Lots of love and good thoughts for you and Max ,Slick.
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Lots of love and good thoughts for you and Max ,Slick.
Dear Slick and Max,
I have been following this post and hesitate to reply because the sadness breaks my heart. These days bring back so many memories of the last, precious days with my Roxy and August. Every time I read about Max, the tears start flowing and I find it so hard to express my feelings.
Enjoy each other in the best way you can for as long as you can and cherish the days that were better.
Tender kisses and gentle hugs to you Sir Max. Great big bear hugs and teary kisses for your Mommy.
Just got back from the vet and he received this 3rd shot. Dr. Singh did confirm that it does take some time to see a difference, so I hold my breath and wait to see positive results. I asked him about oral pain meds and he said that they do the same as the steroid shot, so after next week, he will continue to get a poke once a month for the rest of his life, or until I see his quality of life take a nosedive.
He has peed in the bedroom somewhere. I can smell that familiar ammonia smell. I didn't smell it when I got up this morning.....I guess I'll have to get down on hands and knees and feel for wet spots - or go and purchase a black light. Anyone know another quick way of finding the pee spots??
I'm off now to go and get a fruit basket to deliver to my vets office. After that I need to get some Christmas shopping done and a heating pad for Max.
Betty - I was thinking of you yesterday and wondering of you are in town. I'm going to call you over the holidays. :love:
Thank you again for your love and prayers. This is what Pet Talk is all about.:love::love:
Slick,Quote:
Originally Posted by slick
We will be away from Dec 23 to Dec 27 but I'm home after that until the New Year! I will email my cell number to you and hope we can connect soon.
Hugs, Betty
Thanks Betty. I just got your email. :love:
Well, I learned something new. Who says an old dog can't learn new tricks. :rolleyes: After I dropped off the fruit basket to the vets, I drove to the groomers where Max used to go a couple of times a year. I gave them the news and I was told that steroid shots reek havoc on the kidneys and causes loss of bladder control. So I've put his covered litter box in the bedroom and put down a second one in the spare room. The second one has lower sides which should make it easier for him to get in and out of. Hmmm, 3 litter boxes for one cat.....I'm hoping this will do the trick.
I still have to find the wet spot though. I guess I'll be on all fours for awhile.... Shut up Richard.....:D:D;)
edit: I just picked up Max and put him in the covered box in the bedroom. Sure enough he peed so I know, that he knows where the box is. Fingers and paws crossed.
Have you tried walking around the room bare footed? That's the fasted way for me to find wet spots.
Prayers and (((HUGS))) for you and sweet Sir Max! :love::love:
The rug that I have is beige in color and it's berber - very tight knit and very hard to clean. Yes, I've walked around bare footed anyway but didn't feel anything but my nose tells a different story. I have to find the spot pretty quickly because I don't want him using it all the time. God I love that boy but I sure don't want my condo stinking of cat urine.Quote:
Originally Posted by momoffuzzyfaces
Did you check the bed and under it? Behind any curtains that may be hanging down? In the closet? Hope you find it soon. I know how ya feel. Grandma pooped on the bedroom carpet a while back when Winnie wouldn't let her in the litterboxes in the bathroom and kitchen. I finally put a box in the bedroom for her. :love:
Slick, Yes, unfortunately most pain meds will affect the kidneys in cats.:( This is one reason why I'll be using a pain patch or buprenex on my Sunny. I hope that the extra litter boxes will help. You might also want to try buying some puppy pee pads and putting some of these down. I hope that you're able to find all of the pee spots and clean them up well. You can Max continue to remain in my thoughts and prayers. Please take care. (((HUGS)))
I had Berber carpet at one time and, you're right, it's difficult to clean and sometimes difficult as well to find pee spots. Unfortunately, the only way for me to find pee spots is as you said, crawling around on hands and knees. Wear latex gloves, though. Not only is it more sanitary but you'll notice the difference in how the carpet feels immediately when you come upon the pee spot. I'm sure you know about Urine Gone cleaner but in the slim chance that you don't, give it a whirl. When Puddy was having such a tough time in her last days, sometimes she couldn't make it to the litterbox and believe me when I say that Urine Gone got every last trace of the stain and smell out. The important thing is, though, that you keep your spirits up the best you can. We're w/you. Keep the faythe. :love:
My morning routine is just that, routine but one thing Max loves is when I open up the bathroom door to have a shower. He's in there like a dirty shirt.
This morning I got up and went about my business. Max didn't greet me but that's normal. When I opened up the bathroom door, no Max. When I called him, no Max. It was late so I had a shower and changed for work. I called Max, no Max.
