Sick kitty

I'm sorry to hear about your dog But it is good to know he went on to have good times with you for so long after his stroke. That is so sad that you couldn't have your long walks around the lake any longer. I already let go of the idea of my Squeaky returning to her old self, and I'm okay with it now.
I don't know about a kennel, but it is an idea. We'll see what happens with the vet. Thank you everyone for thinking, praying and caring about Squeaky, she would let out a little squeak for each of you if she knew.

How about like a baby playpen? You culd put a comforter or something in it, and her litter box, water, etc.

I want to know what the vet says. I am thinking once a vet figures out the problem, that Squeaky will be better and will live a long, long time.

***hugs***

Shenandoah and Humble send love and headbutts to Squeaky.

Thank you for the hugs and headbutts, they were very well received
Squeaky saw the vet today with my dad and me. Don't be mad, but it was the same vet who told us it was behavioural and gave her antidepressants. He was a really nice guy and he spent a long time trying to help us last time. I knew I just needed to push that there's something physical going on, and she is having her house soiling problems because of this, and that the antidepressants won't make her feel better if she's sick. He said there is no blockage because she would be in worse shape, and it also wouldn't be a recurring issue. He suggested doing extensive bloodwork, and if that gets us nowhere then to follow it with a biopsy. He changed her food to Medi-Cal hypoallergenic/Gastro, to see if it's related to her diet. I haven't opened it and he said I can return it if I'm not happy with it. He also gave her anti-emetics to make her feel better.
When we got her home she was having trouble walking. She wobbled pretty bad and crawled under the bed. She keeps coming out, laying strangely and going back under there. I hope this has something to do with getting bloodwork, or carsickness, although she's been in the car several times and has never reacted this way.
Well, she gets to stay in my room for now (no need for a crate or playpen at this point) while we wait on the blood results and decide what can be done next.

The bloodwork ought to tell you something about what's going on. No one is mad! How did you dad react? Is he being nice to you over it all?


Poor kitty, I think it is something physical. I pray that they find an answer.

He hasn't been mean, actually he hasn't said anything at all today to make me feel badly about Squeaky. Even when she was wobbling and looking pretty messed up when we walked in the door, he agreed it could have been from the car, when he could easily have made an upsetting comment. So he was being nice about it. I hope you're right, the bloodwork results had better show something!

This is a "bump" to get a mystery back into the spotlight for anyone who may not ahve been following along.

We're all waiting for the bloodwork results/Vets next "move".

Has anyone had any similar experience????????

Well, I am praying for your dad to be extra understanding and sweet.

***hugs***

Kiss Squeaky for me.

How is Squeeky doing today? Hoping she is feeling a bit better!

I understand there was a relapse late yesterday, and Squeaky is at the Vets today........

Squeaky has been on Reglan to stop the vomiting, so she hasn't thrown up since monday morning (when we saw the vet). She also hasn't had a bowel movement since then, but she wasn't eating. Yesterday she started to drink a lot, then she finally ate a whole lot too. Then in the evening she had a big pee in the litterbox that was oddly coloured, it looked like it could be bloody. After that, she kept going back to the litterbox and straining for several minutes at a time, and she cried out a couple of times. She kept going back and leaving tiny little droplets.
So this morning I called the vet's office, and they told me they had the bloodwork results. He said she has elevated Bilirubin, which is a sign of liver disease, but that they could be elevated from the vomiting. He said to come in for the possible UTI, so we went in and ended up seeing the same vet we saw the first time, not the one who said it was behavioural. He had no ideas for us either for her house-soiling and recurring sickness. He sent us home with some plastic litter and syringe to get a urine sample.
If this is a problem with crystals, that could possibly be causing all the trouble. But if it's a normal UTI, I don't know what to do because the bloodwork is normal (he said, but I did bring home a copy), and both of the vets said an x-ray would be a waste of money because it's not going to find anything. I don't know what to do next

Because of her cough and her slightly elevated bilirubin, I have a question. How bad are heartworms there for dogs? Are all dogs usually kept on heartworm preventative during mosquito season? If so, and you have had mosquitos in the house, or this kitty spend time outside anytime in the last three years, a heartworm test might be in order.

My Zoe had very similar symptoms and turns out she was heartworm positive. It was on a fluke that we found it. After getting a positive test, the vet looked up heartworm in cats from one her books. Sure enough, cough and mildly elevated bilirubin are among the signs and symptoms.

Zoe also has chronic cystitis, which is not associated with the heartworm. Squeaky may have more than one thing going on. Also, liver problems can cause nausea and vomitting.

