Taz's vet visit *update #8*

[Taz_Zoee]

In his birthday thread I mentioned I was taking him to the vet tonight. Well, of course they wanted to do bloodwork....AGAIN! She didn't feel anything in his belly and thought we'd get a result from bloodwork. I was a little upset because he's had bloodwork done about 4 times in the past year and it's always the same result: his kidney levels are slightly higher....nothing to worry about.
This time she took urine as well and said it was very clear (a sign of kidney failure). So I will get the results of the blood and urine tomorrow.

I have a feeling my boy is in the major stages of kidney failure....suddenly. :(

If the bloodwork comes back with nothing significant to show then we will proceed to xrays or ultra sound (which is VERY expensive).

My main goal right now is for Taz to be with me long enough to pay off this ridiculous Care Credit bill I have once again racked up on him. Of course that's not the only reason I want him around. He is my #1 :love: baby and I don't know what I'll do without him.

I will update tomorrow after I get the results. Thank you.

[kitten645]

Oh Cindy, I'm thinking positive thoughts for you. You have a meowmies sixth sense about her furkid so do what you think is best for Taz. I hope it's nothing and Taz is around for a LOOOOOONG time! Prayers and good wishes sent your way!
Claudia

[Medusa]

Oh goodness, Cindy, prayers are going up right now for Taz's good report. I hope that you have him w/you for many more year. Keep the faythe. :love:

[Taz_Zoee]

Thank you Claudia and Mary.

Can someone please answer one question for me?
Why in the HECK do animals (as well as people) seem to get worse after they go to the doctor/vet?
This morning Taz was not waiting for me in the hall as he usually is. Nor did he eventually come out and meet me in the kitchen for me to feed him. I had to search the house for him and finally found him in the bathroom by the toilet. (I noticed he hung out there when he wasn't feeling good while going through his kidney cyst thing too.) I went in and pet him. He tried to stand up and fell over. I lost it (and I'm going to again while typing this). Why does this sh...crap happen? He was fine (besides losing weight) before we went to the vet last night. And now, all of the sudden, he can hardly stand up on his own. I don't get it!!!:mad:
So I went on and got his food ready. He finally did come out to the kitchen. I put his food down on the ground instead of up on the stand (so the dogs can't get to it). He sniffed it, went to his box to pee and walked away to go lay on the carpet. Later I went to pet him and he arched up against my hand but fell over.
Usually he comes to sit with me while I do my stretches. Not this morning. :( I opened the slider in the studio where he was so he could get some fresh air (even though it smelled like skunk outside). He did walk over and sniff. Before I left for work I put his food back down for him. He did eat a little bit then went back to the carpet.
I don't know if I can handle all of this right now. My friends funeral is tomorrow. I ran Taggart to the ER vet last night because I think he has a fox tail in his nose or throat. Then was very upset because Bruce was having a fit about the estimated cost. So I had the vet do nothing and brought him home. Bruce will take him to our regular vet today and he can deal with the cost himself.
This year is not going so well and I just want it to be over already. I'm having a de ja vu of 2001.

Well, thanks to anyone who read this long thread. I just needed to get it out.

[Medusa]

Why in the HECK do animals (as well as people) seem to get worse after they go to the doctor/vet?

I don't know, Cindy; probably for the same reason that they usually get sick on weekends when our vets aren't in and we dread going to an emergency vet. I'm sorry that this is happening. When it comes, it comes in bunches, doesn't it?

[lvpets2002]

:( Oh I am so sorry Taz is not feeling well.. Get Well Real Soon Wittle Baby Taz.. Sending lots of Prayers & Huggss..

[Randi]

Cindy, I'm sorry you and Taz are going this. :( Could it be that Taz is just stressed out from the vet visit, or feeling your vibes? I so hope there's nothing serious wrong. Try to spend as much time cuddling with him as possible to make him relax. And give him some kisses from me too! :love:

I hope you'll have each other for a long time to come!

