My apologies or yet another "separate" thread

[lucky luke]

But I'm very worried. The original post is here: http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/sho...=224138&page=2

The Vet recommended that I step up Sasha's Sub Q treatments until I'm sure that last night (this early morning?)'s projectile vomiting episode was an isolated incident.

I phoned them again since I wanted to ask wheteher or not to give Sasha's antibiotic tonight...the Clinic's closed and the Vet hasn't returned my call yet. Logic tells me that the antibiotic wasn't at fault since a) Sahsa's had no vomiting or runs for the past 5 days he was on the antibiotic and b) I apologise if this sounds gross; but this wasn't just bile there was a copious amount of food in the mess I cleaned.

I checked the food dish and saw that it was almost eaten clean, thus logically Sasha might have over eaten in one shot (it was pretty much the content of a can of Hi Tor I'd left overnight for him to eat should he be hungry) and it may have been too much food in one sitting?

I wish I knew for sure...

 

[carolina]

Since it was only one time, I would give it again... This is what I was told, at least, by my vet when it happened to Bugsy. when he was on Clavamox and he threw up once.
On Tylan, however, when he threw up twice in a row, on two consecutive days, the vet told me to suspend giving the medicine for a few days for his stomach to get better then resume with antibiotics.
It is not uncommon vomiting with antibiotics... even later on... Bugsy threw up on the 5th day of Clavamox also.
Hope this is the first and last time it happens. Try to give the medication with food, right after he eats his meal... This will help his little tummy...

 

[lucky luke]

Originally Posted by Carolina

Since it was only one time, I would give it again... This is what I was told, at least, by my vet when it happened to Bugsy. when he was on Clavamox and he threw up once.
On Tylan, however, when he threw up twice in a row, on two consecutive days, the vet told me to suspend giving the medicine for a few days for his stomach to get better then resume with antibiotics.
It is not uncommon vomiting with antibiotics... even later on... Bugsy threw up on the 5th day of Clavamox also.
Hope this is the first and last time it happens. Try to give the medication with food, right after he eats his meal... This will help his little tummy...

that's what I'm doing...with food and I'm still "encouraging" him to eat...Thanks for the vibes!

 

[lucky luke]

Vet wants Sasha on daily Sub Q treatments for a week (I've been giving them to him for the past 3 days consecutive so, another 4-5 days), and on the Medi Cal Convalescence diet.

In his words, the reason why Sasha vomitted 2 nights ago (in spite of his spike in appetite) is that the toxin level in his system was too high, and the "dialisys" (e.g. Sub Qu treatments) weren't helping him cope properly.

From there sasha's on Sub Q every 48 hous for the following 2 weeks and then (hopefully) twice a week.

Honestly, I'm beginning to fear Sasha won't see Christmas...

 

[ruthyb]

Originally Posted by Lucky Luke

Vet wants Sasha on daily Sub Q treatments for a week (I've been giving them to him for the past 3 days consecutive so, another 4-5 days), and on the Medi Cal Convalescence diet.

In his words, the reason why Sasha vomitted 2 nights ago (in spite of his spike in appetite) is that the toxin level in his system was too high, and the "dialisys" (e.g. Sub Qu treatments) weren't helping him cope properly.

From there sasha's on Sub Q every 48 hous for the following 2 weeks and then (hopefully) twice a week.

Honestly, I'm beginning to fear Sasha won't see Christmas...

I can't really offer any advice as I have no experience with this, I just wanted to send you hugs and vibes, you are doing so well.xx

 

[darlili]

You're trying so hard - I know Sasha knows how much you love him.

 

[carolina]

One step at a time hon, one step at a time... Love love love him for the time you have him with you

 

[lucky luke]

He no longer seems interested in the Medi Cal...tried to assist-feed him, he sort of ate but...not much. I must agree that once the Medi Cal Recovery food is reheated from the fridge it reeks!

I went through the various cans of Cat food I have (some for Sasha, some for Tiggy) and came across a can of Holistic Select Tuna and Shrimp recipe...Eureka!

He attacked that food like he'd never eaten before. Granted, he didn't eat the whole can, but he didn't need a lot of convincing to eat either.

It's a bit high on the protein and higher than I'd like on the phosphorus...but like the Vet said, if all else fails, a CRF cat eats what he wants, as long as he eats. With the crap-load of meds he's on I'm not surprised his appetite's in the toilet.

So he ate some of that; and my spouse found an internet store who will ship Vita Gravy to Canada (I'm afraid to see the shipping bill though, ugh...) as well as an onion & garlic-free recipe for Home made cat gravy...cool!

I've come across this web page for CRF cats

http://www.felinecrf.org/canned_food...sing_food_data

She has a good, straight-forward explanation of what's "safe" and what's commercially available. Bottom-line is I could have done far worse than feeding Sasha the Holistic Select, its DMA is actually pretty close to the Medi Cal (lower protein in fact); though neither food is as "ideally balanced" as the Hi-Tor.