Oh dear, is Zoe doing okay now?
It does sound like there are multiple things going on with Squeaky. I looked around a teeny bit and I couldn't find anything linking elevated bilirubin with heartworms. That is interesting to know though, because I've always worried it was heartworms (We adopted her 2 years and 5 months ago, she was a lost kitty so she would have been exposed), but figured it was most likely asthma.
I'm still waiting on that urine sample, and she has had quite a bit to drink...

Yes, Zoe is ok now. She survived the die off, and is now a happy 12 year old. She was diagnosed in 1999.

The slightly elevated bilirubin was perplexing to us. We had bile acid tests run, all sorts of things. We kept thinking some sort of liver or gallbladder disease. The vet had this giant book, I think it was call "the five minute veterinary consult". It was designed to give vets a quick reference for odd cases. I think it is all on a CD-rom now.

Anyway it was this book that talked about the slightly elevated bilirubin. Looking at it in hind sight it was so obvious. She had all the symptoms, but back then it was just being discovered that cats could and did get heartworm. Plus, I had just moved to New Mexico from Minnesota. Heartworm is very rare here so it is not something the vets think of right away, especially not in cats.


Sending lots of "hurry up and pee-pee " thoughts to Squeaky. I really hope you can get something figured out so she is feeling better. You are a good Meowmy for not giving up, and I have to say your parents are being really very tolerant considering her problems and the fact the one vet said it is behavioral.

Not to get too off topic, but I think sometimes vets who don't really "get" cats say this because they don't know what is going on. Sort of like when a doctor says, "its just a virus, but come back if your not better in a week".
If you haven't already done so, search feline chronic cystitis. This often has the same inappropriate urination symptoms as a UTI, however the urine doesn't have crystals or bacteria in it. It is caused by bladder inflammation and spasms. This is one disease they learned about in people, then discovered that cats got it as well.

Sorry to blabber on! Lots of hugs for you and sweet Squeaky.

Still sending hugs and feel better wishes for you and Squeeky. I'm sorry to hear about the relapse and hope you can get the urine sample soon. I hate to wish any bad feelings on a kitty, but it's good that this is happening while you're able to interact with a vet. It's much easier for them to diagnose when they have actual symptoms and can get samples and so forth while it's going on. So, hopefully it will all work out and you'll figure out what's going on with her soon! Best of luck.

Sending more hugs!

Thank you for that information, Kittymonsters (I love your name), I will mention heartworm to the vet, and is feline chronic cystitis something that will be found on her urinalysis? How did they diagnose it? I'm very happy for Zoe, the two of you must have had a hard time. But she sounds like a little trooper
I think the vet said it is behavioural because it turns out he is the same vet who dealt with her neurological problem in august. I actually didn't know this because I wasn't home when it happened so didn't get to accompany her to the vet back then. I wish I could have been there, but I'm told he warned my parents that anything could go wrong.
I think you're right, Catsarebetter, cats ARE better... but I agree that if all of this HAD to happen, then it's a good time for it. I even saved the cost of the visit yesterday because I had already been in two days prior, and the vet is understanding of our financial position.
Squeaky STILL hasn't peed, and I've even given her full access to the couch (which I covered with garbage bags). She hasn't tried to, so I don't think it's because she's blocked. She has had quite a bit to drink since seeing the vet yesterday morning. If she hasn't gone by maybe 10am tomorrow I might have to bring her back in so they can help her with that.
And thank you for all the hugs, I'm passing them on to Squeaky for you

Aww, poor little girl. Sending "go potty" vibes to Squeeky!

Shenandoah, Humble, and I send pee vibes to Squeaky!

(They are at the vet's getting their teeth cleaned and their yearly shots and bloodwork done. I just got a call saying they are fine afetr the dental work and are resting.)

Thank you for the good vibes!
Are Shenandoah and Humble home now? I've been totally wrapped up in Squeaky, I didn't even think to wish you all well! I'm sorry! It sounds like it all went well, so I'm happy, and now you don't have to worry about the shots (and maybe dental work?) for a whole year!
Squeaky still hasn't peed, but we can't get a ride to the vet until tomorrow. I squished around her abdomen and it doesn't seem to cause her discomfort, at least...

Originally Posted by Unluckyblue

Thank you for the good vibes!
Are Shenandoah and Humble home now? I've been totally wrapped up in Squeaky, I didn't even think to wish you all well! I'm sorry! It sounds like it all went well, so I'm happy, and now you don't have to worry about the shots (and maybe dental work?) for a whole year!
Squeaky still hasn't peed, but we can't get a ride to the vet until tomorrow. I squished around her abdomen and it doesn't seem to cause her discomfort, at least...

Click to expand...

They are both home! Both babies are sleepy and woozy and a little unsteady on their feet, but they will be okay. They have a little antibiotic to take, and it cost $600 to get everything done.



Thanks for asking.

***hugs*** to Squeaky.