haemobartonella felis

crimmie · Jun 30, 2015

Crimmie has haemobartonella felis...

Good news is that it is treatable with antibiotics, and NG tube feedings since she isn't eating enough.

Bad news is she has a NG tube and thinks I am the devil

20150630_200612.jpg

crimmie
Jun 30, 2015

crimmie · Jun 30, 2015

I was able to get her calm enough to sit still for me to take the cap off of her tube. I attached the syringe, tried to push food (half a/d, half water) and got some resistance...so I flushed about .5ml of water and she started licking her lips and gagging

Does she just need to get use to the NG tube...or??

Why can't she just understand that I'm trying to help her?

crimmie · Jul 1, 2015

Crimmie had a rough night. She managed to get out of her e-collar and gag up her tube. I woke up this morning to her sleeping in the linen closet

I snipped the tube off and got ready for work. As I walked down the stairs, she ran in front of me! She inhaled about an oz or so of canned crap food! I went to work and had my 13 year olds open a fresh can every 2 hours for her. I got home from work and the boys reported that she licked a little of the food every time, but not much else. She also stayed upstairs (hiding) all day. So back to the vet. Dr. removed sutures for NG tube and shook his head at her...

She has been on 1/4 tab of Mirtazapine q3d for the past week and a half for appetite stimulant.

She started Minocycline daily, yesterday...antibiotic for haemobartonella.

Today Dr. added Cerenia 16mg daily for nausea, and 250ml sub q fluids daily (at home).

Now we are back to syringe feeding, which she HATED.

I feel like I should be insisting on an esophageal feeding tube, but Dr thinks she just needs a few days on antibiotics and fluids...she will perk up and eat.

I'm at a loss. She is so depressed now. The NG tube placement (twice) was so traumatic for her

I'm willing to do whatever she needs. I know she can come out of this...it's all treatable. She just needs to EAT!

I feel like I'm talking to myself here...advice? Support? Encouragement?

micknsnicks2mom · Jul 1, 2015

@crimmie -- i've been here! i have been reading your posts, but i don't have experience in this area, so didn't reply. i did subscribe to this thread, so knew that there had been a new reply(-ies) and so am back.

i'm sorry that the NG tube didn't work out well, but i'm sure your crimmie is glad it's been removed. she's been through a lot in a short period of time.

i think the at-home sub-q's are a very good move. the benefits that come to mind are: they'll help your girl stay hydrated, they can (in some cases) help prevent hepatic lipidosis (fatty liver disease) or prevent HL from becoming worse, sub-q fluids can help increase appetite (in many cats -- many will want to eat immediately after being given the fluids), and the fluids are going to be given to crimmie at home and not at the vet's (so probably a lot less stressful for your girl).

are you familiar with giving sub-q fluids? did your vet show you how to 'stick', have you do a practice 'stick' while you were there at the vet office? either way, i'm adding a link to the feline crf website, specifically to a webpage that has links to videos on how to give sub-q fluids and show cats being given them at home --

http://www.felinecrf.org/subcutaneous_fluids_giving_set.htm -- scroll down to see the section 'The Giving Set Method', then scroll down further to see 'Additional Information and Videos'

but read that whole webpage, there's important info there.

this will get you started, and i'll be back here very shortly -- gotta give my cats their meal.

micknsnicks2mom · Jul 1, 2015

okay, i'm back again.

you might try offering your crimmie small amounts of wet food throughout the day/evening, but pate style (or chunky wet food that has been run through a food processor or blender to make it smooth -- smooth is easier on the tummy and easier to digest than chunky) and with water mixed into it -- to hopefully make it a bit easier to eat/handle. small amounts at a time, because too much food all at once can cause vomiting since she hasn't been eating much. i'm suggesting trying this in addition to syringe feeding for the moment, because your crimmie just may decide to try eating a bit on her own -- like she did this morning. btw, that she ate a little on her own is a very good sign -- that she wants to eat.

the sub-q fluids can 'buy a little time', to see if your girl can work up to starting to eat on her own again without further vet intervention.

while i don't have experience with hepatic lipidosis, i do have experience with giving sub-q fluids (for a couple of medical conditions/situations with my cat who has CKD). i'm here to help, and i'm sure others will be by shortly to reply too.

denice · Jul 1, 2015

I honestly did have doubts about that type of feeding tube. I do understand your situation though with no local vet that will put in the esophageal feeding tube. The sub-q fluids will definitely help her feel better which may help with the loss of appetite.

