:( Oh poor wittle Puddy.. My Heart Just Ackss for you Both.. Now how old is Puddy?? Do you think Puddy is morning over something or someone?? God Bless Both Your Hearts.. Huggss & Prayers
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:( Oh poor wittle Puddy.. My Heart Just Ackss for you Both.. Now how old is Puddy?? Do you think Puddy is morning over something or someone?? God Bless Both Your Hearts.. Huggss & Prayers
She's 14. If she's in mourning, I don't know why. My Peeka went to the Bridge over 3 years ago, so that can't be it. It's been the Magnificent Seven ever since. Nothing has changed here either except the patio room has been remodeled but she hung out there even after the remodeling, so that's ruled out, too. I just do not know.Quote:
Originally Posted by lvpets2002
As an aside, my computer is giving me grief again, so my pc guy is coming today to take it. I told him to keep it until it's fixed right. I type a key and another one comes up instead of the one I strike and the only way to remedy the situation is to reboot, which means I lose my document or email. I've had enough of this computer, I can tell ya, so I may not be able to update on Wednesday but as soon as I get my computer back, I will. So please know that I appreciate everyone's continued prayers and well wishes and all of you and your furkids are in my prayers daily.
As it turns out, the pc guy will be here tomorrow. Our schedules just didn't mesh today. I went upstairs to check on Puddy a little while ago and if I hadn't seen it w/my own eyes, I wouldn't have believed it: she peed right in the sink. She isn't acting as though she has a UTI; she finished up a round of Zenaquin about a week ago. I don't know if she can't control her bladder or if she just didn't want to walk down the little steps to the litterbox or what. She's been using the litterbox fine up until this incident. This is getting serious.
{{{{{HUGS}}}}}
I can't even guess what her reasons for this action could be, but it sure tells me something is out of the ordinary. :(
That's for sure. She played w/my dental floss again today, purred while she was playing, but wouldn't come downstairs to eat again. I had to carry her. She ate fine, no problem there, didn't run into the dining room to pee, just went back upstairs when she was finished eating. But she made a point of peeing in the sink right in front of me. This just is not my Puddy. I don't even know this cat.Quote:
Originally Posted by jenluckenbach
:love: Well I would say she is going thru a Mid Life Crisis.. From what I am reading & seeing is Puddy does not want anything to do with down stairs.. Something has scared her bad.. Whats you think of setting up her litterbox & food upstairs in the bathroom or somewhere close to where she is comfortable.. I would try this for a bit & just see how she does.. She could also be going thru some depression..Quote:
Originally Posted by Medusa
Actually, Puddy has her own room which is about two human steps away from the bathroom where she hangs out. She has her own litterbox, food and water dishes, fountain, bed, carrier, you name it, she's got it. I just wish I could get inside this little calico's mind.Quote:
Originally Posted by lvpets2002
:love: I am sorry Mary.. I thought you were saying that she had to go downstairs to eat & potty.. Well you know Calicos can be very sensitive at times..Quote:
Originally Posted by Medusa
No worries. And no apology necessary. Everyone on PT and my friends here, too, are trying their best to come up w/possible solutions for me and I deeply appreciate it. I only bring Puddy downstairs to eat breakfast because I want to see how she does when she's there. She used to love to go to the sun patio afterwards and hang out or sit w/me at the computer. Now she goes back upstairs immediately. She has food up there, too, but I keep hoping that she'll come down on her own as she did a couple of times and stay for a while but so far, no luck. :(Quote:
Originally Posted by lvpets2002
:) You know I am still thinking something has really frightened her downstairs.. Do you have several people over at times?? Is there a dog close by that barks alot?? Is there a loud car or something outside at diff times of day or night?? I am for sure going to go home & read all my cat behavior books..
No on all counts. My house is extraordinarily quiet. I have the AC on most times so that cuts down on noise and even when I have the windows open, there really isn't anything happening outside that should frighten her. It's a quiet neighborhood. Puddy has always been the alpha female and she always loved hanging w/the humans. Her head would go back and forth from person to person while we were conversing as though she understood everything we said. I've always said that she's a human in a calico's body. LOLQuote:
Originally Posted by lvpets2002
I wonder what could be up with her. Becoming and introvert is definitely a sign of something. Poor girl.
Mary, I'm so sorry to hear that she hasn't shown any signs of improvement.:( Maybe she peed in the sink because she's just too tired to make it to the litter box.:( At least she did it there instead of on your carpet or bed. I sure hope that she'll get some energy back and start feeling better.
