I will be thinking of Puddy. :love:
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I will be thinking of Puddy. :love:
She hates it. It's so neat, too, because it has a spigot just like a sink and the water flow can be controlled, so I have it streaming just as I do w/the bathroom sink for her. She isn't having it. She is so exasperating! But she got another shot on Saturday and showed improvement, so we're going back to shots twice a week. I have to pick up more syringes at Dr. Lee's today. I asked about darbopoetin and he said that it's more than double the cost of Epogen, so that isn't doable anyhow. And he said no iron shots. Iron supports red blood cells but Epogen produces them and he said that he isn't big on iron shots or supplements so no iron shots either. She's definitely nocturnal now; she's tap tap tapping on the floor all night, jumping up on the sink, jumping down, going back and forth from her food dish to under my bed to up on the sink. (Yes, I allowed her back into my bedroom at night because I can't hear what's going on w/the door closed.) All in all, I feel she's improved somewhat but she's still acting weird; the senility probably.
Darned finicky cats! Do you think you could return it or would your other cats appreciate it? I once bought a pet fountain and then sold it to a friend for her cats because mine were afraid of it.
I'm glad to hear that she is back with you in your room. :) I'm sure she is happier being with mom. It sure must be tough on your sleep pattern though with her nocturnal activities. I guess the fact that she is active at all though is a blessing.
Does the Clindamyacin seem to be helping with the accidents?
I'm sure the rest of the Fur Posse would like it; they have two others that they enjoy. I just thought that this one would please Her Highness because it looks like a faucet and the flow is the same but no, of course not. The Clindamycin isn't helping w/the peeing. I spoke w/Dr. Lee yesterday and I told him that I don't think her problem is medical; I think she has an attitude toward me now. She's pi$$ed at me, if you'll pardon the pun. I've removed the hall runner so that she won't pee on it any more but she still occasionally goes on the hardwood floor. I'm afraid it's going to warp if she continues w/this behavior. That's the one thing that really has me perturbed. Any other time when she's gotten mad at me, she'd take a swat at me or nip at my ankle when I walked by. This is not like her but there it is. I also thought that maybe she doesn't like her litterbox any more so I'm giving her a new one and I'm giving Cat Attract litter a try. I'm probably asking for trouble w/changing the brand of litter but I'm willing to try it, at least.Quote:
Originally Posted by Emeraldgreen
I crawled into bed and became instantly sad that my bunkie was under my bed rather than in bed w/me watching TV and I started to cry. Puddy crawled out from under the bed, hopped up into bed w/me, climbed onto my chest and licked away my tears, then kissed me right on the lips. Then she moved to the pillow next to me and sat there as if she was saying "I'm staying right here until I know you're ok, Mom". We sat there for a few minutes, she purring, then she walked off the bed to the doorway, turned and looked at me and then went into the bathroom to lie on the countertop, as though she was saying "My work is done here". She slept on the countertop most of the night but I felt that she was letting me know that she's ok.
I got LES just reading this! How sweet. She's still with you, still aware, and sounds like she's just not ready to go anywhere yet. This whole story has been so heartwrenching tho with all the ups and downs. If only Puddy could talk.......Quote:
Originally Posted by Medusa
Oh Mary, that would just about do me in. LES....:(:(
What a sweet baby girl....she knows just when Meowmie needs her.
I'm so happy to hear that she's hangin' in there and I admit that I had to giggle at the post about the water fountain. Durn kats anyway!!
{{{hugs}}} to you and gentle kisses to Mz Puddy....:love:
Oh my, I only read Mary's last post, but it also gave me LES. That is so sweet.
I can tell how much this girl means to you. And it is heartbreaking that you two are going through this rough time.
You and Puddy will be in my thoughts. (((HUGS)))
Puddy is such a special girl! I'm so happy for you that you had that moment with her. Thank you for sharing it with us. :love:
LES here too. :love: What a sweet girl.
Another les afflicted reader here. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...s/grouphug.gif
Mary that was so beautiful of Puddy. She loves you, too!
Oh my... LES here also. What a sweet baby girl, helping you as she did. What a precious gift from God she is! :love:
Aw dear Puddy, taking care of her momma.