I understand too about the syringe feedings. Some kitties tolerate it better than others. My one that ended up with fatty liver didn't tolerate them well at all, the little bit of food I managed to get in his belly that stayed down simply wasn't worth it. It certainly wasn't enough to stave off fatty liver. He is actually a very tolerant easy going kitty when it comes to everything else. He is easy to pill and every vet that seen him on my vet hopping journey commented on how easy he is to work with and how sweet he is. That includes both vets that gave him enemas. He was having none of the syringe feedings though.

You are really in a bad situation and I have no advice for you. If no vet in your area is comfortable with putting in a feeding tube that really puts you in a bind.

crimmie · Jul 1, 2015

mickNsnicks2mom said:
@crimmie -- i've been here! i have been reading your posts, but i don't have experience in this area, so didn't reply. i did subscribe to this thread, so knew that there had been a new reply(-ies) and so am back.

i'm sorry that the NG tube didn't work out well, but i'm sure your crimmie is glad it's been removed. she's been through a lot in a short period of time.

i think the at-home sub-q's are a very good move. the benefits that come to mind are: they'll help your girl stay hydrated, they can (in some cases) help prevent hepatic lipidosis (fatty liver disease) or prevent HL from becoming worse, sub-q fluids can help increase appetite (in many cats -- many will want to eat immediately after being given the fluids), and the fluids are going to be given to crimmie at home and not at the vet's (so probably a lot less stressful for your girl).

are you familiar with giving sub-q fluids? did your vet show you how to 'stick', have you do a practice 'stick' while you were there at the vet office? either way, i'm adding a link to the feline crf website, specifically to a webpage that has links to videos on how to give sub-q fluids and show cats being given them at home --

http://www.felinecrf.org/subcutaneous_fluids_giving_set.htm -- scroll down to see the section 'The Giving Set Method', then scroll down further to see 'Additional Information and Videos'

but read that whole webpage, there's important info there.

this will get you started, and i'll be back here very shortly -- gotta give my cats their meal.

Thank you! That is a very helpful link! I have never done it. They showed me how today. I am a surgical tech, so I'm comfortable with the tools involved...I just HATE being the bad guy. The needles he gave me are 16g

but she tolerated it well in the office.. My Sister was a vet assistant several years ago, and is a pro at a lot of this. Thankfully she works with me, so I can lean on her for help.

This site is just packed full of information. I was hoping to find somebody that has had a cat with haemobartonella felis to compare notes.

Thanks for your reply...every word helps me get a tiny bit stronger, and helps me push a tiny bit more through the syringe <3

mrsgreenjeens · Jul 1, 2015

I'm afraid I don't have much advise either, other than to refer you to this website, which is part of the same website MickNSnick referred you to: http://www.felinecrf.org/nausea_vomiting_stomach_acid.htm Just scroll down to the section on Loss of Appetite and then click on the link. It will take you to where there are tips to try to get your Crimmie to eat, in case you haven't exhausted all of them yet.

As to the sub-q fluids, ANY amount will help. 250 ml's is a HUGE amount and she may start fighting on that long before you get there. I would say if she starts fighting you, stop and let her go with whatever amount you have gotten in her. Even if it's just 50 ml's, it's better than nothing. WE try to give our girl 150, but sometimes only do 100 because she will start getting restless. Stress can be more harmful to them sometimes than getting all the fluid in, IMHO. You can always add more fluid later.

And remember, she picks up on YOUR stress, so try to remain calm.

crimmie · Jul 1, 2015

Denice said:
I honestly did have doubts about that type of feeding tube. I do understand your situation though with no local vet that will put in the esophageal feeding tube. The sub-q fluids will definitely help her feel better which may help with the loss of appetite.

