Jen, I'm sorry to hear that it may be very bad news.:( Lots more prayers and positive thoughts are being sent his way.
Jen, I'm sorry to hear that it may be very bad news.:( Lots more prayers and positive thoughts are being sent his way.
Holy crap, how did I miss all of this??!!
I hope the vet tests come back ok. Gosh. This is not good. I know Kathy was saying that the siamese at her place weren't eating and then she gave them MEOW MIX and they sucked it down (the dry stuff). So, it's not like they wanted gourmet food.
Can you try just basic, run of the mill food???
I'll be praying for the poor guy.
Jen, I will continue to keep absolutely everything crossed here for you and little Mr Meow.
Checking in... wondering how Mr. Meow is today? I love the pictures in the post in Cat General! He sure is a looker!
Come on Mr. Meow, we all want you better. Puhleeeeze.. won't you eat something for your Jen??
Maybe he'd try Solid Gold Blended Tuna? It's tuna with all the missing nutrients added back in. I haven't heard yet of a cat who could resist it.
Love, Columbine
Oh no!!! Poor Mr. Meow, and poor you!!! I'll keep this little guy in my thoughts!
Kirsten
Still saying prayers for Mr. Meow. Are the results in yet?
no test results yet. :(
I can't say whether he has eaten today, because he is in with the fosters and there is food everywhere. At least if he wanted to eat, he could.
Jen, whatever is wrong with him might just be the reason he was left at the shelter in the first place. :( Whatever the outcome, you have blessed him with loving arms for these past days, weeks or however long he has been in your care.
Did the vet give any indication as to what the thickening might be? :confused:
The good news is that the blood work looked OK and he is NOT jaundiced.
The bad news is that if he doesn't eat, force feeding alone may not save him from fatty liver disease. He'll need a feeding tube inserted to get the needed calories and nutrients into him. Since not all vets will do this procedure, he needs to wait until this Sat. Until then, it is continue to force feed and pray he eats.
After that, the next step is an ultrasound to determine IF there really is a mass and if so, WHAT is it?! Unfortunately, the best I could do appointment-wise was August 2nd. (that is why the feeding tube is going in) Ideally having the ultrasound sooner would be better, but you know how booked up these thigs can be. :(
And all of this may just end up telling us that there is nothing we can do to save him. :( :(
It is so hard to be so helpless.
If anyone cares to donate to One By One to help with these costs, please feel free to visit our website for info on Paypal or our mailing address.
www.1by1.petfinder.org.
God, this is awful. The poor little guy. What a tough go for such a little one. I'm sorry, Jen.
Gosh, the waiting and not knowing is sooooooo hard!
Hugs Jen!
Kim
I'm so sorry to hear this.:) He'll continue to remain in my thoughts and prayers.
So sorry you and Mr. Meow are going through all this and you have to wait so long to get answers.
We are hoping and praying that Mr. Meow can be treated and will recover.
Hugs and purrs,
Pat and cats
Can you continue to force feed him til Saturday? I know it is hard...but if he has had a poop in the last few hours, chances are he is munching a bit on his own?
Hugs and prayers!
I will definitely be force feeding him as long as needed. As a matter of fact, I have an inquiry in to the vet as to whether a feeding tube is actually necessary. I can continue to force feed him. Would a feeding tube be SO much better that it is a necesity?? (waiting on that answer)Quote:
Originally Posted by Catty1
He "seems" like he would eat, but then just looks and walks away.
By the way, THANK YOU forthe generous donation toward Mr. Meow's care! {{{HUG}}}
WEIRD...not scared of the bowl or anything...not raised on Royal Doulton china...I wish Nancy was back, and she could likely give you an idea why this is happening....Quote:
He "seems" like he would eat, but then just looks and walks away.
We have decided NOT to have a feeding tube inserted in Mr. Meow.
After I gave it some thought, and then verified it with my vet (her partner vet suggested the tube) we decided that he won't get BETTER care with the tube in. He is easy to syringe feed and it is less invasive than having a tube shoved down your throat. I just didn't want to put him through more procedures than necessary (As long as force feeding was as good as the tube feedings would be.....I woudn't put him at risk in order to forego the procedure)
So, hopefully some time between now and Aug 2nd, the guy will start to eat on his own. (that is when he ges in for the ultasound).
So thanks Jennie, but no one will need to pick Meow up at the vet tomorrow. :)
Just checking in for an update. I'm glad to hear he doesn't have to suffer with a feeding tube. He's very lucky to have you and your magic kitty touch Jen.
I'll be keeping him in my thoughts and checking for updates.
Mr. Meow may not be eating on his own (still very puzzling), but I would have to say that he is doing very well otherwise. And he is SUCH a love bug. So calm, so sweet, loves the other cats, loves to be held and is no trouble to feed at all.
I may not have a magic touch that will save him, but I sure am going to try.
Does he give you kisses? Does he have bad breath? I wonder if his tongue or teeth are bothering him. Anyway, I'm glad he's doing well! I think about him often. I'm sure he appreciates your taking the time to make sure his tummy's full!Quote:
Originally Posted by jenluckenbach
As for a magic touch, I don't think there's any stronger magic in the world than love. :)
Love, Columbine
Nope, not his teeth. But keep the ideas coming. We need all the help we can get.