Hugs to you, Mary.
I can't sleep in my bed tonight because Puddy peed in it. I heard her tapping on the floor so I went to investigate and she was eating. So I said "Aw, what a good girl!" and went back to bed. A few seconds later she came up into bed w/me and I thought we'd have another sweet moment like last night. No. She squatted. I yelled "Puddy! No!" Too late. Soaked through the comforter and sheets clear to the mattress. She ran underneath my bed until she saw I was busy cleaning up, then she ran into the bathroom. I'm going to have to stick to my banning her from my bedroom. I can't have her peeing on my bed. I had to scrub it w/Urine Gone and now here I sit at my computer. Gee, I wonder why I'm sleep deprived.
Oh my!!!! And just when it looked like she was heading in the right direction................:confused:
Confused is right! I felt bad afterwards because I yelled at her but jeez! I had to strip the bed, scrub it and sleep in the guest room. It was hours before I could fall asleep. I know that it's behavioral because the litterbox was right beside where she was. She had to do some walking and then jump up on my bed. All I can think of is that she got another Epogen shot yesterday and that was my payback.Quote:
Originally Posted by pomtzu
Oh dear, I was hoping Puddy was just doing a little better. It was SO sweet that she came up in bed and tried to comfort you - and now this. I am so sorry! :(
It seems you'll have to put her in your bathroom if you want any sleep - and I do hope you will!
Sending lots of positive thoughts to you and Puddy.
Big (((hugs)))
I'm sorry. Do you think it's behavioral or do you think she's confused?
I think that I may have just figured it out and I'm heartsick over it. I took a shower just a while ago and while I was in the shower, she was sitting on the toilet, instead of on the sink countertop, and she was crying. I got out of the shower and said "What's wrong, Puddy?" and she kept crying, then hopped back up onto the sink countertop and into the sink and peed. Sigh. Ok, she's done that before and I did have the bathroom door closed, so she couldn't get to her litterbox, so it's easily forgiven. So I proceeded to blowdry my hair, put on my moisturizer, etc. and she began to cry again, went into the sink and started scratching the sink. I thought "OMG, she's going to have a bowel movement!" So I quickly moved her to the litterbox and she did indeed go. So. I think her senility has taken over; she thinks the sink is her litterbox and if she has the urgency to go, she wants to be near it. She has her lucid moments but by far, she's more out of it than ever. Senility is one thing but if it's going to keep her from enjoying life forever and keep her emotionally chained to the bathroom sink countertop, then I'm afraid that I'd be doing her a disservice if I allow it to continue. I'm just heartsick about this. I fear that I've lost my little Puddy.Quote:
Originally Posted by jazzcat
Mary, the stories you have told reminded me of my dog Disney who had Canine Cognitive Dysfunction (dog alzheimer's) and that is why I asked if she might be confused. When it came to going to the potty Disney became very confused and since I worked with her about going in the appropriate place she eventually associated me with going and would sometime drop and go at the sight of me. It broke my heart.Quote:
Originally Posted by Medusa
I'm so sorry that Puddy is suffering the same horrible thing. (((HUGS)))
Awww, Mary...:(
Just wondering if she acted weird immediately after each dose of Epogen...
It's sweet but painful how she cried to you as if for help. "Mommy knows!"
Would a covered litterbox in the bathroom help at all? (or uncovered if that doesn't gross you out).
I hope Dr Lee has some insight - even over the phone. I know she is taking lots of meds already - just wondering if Omega 3-6 oil mixed in with her food would help? My boys get about 1/2 tsp each if that, mixed up in their wet food.
I am so sorry this is happening...I do hope there is another answer.
HUGS! :love::love:
ETA - I am at work, but I just HAD to try and look something up. This page is interesting, and I copied this part from it:
http://www.sniksnak.com/cathealth/aging.htmlQuote:
Breathing becomes less efficient at delivering oxygen to the blood, because the lungs become less flexible and the muscles involved in breathing weaken. This may contribute to problems such as tiredness on exercise, and altered behavior associated with senility.
