Updates on Beau

Sharon555

Sharon555

Active Member
Well, we had quite a day. We had the 8:30 appointment this morning because I just didn’t want to go into the weekend worrying, without Dr G looking at Beau. He was pretty weak this morning and had a very low BG. I didn’t know what the day would bring so I chose to skip his dose. He ate a few licks of gravy and a whole Churu, so got something in him, but not enough.

Dr G did an in-house blood test because he was worried about how Beau presented. He was pretty weak. His RBC had dropped lower, showing anemia. His WBC was up to 54 and lymphocytes skyrocketed from .36, already low, on Friday to 46. Dr G was very concerned that he was declining so much. He felt that a blood transfusion was needed. He thought it would not be until Monday or Tuesday before blood was found because there has been a shortage, but some was located that matched. I drove an hour to the Animal Blood Bank so he could have it today. He got an iron shot, more Covenia and Entyce. He was concerned that I had not been able to get calories into him. When I picked him up tonight, the techs said he had been eating small amounts of the Hills Urgent Care A/D food all afternoon. I was so happy I cried. He looks much better tonight and ate a good small helping of FF pate.

Dr G was very concerned with the rapid rise in the lymphocytes. He sent out more blood to get a deeper look into the makeup of the lymphocytes. He’s feeling like possibly something was going on before we caught the FIP that caused his immune system to be compromised and allowed the FIP to happen, possibly leukemia. Also considering that it came on so quickly with so much fluid. BTW, it seems that if there is any more fluid it is a very small amount. Those results should be in tomorrow. He’ll call me if it shows anything. We’ll go in again on Monday so he can check on him and determine if he needs a second transfusion.

I asked him if I was losing Beau. He said not yet, but his prognosis is very guarded. He assured me that he would tell me if he thought we had done all we could.

And GS injection #4 tonight.
 
I’m overwhelmed as I read this. I am very teary. Oh Sharon, I wish I was there so I could help you take care of Beau and give you some time to sleep. I know what this is like — for me anyway, it’s like something is gripping my heart and I can’t really take proper breaths.

You have my thoughts and definitely my prayers for Beau. Thank goodness you took him to see Dr. G. It’s very good that he isn’t building up a lot of fluid and that he’s been eating small amounts. Do you have any of the A/D on hand in case he needs that? I always keep a few cans here for emergencies. Do you know how anemic he was? (HCT? PCV?) It must have been severe. What a day you had. I was so worried something was wrong but you were just taking care of Beau all day. What really makes me love Dr. G is that he’s not given up on Beau! He’s still thinking and evaluating and trying to help Beau. I am so grateful for him. You can PM me anytime you want to and, of course, I will be checking here for updates for whenever you can write.
 
I’m so sorry you are going through all this with Beau! I know it’s overwhelming and exhausting. One day at a time…you are doing everything you can for Beau. Thinking about you and sending positive, healing thoughts. Hang in there, Sharon.
 
Thank you so much for your positive thoughts and prayers. I agree … it feels like something is gripping my heart. And my heart is just breaking at the thought of not having him in my life. It’s so hard for me to think of anything else or do anything but whatever Beau needs.

He seems about the same as last night. He ate some this morning, but hasn’t seemed very interested in food the rest of the day. I’m hoping he’ll eat something tonight.

The results of the test on the lymphocytes didn’t come in today. Dr G called and talked to me for a while. I asked if he was going to need another blood transfusion. He said that, because he’s a larger cat, he may just need to “be topped off.” But we need to see what the test results are and how he does over the weekend. He did tell me that he was sure Beau would not have made it through the weekend without the transfusion. He will call me as soon as results come in Monday morning and we will talk about what is next.

You asked about HCT and PCV. I don’t see those on the results sheet. I’ll attach a copy so you can see.

I’m sitting on the deck with Beau as I write this and just watched him get up and move to another spot. I usually miss his movement from one spot to another. He definitely isn’t as weak as he was when I took him in yesterday. He seems stronger and a little more active and alert. Maybe blood transfusion? Maybe GS? I don’t know.

I did some research about FIP mitigated non-regenerative anemia. It’s actually caused by the FIP and will often reverse if the GS treatment starts to act on the FIP. At least that’s how I understand it.

We are on shot #5 tonight, which still is not enough to really see positive results. I may double up on shots, giving one every 12 hours tomorrow and Monday. We have done that with some of our FIP kitties when they don’t seem to be responding. I did it with one of my fosters and it sort of kick-started things.

I love this big, sweet ginger boy so much. He definitely has my heart. And to think I didn’t even like orange kitties until I met him 11 years ago this month. He weaseled his way into my heart.

