My beautiful Cleo, 3 monthly checkup

[TopCat3]

Well, it's taking courage to post today. Cleo has been losing weight and although eating better now, has been a bit picky over the hot Christmas holidays and went off her special diet. She has also been doing some very large pees in the litterbox.

Today she had her check. Blood pressure good, 140-150, taking Norvask to keep it so. Still await T4 result but it was good last time. The bloods for kidney function were what was worrying me, and I was right to be concerned. Urea and Creatinine are much elevated since Oct. Oct Urea 14.1 now 19. Oct Creatinine 255 now 380 ("moderately high" they said) Phosphate and potassium in normal range, though potassium at the low end. Urine not concentrated at all. Dehydration has increased. February is a hot and humid month in Sydney, everyone feels it and dehydrates, this could be challenging for her. We discussed the possibility of subcutaneous fluids a couple or three times a week. She's resting now, she ate well tonight. She had trouble peeing earlier since the sample was taken so I'm watching that.

We all know it's hard to predict these things, but I asked the big question, I have a lot on my plate right now, and I'd rather be clear where we stand. She isn't sick, so it's not a question of weeks, more like months, Dr Catt said. I'm going to try chicken broth, mashed pumpkin in water and butter, and some creamed corn, as she suggested, to "dilute" the protein of her regular food, since she will only pick at the special diet. I feel that has contributed to her weight loss so I am on a mission to get her weight back up and plump her up with fluids.

I'm on a mission to keep her with me as long as possible so long as she is feeling well and comfortable.

I can feel a big cry in my head but it won't come. My head feels like it's bursting and what with all this other "stuff" I have going on, "stuff" at work and legal wrangles at this unit block (condo I think you call it in U.S.) I wonder how much more I can take.

Sorry for the blurt.

[furrykidsmother]

I hope that you and Cleo will have many, many months ahead and I sure hope that things will improve for you.

[kb2yjx]

TopCat, we are here for you and Cleo. Many prayers are heading out to you!!

[Barbara]

Ok, so Cleo should eat? What kidney food does she have?
Filou did not want to touch the Hill's k/d but he loves his Royal Canin Renal. It exists wet in pouches AND dry - and Filou and Tigris (who is not ill) love these kibbles so much I can use them for treats as well. So I certainly would try all the diet foods I could find.

You may also use rice to dilute the protein in normal food.

I think if she is really feeling bad then more subQs would be the way to go. Look at Puddy or others- sometimes a week with 3 subQ sessions will make sure she does better and then you may go back to weekly.

The best website for sure is
http://www.felinecrf.com/

You can see there also that the levels do not say everything about how a cat feels or how it all will develop.

Filou sends headbumpies to Cleo and says he wants to stay longer with his humans too and she shouldn't give up.

{{{{{Hugs}}}}}

[krazyaboutkatz]

Lots of prayers and positive thoughts are being sent your way. I hope that you and Cleo will be able to have many many more happy days ahead of you.

[TopCat3]

Thank you everyone.
Cleo ate very well tonight,she seems to like the sweetness of mashed pumpkin and creamed sweetcorn,diluting the protein.I got a gourmet tin of various fish/chicken flakes for her to try with it which she liked and came back for seconds. I was cooking brown rice for myself so I did some for her, I'll mash it down in chicken broth when I get some chicken to make it with on Monday. she hasn't shown great partiality to rice so we'll see how she goes. I am going to talk to the homoeopathic vet clinic which is more local than the specialist cat hospital, about some fluids.
I'll post again next week and let you know how it all goes.

[Barbara]

Good to hear Cleo eats. Filou is definitely not fond of anything I could use to dilute the protein so I'm very glad he loves his Royal Canin.

[jenluckenbach]

Prayers and good wishes for Cleo.

[TopCat3]

Prayers and good wishes for Cleo.

Thanks, Jen.
Cleo ate well again this morning.

Barbara, have you tried custard? My vet said custard, mashed pumpkin, creamed sweetcorn. What about wholemeal pasta? Does not have to be wheat, there are corn and rice pastas available (I have to have them myself) It has a nice chewy consistency. Just a thought.