Also, Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome (CDS):
http://www.fabcats.org/owners/elderly/senility.html
Quote:
The cat’s response to this stress is to show more obvious signs of CDS (e.g. anorexia, hiding, and/or upset of toileting habits).
Mary - in the second link, scroll way down for Max's case story. This article is in small print, but it does list treatment options. Just scan for the parts relating for that; it's a lot to read.Quote:
The most commonly seen changes include spatial (space) or temporal (time) disorientation, altered interaction with the family, changes in sleep-wake cycles, house-soiling with inappropriate urination/defecation, changes in activity, and/or inappropriate vocalisation (often displayed as loud crying at night)
If nothing else, print out both links and fax 'em over to Doc Lee. Also - and I am not making this up - both pages referred to the Omega 3 - 6 stuff.
There IS a drug too, but that's not what poor Puddy needs!
Just trying to picture her with a wee kitty nebulizer for her doses of oxygen! :-)
My bathroom is so small that, w/the little stairs that I put in there so that she can reach the sink, there's no room for a litter box. I'd have no way to get around in there. I'm going to leave a message for Dr. Lee to call me tomorrow morning. It's after the Epogen shots that she seems worse.Quote:
Originally Posted by Catty1
I found this online; she has nearly every symptom.
http://www.fabcats.org/owners/elderly/senility.html
Thoughts and prayers for Puddy and her Mom
I just realized that Candace and I posted the same link. I'm so stressed that I don't even know what I'm doing any more.
Oh Mary, I am so sorry. Our thoughts and prayers to you and your dear sweet Puddy. I hope that you can get some rest tonight, and that Puddy sleeps also. (((hugs))) to both of you. :love:
I'd give up sleep every night forever if I could have my old Puddy back.Quote:
Originally Posted by Donnaj4962
Mary - I did an ETA on my post. Did you look at the second link, with the story of Max waaay down the page?
If nothing else, it may give you hope.:love:
I just got off the phone w/Dr. Lee and he feels that Puddy may benefit from taking Selegilene which is used for Alzheimers patients. He said that it isn't approved for cats but then neither is Ametryptilene and it has been used successfully w/cats for behavior issues, so at this point in time, I feel I should at least give it a try. He also feels that giving her high doses of omega 3 fatty acids would be beneficial. I have some 3V caps that he gave me and I squirted some on her food this morning but she turned her nose up at it so Dr. Lee is going to give me some in a bottle that I can squirt down her throat. He said that it would probably be at least 10 days before I see any noticeable change but what else do I have but time? I've tried everything else. He also said that I can give her Ametryptilene at night to see if I can reverse her nocturnal habits. I don't want to keep her drugged so I'll see about that. He said that if I don't give it to her during the day that she should sleep fine at night and then be more alert during the day.
Please keep up the prayers for my Puddy girl. I've got to get my heart and head congruent before I make the ultimate decision concerning her. I walk a fine line here between wanting to improve her quality of life and simply wanting to keep her alive for my own selfish reasons. I've cried so much these past couple of days that I've given myself a screaming sinus headache and my face looks as though someone punched me. I'm going to keep trying w/Puddy until I run out of options or until I see that she no longer wants to be here.
Fingers and pooch paws crossed here in Delaware. :love:
HUGS!
Too bad you can't squirt in the Omegas with the other squirty stuff.
Max the cat (in the second link I posted) went on the same drug. Just maybe the Omegas might work well well enough that another drug or two could be lowered.
Give this a chance...and see what happens in a couple of weeks. If she does a lot better, then you will feel better about what you are doing.
