I am so sorry that you and Tucker are going through this, Jennifer. My thoughts and prayers are with you both and I'm praying that Tucker pulls through this and still has a lot of quality time left with you.


Sending comforting hugs and healing prayers to you both.
 
Crying here for you and your big orinch dude. ((((((((((((((((((((((JENN)))))))))))))))))))))))) Sending many many healing vibes. I really hope tucker rallys.

Sending cyber hugs too.
 
Just sending prayers that Tucker can rally through this but.....if he can't........that he lets you know. So very hard the not knowing what is going on and the waiting and the watching........my heart truly goes out to you.
 
You and Tucker are in my thoughts, Jennifer. I know you and your vets are doing all you can, just know I and so many others are pulling for you.
 
Jennifer and Tucker:
All kitties are special but a heart kitty is an exceptional special feline friend where spieces boundaries are crossed forming a bond of one. Sending comforting thoughts to Tucker and you as you travel this moment's journey.

Sending Hugs and Cyber Support
Sunshine and BA
 
Again, thank you everyone. I don't know what else to say other than thank you.

We're home now.

He has the following meds for the next few days.

Cypro for appetite
Cerenia, two injections, 1 tonight, 1 tomorrow night to prevent vomitting
potassium
prednisone
valium, to be given only if he wont rest and continues to circle
sub q fluids
a/d food

He'll also get his insulin. The vet will call us tonight and a couple of times tomorrow.

Now it's time to watch him, see if he can rally, I will try to hold out hope but it doesn't look good right now. My vet was crying and that really hit home, if she's crying and I'm crying, it just can't be good. She also said she'll come in on her day off, Monday, if I need her to. That tells me she doesn't expect him to rally, but I will give him the benefit of time and love and hope that I don't wait too long or move too quickly.
 
I have to bring this up in case your vet somehow missed it --

Could his low potassium be a symptom of Diabetic Ketoacidosis? (It's one of the usual symptoms) Does he have a fruity or nail-polish smell to his breath?

Alternately could this be http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nonketotic ... molar_coma Nonketotic hyperosmolar coma?

The way he's crashing sounds so much like DKA/nonketotic it's scary. And low potassium is a symptom of both.

It's possible that the low potassium is a symptom of something grave, rather than just a problem on its own. If you haven't already discussed this possibility I'd ask another vet or two in case your vet's unfamiliar with DKA.

And if it is DKA, or the other one, kitty needs to go to 24-hour vet right away -- that stuff kills in a few hours.
 
Jennifer, thinking of you and Tucker today and checking for updates.

I wish I had something wise and helpful to say, but I don't. I am praying for a miracle for your sweet Tucker. Be with him, do what you can. We all know too well that place where you want to act "not to slow and not too fast"... praying Tucker will let you know if it is time.

:YMHUG:
 
Tucker just ate some food by himself. I let him off my lap for a while and he went into the kitchen and found the food that Angel and Sam didn't finish, almost a full half can of Fancy Feast was left and he ate it all.

He struggled though, his jaw made a grinding noise, like a loose tooth is stuck, I have to pry his mouth open and try to see it, but I'm not very good at doing that, may have to wait for DH to get home from work. But he ate, without me giving him any cypro, I'm happy about that. Will ask the vet if she gave his some, but I don't think she did.

He's not resting unless I hold him so I may give him the valium, I don't want to over tax his system.

Regarding ketones, he was tested at the vet and there is no fruity smell, so I don't think that's it, but when the doctor calls I'll see if she can access her e-mail at home and send her the link.
 
sending prayers and love to you both.

Can you share some happy memories with Tucker, out loud in story form? It may help you to lighten and relax with him, so he can do what he needs to do- heal or...or fly....

I've had it both ways...my old Dog Sandy went to fly while I told her stories of our good times and younger years, stroking her fur and laying beside her on the floor, while my old gal kitteh DebraAnne, the night I let go of hope for her and told stories with her on my lap and other kittehs around, well- the next morning she ate on her own for the first time in 2 weeks. She is still with me.