I first looked behind the bed, no Max. I then scoured all the corners of my apartment, behind things, no Max. I called and called, no Max. It was then that my heart started pumping a mile a minute. What if he passed in the night somewhere and I wasn't there to comfort him. I was scared. I kept looking, then I noticed that one of the stuffed toys on the couch was knocked down. I knelt down to pick it up and low and behold. This is what I saw.
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/j...ch_closeup.jpg
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/j...h_closeup1.jpg
He only looked up when I called his name.:rolleyes:
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/j...Max_couch1.jpg
Can you spot the kitty?
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/j...Max_couch2.jpg
Even when I was calling his name, he didn't respond. Silly kitty. :D:love:
Excuse the mess. I getting stocking stuffers ready....
Whew! What a scare he gave you.:eek: I'm glad that he was having a nice nap on the couch among all of the stuffed animals. He sure is adorable.:) This kind of reminds me of the movie "E.T." when the kids couldn't find E.T. and later they found him hiding out with their stuffed animals.:)
Please give Max some cuddles and scritches for me. You both continue to remain in my thoughts and prayers and I hope that both of you have a great Christmas and a wonderful New Year. Please take care. (((HUGS)))
Oh how cute! :love: What an absolutely adorable picture!
Naughty little devil giving you a fright like that, of course, but that picture almost makes up for it. Max is just like a cuddly toy himself. :D
How totally adorable Max is. :love::love::love:
((((hugs))) for you and gentle scritches for Max.:love::love: This has to doubly difficult for you, given that we are smack dab in the throes of the holiday season. It's hard to feel festive and cheerful when a loved one is so sick and in pain.:(
I hope the meds start to to the job and that Max feels better.
That picture is worth a 1,000 words! Looks like one of my rooms with dozens of stuffed animals, pillows, and throws!:D The best part of the picture is that darling kitty....................:love::love::love:
Wow, that was scary! It was always a fear of mine, too, that Pidge or Puddy or any one of my Fur Posse would go to the Bridge when I wasn't there but if that does happen, then I have to remind myself that it's the way they wanted it. They deserve to go the way they want to also. But that wasn't the case this time and, for your sake, I'm glad it didn't happen that way.
The pix are just adorable. Max looks so much like a little toy kitty that my parents gave me when I was just three years old. I carried that kitty around w/me until it was an absolute mess, only to be replaced by the real thing. You have the most precious kitty of all, Slick, your beautiful Max. The Fur Posse and I are wishing you the merriest of Christmases together. Gentle pets to Max and lots of (((HUGS))) to you, my friend. :love:
Max, you silly boy!! Still got a bit of stinker in you! I hope the Cartrophen kicks in for you really soon so you can get to feeling better. Merry Christmas to you and your mom. I hope you both have a very good Day. Hugs and kisses.:love:
Aaaww Max- you scared meowmie but I am sure she could only be happy when she saw you napping just like another toy kitty.
Tigris loved to sleep in the basket with the beenies here.
Merry Christmas to both of you:)
I'm with Max. When I finally get comfy, I don't want to move either. Maybe he is resting up to greet Santa tonight! :love:
Sooooo adorable. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...miles/love.gif
Lovely pictures of your dear Max, slick, thank you for sharing them.
slick, you have the prettiest, most adorable, kitty ever!!! He looks just like a living stuffed toy! It is no wonder you love him so much.:love::love:
How is Max doing? I thought about him a lot over Christmas. I'm in Calgary for the holidays, but he was on my mind. I would love to come and visit him sometime in January if you would have me and if you think he would enjoy it! ;)
Hoping you and Max had a good Christmas.:love:
How is our boy this morning? Good, I hope, and you, too, girlie. :love:
First and foremost, thank you for the lovely comments and Max says "thank you" too!!!:love:
Max has his fourth and final injection last Saturday and according to Dr. Singh, Max is to go in once a month now for more pokes.
I have to be honest and say that all of this is not helping Max at all. In fact the weakness in his back legs seems to be getting worse. I now have 3 litterboxes set up - 2 of them have low sides. I just watched him and he could barely make it in one of them. So far he always does make the LB so I can be thankful of that, although there are still times that I do find some prezzies on the living room floor.
I don't know what else I can do for him. It's like his whole body is willing, but his back legs aren't (front legs are still very strong). He is eating, although not as much, and his output is good. I also have about 4 bowls of water all over the place for him.