Her hiding reminds me so much of when my RB Pepper was so sick. He hid back in my room for so long that my cats Storm and Sunny just got used to not having him around. When I would try to force feed him and medicate him he would let out big sigh. I knew that he had enough and wasn't ever going to get better.:( I'm sure that Puddy will let you know when's she's had enough. I'll continue to keep her in my thoughts and prayers. Please take care of yourself too. (((HUGS)))
Quote:
Nothing has changed here either except the patio room has been remodeled but she hung out there even after the remodeling, so that's ruled out, too. I just do not know.
Well, this is probably far fetched but I suppose it doesn't hurt to consider all possibilities. Do you think that something (chemical, product etc..) could have been used in the remodeling of the patio room that could have affected Puddy? I know it's a stretch but there are toxic reactions by people and animals to certain laminate flooring. I think you mentioned tiles in a post about your renos a few months back? Maybe there is something to do with the tiles used or the grout or the finish on the tiles? The timing of the renos and then her continuing to hang out in there after the remodeling followed by her not wanting to go in there at all might indicate a connection. :confused:Quote:
Originally Posted by Medusa
Prayers going out to you and Miss Puddy. :love:
Y'know, I suppose anything is possible. That doesn't explain her insistence on planting herself on that tiny piece of real estate on the corner of my bathroom countertop. She won't even sleep in her carrier any more, only on the countertop. That bathroom was going to be my next renovation. What will she do then? She did come into bed w/me briefly last night and she actually let me give her a brief noggin noogie. I could tell that she really wanted it but as soon as I touch her, she pulls away. She doesn't cry out in pain but it's as though she can't stand to be touched but wants it so badly. I wish I could adequately explain how she behaves but it's so bizarre that I can't. If she was a cat that's a loner and who prefers being by herself upstairs, I wouldn't have a problem w/that but to hang out 24/7 on a patch of countertop that measures not even a square foot is ridiculous!
My pc guy will be here in a couple of hours to take my computer. Puddy's appt. w/Dr. Lee is tomorrow morning and I don't know if I'll have my computer back by then so if I don't update, that's why. Again, please know that your continued thoughts and prayers are so greatly appreciated and I always remember my PT friends in my daily devotions.
Wow! Puddy sure is difficult to figure at this point. You must be at your wit's end!
Year's ago when my 20 year old Siamese was telling me he was ready to go, he would hide in such obscure places that it would take me forever to find him. He wanted to be totally left alone. And when my son's cat was was failing, he would open a kitchen cabinet and hide in the pots and pans! Somehow I don't think Puddy is at this stage - she's very visable - even if it is on the bathroom counter! Could she maybe be going somewhat senile???
I hope Dr Lee can shed some light on what's going on. In the meantime, you and Puddy are still in my prayers.
Does Puddy have regular bowel movements? IS she peeing in the sink, but is going to the litter box for bowel movements? I am also thinking, as someone else stated, that at her age she may be senile and not really understanding what or why she is behaving this way. I know it is hard to see her not behaving as herself.
:love: You mentioned Puddy has always been the Alpha Female.. Has one of the other cats started showing to be more Alpha than normal.. Maybe Puddy has been noted she is not the Alpha anylonger.. Also check how loud your ring-tone is on your phone.. Puddy could be having sensitivty in her ears..
Her litterbox habits haven't changed; she's always been really good about that. The pee in the sink incident was done in front of me, as though she wanted me to see her do it. I've thought about her possibly becoming senile and I intend to ask Dr. Lee about it tomorrow.Quote:
Originally Posted by greendoor678
The way she is behaving does sound like it could be related to senility. But I can't stop thinking that there is a connection to the 'coolness' of the countertop. It's my guess that she is nausceous and hot, so much so that she won't leave that countertop, even to pee. When you're nausceous, you don't want to walk, you don't want to be touched and you tend to want to be cool. I know I've already said that but it's just my hunch but hopefully your vet will help you really get to the bottom of this mystery. I can only imagine how hard this has been having to watch her be this way day in and day out without any resolution. Hang in there! :love:
Oh Mary my heart goes out to you, so fustrating and upsetting trying to figure out your wee girl, i still think maybe some of the medication could be affecting her, you know yourself when you take medication it can do funny things to you,everyone is different and has different reactions, i know Ash certainly has been behaving a bit odd since we started his medication, he used to stay indoors all the time by the heater, not anymore,things like that, however i suspect he is scared we are going to pill him again,who really knows, i hope Dr Lee can shed some light on her behaviours, and you could well be right, she maybe becoming senile,let us know how you get on when you can,until then HUGS all around and the best of luck with Puddy.:love::love:
I don't like that Medusa isn't around to give us Puddy updates!
{{{hugs}}}
We're here for you, Mary. You know that. :love:
I'm sorry that I am just now seeing this thread. Hugs to you and prayers for dear Puddy!