I understand too about the syringe feedings. Some kitties tolerate it better than others. My one that ended up with fatty liver didn't tolerate them well at all, the little bit of food I managed to get in his belly that stayed down simply wasn't worth it. It certainly wasn't enough to stave off fatty liver. He is actually a very tolerant easy going kitty when it comes to everything else. He is easy to pill and every vet that seen him on my vet hopping journey commented on how easy he is to work with and how sweet he is. That includes both vets that gave him enemas. He was having none of the syringe feedings though.

You are really in a bad situation and I have no advice for you. If no vet in your area is comfortable with putting in a feeding tube that really puts you in a bind.

There are vets here that will and do place them...It's just that my "new" vet thinks it might be a bit extreme at this point...from what I can gather from him. Crimmie is still eating a small amount...very small amount...so I think he is hoping that it will only take another day or 2 for the antibiotics to start doing their job, and she will start eating more on her own. I don't know how well she could handle more anesthesia right now, either. Ugh...why can't anything be easy for this poor, sweet girl

crimmie · Jul 1, 2015

mrsgreenjeens said:
I'm afraid I don't have much advise either, other than to refer you to this website, which is part of the same website MickNSnick referred you to: http://www.felinecrf.org/nausea_vomiting_stomach_acid.htm Just scroll down to the section on Loss of Appetite and then click on the link. It will take you to where there are tips to try to get your Crimmie to eat, in case you haven't exhausted all of them yet.

As to the sub-q fluids, ANY amount will help. 250 ml's is a HUGE amount and she may start fighting on that long before you get there. I would say if she starts fighting you, stop and let her go with whatever amount you have gotten in her. Even if it's just 50 ml's, it's better than nothing. WE try to give our girl 150, but sometimes only do 100 because she will start getting restless. Stress can be more harmful to them sometimes than getting all the fluid in, IMHO. You can always add more fluid later.

And remember, she picks up on YOUR stress, so try to remain calm.

Thank you <3

She is SO stressed out...and I try my best to take deep breaths and be calm before I have to do anything to her that she doesn't like. I talk to her and sing "her song" to her lol

250ml a day seems like a lot to me too...especially when she is still drinking water on her own. But she took it perfectly at the vet today. I'm sure it will be different when she is feeling a little better and can fight back, though!

crimmie · Jul 1, 2015

mickNsnicks2mom said:
okay, i'm back again.

you might try offering your crimmie small amounts of wet food throughout the day/evening, but pate style (or chunky wet food that has been run through a food processor or blender to make it smooth -- smooth is easier on the tummy and easier to digest than chunky) and with water mixed into it -- to hopefully make it a bit easier to eat/handle. small amounts at a time, because too much food all at once can cause vomiting since she hasn't been eating much. i'm suggesting trying this in addition to syringe feeding for the moment, because your crimmie just may decide to try eating a bit on her own -- like she did this morning. btw, that she ate a little on her own is a very good sign -- that she wants to eat.

the sub-q fluids can 'buy a little time', to see if your girl can work up to starting to eat on her own again without further vet intervention.

while i don't have experience with hepatic lipidosis, i do have experience with giving sub-q fluids (for a couple of medical conditions/situations with my cat who has CKD). i'm here to help, and i'm sure others will be by shortly to reply too.

I do offer her wet food several times a day...a fresh can every 2-3 hours. My boys help with that when I'm at work. She hates pate...it has to be chunks with gravy.

Tonight is very different. She gags when I put any food in front of her. She fights with everything she has when the syringe starts coming her way.

</3

seaturtle · Jul 1, 2015

250 is a great amount! The vet tech got 200 into my small cat, and she started eating immediately. I can't do it at home, can't make her stay still. Even the vet tech almost lost her several times.

She will ONLY eat Fancy Feast, though. Now a spoiled cat who will refuse anything else. You can try that (pates, beef is highest in protein) or baby food. I have to spoon feed my cat, which isn't easy with 4 others trying to get her food, lol).

Good she started to eat a little bit. Just keep at it. Maybe you can find another vet?

Hoping for her and you.

crimmie · Jul 1, 2015

seaturtle said:
250 is a great amount! The vet tech got 200 into my small cat, and she started eating immediately. I can't do it at home, can't make her stay still. Even the vet tech almost lost her several times.