He hasn't been behind the bed in days and has now taken up residence on one of the dining room chairs. Yes, he can jump on the chair and on the coffee table but not the bed even though I have a step stool for him that he used to use. I guess he finds it too difficult now. He has not been on the bed for a number of weeks now. I do miss that sweet purr in my ear.:(
His behaviour continues to be puzzling - licking the inside of the fridge, the windows, the closet doors - I'm just putting it down to perhaps senility, age and CRF. I continue to give him lots of cuddles and make sure he is comfortable and pain free. That's all I will do for now.
God only knows how much more time he will be with me. :(
Not much more a Beloved Kitty really needs.Quote:
Originally Posted by slick
Sounds like a great plan - Carry On, Mom!
;)
{{{Huggs}}} to Max & Mom! :love:
:love: :love:
Forgive me if I asked this already but did you mention to your vet "burning mouth syndrome"? Does Max's tongue stick out occasionally or more often than not? My Puddy's did and someone on PT found out about burning mouth syndrome for me. I know that you're making sure Max has plenty of ice cubes and I also had popsicles and fudgsicles for Puddy to lick. She loved fudgsicles! IIRC, B vitamins helped Puddy tremendously, (CRF kitties need the B vitamins even more; I was also giving them to Pidge) although they were administered to her by way of her subQ fluids; I injected them directly into the bag but your vet would be able to give Max a shot and maybe he would see some relief. Here is a link about BMS.
http://www.fabcats.org/breeders/info...orofacial.html
Of course, prayers are continuing for dear Max and you, Slick. (((HUGS))) :love:
ETA: Now how could I forget a candle for our sweet Max? So sorry; not enough sleep. ;) Here ya go, buddy:
http://www.gratefulness.org/candles/...ng&cid=9870427
Slick, I'm thinking of you and dear Max and hope you will have some cosy cuddle time together going in to the new year. You're doing everything you can. :)
Sending lots of kisses and hugs. :love: :love:
OMG - that's it!!!!!!! Mary, how can I thank you enough for this. We just simply have to meet someday. :love:Quote:
The clinical signs are characterised by exaggerated licking and chewing movements, with pawing at the mouth. Typically the discomfort is unilateral or worse on one side and can be episodic or continuous. In the episodic version the distress often occurs after eating or grooming and lasts between 5 minutes and 2 hours.
I'm going to print off that page and talk to my vet again about B vitamin shot. I mentioned it to him a while ago but he indicated that there was no clinical proof that B shots work. When Max was at the vet recently I had the vet look inside his mouth and nothing was found. Yes, his teeth are in not too good shape but I'm not putting him through the stress of a dental right now.
What is IIRC?:confused:
Praying for Max every day, Slick.:love::love:
Hopefully Mary's "find" will help Max.
IIRC = If I recall correctly............more computer jibber-jabber. It's hard to keep up with all of it.:confused::confused:
My vet, whom I adore, said the same thing but I said "Humor me". I saw an immediate difference in Puddy. Some say to just give B6 or B12 but I did all the B vitamins and it sure perked her up and stopped the tongue hanging out of her mouth, which made me so sad to see.Quote:
Originally Posted by slick
Sorry about the IIRC. It means "if I recall correctly". I seem to have fallen into the LOL speak w/out even realizing it. :confused:
I just spoke to Dr. Singh and although he's never heard of "burning mouth syndrome" he's willing to try to Vit B shots.
Question for Mary - how often did Puddy get the shots? Once a week? Once a month?? Did you give the shots at home or take Puddy in?
Thanks.
Prayers are continuing here for you and Sweet Sir Max. :love::love:
Prayers continuing for your sweet boy and you.
My vet gave me a syringe w/1cc of B complex vitamins in it and I injected it into the port in the bag of subQ fluids. She got 150 cc of Ringers lactate every day. If I hadn't done that, she would've been injected twice a week w/1 cc of B complex vitamins. I know that Max can't tolerate the subQ's, so your vet will probably administer the injections for you. Hope this helps, Slick. :love:Quote:
Originally Posted by slick
Slick, I hope that the vitamin B12 shots will help Max. Both my RB Starr and Ziggy have had them and I injected them myself at home and they got them once weekly. It gave Starr lots of energy and helped his dull coat and improved his whiskers. It helped to improve Ziggy's appetite.
Since Max is still having problems using the litter boxes, you might want to buy some puppy training pads for him. You can just put them in the places where he's been going potty and hopefully he'll learn to use them so then there won't be a mess for you to clean up. You could also put them near the litter boxes too. Good luck.:)
Lots more prayers and positive thoughts are being sent his way. Please take care. (((HUGS)))
Slick i am thinking of you and Max, just keep him as comfortable as you can, I personally have decided not to put Ash through anything more,just to look after him well, love him,pander to his every need and keep his medication going,a dental is totally out of the question for Ash and I presume probably for Max too, i understand what you are going through and think of you both often, love and hugs to you both.
