Relapse for Ralph Syracuse???

[kb2yjx]

I have a strong suspicion that Ralph is having a relapse of pancreatitis. He vomited on Friday and Saturday(the projectile kind), and is in HIS Grainger box in front of the heater. He very reluctantly ate some baby food from my finger. I think he will be at the vet in the morning on Monday. Maybe some IV meds will help. I have given him some sub q fluids yesterday and today. Barry and I both wonder if the cyst that was found on his pancreas in 2004, when he had pancreatitis the very first time, might be the cause, maybe it has enlarged. Please remember Ralph in your prayers, you all helped so much a few weeks ago!!! Thanks, Sandra

[Catty1]

Ralphie!

I hope it is something very straightforward, even if it is the cyst and it can be removed. Poor Ralph! How lucky he is to have you.

Prayers are all yours!

Catty1

[Barbara]

I hope Ralph will be ok and that you find some food he can keep. All the best for him.

[krazyaboutkatz]

I'm sorry to hear this. :( I hope he'll start eating better soon and also start feeling better soon. Lots of prayers and positive thoughts are being sent his way.

[kb2yjx]

Ralph will be leaving for the vet shortly. I hate to drag him out of HIS Grainger box!! He did eat nearly a jar of baby food and so far has retained it!! Will post later in the day after he gets back from seeing Dr. Ascher!! Thanks for your prayers!!! Sandra

[Killearn Kitties]

Good luck, Ralph sweetie!

[smokey the elder]

Good luck Ralph! Maybe you can just put a cover on his Grainger box and transport him in that.

[jenluckenbach]

OH NO! Not Ralph again. :( I sure hope you are feeling better real soon.

Praying for a good check up.

[kb2yjx]

Ralph was not a happy camper when I dropped him off at the vet(once I did attempt to transport him to the vet in HIS Grainger box, he tried to get out during the drive, now it is back to the carrier!). As I was putting him in the cage, he tried to smack me in the face and was a snarling, growling, and hissing fellow!!! What a change when Barry and I picked him up!!! Head butts and purrs!!! Anyway, Dr. Ascher thinks that yes, the pancreas is acting up again. Ralph will be on Baytril 3/4 tab once a day x28 days. He is holding his weight at 9.5 lbs. An ultrasound will be scheduled next week. Dr. Ascher is concerned that maybe the cyst has increased in size(when it was discovered in 2004, it was about a third of the pancreas). Considering Ralph's age, nearly 14, removing the pancreas may not be the way to go. Then he becomes a diabetic, and would he get thru the surgery and recovery period. When we got home, Ralph did finish the jar of chicken baby food!! So, guess what I will be buying when I go grocery shopping tomorrow!! He is sitting right next to the computer as I write, Ralph is VERY GRATEFUL for all your prayers, words of encouragement, support, and concern!! Ralph just said: PURRRRRRPURRRRR!!BRAOW!!!

[jenluckenbach]

And a PPUUUUURRRRRR right back to you Ralph. Hope the meds help you feel better. 28 days is a LONG time to give medicine (trust me, I know! :rolleyes: ), but soon it will be only a distant memory.

[Catty1]

Is there anything that can shrink the cyst? Can it be drained, rather than removing the whole pancreas?

I am glad he is headbutting and purring - sure loves his people, and knows how much he IS loved.

[kb2yjx]

I think we will have to wait and see what the ultrasound will shows. The cyst looks like a hole in Ralph's pancreas!! I have to remember that at nearly 14 in cat years, Ralph is almost 72 in human years. In the years I worked with older people, you learn how much more difficult it is for them to make a comeback after surgery or a major illiness. Barry and I really try to do what is best for all the cats, it is just so much harder as they grow older. Ralph is getting much better to pill, Jenluckenbach, but he does not like it any better!!! He was picky at breakfast, but did lick off the baby food off of Barry's fingers!! Guess where he is right now???

[LittleOrangeKitten]

I sincerely hope Ralph Syracuse will get better! I have been following the posts on his health and I know how difficult it must be worrying about him and loving him so much and not being able to cure what's making him sick. Naranj and P. K. will send kitty prayers and keep their fuzzy toesies crossed that Ralph recovers and lives a loooong time!

[Kirsten]

Oh no, now it's you who has to wait for the result of an ultrasound!!! You know, I've just been through that scare with Luna.

I'll keep sweet Ralph in my thoughts and hope that the ultrasound will be okay, or that they find something treatable.

I'm glad that he was purring and gave headbumpies, and at least he's eating his baby food!

Feel better soon, Ralph!

Kirsten

[kb2yjx]

Kirsten, the ultrasound has not been scheduled yet. Most likely next week. Ralph did eat some of Tina Peepers' Royal Cannin Hypoallergenic dry food. And started his oral Baytril after supper. He is back in HIS box in front of the heater vent. Thank you all for your support!!!