She will ONLY eat Fancy Feast, though. Now a spoiled cat who will refuse anything else. You can try that (pates, beef is highest in protein) or baby food. I have to spoon feed my cat, which isn't easy with 4 others trying to get her food, lol).

Good she started to eat a little bit. Just keep at it. Maybe you can find another vet?

Hoping for her and you.

No, he is a great vet. I think he is trying to take little steps first...so that we can maybe avoid a bigger surgery.

She loved fancy feast, and meow mix for the past 2 weeks. Now she is over it all. She just wants to sleep in the linen closet with all the lights off.

crimmie · Jul 1, 2015

cats.jpg

crimmie
Jul 1, 2015

crim crim.jpg

crimmie
Jul 1, 2015

easter crim.jpg

crimmie
Jul 1, 2015

Happier times <3

The other cat in the first picture is actually her Nephew...Doug <3

micknsnicks2mom · Jul 1, 2015

crimmie said:
I do offer her wet food several times a day...a fresh can every 2-3 hours. My boys help with that when I'm at work. She hates pate...it has to be chunks with gravy.

Tonight is very different. She gags when I put any food in front of her. She fights with everything she has when the syringe starts coming her way.

</3

crimmie said:
No, he is a great vet. I think he is trying to take little steps first...so that we can maybe avoid a bigger surgery.

She loved fancy feast, and meow mix for the past 2 weeks. Now she is over it all. She just wants to sleep in the linen closet with all the lights off.

the gagging when any food is put in front of crimmie concerns me. i was just searching around online, trying to see if that might be a side effect of the NG tube or it's removal, but found nothing -- so it might possibly be that the NG tube removal has something to do with the gagging, or not.

are you able to get any food syringed into crimmie this evening? and, was she given 250 ml's fluids today, and the cerenia? or does that start tomorrow?

crimmie's linen closet spot -- is it soft and comfy, warm? i see from your pic that crimmie likes boxes. maybe a box with a towel in it, put in the linen closet spot for her...?

micknsnicks2mom · Jul 1, 2015

awww......pretty crimmie!

crimmie · Jul 1, 2015

She got the fluids today, along with the Minocycline, the Cerenia, and the Mirtazapine. Maybe it's just all too much for one evening. She is so exhausted. I should find a box for her. She would like that <3

crimmie · Jul 1, 2015

The linen closet floor had toilet paper supply, a plastic bag with a hair clipper and all the attachments, a blow dryer...she was laying on top of all of that. So I moved it all out and put down a few soft blankets and turned the hall light off. I know she just wants to rest, and she is so scared every time I go up there.

mrsgreenjeens · Jul 2, 2015

How is Crimmie today? Now that she has had several hours to rest up, and perhaps that Cerenia has (maybe) had a chance to take hold, is she still gagging when she sees food, or has she actually eaten a little bit?

.

crimmie · Jul 2, 2015

mrsgreenjeens said:
How is Crimmie today? Now that she has had several hours to rest up, and perhaps that Cerenia has (maybe) had a chance to take hold, is she still gagging when she sees food, or has she actually eaten a little bit?

.

She wasn't doing too great this morning. I offered 2 kinds of food. I had to put it down under her nose as she won't leave the closet. She several licks and then turned her head

She did get up and drink some water while I was getting ready for work.

As I see it, I have 3 options:

1) Keep going with trying to get her to eat as much wet food I as I can. Keep up with the subQ fluids and meds, and hope that the antibiotics make her feel better in the next 2-3 days and then hopefully she will start feeling well enough to eat more and more.

2) Have the vet put in an E-tube and hope that she is not so far gone that it would be worth it.

3) Let her go and say good-bye.

I don't know what to do

haemobartonella felis

TCS Member

Thread starter

TCS Member

Thread starter

TCS Member

Thread starter

TCS Member

TCS Member

TCS Member

TCS Member

Thread starter

Every Life Should Have Nine Cats

TCS Member

Thread starter

TCS Member

Thread starter

TCS Member

Thread starter

TCS Member

TCS Member

Thread starter

TCS Member

Thread starter

TCS Member

TCS Member

TCS Member

Thread starter

TCS Member

Thread starter

Every Life Should Have Nine Cats

TCS Member

Thread starter