I'm right there with you! I keep checking for a "Puddy Post". I hope it's good news.Quote:
Originally Posted by Moesha
Mary said that her computer was being worked on so she wouldn't be able to update us for a while. I hope that everything is okay. Puddy remains in my thoughts and prayers.
Finally got my pc back; I was w/out it for nearly 3 days and now I'm really behind on my work, so I'll try to make this as succinct as possible. It's still giving me problems, so I may have to be w/out it again.
As soon as Dr. Lee saw Puddy yesterday he said "Oh boy, this isn't the Puddy I know". She was just lying there in a ball; she usually is hissing like mad. When he petted her, she didn't make a sound. So he petted her a little harder to see if he could get her to respond and she did hiss but she never even lifted her head. Dr. Lee, whom I've always said is a genius but, by his own admission, is not warm and fuzzy, stroked her so tenderly. I could tell that he really likes her; his eyes curl up at the corners and he grins when he sees her. He leaned down and talked to her at her level, which ordinarily would be a dangerous thing to do because she goes for the face when she's really mad, and he said "Puddy, what's going on w/you, little girl?" And she let out the most pathetic cry. That's when I lost it and started crying, too. Poor Dr. Lee, I could tell that he wanted to comfort me but he didn't know what to do. He asked "How long has she been lying in a ball like this?" I said "Almost two weeks. She stays on the corner of the bathroom sink countertop 24/7". I filled him in on everything, how she eats fine, uses the litterbox fine but just will not socialize at all, not even w/me.
He said that it could be one of a couple of things: senility could be setting in and/or she could be having an auto immune response to the Epogen. He said that he's never heard of cats responding to Epogen in that way, dogs yes, cats no, but then he said "Puddy has defied all the odds so far, so why should this be any different?" He said that cutting her back to once a week would neither help nor hurt her and her numbers all came back the same so he said to continue w/once a week injections and to really watch and see how she responds after next Saturday's shot.
Of course, when we got home yesterday, she went upstairs so I figured she was headed for the countertop but she ate first, then went to the countertop to drink her water, then she went in her carrier for the first time in two weeks and she slept there all night. So. Now I don't know if it's because she's doing better or if it's because the weather turned cold and rainy (it went down to 50 yesterday) and it's warmer in her carrier. Dr. Lee said that Epogen only stays in the system for about 4 days, so if she's having an auto immune response to it, the 4 days would have been past and thus she went into her carrier. (Are you tracking w/me on all this? I know it's difficult; I have a problem w/it myself.) If she goes back to the countertop and stays there again after her shot on Saturday, then I'll probably have my answer. I'm trying to take a friend's advice to stop analyzing everything and just take this as a positive sign because I'm exhausting myself.
Dr. Lee also said "I'm a numbers guy. Her numbers say she's improving but this is not the normal Puddy behavior. I'm not w/her all day, so only you can say whether or not her quality of life is non-existent. If you're asking me, though, if this is the end for Puddy, I'd have to say 'NO'. Her gums are pink and if a cat is anemic, the gums are white. Her appetite is good, her litterbox habits are fine. I think she needs to be observed a little longer." I asked him the question I always ask "If she was your cat, what would you do?" He said "Again, I'm a numbers guy. I'd wait. But if her numbers go down after a while, then I'd have to sit myself down and say 'Mike, you have a decision to make'."
I hope I haven't forgotten anything. Yesterday I cried until I was spent. I came home, laid down and cried til I fell asleep and I did sleep for about an hour and a half. I guess I needed the cry and I definitely needed the sleep because I felt better afterwards and Puddy slept through the night, too. This has been one strange experience. I've had to help animals to the Bridge but there was never any doubt then that I was doing the right thing. Just when I think it may be time to let Puddy go, she rallies, so I've been in a state of confusion for weeks. Dr. Lee told me to keep him informed of any changes, good or bad, and I'll let all my PT friends know, too, unless I have to part w/my computer again. If you don't see an update or if I don't reply to your posts, that's why.
Thanx again for all your thoughts and prayers and I apologize for the long post. I just wanted to make sure I covered everything.
And I'm sitting here crying with you! What a difficult and confusing time this is for you and Puddy also. Just hang in there and take it a day at a time and hopefully eventually you will see even more of an improvement. It does seem tho like it may be an issue with becoming senile since she just doesn't seem to be really "sick". Prayers for you and Puddy! :love:
RIGHT! I forgot that your pooter was going to the vet also. ;)
Puddy does defy the odds! I loved how Dr Lee was so sweet with her...and she KNOWS him, and just cried at him! With her not feeling well, it's so sweet that she would 'ask for help'.
