Awww, happy birthday, big boy! Don't fight momma, okay? She is helping you, not hurting you, even if it doesn't feel like that.
Printable View
Awww, happy birthday, big boy! Don't fight momma, okay? She is helping you, not hurting you, even if it doesn't feel like that.
Happy Birthday sweet Max! At least you don't have to get fluids on your birthday today I am sending you lots of virtual hugs, cake and catnip! Have a good day. :love:
And be good when you are getting your fluids, naughty boy. ;)
Happy birthday Max!
Slick, the fact that Max is fighting shows that he's still got some pep in him, but I imagine it will be a bit of a struggle to give him fluids the first few times - I will send lots of calming thoughts. :) Be a good boy an sit still!
Fister and I wish you a day filled with cuddles, treats and catnip! :love:
Happy 17th Birthday, sweet Max!
I agree w/Randi, fighting is good! LOL When my Puddy just laid there and knew that a subq was coming, I got worried. After a while, she was a good girl and kept still but I knew the difference. Now it's Pidgelet's turn. She refuses to sit down during the treatment. She stands up w/her back straight. Fun giving her the fluids that way. :rolleyes: We're still praying for Max, though, and you, too, of course. And give Max some good head scritchies from me for his birthday, please. :love:
HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEET SIR MAX!!!! :love::love::love:
Have your mommy give you and extra big head kissie from me, ok? ;)
(enjoy your fluid free weekend - both of you )
Fighting and gobbling up Fancy Feast- Max you are still going strong!
Happy 17th Purrthday, sweet boy.
Filou's and Tigris' purrents also have great names- but my boys said always they are too blue-blooded to just do shows. They understand Max fully ;)
All the Best to You Max on Your 17th Purrthday
Especially from Senior Kittyzens Juke Joint Joseph, Princess the Purrfect and My Dream Cat Michael.
We are praying that you are not joining the Animal Angel Army just yet, you have more time to spend with Your Best Friend.
:love::love::love:
Max, you're not getting older, you're getting better! Happy 17th! Are you already making your plans for next year's party?
Happy 17th Purrthday sweet Max! It's Mitzi's 8th B'day today (or at least the day we celebrate).
don't give your meomie too much of a bad time - she's trying to help you.
Mishi was so good about his Sub-Q's - he just took it all in stride. I'm afraid when the day comes when I have to give Mitzi sub-Q's because I KNOW she will fight me
Sorry it's a day late, but Happy Birthday Max!!
HAPPY BELATED 17th BIRTHDAY MAX!!! It sounds like you're still going strong but please let your meowmie give you the fluids that you need so you can here a lot longer with her.:)
Max says "thank you for all my purrffday wishes, but Meowmie jabbed me anyway!"
I bought some more fluids today and also exchanged the big needles for smaller ones. I know that means it will take longer for him to get the necessary amount of fluid but I'd rather him have 15 min. of comfortable jab than 5 min of a painful one.
I already had some smaller ones left over from a few years ago and last night I used one of them. What a difference. He just laid there. It's still a two person job, but not once did he wince or try to get away.
Just for fun, I visited two shelters this weekend - the Vancouver SPCA and the Burnaby SPCA. The reason why I went was to see if I was "kitty worthy" that is, would I ever be "chosen." You see, with Speckles and Max, I was not chosen. I chose them - sight unseen.
So yesterday at the Vancouver shelter I was "chosen" by a senior grey tabby kitty named Charlie. The minute I sat down in the chair he was all over me and sitting on my lap, he reached up and put one paw on my sholder and just looked into my eyes straight on. Then the same day in another room I was "chosen" again by a long-haired senior tuxie girl. She is a licker and my chin and both arm got a good bathing.
Today I was "chosen" by Otis:
http://bcspcapets.shelterbuddy.com/a...6935&result=13
Literally, he was all over me and my purse. He even looked at me with those dreamy "I love you" eyes. I really had to dig deep and be strong enough to leave him there.
I just can't bring another kitty into my home right now. Max hates other cats and right now I need to concentrate and making the end of his life as comfortable as possible.