So...I ain't throwing in the towel yet.

 

[lucky luke]

Did some research and found a few interesting alternatives to the Hi-Tor (not as healthy but good enough to get Sasha eating until he's interested in the Hi-Tor again).

Seafood seems to do the trick, so I found something in the "safer range": Hill's Science Diet Optimal care Savory Seafood EntrÃ[emoji]169[/emoji]e. We'll see if he eats it!

As far as the daily Sub Q treatments go...not today JosÃ[emoji]169[/emoji]. Sasha was just crabby, growling and squirming so much that I poked through twice, the condole time went through his skin and right in my fingertip...

So I called the Vet and I was told that if he won't let me do it that's okay, just go every other day and bring him in with my bag of serum if he still won't let me, they'll do it for me.

The way he's acting crabby and hissing at Tiggy it almost seems like he's getting better! And it would seem that the Medi Cal Recovery food was a passing phase;he ain't touching it. Looks like Hi Tor and home made gravy and the odd can of "safe seafood" can for variety...

 

[lucky luke]

What a f'd up day...I woke up around 6:30 am and couldn't fall back to sleep.

The good news:

• I got my beddings washed
• No vomiting last night either (for Sasha)
• Sasha needed a bit of help but he ate.
• I found a standing coat hanger to make Sasha's Sub Q treatments easier
• I found some Hills Science Diet Optimal Care, Seafood flavor to give Sasha some variety.
• I made some home made Cat gravy.
• Sasha seemed to like it.

The Bad news:

• Sasha was in too crabby a mood to get his Sub Q treatment at home.
• After speaking to the Vet over the phone, I noticed that Sasha's belly was dangling and looked rather large in spite of his skinny back...what gives?
• I was worried he might have bad constipation so I called the Vet again and made an appointment

The good news

• My Manager agreed to switch vacation days (long story) so I could have the day off to take Sasha to the Vet.

The Bad news

• Rush hour traffic

The Good news

• Made it to the clinic on time.
• Sasha's not constipated, his muscle tone is weaker in the midriff so it kind of hangs out.
• The Vet's assistant gave Sasha's Sub Q (even a bit of extra so he won't need any until Sunday) and I was only charged for a visit (with a nice discount since they took back the cans of Medi Cal Sasha wouldn't eat)
• Sasha's actually put on one pound, he weighs a bit over 8 pounds now
• As long as I don't overfeed him the 'non kidney diet foods' he should do okay (e.g. if he eats less than the recommended daily portion - which is the case)
• He's over his cold so I can discontinue the Lysine and eye ointment

The bad news

• It's becoming clearer and clearer that Sasha's on borrowed time; which makes me cry when I look at his pretty little face.
• The Vet says then when he no longer eats at all and acts all listless is the time to consider putting him to sleep.
• So much for visiting my family in Quebec: unless I only go for a weekend, Sasha's too sick to be left at a boarding kennel, we're talking more in terms of Hospitalization boarding in his case.
• I feel so mentally drained...

Worthy of mention

• For those of you who believe, God must love me: I made it to the Vet's on a nearly empty gas tank and there was a gas station a few blocks away from the Vet's.
• I was so anxious that I'd forgotten my GPS in my apartment...and I got there after dark by memory!

PS the Vet suggests to perhaps give Sasha a break from the antibiotics, antacid and appetite stimulant to give his body a break...keep up with the Sub Q mind you. I'm not so sure about that...I hang on the the contention that once Sasha's bladder infection is cleared, he won't pee the floor as often and all I'd have to focus on is the CRF...

Quoth Dr White "It ain't the cold or the bladder infection that's killing him; it's his kidneys"

My poor Sasha...

 

[darlili]

for you and Sasha to enjoy and treasure these days together - the love and care you've shown is truly inspirational

 

[lucky luke]

Originally Posted by darlili

for you and Sasha to enjoy and treasure these days together - the love and care you've shown is truly inspirational

It's at times like this that I feel like a class-A heel for all of those times in the past that I raised my voice at him...

But then, in the past few years I kept repeating to myself "Mellow out man, treasure the time you have with him; one day you're going to miss those times he yowled uncontrollably to get your attention or pooped the floor for being away too long."

He was licking my forearm most of last night...he's still aware of where he is and of who I am; that's what makes the prospect of (when the time comes) euthanasia so distasteful to me...on the other hand if he's suffering I don't want to prolong it either.

When he no longer wants to eat and looks for a place to hide is when I have to consider that alternative...sad...

 

[lucky luke]

I think Sasha's entering his final phase...agreed I may be wrong and I hope I am; but when I came back from shopping last evening, he wouldn't touch his food, even if I opened a fresh can.

