My Sweet Pixel is leaving me :'(

heard from the vet - she's definitely diabetic, but it doesn't show up in her urine, only her bloodwork. anyway, they're keeping her overnight, treating her w/insulin, etc. then they'll check the kidney function in the morning. the vet said she seemed to be feeling better, a smidge.

ETA: since the vet had left a message, & i couldn't get them on the phone, i went down there. i saw my sweetie, who's really still quite lethargic, & talked to the vet about treatment. she's only on a maintenance level of iv fluids, & they check protein levels twice a day to avoid over 'fluidizing'. she said Pixel could stay on her current kibble (which is great, IMO) & we would correct her sugar to that food, with injectable insulin. she's easy to stick, so that won't be an issue. oh, the vet also said that probably what happened saturday was Pixel had a diabetic seizure due to high blood sugar levels.

Thank God it is manageable. I used to have a cat with severe allergies who needed shots every week. At first he was good about it, but when he figured out what the word "shot" means (yes, that boy did know English!) he started making life difficult for my mom when she tried to do it.

happy to hear that Pixel's condition is treatable.

my mother is having surgery this morning, so i may not post the next Pixel update until this afternoon - just FYI. if i do post an update, it'll be short, as i'l be using my phone.

for your mother, and more for Pixel.

Glad to hear you got a diagnosis. Additional and on the way for your Mom, and especially for you!

Glad to see you have a treatable answer..vibes for your mom, and for Pixel.

continued  fir Pixel and for your Mother

An idea I've seen is to wet the dry food with fresh water, softening it and making it easier to eat (and also giving the cat the needed moisture from the water).  How is the little sweetie doing?

Wonderful news, Laureen! And so good for us to know that you don't always know from a urine test!!!

thanks to all my well-wishers!

Tarasgirl06 said:

An idea I've seen is to wet the dry food with fresh water, softening it and making it easier to eat (and also giving the cat the needed moisture from the water).  How is the little sweetie doing?

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not great - her blood sugar is fine, she peed last night...but she still won't eat, & her kidney enzymes are still abysmal. her BUN is so low, it won't even register. earlier today, the vet said she was a bit perkier than when i was visiting, but then she started having some breathing issues (sorta panting/puffing). so they stopped the fluids, which were already much lower, & gave her some Lasix to prevent her lungs from filling w/fluid. The vet said she would keep her another 24 hours (unless she starts to crash before then), & monitor her closely... the vet said she )the vet is a woman) would probably not get much sleep tonight. so i think she's being treated as well as possible - it's just whether they can get the breathing back to normal & be able to restart the fluids to help her kidneys recover.
at this point, if neither of those things happen, i'll probably have to euthanize her. the vet did tell me that she had seen other cats just as low recover, so keep sending those & prayers her way!

otoh - my mom's doing really well. they were able to do her surgery laparoscopically, so her recovery time will be shorter & she'll be in less pain. i'll be going back to see her later, & will recheck this thread when i get back (takes forever @ the hospital!).

nothing new to report - in this case, no news is good/ok news, since the vet will call if things get worse.

tjcarst said:

I forgot to say I had given my cat sub-q fluids the two days prior to IV fluids.  Blood work looked very improved after iv fluids, this is why they sent her home.  Go extra cautious with too many fluids in an older cat.  Just my .02 cents after trying to live with myself and the decisions I made 14 months ago.  They robbed me and my kitty of some valuable time together.

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This happened to my cat as well.  Too many fluids, labored breathing.  I hope the Lasix helps her.

EDIT -  Oops - quoted the wrong thread.  Meant to mention the earlier one again, just before this one.  Too much fluid in a short period of time.  My 14 year old girl did not do so well.  Wish I would have left her with the vet another day.

tjcarst said:

Don't let them over-hydrate with iv fluids.  My cat died after receiving too many fluids.  She had a heart murmur and was not able to process a large amount of fluid.  50-100ml should be enough at one time.  Give small amounts maybe twice a day and monitor. 

Vet sent my cat home and it was an entire day before she showed signs of labored breathing.  She was 14 and did not have heart problems before, I just happened to notice 'heart murmur' on her pre iv-fluid appointment.  No one told me she had a heart murmur.

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This is the post I had meant to quote.

I took my baby home on Monday after work.  She seemed fine when I went to work at noon Tuesday.  When I returned home at 5:30 she had labored breathing.  I called the vet and a tech said not to worry.  The next morning at 9 am she was given lasix at a house call.  It was too late for the Lasix to do its work. 

I do hope that with the monitoring the vet is doing that the Lasix is going to do the trick.

Some day when I can accept what has happened to my baby, I plan to introduce myself in the 'newbies' area.

Any update on Pixel?

I am re-living the loss of my kitty due to too many fluids.  So hoping this is not happening all over again for you and Pixel.

  Prayers ongoing and that is very good news for/about your mom.  Praying that a miraculous turnaround is in store for Pixel.  

tjcarst said:

Any update on Pixel?

I am re-living the loss of my kitty due to too many fluids.  So hoping this is not happening all over again for you and Pixel.

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Tarasgirl06 said:

  Prayers ongoing and that is very good news for/about your mom.  Praying that a miraculous turnaround is in store for Pixel.  

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sorry to report this - Pixel died last night, after a valiant struggle. i saw her yesterday afternoon, & she was still really out of it. anyway, i didn't want any major CPR, intubation, etc. since she was so elderly. i told them if it was her time to go, to make her comfortable - which is what they did. they did try to call to tell me, but i was at the hospital w/my mom, & reception is spotty there. they didn't want to leave a message. i stopped by there this morning on my way to a job interview, which is when they told me.

I am so very very sorry.

Oh, Laureen, I'm so sorry! RIP sweet Pixel, and play happily over the Bridge with Mouse and little Smudge.

Ritz said:

I am so very very sorry.

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kluchetta said:

Oh, Laureen, I'm so sorry! RIP sweet Pixel, and play happily over the Bridge with Mouse and little Smudge.

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thank you, guys - i'm sure Mouse is pleased to see her littermate after all these years.