So what did I learn this weekend? When I look for my next furbaby, he/she will be an unwanted senior, rescued from a stainless steel cage. I also know that I want to someday again, volunteer for a rescue organization - hands on with cats. The most important lesson I learned is that I "can" do this. I "can" give sub-q fluids and I spoke with Max and told him that this is for his own good and that it would make him feel better. I also said that I will not abandon him. I will stay with him until the very end.
.....then he yelled at me for more food. :rolleyes::love:
Good for you Slick! you gave those cats some much needed loving and I bet it felt good, too! :love: None of us can help ALL of them, but we can touch the lives of a few.
As for being strong enough to help Max, we all knew you could do it! Strength, I believe, comes from love.
So, I guess I am out of contention?;)Quote:
Originally Posted by slick
Happy Birthday Max!
Slick...amen natal sister.....you will always be chosen....
OK. I think I've screwed up. The IV line won't flow.
See attachment. I squeezed that little thing (whatever you call it) just to see what would happen. Now it's full of fluid and it won't flow down the line. What do I do? :confused:
I had this exact same thing happen to me with Taz's fluids. Here's what I did. I turned the bag upside down and squeezed some of the fluid back into the bag.Quote:
Originally Posted by slick
OMG Taz. You are a lifesaver. Thank you, that worked. I'd love to speak to you someday. PM me with your phone number if you want to touch base. :love:
I love how all the wonderful people on this site support each other.:love: I suppose if a cat loves you, there is an immediate trust, isn't there.;)
Well, I'm not sure if I'm giving him enough fluids but I'm doing my best.
Last night was a rough one. He was extra hungry so I opened up a second small can of fancy feast (only chicken and liver flavour will do, thank you very much) :rolleyes:. About 20 min after eating I noticed that he was scooting and trying to have a BM - he looked constipated. Finally he let loose right by the front door. I cleaned him and the floor up, then he proceeded to throw up about 4 times. He completely emptied his tummy, then he just laid around. I finally went to bed around midnight but was up every couple of hours checking on him.
This morning he was meowing at me then crawled up on the dining room chair and that's where I left him. I'm at work right now.
I feel sick to my stomach. As hard as this is, I've got to persevere.
Aw, slick, I'm so sorry! I hope you are both feeling better by this evening!
Extra prayers on the way for you both. :love::love:
I am in tears for you. I know too well how you are feeling right now. While Taz didn't throw up, he wasn't eating anything but a teeny bit of tuna I'd give him after meds.
Are you giving him fluids every day? If not, maybe you could start. That's what the vet suggested to me but then I made the other choice. :(
Hugs going out to you.
Cyber {{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}.
Slick, I'm sorry you're having some rough times right now.:( I hope that things will improve with Max. I'll keep both of you in my thoughts and prayers. Please take care. (((HUGS)))
Poor, poor, Max, and you too. I so hope he is doing better today.
Continuing to keep you both in my prayers. {{hugs}}
I'm really sorry to hear that.
The good signs: he wants to eat. That means the fluids are working.
If he has diarrhea however he might lose more liquid than you can get into him.
I hope it was just a one time thing- it sometimes is.
Hugs to you.
Slick, I'm so sorry that Max and you are going through this, but you're doing what you can. It's a good sign that he wanted to eat, but not so good that it came back up. :( Try to give him very small amounts at a time. I so hope he'll perk up after getting some fluids.
Fister and I are thinking of you and sending lots of positive thoughts. :love:
(((Hugs)))
I've been through this several times also, and it's such a roller-coaster ride of highs when they eat well and look totally relaxed when they sleep, and lows when all their body functions seem to go into disorder and they look miserable. I guess Max threw up because he had difficulty pooping, the straining would have pushed up into his stomach, at least that's what I've always thought with mine. I just lost foster Alexander to renal failure and he had a really difficulty time in the litter box, leaving part behind and dropping pieces on the floor as he walked, and towards the end simply walking away from his dish and pooping on the kitchen floor. As I said before, it seems to disorder all their body systems.
With all of mine I used to give fluids every other day, then every day, then twice a day as the renal failure progressed. However, they do reach a point where no amount of fluids given in any way will take away the dehydration.