Sometimes they just need us to be "normal" so they "know its okay" to go in the direction they need to.

((((HUGS)))))

Will be adding Tucker to our list of names tonight at dinner...52 paws crossed here for you both.
 
(((((((((((((((((((((( Jen ))))))))))))))))))))))

((((((((((((((((((((( Tucker ))))))))))))))))))))))


It was good to read he ate some FF on his own.
sending prayers and good thoughts for Tucker..............for you and DH and the other furries too.
 
Deanie and Boo (GA) said:
Jennifer, I sincerely doubt that any of this is related to a potassium level of 3.3. That is barely outside of the normal range--sometimes samples like that can be repeated and the next value will land inside the normal range. A level of 3.3 is not a critical value and should not cause such severe symptoms.
Click to expand...

I was wondering about the same, Jennifer. I looked back at Meowzi's b/w and she had K readings of 3.3 for two tests, a month apart, and she didn't crash like Tucker has.
 
(((((Jenn))))) (((((Tucker)))))

Just popped on quickly looking for an update... I'm so sorry... Sending hugs and prayers... Many paws crossed here...
 
I'm very sorry that this is happening to Tucker. I don't even know what to say-except you are a great mom to Tucker. I hope all goes well and the fact that he ate on his own is a very good sign.

Our kitty had a brain infection and would not stop moving and one vet said give her valium. We ended up taking her to a specialist and she said Never give her valium...I don't remember why-sorry. But I thought I'd mention that for what it's worth.

Sending you hugs and prayers.
Tammy
 
Re: Tucker's potassium level dropped so he crashed

tuckers mom said:
The vet just called. His condition is called Hypokalemia.
. . . When I found him this morning, I thought he had already passed away. I've never seen him look so lifeless. . . . The vet said potassium loss happens with diabetes, I don't think I've ever seen anyone post about that here.
Click to expand...
I've seen the ensuing updates on Tucker (sending postive vibes) but wanted to comment on the potassium/diabetes issue -- more specifically, the potassium/insulin interaction.

My Charlie crashed from hypokalemia (low potassium) brought on by insulin usage. It's not common, but happens, mostly in cats who have low or borderline low potassium levels to begin with.

Charlie's crash occurred when I first started him on Lantus and caught us all by surprise. It required an immediate trip to the University E.R. where he was hospitalized in critical care for several days and received IV potassium supplementation and fluids. His potassium values were carefully monitored during this time as pushing the potassium too high is bad, too.

Charlie was a steroid-induced diabetic and we knew that his other conditions were causing him to have slightly low potassium levels, but his internal med specialist didn't want to supplement at the time. However, within days of starting Lantus, he crashed. Insulin causes potassium to move out of the bloodstream and into the cells. According to the docs, it's usually an insignificant amount and so they weren't worried. However, when I started Charlie on insulin, the extra potassium that the insulin caused to move out of the bloodstream was just enough to cause a crash. In his case, the potassium levels in his blood dropped enough that it WAS a problem.

He recovered and ultimately went OTJ after the steroid (prednisolone) was removed. A year later he went on budesnoide which again caused him to become actively diabetic. Given the history, we ran full bloodwork and carefully evaluated this potassium levels before restarting Lantus. Same for the third time he went on the juice. Fortunately, there were no more hypokalemic crashes.

The docs all said it was a rare event. I don't have the records in front of me, but I believe his K+ value was in the 3.1 to 3.3 range before starting insulin and he was acting and feeling fine. Even though it was slightly below the low end of normal, it wasn't low enough to cause a problem. The insulin drove it down into the upper 2's, and that's when the crash occurred.

As others have said, I'd be really surprised if a K+ level of 3.3 caused the crash. However, I'd never even heard of the possibility of insulin lowering potassium levels before this happened to Charlie, so wanted to share the info.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top