Slick, while you're vet is at it (giving Max Vitamin B shots) have him add in some potassium. I believe Max's "weakness" can be directly attributed to a deficiency in potassium that is very common in CRF cats. When I first brought Tubby in and thought he was a goner, the vet immediately knew the reason he couldn't lift his butt was because his potassium deficiency was making his back legs weak. I had thought it was arthritis myself, but the vet immediately knew it had nothing to do with arthritis - and I'm soooo sorry it too this long for this to dawn on me!
Tubby got his potassium replenished with an additive that was included in the fluids we gave him. Between the fluids and the potassium, we noticed an immediate improvement in Tubby. Since Max doesn't do well with the fluids, ask the vet if he can include the potassium in Max's shots, or maybe there's a pill you can give him.
Here's some information from the web:
==============================
POTASSIUM DEFICIENCY IN THE CAT
Hypokalemia is the medical term for a depletion of potassium in the body. Potassium is one of the essential electrolytes that keeps the body healthy and functioning properly. It is very important in kidney, muscle and heart function.
The most common cause of hypokalemia (low potassium) is chronic kidney disease. Poorly functioning kidneys leak potassium into the urine. Cats fed certain diets or given a supplement to acidify the urine may be more likely to suffer from potassium loss. Potassium deficiency is also common in older cats (twelve years of age or more) in general, with or without kidney disease. Older cats are less efficient at absorbing potassium from their food and they tend to lose more of it in their urine. Even without obvious signs of kidney disease, all older cats have some degree of decreased kidney function, which occurs naturally with time.
SIGNS. In the beginning stages of potassium deficiency, signs are very subtle, and often attributed to “old age” or other diseases. Cats may show weight loss, muscle weakness or stiffness, poor hair coat, poor appetite, and listlessness. These signs are usually not evident until the condition has become severe and possibly life threatening.
DIAGNOSIS. Diagnosis is confirmed by the determination of low levels of blood potassium through blood testing. Laboratory results must be interpreted in relation to clinical signs and history, since cats may have a normal blood potassium level and still have serious total body potassium depletion. This is because the body mobilizes stores of potassium from the muscle tissue to keep the amount of potassium in the blood constant. Low blood potassium levels don’t appear until all the muscle stores of potassium have been used up. It then takes a long time to restore potassium levels to a healthy amount in both blood and muscle tissues.
TREATMENT. Although severe potassium deficiencies may require hospitalization and intensive care, along with intravenous potassium administration, the treatment for chronic but not life-threatening hypokalemia is to add potassium to the diet. The most common brand of supplement, Tumil-Kä, is a source of potassium gluconate. It is available in a tablet, a paste similar to a hairball remedy, or a powder that can be mixed in canned food. Most cats will readily accept one of these forms of supplement.
RESPONSE TO TREATMENT. Visible response to supplementation can take 4-8 weeks. Your veterinarian will want to recheck your cat’s blood to monitor potassium levels on a regular basis. This will ensure the appropriate dosage is achieved and maintained. Lifelong therapy is usually required once hypokalemia has been diagnosed.
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Again, I'm sooooo sorry it took me this long to remember this, but I think it was your recent descriptions of how Max has a hard time lifting his back end that triggered my memories of Tubby.
{{{hugs}}} to you and good luck. I adored the pictures of Max with all his stuffy friends. He's such a cutie pie.
Oh, and I don't know if Max will tolerate them, but they do make diapers for doggies that may work for Max. If you remember, Peanut did quite well with them. I think it made her look totally pathetic, but she didn't seem to mind them and they took a huge load off my mind. Instead of spending time on finding pee spots and cleaning them, you can spend time snuggling with your little boy. :)
Lots of loving thoughts to you and Max ,Slick. I hope some of the previous suggestions will help him feel more comfortable.
Slick, my vet, too, was concerned about K'Cee getting enough potassium; he said (for us) this is where the hairball remedies come into play. I give this to her every other day. It's cheap, about $12.00 a bottle. That might be a "maintenance" option for Max after the potassium shots.
Forgive me if this has already been posted but I've found a wealth of information here: CRF Cats.
And for what it's worth, I've had tremendous luck (thank you, God!) with Azodyl. That might be something you ask about if you haven't already. From what I understand, Azodyl is "internal dialysis" so to speak; it increases good gut bacteria which in turn helps break down certain toxins, resulting in a lower BUN level.
Still thinking and praying for you guys.