(((Hugs)))

[Taz_Zoee]

Well I have good news and bad news.
Good news is that Taz is fine right now. I talked to Bruce and he said he's acting like he normally does. Then my friend reminded me that they do get a bit lethargic after getting injections. I think it just hit me so hard because he is so frail/skinny right now. Oh, he weighed 7.1lbs last night. :(

Ok, the bad news is he is pretty much right smack in the middle of kidney failure. His white blood cell count is low (I think that's what she said) and I'll have to give him injections. Which I'll learn how to do tomorrow morning. yay :( I just hope this works. And honestly I can't help but feel responsible for his declining health. The vet said he's stressed. Which I believe is due to the two new pets I have brought home within the past year. I often wish it was just me and him again like the good old days. Not that I'd EVER give any of the other kids up. I took them on and now I must deal with it.

So now we'll just deal with that and Taggart is going to the vet for his fox tail problem today as well.

Thanks again for your kind words and thoughts everyone. :)

[pomtzu]

It seems it never rains, but it pours. You are going thru so much right now, and it must seem so stressful and overwhelming. Fingers and paws crossed here, that soon life will settle down and matters will be resolved for the best. Hang in there..........:)

[Catty1]

{{{hugs}}}

Glad there is some improvement with Taz! Kidney failure is scary, but many many kitties on PT have done well with more fluids - even just mixing his wet food with warm water, mushy style. :)

If your vet suggests sub q fluids, I haven't had to deal with that yet - but Medusa and others have learned how and for many it's just 'that time of day' for both purrent and cat. A couple of treats right after doesn't hurt either.

More prayers for Taz. And don't blame yourself - Taz is 14, and kidney disease is more likely to happen as a cat gets older. I think it is coincidence that it happened after you brought two pets in.

Maybe some extra loves for Taz for the next little while would be good also - though I am sure he's getting lots of lovings! :love::love::)

[phesina]

Prayers and a candle for Taz and you, Cindy. I'm so sorry about all these challenges facing you at once.

I give my Peony, who has kidney and liver issues, subcutaneous fluids every day or so. It isn't hard, once you both get used to the routine.

May you both share much more good, comfortable, happy time together.

God bless,
Pat

[snowbelle15]

Prayers for Taz are on their way. :love: I hope he feels better. I'll keep my fingers crossed.

[momoffuzzyfaces]

Major prayers on the way from me for you and sweet Taz. :love::love::love:
How well I know the feeling of being over whelmed.

[kitten645]

Positive thoughts going out to you. I do think the furkids sense OUR stress and it effects them. You're going thru a tough time now and maybe Taz is feeling it. Don't feel guilty about the new additions to the family. Just give Tazzy boy plenty of luvin. I'm glad he's getting better. They are never with us long enough. Know that I'm thinking of you and yours. :love:
Claudia

[krazyaboutkatz]

Cindy, I'm sorry to hear about Taz and all of the stress that you're going through right now.:( I know all too well about being overwhelmed with so many bad things happening at once. You think that it's never going to end but it does and it will. Lots of prayers and positive thoughts are going out to both you and Taz. I also hope that Taggart will be okay too.

[Taz_Zoee]

Thank you all so much. Yes, I realize my stress can be felt by them. And that's why the second time he fell over this morning I just talked to him like I regularly would and said - oh what are you doing that for? You're okay. Where the first time I just burst into tears (of course I had just woke up and thought I might find a dead cat in the house:().

Taggart is good as new. They pulled the fox tail out of his nose. He was a little out of it when he got home, but he's better now. Thanks for thinking of him Tracey. :)

I will get clearer (or at least my head will be a little more clear) answers tomorrow when I go to learn how to administer the shots or whatever. I'm a little nervous, but I think...know I can do it. He's my baby, I'll do anything I can for him. And he is getting lots of lovin' today from both myself and Bruce. :D

[Taz_Zoee]

Whew! I just gave Taz his first rounds of Sub-Q's here at home. I was a basket case before hand but Bruce talked me through it. He sat and held him and comforted him. He actually did much better than he did at the vets on Saturday when they taught me how to do it.
He was such a good boy that he got a little tuna after. Boy did he scarf that down. By the time he was done he was purring away and there was a nice little content flip of his tail going. :D

Ahhh, ok, so I can do this. I just hope it helps him. I failed at giving him his antibiotics tonight. I was very upset with myself. But now I feel better.