I'm really sorry that you and Max are going through this very difficult time. Is he still enjoying attention? (I didn't read through the whole thread since, like you, I post at work and have a tough boss.)
Oh I sure hope that things turn around for Max. (((HUGS))) to you, Slick, and gentle pets to our Max. :love:
Juke Joint Joseph is going through this too, one day he will eat, and the next day he wont touch anything but milk, and a dab of Cheese Whiz.
:(
His legs are not staedy, and he has to have his food put under his nose.
I wish we could bring Max to the outdoor enclosure as JJJ3 really perks up out there.:love:
Our Prayers for Max:love: and we know that Spreckles Angel :love:is there too comfort her old friend.
:love::love::love:
I'm praying for both Max and Joseph. May they both have many more good days than bad!:love:
I just don't know if I can do this. Last night was another bad night. When it came time for his fluids, he ran and hid. I had to dig him out from behind my bed. When I finally got him "in position", he wouldn't sit still because he was anticipating the pain of the needle. I did get the fluids in but I know it's causing him pain. Afterwards he hid again and I didn't see him until this morning.
Lizzie, yes, that's exactly what Max is going through now but he did have a poop last night which is good. Yes, he loves attention but not so much lately because I represent needles and pain. His T4 levels are normal btw.
I have to weigh the options. Is it better to cause him pain and give the fluids (which he doesn't seem to be responding to) or do I do nothing and give him what seems like a better quality of life? I know he's not ready to go yet because he's still very hungry and pees and talks up a storm when I get home from work. God, this is so hard. We have a whitecoat visit scheduled for tomorrow morning. Sorry for rambling.:(
I would be surprised if he needed the fluids 3 times a week now. Filou gets them weekly and we go to the vet.
He hates being caught on Tuesday mornings but he forgives us quickly. If it wasn't that often for Max I am sure he could cope easier.
Good luck tomorrow- he sounds as if he still has a lot of spunk.
Forgive me but I wonder if the needle really is causing him that much pain because you switched to a thinner gauge, correct? The initial pin prick only hurts for a second, as we know, and after that it really doesn't hurt them. I do know what you mean about his running and hiding, though. When my Puddy saw me coming, she beat feet, too, but she always felt so much better afterwards that I felt better, too. Now it's Pidge who refuses to sit down during the treatment and I have to administer it while she stands up and tries to bolt. I've noticed lately, though, that she does have loose stools after a treatment. Gosh, it's so difficult to know what to do. Ultimately, you know Max better than anyone and if you truly feel that his quality of life is gone or significantly diminished, then you have your answer. I wish it was easier. (((HUGS))) :love:
Well, I just have to applaud both of you (Slick and Mary) on giving fluids by yourself. There's no way I could have done Taz's alone. I would have taken him to the vet every other day if Bruce wasn't here.
Did they show you to gently massage the area where the fluid is going in to help the flow go better? At least I think that's what it did. I did that, but sometimes that would make him jumpy. I think maybe because I'd rub too close to the needle.
I'm still hoping he gets better soon.
I went back to the larger one because the smaller one was taking 15-20 min and after about 5 min he was getting really antsy. I may try the smaller one again, but tonight I'm giving him a night off. I'll see what the vet says tomorrow morning.Quote:
Forgive me but I wonder if the needle really is causing him that much pain because you switched to a thinner gauge, correct?
Taz - it is a two person job and my good friend and neighbour down the hall comes over every night to assist. I don't know I would do without her. No, they didn't show my about the massaging bit but I'm sure that would make him go berserk. I'll try to call you on Sunday night.
Lots of prayers flying from me for you both. Extra on the way for tomorrow's vet visit!!! :love::love:
I'm wondering why it's hurting him so much. When I was giving Mishi fluids, they showed me how to pull the loose skin up from the neck and put the needle into that loose skin. The vet showed me where there were virtually no nerves so it shouldn't hurt them very much, if at all.
Of course, all cats are different when it comes to treatment. While I know Mitzi behaves and lets the vet techs do what they need to do when she's there, when it's her meowmie doing it at home, she knows to run and hide. I dread the day I have to give her Sub-Q's and hope it's a long way off, although she's been having good and bad days too and I know it's her kidneys. She's being watched closely.