[kb2yjx]

TopCat, many prayers are heading your way for you and Cleo!

[lisalee]

Sending my thoughts and prayers to you and Cleo, I hope she continues to feel better.

[TopCat3]

Thank you everyone for your continued kind thoughts. I get the T4 result tomorrow and I'll also be talking to the vet closer to home about fluid therapy. Cleo ate well today, took her evening tablets well, morning one was a bit of a fight, but she knows I am getting ready to go to work so she acts up, drools a lot when I try to pill her and I end up with this slimy little bit of tablet and we keep trying to get it in the right place on the tongue to produce the swallow reflex and she keeps flicking it back out, slimier and slimier each time. She has that look in her eye that says - I'll teach you to shove vile pills down me and go out for the day and leave me.

[jenluckenbach]

Actually, TopCat, I try very hard NOT to allow the pills to touch the tongue. They take it much better if they don't taste it.

JenLuckenbach's time honored approach to pilling a cat:
-sit on floor, knees up, feet flat on floor (makes a nice cradle for cat)
-lay cat UP-SIDE-DOWN on lap
-place your hand on top of cat's head. use thumb and index finger to open mouth. or scruff and tilt cat's head way back (depends on difficulty of cat) bringing the cats head way back makes them open by themselves.
-toss or place pill as far back in throat (above tongue) as possible.

why does this work so well??
1-your body and legs form a "V". This equals control
2-your pill hand/arm can lay across cat's belly allowing even more control
3-it is a reflex of the cat to open the mouth when the head is titled back (ever wonder why the vet hardly ever has problems looking inside a cat's mouth??? watch them next time. Hand is on head and top of head is lifted up and back)
4-if the pill passes the tongue they have no chance of flicking it out of the mouth.

with a little practice, both you and the cat will become experts.

[TopCat3]

Actually, TopCat, I try very hard NOT to allow the pills to touch the tongue. They take it much better if they don't taste it.

JenLuckenbach's time honored approach to pilling a cat:
-sit on floor, knees up, feet flat on floor (makes a nice cradle for cat)
-lay cat UP-SIDE-DOWN on lap
-place your hand on top of cat's head. use thumb and index finger to open mouth. or scruff and tilt cat's head way back (depends on difficulty of cat) bringing the cats head way back makes them open by themselves.
-toss or place pill as far back in throat (above tongue) as possible.

why does this work so well??
1-your body and legs form a "V". This equals control
2-your pill hand/arm can lay across cat's belly allowing even more control
3-it is a reflex of the cat to open the mouth when the head is titled back (ever wonder why the vet hardly ever has problems looking inside a cat's mouth??? watch them next time. Hand is on head and top of head is lifted up and back)
4-if the pill passes the tongue they have no chance of flicking it out of the mouth.

with a little practice, both you and the cat will become experts.

Well thanks for all that. I have been pilling her twice daily for some four months now, (well, all her life off and on) using the seated position at bench height as recommended by the vet and most books, without too many dramas. Just occasionally she rebels, like yesterday. She actually behaves quite spitefully if I try to lay her on her back, for tummy tickles etc, though I will certainly give this one a try at some stage, as it does sound as though if you can get the cat into that position, there is more control. I find it much better to put a cat up high where there is less chance of escape, especially when it's older and needs lifting up and down. I find if I can get the pill straight onto the back of the tongue (past the taste sensors ) where it will produce the swallow reflex, that is the best. Just sometimes she does the funfair-clown act, (moving her head from side to side open-mouthed to catch the pingpong ball) so I just wait a while till she settles down and we discuss why it's necessary and how it will make us both feel better if she can take the pill quickly. She stares into my eyes wisely and agrees and we usually come to an amicable arrangement involving pre and post-pill cuddles and singing and a tiny treat, so it's our special time together.
She's eating well enjoying the corn and pumpkin. She's booked in for some subcutaneous fluids Friday afternoon. Her T4 level was good, and she seems content and comfortable. Let's hope this continues for as long as possible.

[jenluckenbach]

Well thanks for all that. .....

I apologize for the unsolicited advice. People do whatever works for them (as it should be).