[TopCat3]

I have been asked to post a thumbnail of Ralph in his Grainger Box, so here goes...

I'm so sorry to hear of his relapse. The Girls send kisses and purrs to their orange cyber pen-pal. (Keyboard pal?)

Much love...

[TopCat3]

Don't you just love that little paw resting on the top of the box side? Bless him. Mwah!

[kb2yjx]

Thanks TopCat for the posting of the photo of Ralph in HIS box!! He continues to eat, and then rest in HIS box. Will keep you all posted regarding his progress.

[kb2yjx]

The vet's office called to let us know that Ralph will have his ultrasound tomorrow instead of next week. This is good, Ralph ate a tiny bit of baby food off my finger, and does not look very happy. Barry will be taking him to the vet since I have to be at the clinic at 0600. Will post findings, if any, tomorrow. Again, thanks for all your prayers for Ralph.

[jenluckenbach]

Prayers for you Ralph. Hope all goes well tomorrow and if anything is found let it be something treatable.

[catmandu]

We too are praying for Ralph.
There are relays of Pet Angels coming in from Australia with packets of food to tempt Big Ralph into eating again.

[kb2yjx]

Guess who wanted to have his breakfast THIS morning??? Yep, Ralph. He is not thrilled that he is NPO(nothing by mouth)!!! Looking rather pathetic sitting atop the counter waiting for Barry to turn his head, so he can swipe a piece of food!! WIll report later....

[Killearn Kitties]

Why Ralph, I never realised you were so handsome! :D
Good luck and lots of kisses to you today, big boy!

[kb2yjx]

Ralph is home from the vet!! He ate, ran across the counters, used the litterbox, got his meds, and now is resting in HIS Grainger box!!
The ultrasound results were interesting. The cyst on his pancreas has DECREASED in size. He may have irritable bowel syndrome. No cancer. Blood was drawn for a " Mal Digestion Profile," bartenella, toxoplasmosis, Igg, and Igm. Those results shoud be back in about a week.
I am relieved....Again, I thank you all for all your prayers and support, and Ralph does, too!!! A BIG MEROW from Ralph Syracuse!!!

[Catty1]

What happy news! Give Ralph a big scritch and belly rub today.

What a day on PT - Ralph is ok, and Gina found her Shadow!

YAYY! :D

Catty1

[krazyaboutkatz]

This is wonderful news!!! :) Ralph sure is one handsome orangie. I hope he gets well soon. :)

[kb2yjx]

So far, it is a good day!!! Ralph ate his breakfast and finished up what Molly had left!!! He presently sleeping on the counter!!!

[Kirsten]

That's great news!!! Ralph, you're such a little fighter!! :)

I'm relieved that the ultrasound din't show anything serious, and even the cyst has decreased! :)

And I cannot believe that Ralph is actually sleeping in another place than his beloved GRAINGER box! LOL

Headscritchies and bellyrubs to him! :)

Kirsten

[kb2yjx]

At 400pm, Ralph did one of his now famous projectile emesis(threw up)!!! It was ALL over the kitchen counters, and had a fecal odour to it, and was dark dark greenish black. Then a bit later, he tried to use the box, but could not go. He finally passed a very constipated stool. I callled the vet. He already got his sub q fluids and will be getting a dose of Laxatane later. I was reading in the New Natural Cat, that since baby food is fed to get cats to eat, they can become constipated because there is not much fiber. Then I checked the caan of I/D, same thing not much fiber. The vet said it was OK to feed him Tina's Royal Canin Hypoallergenic dry diet. He did eat that!! Poor Mr. Ralph! He is having a time!!!

[TopCat3]

Oh dear I was about to say Yay way to go Ralph then I got to this last post and my jaw dropped. What about mashed pumpkin, for extra fibre? Cleo loves it. (at the moment ;) :rolleyes: ) Hope he gets over this little setback really quickly. lots of hugs to him XXXX from Cleo and Colette.

[kb2yjx]

We jsut happened to have some pumpkin(Barry made a pumpkin cheesecake to bring to the Super Bowl party tomorrow). I offered Ralph some, turned up his nose and walked away!!! He is doing well (for now) on the Hypoallergenic dry! But, thanks for the suggestion!!

[TopCat3]

You know, I was lying in bed this morning thinking about Ralph and the big nasty foul barf he did (...as you do... :rolleyes: ) and I had a bit of an "Aha" moment. In Ayurvedic medicine (traditional Indian/Yogic), emesis is a recognised treatment and is often used to induce a cleanse. Animals naturally and instinctively do this, often stimulating it by grass-eating etc. It occurred to me that this might have been the major cleanse he knew he had to have, as from your description it came from a very deep place, I would think.

Does this make sense or are you inclined to think I'm mystic-babbling? :eek: