I could use some T&Ps please. (UPDATED X2)

[mrs.jacinthe]

I'm at the vet with Cat. He hadn't eaten today and has even had trouble keeping down fluids. Vet seems to think prognosis is not good. I'm struggling with this. A lot. Any hugs or hair pets are welcome.

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Update #1:
Home from the vet.  She took x-rays (found not really much - although apparently at some time in his pre-me past he was SHOT!?!), did bloodwork (his kidney function has actually IMPROVED in the last week), and then was all "Huh."  So, she gave him subcutaneous fluid, pumped him with antibiotics and anti-nausea medications ... and sent him home.

She is hopeful he'll improve in 24 hours.  I'm breathing a little easier but OMG, I need a xanax or a whole bottle of wine or something.

********************************
Update #2:
All he did last night through this morning was sleep.  At bedtime, he looked so miserable, I started thinking about scheduling a time to put him down and ... well, there was an ugly cry.

This morning, I got up, let Dot out, fed her, ate breakfast, and came upstairs to use the bathroom.  He jumped down from the bed and came in, drank a little, accepted some scratches, and then *followed me downstairs* (which is a first since he got sick).  So I put some tuna/salmon canned food in a dish - the stinkiest food I have - and he ate like 1/4 of a can!  OMG, I was so excited I could barely stand it.  He might be going to pull through!

And a bonus PIP from yesterday ... he was sleeping and the light was just perfect, and my crappy phone camera didn't get a GREAT shot, but it was close enough (and yes, that's a random ikea stool and a duffel bag R needs to put away, and the sheets I still need to put on the guest room bed):

[TBM]

(((hugs))

[sailorgray]

I'm thinking of you, Mrs. J.

[bunnymendelbaum]

I'm so sorry. Hope he's ok.

[ktzmoh]

] I'm so sorry.

[kaylie]

Sending them now! Poor kitty. I hope he's okay.

[munkii]

Thinking of you and Mr. Kitty.

[mrs.jacinthe]

Thanks for all the T&Ps, ladies! He's at least stable and she sent him home. She doesn't know what's wrong, but she's hopeful he'll improve on his own. He's somewhere between 15 and 23 years old, so really ... it's hard to say how much longer he'll go. I appreciate ongoing T&Ps for his improvement - he still hasn't eaten anything, but he hasn't thrown up since we've been home, so that's a start.

[spunkarella]

I don't think I qualify as a regular, but I'm sending so many hugs. Glad he is back home and hope he continues to improve.

[treedimensional]

No diagnosis? WHAT? You must be beside yourself!
I would feel exactly the same.
Sweetheart, is it cancer? I ask because you're describing my cat's last week- that's what it was....
many, many hugs, sweetheart. This is so difficult.

[mrs.jacinthe]

Apr 16, 2014 18:42:22 GMT -5 treedimensional said:

No diagnosis? WHAT? You must be beside yourself!
I would feel exactly the same.
Sweetheart, is it cancer? I ask because you're describing my cat's last week- that's what it was....
many, many hugs, sweetheart. This is so difficult.

Nope - no diagnosis.  She was thinking testicular cancer that had metastasized (he's a cryptorchid - one dangler never descended, essentially) into the lungs.  Which is why she was surprised that the x-rays were negative.  Lungs were clear, heart was normal size and normal sound.  


She's still thinking either a) kidney cancer or b) chronic kidney infection.  One of those is treatable.  If he stabilizes over the next 24 hours ... fingers crossed ... she'll order an ultrasound for him.


In other news: cat x-rays are neat.  Did you know their sternum is segmented, like a 2nd spine?   

[msmerymac]

Glad he's okay for now! Did the vet mention pepcid? I used to give my cat 1/4 tablet of pepcid AC (he had renal failure, which also creates a lot of stomach acid, causing them not to eat much, and the pepcid helps them want to eat). It's a common solution for all kinds of pet stomach ailments.

And when I was a kid we found a beagle and kept her, and it turned out she had been shot. Buck shot. Found that out later with some x-rays - it's possible she ran away from someone who was hunting with her when she was shot, actually.

[mrs.jacinthe]

Apr 16, 2014 18:54:27 GMT -5 msmerymac said:

Glad he's okay for now! Did the vet mention pepcid? I used to give my cat 1/4 tablet of pepcid AC (he had renal failure, which also creates a lot of stomach acid, causing them not to eat much, and the pepcid helps them want to eat). It's a common solution for all kinds of pet stomach ailments.

And when I was a kid we found a beagle and kept her, and it turned out she had been shot. Buck shot. Found that out later with some x-rays - it's possible she ran away from someone who was hunting with her when she was shot, actually.

She did, last week when he was diagnosed with kidney failure.  But she said not to start until his appetite lessened (last week and even yesterday he was eating like a small army).  But then this morning I couldn't get it down him at ALL - he didn't want treats and couldn't even keep water down.  That's when I started panicking.

[treedimensional]

Fingers crossed for you, Jacinthe.

[magdala]

More thoughts and prayers!

[bunnymendelbaum]

So glad.
Cat X-rays are amazing, I agree! I totally wanted to frame the side body one if our late cat.

[mrsemilys]

T&P kitty improves very soon!  Thinking of you!!

[Deleted]

Glad kitty was able to go home. Hope he starts to feel better. My kitty had renal failure and the fluids always seemed to do the trick

[pitterwoo]

Glad you are both home. T&Ps that he's getting better

[boiler717]

Glad he's doing better!!

[raangoli]

Glad to hear he's doing better. I hope he continues to improve!

[lavender444]

So glad to hear he's feeling a bit better! I hope he continues on this path!

[Deleted]

Big hugs Mrs. J!!! I hope hecontinues to get better.

[mrsemilys]

Wonderful news!!!!!!

[Deleted]

Rooting for Cat, MrsJ! The fact that he ate is a good sign. I hope he continues to get better over the weekend!

[purrbox]

Poor little guy. I'm glad he's feeling better.

He's been shot before?! He must be a survivor!

[mrs.jacinthe]

Apr 18, 2014 10:38:14 GMT -5 purrbox said:

Poor little guy. I'm glad he's feeling better.

He's been shot before?! He must be a survivor!

Yep!  There's a BB pellet lodged in his lumbar muscles.  He's a TOUGH little fighter.  TOUGH.  I've had him for 11 years now and who knows what his life was like before me, but apparently it was rough.  

[sjh722]

Glad he's improving!

[downtoearth]

Glad he's better.

[floridakat]

Sorry I'm late to this, but I'm glad to hear he's doing better!