Mr. Meow had his ultrasound today. Findings indicate either irratable bowel disease or (early) cancer called lymphosarcoma. They found a large lymph nnode called mesenteric and thickening of the small bowel. Liver, stomach normal, heart an lungs sounds normal. And he has not lost more weight (and might have even gained a few ounces) since his weighing at my own vet.
So, I am going to be doing some research. Going to be asking my own vet about the findings. And I am going to pray.
Prayers are with you, Jen.
No wonder the poor baby had no appetite.
Whether it is IBS or early lymphoma...would oral prednisone at least take some swelling down for him?
Sorry if you have tried this already...I hope there is some treatment for him.
{[[HUGS}}}
"ETA: mes·en·ter·y (mzn-tr, ms-)
n. pl. mes·en·ter·ies
Any of several folds of the peritoneum that connect the intestines to the dorsal abdominal wall, especially such a fold that envelops the jejunum and ileum."
I know you will do all the research, Jen...but I wanted to check this...again, prayers for a hopeful course of treatment.
Aw, sweet boy. I'll be lighting a special candle for this little one tonight.
Prayers and healing energies coming from us for Mr. Meow.
Love,
Pat and cats
O Jen!! This so reminds me of Ralph Syracuse last year!!! Needless to say, prayers for Mr. Meow and YOU!!!
Oh yes, and Lucas. :(Quote:
Originally Posted by kb2yjx
Oh my.... porr widdle one. And poor you. Many prayers from me and the girls in Indiana.
I hope a biopsy is possible to find out for sure...but waiting to hear what your vet thinks.
Jen, I sure hope that Mr. Meow doesn't have cancer.:( Are you going to have a vet do a biopsy on him? Lots of prayers and positive thoughts are being sent his way.
My cat Starr had a surgical biopsy and I believe that the vet also said that he had a slight thickening of his intestines. He has both colitis and severe food allergies. He's still on prednisolone in liquid form but it's not working as well any more so I'm taking him to a holistic vet next Thurs. I'll let you know how it goes.
Mr. Meow is scheduled for an endoscopy with biopsy on Tues. The vet specialist said that he was going to do this (VERY EXPENSIVE) procedure for free, for 1by1.
God bless that wonderful man.
I really would not want 1by1 to spend $1800 on this because my intuition tells me that we will find out what we already know. I even asked the 1by1 director to talk tothis vet to confirm that he will not charge us. Because my own vet is ready to start depo to help shrink the tumor. (we cant use the pred or depo BEFORE endoscopy - if we go through with it- because it will affect the results)
So any way,for now I am still syringe feeding and loving on this cat.
That is one great vet to do the procedure for FREE!!!! BIG prayers heading for Mr. Meow and you!
That vet is a HERO!!!! HUGS to you and him and Mr. Meow.
I hope his condition turns out to be at least manageable. He seems so healthy and loving besides his lack of appetite, it seems worth treating this - JMO.
Give that lovebug head-kissies for me!
Is he a good boy at the vet? :)
Change of strategy. Since BOTH IBD and lymphoma would be initially treated with the same medication (steroids) we are going to postpone the endoscopy and go right to the depo-medral injections hoping to shrink any imflammation and getting his appetite back. (WITHOUT the invasion of the endoscopy)
And yes, that vet is a wonderful person! He has done other things for 1by1 and their cats in the past.
I hope no one thinks we are jeopordizing Mr. Meow by not having the procedure, but I just feel we can't wait any longer to start treatment (and this WOULD alter results of any biopsy done during the endoscopy) in other words, it was wait and do endoscopy OR start treatment. And I just felt that at this point it doesn't matter what they find, treatment would proceed the same either way.
(sorry to ramble)
And yes, Mr. Meow is good at the vet, He is good EVERYWHERE!! for EVERYTHING.
I'm sure nobody thinks anything one way or the other about the treatment for Mr. Meow. Everyone knows of the love you give to all the furkids who come into your care. I sure hope things get better for him soon.
OH GOOD! I hope he gets his appetite back soon!
Jen - what's the difference between Depo-Provera and Prednisone? Is there a reason to choose one over the other?
HUGS little lovey boy! :)
Depo-medro is an injectible. Prednisone is oral. They are the same medication = methylprednisolone. (from what I have been reading.)
The injection should last for about 3 weeks. I think the reason it is better is he gets the large dose at once instead of a pill per day for the 3 week period. But I am assuming. These are not he vets words.
http://www.medi-vet.com/DepoMedrol.aspx
http://www.marvistavet.com/html/prednisone.html
My mom and dad's cat, Lucey, get the depo shots for her allergies. It works wonderfully for that.
Not at all, no reason to put him through an endoscopy if not absolutely necessary. Give him a hug and a snuggle for me. I hope it's not cancer. p.s. from a nurse :) Depo-Medrol is a long-acting injectable form of methylprednisolone - would you have to start him on oral prednisone at all, or if the first dose of Depo-Medrol is effective, could they just inject it once a month? Why pill him if not necessary?Quote:
Originally Posted by jenluckenbach