Thank you again for hanging in this with me.

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Oh wow. I was just looking over his bloodwork. Wow that Hematocrit is LOW!! Thank God he did have the transfusion yesterday. Again, Beau has me floored. And a lot of his hematology is just off the charts bad. I hope it will improve now. I am just shaking my head. Fight Beau! Keep fighting Beau and Sharon and Dr. G! Love to all of you (yep, even Dr. G!)
 
Yup! Dr G was absolutely shocked! And it was such a change from a week ago. My friend who is a retired nurse was also floored.

We are going to keep fighting!
 
Holy (word I can’t say) that bloodwork is crazy. I’ve been looking for updates and am holding my breath and pulling for you both. I have a soft spot for ginger kitties. And I know how the world narrows in and consumes your thoughts and emotions in such times.

Did I catch that right that there was a Convenia shot at some point?

Sending strength and healing energy your direction.
 
JL and Chip said:
Holy (word I can’t say) that bloodwork is crazy. I’ve been looking for updates and am holding my breath and pulling for you both. I have a soft spot for ginger kitties. And I know how the world narrows in and consumes your thoughts and emotions in such times.

Did I catch that right that there was a Convenia shot at some point?

Sending strength and healing energy your direction.
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Thank you.
Beau is a very special ginger boy. He has been such an amazing companion.
You’re right, it is all-consuming. I can’t focus on anything I try to do.
Yes, he had a covenia shot yesterday, as well as 2 weeks ago.
 
Sharon, I’m so sorry that it was Beau’s time to leave. You both fought hard and never gave up. My heart goes out to you. :bighug:

Rest the peaceful rest of one who was greatly loved, Beau. Your momma is going to miss you.

We may not be together
in the way we used to be,
But we are still connected
in a way no eye can see.

So when you need to find me,
We’re never far apart,
Just look beyond the sunset
And listen with your heart.
- author unknown
 
Oh Sharon! I was not expecting to hear this news this morning. I am truly sorry for your loss of your sweet ginger Beau. You fought hard for him and gave him so much love. My heart hurts so much for you. Words can’t begin to ease your pain, but know that you are in my thoughts as you try to heal from losing your Beau. I’m so sorry.
 
Sharon555 said:
My sweet, beautiful Beau is no longer suffering. My heart is broken.
cat_wings>o
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OH NOOOOOO. NO. I can’t believe it. I just can’t believe it. I am so so so heartsick. Not Beau! Why did this happen? It all happened so quickly that I couldn’t really understand how he became so sick so quickly. And you did everything possible to save him. Oh, Sharon. I thought he was more stable yesterday. I thought maybe another transfusion tomorrow might be necessary, but he was outside yesterday and I thought he was at least stable and would begin to improve. I don’t think even Dr. G seemed to think that Beau would pass away this weekend. I am in shock. I know you are blown away by this. I am so extremely sad and sorry.
 
Suzanne & Darcy said:
OH NOOOOOO. NO. I can’t believe it. I just can’t believe it. I am so so so heartsick. Not Beau! Why did this happen? It all happened so quickly that I couldn’t really understand how he became so sick so quickly. And you did everything possible to save him. Oh, Sharon. I thought he was more stable yesterday. I thought maybe another transfusion tomorrow might be necessary, but he was outside yesterday and I thought he was at least stable and would begin to improve. I don’t think even Dr. G seemed to think that Beau would pass away this weekend. I am in shock. I know you are blown away by this. I am so extremely sad and sorry.
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I thought for sure Beau would make it through the weekend. He had a good day yesterday. Ate in the morning but not very interested in food the rest of the day. He was out on the deck, his favorite place, most of the day, getting up to follow the sun. He seemed a little weaker last night, so I was worried and checked on him every couple of hours.

I am completely devastated. He was perfect. We had such an amazing connection. He was so special. I will miss him so so much. Life will not be the same without him.
 
The deck was his favorite place to be. He loved keeping me company as I read and drank my coffee. He was the very best companion anyone could want.
 
Sharon555 said:
I thought for sure Beau would make it through the weekend. He had a good day yesterday. Ate in the morning but not very interested in food the rest of the day. He was out on the deck, his favorite place, most of the day, getting up to follow the sun. He seemed a little weaker last night, so I was worried and checked on him every couple of hours.

I am completely devastated. He was perfect. We had such an amazing connection. He was so special. I will miss him so so much. Life will not be the same without him.
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Life definitely will not be the same without your companion Beau. His absence will leave a huge void in your life. Be at peace, Dear Beau.

I still feel very shocked that this happened. I was so optimistic, maybe naively so. Have you talked with Dr. G?
 
