Nakita's Health Update - **The saga continues...update..post #146**

[Bengalz]

Kass,

How upsetting this must be for you and for poor little Nakita. The thought of doing a scratch test together with the dental procedure is good. I don't have a great deal of knowledge in this area but will certainly keep all fingers and toes crossed that some constructive light can be shed. At least when you know what you're dealing with, a proactive approach can be managed to help put Nakita on the right diet and/or medication.

Please give that little girl a great big hug for me - she is such a doll

Take care, Betty

[fragrancehound]

I'm glad to hear that Nakita is doing a little better.

[Russian Blue]

Honestly, I try to always remain positive and live day for day. But the last year has been so hard. It feels like I take one step forward but end up two steps back.

Nakita went in for her dental cleaning today. I thought it was going to be a simple cleaning. Wrong! I find out that she needs two extractions! Not one but TWO! I feel so bad that she's been in pain and I didn't even know. We take her in every year for her physical but the previous vets never noticed anything and said her teeth were in good shape.

We're also trying to figure out why she has hyperesthesia symptoms. She basically runs across the room, as if shocked, and then grooms her back leg like crazy. At no point did we think her teeth were involved - it didn't even seem to be a consideration. I did mention to a previous vet that she does occasionally run away from her food bowl, with these hyperesthesia symptoms, but we really thought she had a pinched nerve (or similar). Every time she goes to eat and gets in that low to the ground position, she would run away, thus thinking it was a spinal/nerve issue. She never showed any other dental symptoms, no excess grooming of the mouth, dropping food, drooling etc.

Today, they found a broken tooth with a nerve exposed and another tooth that was totally decayed. My poor, poor girl. We've been trying to fix everything, yet totally missing the pain source. I'm so sorry. And I'm so irritated that after seeing 4 vets over the last 16 months....only the recent vet suggested a dental (because of slight gingivitis)!!

And then trying to introduce Nakita to Phoenix back in September and all the emotion and let down that happened. Again, on the vets advice he suggested introducing a companion since he thought Nakita's hyperesthesia was from boredom. I just feel so sad I put Nakita through all this.

Hopefully, with these 2 extractions, Nakita will be eating more as well since she was down to 1/8 cup at one point. I thought it was not liking the Prescription food and upset stomach/allergies but it was probably from the pain that previous vets didn't diagnose.

Also, I've continued on the 1/4 pill of Prednisone every 2 days and it seems to be working out! She threw up on Monday/Tuesday but I think she ate too fast that time.

I'm hoping the New Year will bring better health & contentment for all of us!

[jenluckenbach]

Try not to blame yourself, you certainly have TRIED to figure out Nakita's problem. Since she had only a little tartar, a dental would not been totally obvious. and Considering the quick look most vets take inside a cat's mouth, a broken tooth might be very easy to miss. So don't feel badly by thinking you failed her by not getting the dental sooner.

Hopefully, even though it took this long to make the decision to have this dental, her biggest problems will now be resolved.




EDIT HOLY COW! I had some REALLY bad spelling in my post above. I edited and hopefully made it much clearer.

[Russian Blue]

As I posted above, Nakita had her dental cleaning today. To our surprise, she had to have 2 teeth extracted. We just brought her home and she's still a little out of it but hopefully will be better tomorrow.

When they did the pre-op blood work it didn't come back looking good. The vet doesn't want to assume anything (more like doesn't want to scare us) so we have to bring her back on Friday - for a check-up and another blood test.

I'm beyond sad right now. I knew when Nakita started feeling sick awhile ago, there wouldn't be an easy answer. The smallest creatures are usually harder hit and now my world will fall apart if her next blood test doesn't come back with normal values.

Can you please say a prayer and send some good vibes our way?I'll update when I see the vet.

[catmandu]

We Are Praying That That Dental Cleaning Will Now Help Nakita On The Road To Recovery.
I Remember John Was So Ill, And After His Dental He Was A New Cat.
Have You Tried Royal Canin Kitten.
Its Usually On Special And Has Worked Wonders For The Found Cats In The Past.
We Are All Praying For Nakita.

[Edwina's Secretary]

Thinking of you beautiful Nakita.....

[heidiv]

I am so sorry to hear all of that is going on with you little sweet pea..... I just love everything about you and to hear that you are not well......Makes me so sad

You need to come around sweetheart..... Your meowmie needs you and so do all of us.

So did they give you any indication of what came back bad??? Is she low in iron is she fighting an infection??? I hope so bad its something that could be treated........ I will pray for your sweet little girl I just adore hearing stories about her and the pictures are amazing..... Keep us updated on her progress I am very concerned... Lets hope you are all blessed with good news for the holiday season.. My prayers will be with you

[slick]

Kass, you are a very good meowmie....please don't be hard on yourself. Cats are experts at hiding pain and you've been doing everything you can to find the cause. Now that the dental is done and she gets more food into her system, hopefully she will feel better.

I know Max was sick a few years ago and to my surprise he needed 4 teeth pulled, including two front ones.

Lots of prayers coming out to your sweet green-eyed girl and plenty of {{{hugs}} for you and Rob to go along with them.

xo

[Bengalz]

Please don't be so hard on yourself Kass - you have gone beyond what is normal to help Nakita. Your latest updates are heart wrenching and there will be many prayers for your dear little girl from every side of this forum, including all of mine for you, Rob and little Nakita.

Hugs,
Betty

[RedHedd]

Mitzi shares Nakita's pain. She had to have three teeth extracted at her dental last week. She's taking her sweet time bouncing back, although she's thoroughly enjoying the all wet-food diet.

I do hope that whatever is going on with Nakita is easy to treat. Hopefully the dental work will help. I had no idea Mitzi's teeth were that bad either - they are experts at hiding discomfort.

I know you'll keep us posted. Prayers going out your way for a speedy recovery.

[Catty1]

Sweetie - with all the pain and possibly infection in her teeth, for quite some time, it could be as simple as the dental problem that caused everything. And it is NOT your fault!

Sometimes vets DON'T always check, and they should. I know there was a pet in our family - my parents or mine, I forget - and we were STUNNED that some teeth needed to be extracted! This pet had had regular checkups - and the vets never said anything...so how were to know? And how were you?

I suspect that's why they want Nakita to come back for more bloodwork - in case the dental situation skewed the results from the pre-op.

I believe that with healed teeth, Nakita will be a new cat!

PRAYERS and HUGS!!!!!

[fragrancehound]

I've been thinking about you and Nakita. Don't blame yourself. You can only do so much and it really sounds like you have done that and 100% over. I hope your little fur baby feels better. My prayers for you and Nakita.

[shais_mom]

I will definitely be keeping you and Nakita in my thoughts and prayers!

[krazyaboutkatz]

Kass, I'm so sorry to hear that Nakita needed to have 2 teeth extracted but please don't blame yourself. My Storm had to have 1 tooth extracted last year and the vet had only told me that he had some tartar and some gingivitis but that his teeth looked very good. They sometimes can't tell until the cat is put under anesthesia. I sure hope that these extractions will now solve Nakita's problems. I also hope that her next blood test will come back normal. Lots of prayers and positive thoughts are being sent her way. Please take care. (((HUGS)))