the hydration and extra play do the trick - and you start getting some sleep with a happy Tigger!
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Feline Dementia
- Thread starter kluchetta
- Start Date
the hydration and extra play do the trick - and you start getting some sleep with a happy Tigger!
When my old man was alive he had diabetes. He died on my graduation day it was SO terrible!
He had feline dementia and it was so terrible. He always slept in bed with me at night but as he got worse and older he starting peeing in the bed, forgetting he had eaten, forgetting to COME BACK IN AT NIGHT! (that was irritating because my cats MUST be in for me to sleep) The bed wetting is what gave it away for me, his blood pressure would rise and cause him to "YELL" at me every now and then. Lol!
I have walked in your shoes and I feel for you, it can be a heart wrenching thing.
(however I put a plastic mat on my bed so he could still sleep/pee with me) call me crazy but I loved that silly man!
He had feline dementia and it was so terrible. He always slept in bed with me at night but as he got worse and older he starting peeing in the bed, forgetting he had eaten, forgetting to COME BACK IN AT NIGHT! (that was irritating because my cats MUST be in for me to sleep) The bed wetting is what gave it away for me, his blood pressure would rise and cause him to "YELL" at me every now and then. Lol!
I have walked in your shoes and I feel for you, it can be a heart wrenching thing.
(however I put a plastic mat on my bed so he could still sleep/pee with me) call me crazy but I loved that silly man!
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I would do the same.
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- #24
So guess what, I finally started sub-qs. I was really paranoid about it, and found an excuse not to for about a week. Then Tigger got sick (she gets this sore throat about once a year, where you can see it hurts her to swallow), so since she wasn't eating, I decided I'd better do the fluids.
The first day was kind of crazy, because I had to set up the bag and the needles and I wasn't really sure exactly how to do it. I warmed up the fluid, but not enough I don't think. She didn't even notice when I put the needle in, but when I started the fluids she growled. After a couple of minutes the needle fell out (and the thing was spraying like a fire hose, LOL). I put the needle back in again, and, again, she only noticed when I opened up the IV. Well, she only got about 50 ccs of fluid, but she seemed noticeably better.
I did it again last night, and warmed the fluid a lot better, plus I ran the line until the warm fluids were coming out. She didn't even NOTICE that I was doing it. AND!!!!!!!!!!!!! I got to sleep through the night!!!!!
The first day was kind of crazy, because I had to set up the bag and the needles and I wasn't really sure exactly how to do it. I warmed up the fluid, but not enough I don't think. She didn't even notice when I put the needle in, but when I started the fluids she growled. After a couple of minutes the needle fell out (and the thing was spraying like a fire hose, LOL). I put the needle back in again, and, again, she only noticed when I opened up the IV. Well, she only got about 50 ccs of fluid, but she seemed noticeably better.
I did it again last night, and warmed the fluid a lot better, plus I ran the line until the warm fluids were coming out. She didn't even NOTICE that I was doing it. AND!!!!!!!!!!!!! I got to sleep through the night!!!!!
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What a blessing to have a cat for twenty years. I was so counting on that with Speedboat, but we lost him in Jan. at 14. I think as you do the fluids, it will be easier for you. I have never done it, but I would have for Speedboat if he had lasted. God bless you and Tigger. I hope you have more time to enjoy him. You are a good Cat Mama.
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- #26
Originally Posted by blueyedgirl5946
What a blessing to have a cat for twenty years. I was so counting on that with Speedboat, but we lost him in Jan. at 14. I think as you do the fluids, it will be easier for you. I have never done it, but I would have for Speedboat if he had lasted. God bless you and Tigger. I hope you have more time to enjoy him. You are a good Cat Mama.
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Well Done! Yep, it gets easier as time goes on.
The needles dull very quickly, by the way. I always keep an extra one near by in case I have to re-stick.
PS-make sure your tetanus shot is up to date. I have stuck myself a few times.
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- #28
They told me I could probably use a needle twice. They gave me 15 or 16 needles, I think! Yep, tetanus good until 2016!Originally Posted by otto
Well Done! Yep, it gets easier as time goes on.
The needles dull very quickly, by the way. I always keep an extra one near by in case I have to re-stick.
PS-make sure your tetanus shot is up to date. I have stuck myself a few times.
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Twice in one session you mean, right? Like if it falls out, stick it back in.
In general, don't reuse needles. I mean, don't give fluids, recap the needle and use if for the next session. Very unhygienic and just asking for trouble. Always use a clean sterile needle.
Keep track of where you've stuck and avoid sticking in the very same spot each time. Otherwise callous will build up and make it more difficult for the needle to penetrate.
After three years of fluids four times a week, I had started to give some of Ootay's sessions in her flank, because I was running out of un-calloused spots on her neck.
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- #30
Oh, yeah, that totally makes sense. I don't know where I read it, but somewhere here, someone mentioned pretending the cat had a saddle on, like a horse, and you can give the fluids anywhere the "saddle" is. So instead of the neck, it was a little further last night. Another 100 ccs down!
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- #31
Well, just a little update, not a very good one, though. Tigger's not been doing too well the past couple of days. I think she's very nauseated and she hasn't eaten or drank all day. So I gave her 200 units of sub-qs and some pepto bismol (per the vet) so we will see how she does. i'm not real hopeful...she is staggering with her back feet some and I just found her sleeping in her litter box.
Oh no...
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I am very surprised your vet approved the use of pepto bismol, it is my understanding that should never be used for cats:Originally Posted by kluchetta
Well, just a little update, not a very good one, though. Tigger's not been doing too well the past couple of days. I think she's very nauseated and she hasn't eaten or drank all day. So I gave her 200 units of sub-qs and some pepto bismol (per the vet) so we will see how she does. i'm not real hopeful...she is staggering with her back feet some and I just found her sleeping in her litter box.
Source: http://www.petplace.com/drug-library...ate/page1.aspx
that is only one source, but my search turned up many sites that say the same thing.
The weakness in Tigger's legs could be from lack of potassium, or it could be stroke.
I am very sorry to read of Tigger's decline. Please keep us posted.
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Pepto is Not safe , call your local animal posion control or the aspca ... at one point it was as it was not salilayte but something else same for another common anti diarreal
for Tigger