Suzanne & Darcy said:
Life definitely will not be the same without your companion Beau. His absence will leave a huge void in your life. Be at peace, Dear Beau.

I still feel very shocked that this happened. I was so optimistic, maybe naively so. Have you talked with Dr. G?
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That photo was about a year ago. He was happy and healthy and had gained back the 1 1/2 lbs he lost prior to diabetes diagnosis. I will really miss seeing him enjoy the sun and stretching out on the table while I read with my coffee.

I am also shocked! He was doing so well the first 18 hours or so after the transfusion. So I was optimistic. Thonking if I could just get him through the weekend and a few more GS injections. I was even going to do
double up today and tomorrow. We often do that at first when a kitty doesn't seem to be responding.

But, other than breakfast, I couldn’t get him interested in eating anything and I tried so many foods. I was worried about him when I went to bed. He just declined so quickly.

I haven’t told Dr G yet. I’m going to send him an email now.
 
Sharon555 said:
That photo was about a year ago. He was happy and healthy and had gained back the 1 1/2 lbs he lost prior to diabetes diagnosis. I will really miss seeing him enjoy the sun and stretching out on the table while I read with my coffee.

I am also shocked! He was doing so well the first 18 hours or so after the transfusion. So I was optimistic. Thonking if I could just get him through the weekend and a few more GS injections. I was even going to do
double up today and tomorrow. We often do that at first when a kitty doesn't seem to be responding.

But, other than breakfast, I couldn’t get him interested in eating anything and I tried so many foods. I was worried about him when I went to bed. He just declined so quickly.

I haven’t told Dr G yet. I’m going to send him an email now.
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Hugs and more hugs.
 
Suzanne & Darcy said:
Hugs and more hugs.
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Thank you so much!

Thank you for being there for both of us through all of this. I really appreciate it.
Not everyone understands the anguish of losing a cherished pet. Everyone in this group does.

I haven’t posted in the Feline Diabetes group yet with an update. I need to do that so all of the wonderful people there who have also been with me since the beginning know about Beau.

I sent Dr G an email so he wouldn’t be blindsided when he calls me in the morning with the pathology report. He feels I gave Beau the best opportunity for a positive outcome. It will be hard to talk to him tomorrow.

Thank you, again, for everything.
 
Rewster's Mom (Renee) said:
@Sharon555 My deepest condolences to you. I’ve always read up on Beau’s status and I’m just so shocked about his departure. You really are the best parent and did everything you could to help him and make him comfortable. Your love for him was so clearly strong. I’m sending you hugs!
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Thank you so much.

My sweet Beau’s departure has left a huge hole in my heart. He really was the best boy.
 
Suzanne & Darcy said:
What did Dr. G say about Beau’s passing?
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He was surprised. He thought that Beau would make it until Monday. Then we could move forward, treating whatever the pathology report from blood sent in on Friday told us.

Then the pathology report came in yesterday. It showed no leukemia or any other cancer. He had a non-regenerative anemia, which is why the benefits of the blood transfusion were short-lived. It looks like it was bone marrow disease. The bone marrow was producing a sky high amount of white blood cells which were aggressively destroying the red blood cells, already so very low, so quickly that the production could not keep up. He said it was like an auto-immune disease. The only way to get specifics was to do a bone marrow biopsy. He said that even if Beau had lived through the weekend, he would not have put him through the biopsy. He said whatever it told us was not going to be treatable.

He thinks that it was probably brewing back when Beau’s blood sugar was becoming under control and he was eating less. I didn’t know that the loss of appetite was because of something underlying. The change in him from his annual visit in June to when I took him on 8/2 to when we repeated bloodwork and did ultrasounds and the buildup of fluid was dramatic. He feels strongly that the FIP was secondary and was allowed to advance quickly because of what was going on with the bone marrow.

My poor, sweet, beautiful boy just didn’t stand a chance.

His passing has left me incredibly sad with a huge hole in my heart. I miss him so much.
 
Oh that is so sad. Poor dear Beau. That is so sad. I have been thinking about you and Beau a lot, Sharon. He did get that last day with you on the deck — that’s good. But I know the emptiness is so great— and the longing to see him again.
 
I knew that being diagnosed with diabetes could shorten his life. So I was prepared for that happening. But this was unexpected and just so very cruel. My sweet-souled Beau did not deserve such an end to his life.

Oh, how I wish I had more time with him.
 
My heart continues to hurt for you, Sharon. It’s just so sad, and the pain and loss you feel is so huge. You’re right about it being unexpected and cruel. All you can do is take it one day at a time, and hold on to your sweet memories of dear Beau. He’ll always be with you.
 
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