Mary - don't drive yourself crazy with details, but I did find a couple of bits of information on Epogen. Just have a look and then check the link if you want to. Epogen is made from a human protein, which is why autoimmune can happen...but if her counts stay up, that is good. There's another drug mentioned here also.
http://www.marvistavet.com/html/erythropoietin.html
Quote:
SIDE EFFECTS
The main adverse event to be concerned about is antibody production. Antibodies are generated in response to an alien protein in the body. The problem is that antibodies that are generated not just against the alien (human) erythropoietin but also against the patient’s natural erythorpoietin. This makes for a profound anemia which can only be treated with blood transfusions. Regular monitoring to check for a sudden drop in red cell count, is crucial as this is the sign that a problem is incipient and the product can be stopped while there is still time. It has been proposed that darbepoetin (Aranesp ®) is less likely to cause this reaction than other recombinant erythropoietins since it differs from the human product the most.
Quote:
INTERACTIONS WITH OTHER DRUGS
It is very important to administer an iron supplement in conjunction with the erythropoietin injections so that the bone marrow will have all the necessary “supplies” with which to make red blood cells. A multivitamin with iron is typically used as this will also provide the B vitamins needed in red cell production as well.
In humans, carnitine administration improves the response to erythropoietin in some individuals. Carnitine is a nutritional supplement available at most vitamin stores.
Also...is she on any meds that Epogen might interfere with?
HUGS to you and Puddy. I hope you get some much-needed rest. :)
Thanx for the info, Candace. Dr. Lee did mention that possibly down the line if the Epogen isn't working as it should that I could consider a blood transfusion. He also mentioned a monthly iron injection but at the time, Puddy was so sick and frail that he didn't want to do it to her because he said it's painful and my little girl is only 5 lbs. To give her a painful injection right now just wouldn't sit well w/me and he said that it isn't essential at the moment, so I'll wait until he gives me the green light. She isn't on any meds other than aluminum hydroxide gel, which is a phosphorous binder and an antacid which helps w/nausea. Dr. Lee said that nausea is a big problem in kidney patients and he should know; he said he's had kidney stones, nausea, back pain, the works. He's been a kidney patient for quite some time, I guess, so he can really empathize w/Puddy.Quote:
Originally Posted by Catty1
Could she take an oral (even liquid) form of the vitamins and iron?
Maybe just ask about darbepoetin (Aranesp ®). Carnitine is supposed to help the response to Epogen...it's made by the liver and kidneys, so Puddy might be low in it.
I an wondering what Dr Lee thinks of this stuff. HUGS!
I asked him about an oral iron supplement and he said "Oh, the Geritol effect. I'm of the opinion that it doesn't do a bit of good" and he proceeded w/a lengthy explanation that I've since forgotten. Long story short, he feels that studies have shown that iron supplements are fairly useless. Whether or not he's right is up for debate but seeing that he is of that opinion, I won't bother w/the oral supplements. I want to see how Puddy does after this Saturdays' Epogen shot, then I'll go from there and maybe take her in to my local vet for the iron shot unless she's not doing well, then of course, I want Dr. Lee to see her. I will ask him about Darbepoetin, though.Quote:
Originally Posted by Catty1
and the carnitine? (I am SUCH a nag! :o ) :)
I'll ask him but he said that I'm jabbing her once a day, squirting meds down her throat twice a day, jabbing her again for another reason once a week, I have to brush her teeth every day, rinse her gums w/Chlorhexadine; he said that too much could stress her out and have a reverse effect on her. But I'll ask nonetheless; it couldn't hurt to ask.Quote:
Originally Posted by Catty1
Just a couple little things. An immune reaction can last longer than the presence of the thing that caused it - there's a feedback loop that takes time to wind down.
Also, have you tried offering her a bit of beef? I know that fresh, high-quality beef tastes heavenly to an anemic human!
Love, Columbine
I did not know that. Thanx for telling me that. As for the beef, no, I haven't tried it. She has always turned her nose up at beef but things change so it can't hurt to try. Thanx again. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by columbine
Just know that I will keep the prayers going up for both you and Puddy. There are not words that can help right now, but prayers work wonder.
I believe that w/every fiber of my being. I can't thank you all enough. Puddy just let out a meow, something I haven't heard much of lately, so I think that's her way of saying "Amen!" ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by momtomany
Dear Puddy,Quote:
Originally Posted by Medusa
Cassie and I are praying for you and your meowmom!
:love:
Elyse
oh Mary, I just read your post on your visit to see the vet, and it just brought me to tears. I am so sorry that you have been going through so much right now. You truly are doing everything you can at this point in time, and just take it day by day. Puddy seems to be quite the trooper. Sydney has been on iron supplements for about a month, and they brought her blood levels back into the normal range when they dropped. Just a thought. You are in my prayers and thoughts - the both of you. And I will be checking for updates on Puddy's condition. :love::love::love: