Prayers for Ripley - He's Better! Update #95

[jazzcat]

Poor Ripley isn't feeling too well. He has kidney failure and I'm worried it may be that. We gave him some sub-q fluids here at home this morning and I'm watching him to see if that helps. He's resting now. I'm hoping he can make it till morning to see his vet but if needed we will go to the emergency vet sooner.

Please say a prayer for my old boy. He will be 17 years old in about 6 weeks on March 2. I'd like to celebrate one more birthday with him.

Here's a picture of sleepy Grandpa from last week.

[jenluckenbach]

Dear Ripley, you know that we are all praying for you. We love you and want only the best for you.

[momcat]

Jazzcat,
Please know that many prayers are already being prayed for sweet Ripley and for you as well. If he's up for it, please give Ripley plenty of feel better scritchies and lovies from me? [[[[[HUGS]]]]] being sent for you too.
Please let us know what your vet has to say?

[Vio&Juni]

We'll be thinking of Ripley.

[Barbara]

I hope the sub-qs do it another time. When they are in kidney failure they are also prone to all kind of infections and don't have much energy to fight them.
Ripley- don't you want to have another birthday? Come on, please.

[jennielynn1970]

Prayers being said for dear Ripley. I hope he'll be fine and is just having an "off" day.

Hugs to you!

[Killearn Kitties]

Oh sweetheart, you know you are one of my favourites. Please, please, please hang on until that next birthday.

Loads of cuddles to you, gorgeous.

[carole]

Dearest Lori and Ripley, i am keeping all fingers and paws crossed here, that he picks up, i know what it is like, Ash is in kidney failure too, one day they look real bad and the next they pick up, i am only hoping it is the same this time around,thinking of you and sending you HUGS.

[jazzcat]

Thanks everyone. Just a quick update. He hasn't moved from his spot since about noon today. I have him snuggled up warm but I noticed he has started drooling. I haven't been able to get him to eat anything today but I will try to entice him with some fresh cooked chicken in a little bit. I'm also amazed at how quickly his sub-q "bubble" went down. He must have been pretty dehydrated.

Lut - yes he is part Maine Coon.

Please keep the prayers and positive thoughts coming.

[jazzcat]

Ripley has gotten worse over the past few hours. He's started drooling again and isn't moving around much. I called the vet and they are working us in at 3:45. I'm so glad they are because I know he really hasn't eaten enough the past few days and I can tell the sub-q fluids just aren't going to be enough.

I'll update when I get home.

[weluvcats]

I'm sorry that Ripley is having such a tough time...back on the "CRF rollercoaster"... I'm praying for you both...Let us know what happens...

Hugs and prayers

Judy

[Sugaree]

I hope all goes well at the vet and Ripley is feeling better soon.

[catlover4ever]

Lori, I hope all goes well. I will keep you and Ripley in my thoughts and prayers..

[jazzcat]

We're back from the vet. I was there over an hour and honestly I thought I was going to be making a hard decision, thankfully that was not the case. We had to wait for 20-30 minutes to get Ripley's blood test and amazingly enough they weren't that bad. The vet told me he had expected them to be through the roof from the way Ripley looked and was acting but actually the numbers were only slightly increased from last time. He said Ripley was still in moderate kidney failure. I guess that's pretty good since that's where he's been for a couple of years. He is slightly anemic but that isn't a surprise with kidney failure.

The vet is afraid Ripley may have stomach ulcers due to the failure so I have to give him a slurry medication on an empty stomach twice a day to help heal them. Rip's weight is down almost two pounds but hopefully he will feel better and start eating. He gave Rip fluids and a B-12 shot.

We are to give him sub-q fluids here at home everyday for the next 3-4 plus he will get the slurry meds twice a day for 10 days. The vet said he's very hopefully we can get Ripley past this crisis but he said at first he really thought it was too late. Thank goodness the blood test numbers told a different story.

Please keep my old boy in your thoughts and prayers. He's not through this yet.

[jazzcat]

The vet said we should have seen an improvement by Wed. night but we didn't and he still is the same today. It's almost like he's giving up or maybe the vet missed something. We can't get him to eat much. I'm trying canned kitten food and he will lick it but he only eats about a teaspoon worth at a time. It's like he wants to eat but then once he starts he quits for some reason. I don't think he is drinking much either. We are pushing the fluids and I'm amazed at the little output. He's drooling worse and all the time now too. It's thick slow drool that just hangs from his mouth.

He has also started to cry a little when we reach out to pet him like he thinks it's going to hurt. He's okay once we touch him and he will then relax some but it's weird. We've let him sleep with us the past two nights and each night he comes up and touches my arm to wake me up to pet him then he gets in close to me. That is not normal for him. My poor old guy.

Please keep the prayers coming. I've got a call into the vet but I have a feeling there isn't a lot more they can do.