Then I rummaged through my closet to get a warmer winter coat and Sasha was trying his darnedest to wiggle his way in...looking for a place to hide, not a good sign...

He slept most of the night snuggled with me but...at some point he got out of bed and was trying to go under the bed...

he eventually came back to bed but at another point in the whee hours of the morning he left the bedroom to go drink at the big water fountain. I fell back to sleep and when I woke up, only Tiggy was in bed with me.

Worried, I went to check and Sasha was lying on the futon in the living room. Tiggy went to him and Sasha growled at him. I tried petting him (Sasha), more groaning and a swat. I presented him with food, even his favorite Salmon food, he licked his chops but turned away from it.

The Vet told me I've done a wonderful job; that very few cats make it to the age of 18, and that Sasha's a lucky cat. But it doesn't make things any easier. I cry (yeah, 46 year-old heterosexual man and I cry) my daily share of tears for Sasha. My rational mind knows it's age, and that when the time comes I need to be strong for him. I'll wait a bit, give him his antacid and see if it helps...

He went back to the bedroom. In his current state I doubt he'll let me give him his Sub Q...then again he might. We'll see...

Edit

went to the bedroom and Sasha wasn't in bed...he was hiding under the bed...in my meager experience that's a bad sign. Memories of Geisha's (my first cat) last day as she was wandering aimlessly around, peeing the floor and looking for a quiet place to hide.

I pulled him from under the bed without much effort and put him on the bed. I kissed his head and petted him, he began to purr. "I love you Sasha. I promise I won't let you suffer...are you suffering?"

Still wouldn't give up on him...I'm too stubborn. Gave him his antacid and appetite stimulant.
I waited a few minutes...I mixed of 1 teaspoonful of hi-tor, 1 teaspoon of Science diet Optimal Care Salmon entrÃ[emoji]169[/emoji]e and a bit of home made cat gravy. I syringe fed him maybe 1.5 ml of it, presented him the bowl..no go. He might have been eating kibble overnight but that's wishful thinking...I'm wondering if I should even bother trying to give him Sub Q today...

 

[darlili]

You're a good man - and Sasha is lucky to have you. I wish I had a magic wand to make things better for you....I just hope I have your strength when the time comes for my kitties.

 

[lucky luke]

PS - I gave Sasha a 4 minute Sub Q treatment, possible the best one yet...he was in his comfy spot in bed: near the edge, next to my pillows. He took the treatment without much struggling, resting his head in the palm of my hand as I made sure the fluids weren't leaking.

It's all about keeping him comfy at this point...

 

[lucky luke]

Originally Posted by darlili

You're a good man - and Sasha is lucky to have you. I wish I had a magic wand to make things better for you....I just hope I have your strength when the time comes for my kitties.

Thanks, I don't even bother to close the bedroom door any longer when I feed my little guys, I want them both to have full access to the apartment. Hopefully, the Sub Q I just gave him will help his appetite, along with the appetite stimulant. But I keep asking myself: "am I only delaying the inevitable?"

 

[lucky luke]

I present him the food, he licks his chops, makes like he wants to eat then moves away from the food...I presented him with some home made gravy...same thing, licks his chops makes like he's about to have some and moves away...I'm losing him...

 

[booktigger]

Did you get the antacid into him, as it does sound more like nausea than anything else. I know how hard it is dealing with CRF, my 20yo was diagnosed with it at the beginning of the year, I am amazed she is still here, and when she has a day of not eating, i wonder if it is time (she has other health issues that impact on her eating as well).

 

[fundivachristy]

I just spent a while reading thru your posts from the past few months to get up to date. I'm so sorry this is a rough time for you. My CRF kitty Samantha was also 18 and as booktigger just said the not eating days are worrisome. Have you tried the anything he will eat tactic? My holistic vet said the smellier the better, like Fancy Feast etc, we got something so cheap and by-product laden in pouches but at least she ate it. I'm pretty sure it was Special Kitty from WalMart. It worked when even homemade was refused. (((hugs)))

 

[lucky luke]

Originally Posted by booktigger

Did you get the antacid into him, as it does sound more like nausea than anything else. I know how hard it is dealing with CRF, my 20yo was diagnosed with it at the beginning of the year, I am amazed she is still here, and when she has a day of not eating, i wonder if it is time (she has other health issues that impact on her eating as well).

It's Sasha's recent attempts at trying to hide that worry me, combined with his lack of appetite. Yes I gave him an antacid, and an appetite stimulant, and a Sub Q treatment.

I just liquefied a can of Hi-Tor in my Magic Bullet and presented it to him - no dice. I just syringe-fed him another 1 ml of the liquefied Hi-Tor. He's lying on the futon watching me type with a sleepy look on his face...

I have to ask myself: am I doing the right thing? I think I am...