[katladyd]

Do you give Taz his antibiotics in pill form? One of my boys takes a pill every night and it took a while before I was any good at giving him his pill. Now, six months later, I could do it in my sleep! It really does get easier and to them, it's just one more thing you do for them each day, like feeding or petting them. Good luck with Taz!

[Medusa]

The first time that I gave my Puddy a subq she was her usual feisty self and tried to jump off the table. I was so nervous that I ran the needle into my thumb HARD! My thumb was bruised and swollen for a good week. I called my now retired vet and took her in and bawled "I can't do this! I can't do this!" He was so patient and showed me again and told me that if I'm nervous, Puddy will be, too. Of course. Makes sense. You did great, girl! I think you'll be surprised at how much Taz perks up after a subq. And if you can get the antibiotic in liquid form, you're golden! Hang in there; you're doing a great job! Keep the faythe. :love:

[Taz_Zoee]

Yes, the antibiotics are pill form. I gave it to him the previous two days without a problem. They are tiny pills and I had to give him a LARGE pill twice a day for a week before. I was probably just anticipating the sub-q's and was just nervous. When we were talking about doing it I just sat at the table and cried. Bruce calmed me down and said I can do it!

I was amazed at how well he sat still for us. He moved around more at the vet, but he doesn't like the vet anyway. Immediately after the fluids he couldn't stand up very well so Bruce carried him to his favorite spot on the guest bed then I took his tuna in there to him. :) Later last night he was out walking around (which he hasn't been doing much of lately), so that's another good sign. Oh, and this morning he met me for his breakfast and even meowed at me for it. :D :D

[lvpets2002]

:) Well I am so glad Taz is doing so much better.. Great News.. Keep up the good work nurse mom & dad.. Prayers & Huggss

[katladyd]

Go Taz, Go!!!

[Pawsitive Thinking]

He knows you are doing your best for him and as you get more relaxed so will he

[Taz_Zoee]

You are so right Denise. We did his second treatment last night and I was MUCH calmer. He did try to get up a couple of times, but that just tells me he has the energy to do so and that's awesome!!
He seems much perkier since we've been giving him fluids. In fact this morning he was "yelling" at me to give him some tuna. I have been giving him a teeny bit of tuna after I give him meds.
He is not hiding as much and last night he was on the back of the recliner. I hadn't seen him there in a couple of weeks.

I know he can't live forever, but at least I know he is feeling better for as long as he is with me. :)

[Moesha]

I just haven't been able to make myself post here about Taz. He is one of my favorite kitties here at PT. Last week I couldn't even read this thread, or the one about Sydney either. I couldn't take the sad news. This illness of his really makes me sad, but I am SO glad to hear of the improvements he is making with the fluids. I sure hope that he continues doing well. As always, keep us posted and please give him some special attention from me.

[Taz_Zoee]

Awww, Moesha, thank you so much. I will happily deliver special kisses and scritches to Taz tonight. :)

[krazyaboutkatz]

I'm so glad to hear that his sub-q treatments are going well and that he's feeling better.:) I hope that he'll continue to do well and maybe even start gaining some weight.

I know I sound like a broken record because I've posted this several times but you may want to ask your vet about giving him some vitamin B-12 shots. They're supposed to help with appetite and they also seem to increase energry levels too. This has helped Ziggy a lot and Starr in the past too.:)

[Taz_Zoee]

I'm so glad to hear that his sub-q treatments are going well and that he's feeling better.:) I hope that he'll continue to do well and maybe even start gaining some weight.

I know I sound like a broken record because I've posted this several times but you may want to ask your vet about giving him some vitamin B-12 shots. They're supposed to help with appetite and they also seem to increase energry levels too. This has helped Ziggy a lot and Starr in the past too.:)

Tracey, I completely forgot to post this. I thought of it and then forgot when I was on. Thank you for reminding me. They actually added B-12 to his fluids. :D So we are good!! :)

[Medusa]

Tracey, I completely forgot to post this. I thought of it and then forgot when I was on. Thank you for reminding me. They actually added B-12 to his fluids. :D So we are good!! :)

We're all on the same page because I realized that I had forgotten to mention this. I did this for Puddy and now for Pidge and it keeps them from having to get poked w/a needle again. Great! :D