Update (3/31/2014): Buck (LL Tawny's Civvie Brother) Better

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DD & Tinkerbell

DD & Tinkerbell

Member Since 2009
I have been posting about civvie Buck in LL in Tawny's condo but I decided to move the Buck info over here and just link to it in LL.

Buck in Tawny's LL Condo 3/26/2014

Here's Buck's 3/27 update after his trip to the vet 3/27/2014 (this info also appears in Tawny's 3/27 LL condo:)

OT Sick Civvie Buck: I dropped Buck off at the vet's this a.m., he had been heaving up nothing but bile since he won't eat. She didn't yell at me. She called me about noon and said he was anemic & dehydrated and his red blood cell count was low. She mentioned SubQs & followed that with an explanation about how she really didn't think that was a good idea in light of his being anemic b/c it would dilute his blood (she got points w/me for that one since I had just learned about this here on FDMB recently). It was like she was thinking out loud and then she said maybe she would give him just a little but not too much b/c he was so dehydrated. She also gave him a cyrenia injection and I don't remember what else, I left my notes on my desk at work. I asked for a copy of his labs, which I am going to try to upload here, I have never done this here b4. She said he could have a bile duct blockage and his bun was high, I don't really know how to read these labs but it says MCHC HIGH, NEU HIGH, BASO HIGH, his glucose was high (235) but she attributed that to stress (he has never shown any signs of diabetes but if he gets well this I will watch), TP HIGH,GLOB HIGH & TBIL HIGH. I have no idea what most of this means. & HCT LOW. She said she really didn't know & didn't have very good news for me & kind of acted like she expected me to say put him down but instead I asked if there was any kind of treatment we could try & she said "antibiotics" and I said "OK I'd like to give him a chance" and then she sounded kind of shocked and said "OK". & so off we go...

He is getting Baytril, Clavamox and she gave me some Cerenia in case he needs it. She also gave me a standing Rx for Clavamox & Cernia anytime I want it (since I have so many cats), a Lantus Rx for Tawny and a standing order for Cerenia anytime I want. Her tech said anytime I needed anything to just call (like ondansatron or mirtazpine too).

Just before I picked Buck up they said he ate, not much, but only about a spoonful of a/d. She sent me home w/2 cans of that, but he will not eat it at the moment. I did set a bowl of water in front of him tho and he drank a lot. Now all I have to do is figure out how to get a Baytril & a Clavamox into a cat that won't eat, I guess I'll liquidate them and syringe them into him. She said to wait about 1/2 hr between each. Then I'll probably try to coax him to eat some.

ETA well the scanned image of the labs is too big so I couldn't upload it.
 
Re: 3/27/2014: Buck (LL Tawny's Sick Civvie Brother)

OK Buck, settle down and don't shred MamaBean...remember, she's the one that feeds you!

BIG HUGS and PRAYERS Desi! I sure liked hearing shevet wasn't such a...uhh...witch! :-D :-D Having unquestioned access to all those meds is wonderful!
 
Re: 3/27/2014: Buck (LL Tawny's Sick Civvie Brother)

Because Buck is dehydrated, some of those test that are high may come down as he re-hydrates. A few may be due to the infection.

Are you syringe/assist feeding? You may need to do that to keep both calories and hydration.

Discuss with the vet if small (say 50 mL) amounts of subcutaneous fluids 1-2 times a day might be helpful without overloading him. They could be done at home.

Ask if a iron for the anemia, or a general multivitamin such as Pet-Tinic might be helpful. If yes, add to the syringe feeding. Pet-Tinic is supposed to be quite palatable to cats and may encourage eating.

Marin or Denmarin may help support the liver. If there is a bile duct blockage, surgery might be needed. Was an X-ray taken?

The Merck Manual has various reference guides:
Hematolgy reference
Serum reference

Lab Tests Online explains what various tests mean.
 
Re: 3/27/2014: Buck (LL Tawny's Sick Civvie Brother)

You said "could have a bile duct blockage ". How was that determined? Was an ultrasound performed?
 
Re: 3/27/2014: Buck (LL Tawny's Sick Civvie Brother)

Buck is doing much better and eating a little on his own. He eats mini meals, he does not eat a lot all at one time. We have graduated from syringe feeding to sometimes spoon feeding and sometimes him eating a little on his own. He is drinking a lot of water on his own. The vet did not suggest an ultrasound or x-rays, I don't know why. He is kind of weak (I would be too). He is grooming and wants to go outside (NOT!). He is walking around w/his tail up and talking to me, when he felt really awful he just laid on a chair or if he did walk around it was w/his tail down. I cannot say that he is well, but there is good improvement. I don't know why the vet mentioned a possible bile duct blockage other than that she was just kicking around ideas. I think she expected me to say not to treat him, and when I said I wanted to give him a chance she was a bit taken aback. Most people around here would have likely just said otherwise.

I asked her about giving him Denamarin & she said she really wasn't a huge fan of it (however I am) but that it would not hurt him so he is getting that also. I did ask her about doing s/thg for the anemia but she didn't give him anything, just said to get him eating first. I might have a bottle of pet vitamins around here w/iron supplement I can give him.

She did say he has "severe dental disease" and I inquired about the cost of a dental ($265-350.00). I also asked about the specifics of the procedure, I would like to see about getting Tawny a dental too. It sounds like they have a pretty good procedure for it, they hook them up to all kinds of monitors and watch their BP and heart rate and body temp etc. and said they do more than just scrape off tartar like some of the $50.00 dentals around here other vets do, and that they polish the teeth also. I don't know a lot about this so I will have to research it now. I do remember reading somewhere, likely here or from a link here, about putting socks on them & I asked the tech about that and she said they don't but that it makes sense, the analogy she used was that when an animal comes in w/heat stroke they sometimes rub their paw pads with alcohol to bring the body temp down, so it made sense to her that socks would help keep the body temp from dropping too low while an animal was under anesthesia.

I'm glad it's the weekend & I don't have to work so I can give Buck some extra care.
 
Re: 3/27/2014: Buck (LL Tawny's Sick Civvie Brother)

Good news that he's eating a bit on his own and being more active. :-D :-D Big hugs to you, Desi.
Liz
 
Re: Update 3/30/14

Just a quick update to let all know Buck is doing much better. He is eating on his own every 3-4 hours and comes & gets me to let me know when he is hungry and wants in the "feeding room." He still seems a little weak, but he is bright eyed and alert and responsive when I talk to him. And eating!
 
Re: Update (3/31/2014): Buck (LL Tawny's Civvie Brother) Bet

Buck seems lots better. He appears to be getting his strength back, tho slowly. He is very bright eyed and alert and yes, I am very very relieved. At the moment he and Tawny are side by side upstairs having dinner. Now I gotta go feed the rest of the furry critter crew...
 
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