I know, I wish I could combine the squirts, so to speak, but the aluminum hydroxide gel is milky (it's like Milk of Magnesia) and the other is oily, so it probably wouldn't mix well. Dr. Lee said that he hasn't seen any success w/the omega fatty acids in cats but he's more than willing to accommodate me. He said "Been on the internet again?" and he kinda chuckled. I admitted that I had and I told him about Max that was posted on the site and he said "Well, the internet is good and bad, Mary, but you're doing a great job and I'm willing to try if you are." That's all I needed to hear. I'm definitely going to give it a good try w/the drug, 10 days isn't all that long, and I'm going to wait even longer. As long as she isn't suffering and/or in pain, I'm going to keep on trying.Quote:
Originally Posted by Catty1
Also, I posted in General that I just noticed (duh!) that Dr. Lee has been giving me a hefty discount on the Epogen. It normally costs $48.50 + tax for each syringe but he's been giving it to me for $37.50 tax included. I didn't ask for the discount; he gave it to me on his own. He's quite a guy that Dr. Lee. Too bad he's married; he's quite handsome, too. Doggone it anyhow! LOL :p
Prayers & positive thoughts continuing for Puddy, and you too. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...iles/Hugs2.gif
Mary we will keep the prayers going for you and Puddy. I hope that these medicine will give you back quality time with Puddy.
You have taken such good care of Puddy, the best that is available and I can only imagine how hard this has been on you. I really do think that you will know 'when' it's time. You love her so much and if it were time, you'd know. Just follow your heart. This new treatment sounds promising and maybe it will help her turn a corner. I guess one day at a time is the only way to approach this.Quote:
Originally Posted by Medusa
Prayers going out to you and hoping that you will be kind to yourself and rest in the thought that you are trying so hard to 'listen' to Puddy and it's the best that anyone can do.
Prayers going out to sweet Puddy that she will be able to recover from what is happening and be the girl that you know so well. :love:
I'm feeling more hopeful today. I was a wreck yesterday. Just knowing that I have some hope makes me feel better. I've had to help pets to the Bridge before but I always knew that it was an act of kindness but in Puddy's case, if I did it now, I'd feel like her executioner. It isn't that I'm not ready, it's that I know she's not ready. If I give this drug and the Omega fatty acids a good try and she hasn't improved, then I'll know what I have to do because living her life sitting on the bathroom countertop or underneath my bed while her tongue is sticking out just is not a quality life. But, as I said, I'm hopeful now and hope is all I need to keep me going.
Thank you all so much for your continued prayers and your kindness. It's what's keeping me going, that and my sweet Puddy's little face.
Mary, I know you will do what is best for Puddy. It will be difficult, but the right decision.
Why can't they live forever? I know when that time comes for me to send my Tazmoe to the bridge, I will find comfort here with my PT family. People who know what you are going through and can relate on many levels.
I will be hoping these last efforts will help Puddy feel better soon and keep her with you for many more months (heck, maybe even years!:)).
Thank you so much for that. I've made some pretty good friends here on PT, you included, and I think the world of all of you and value your friendship and encouragement. I just got in from Dr. Lee's; picked up her new meds, so off I go to start the process. That's if I can reach her and drag her out from under my bed. These meds aren't cheap either. (What is nowadays, though.) I've had a talk w/my Fur Posse and told them that they might all need to get jobs but so far, I've not gotten a good reception. Go figure. :rolleyes:Quote:
Originally Posted by Taz_Zoee
Mary:
I have not posted in awhile but please know that I read this thread and pray for you and dear Puddy every day. All fingers and paws crossed here that the new meds work.
slick :love:
Poor girl gagged something fierce and has been choking and vomiting ever since I gave it to her this morning. It smells so foul so I imagine that it tastes the same. I'm not giving it to her any more. The Selegilene is going to have to be enough. I can't stand seeing her go through this. She's been through enough. I feel awful. Sweet girl tried to make it to the litterbox, too, and just couldn't. (When she vomits, she runs to the litterbox.) I don't know how they treat cats w/the Omega fatty acids. I've put it on their food and they won't eat one bite of it and if they can't keep it down either, then what's the point. She's still upstairs vomiting. Great. Now all she needs is to get dehydrated. One step forward, two steps back.
I just now tried to get her to lick a little bit of a fudgesicle. Whenever I have an upset stomach, chocolate ice cream usually helps me and she loves her fudgesicles but she licked it a couple of times and turned away. Poor girl, her face actually had vomit on it, it was in her eyes and everything. I've never known a cat to retch like that. The house reeks of vomit and Omega fatty acids, which smells like sweaty feet and fish. This just really upsets me. This cat is never going to trust me again.