Update on Puddy; she's gone*9/29* see post #421

[Medusa]

I just got off the phone w/Dr. Lee and he feels that she more than likely has yet another bladder infection. He said "When it stings to urinate, a cat will go right where s/he is even if the litterbox is right there". So he's starting her on another round of Clindamycin and he said that I could back her off the subQ's to every other day if my instincts are telling me to do so. He's concerned, though, that fewer subQ's may set her back because when he last saw her, she was lying in a ball, so I have to observe her and, if she regresses, to immediately give her a subQ. I told him how she paced all night and he said "The very fact that she has the energy to pace is a good sign. She's been checked for diabetes, thyroid and everything else we can think of and she has none of these, so she's probably become nocturnal. She's a mixed up kitty." So I'll start her on the Clindamycin today and see if it stops the inappropriate peeing.

I feel bad that I lost it yesterday. None of this is Puddy's fault. I'm sleep deprived; I know that's half of it. The other half is seeing my girl act like someone else's cat. I miss my TV partner. No more sleeping on my chest while I give her a noggin noogie.

[greendoor678]

Hopefully the UTI meds will help. Though, it does seem like patching up one problem leads to another problem. I wonder if she were an outdoor cat how she would react? (Of course, I don't mean putting her outdoors). But growing up in the country, whenever I had a cat with medical problems he/she would wander off into the woods and we would never see them again.
We would always say that they went away to die because they were generally always very close to the house, then they would just go away, like they were walking towards the light.
Devastating to think about PTS your Puddy. I just wonder if patching up each problem is really enhancing her quality of life? I do hope the UTI meds and adding a day between sub-q will help.

[Medusa]

Hopefully the UTI meds will help. Though, it does seem like patching up one problem leads to another problem. I wonder if she were an outdoor cat how she would react? (Of course, I don't mean putting her outdoors). But growing up in the country, whenever I had a cat with medical problems he/she would wander off into the woods and we would never see them again.
We would always say that they went away to die because they were generally always very close to the house, then they would just go away, like they were walking towards the light.
Devastating to think about PTS your Puddy. I just wonder if patching up each problem is really enhancing her quality of life? I do hope the UTI meds and adding a day between sub-q will help.

Well, seeing that Puddy has only one kidney and that one isn't working too well, it's understandable that she would get continuous UTI's. I don't see it as a patch job so much as continuing to treat her remaining failing kidney but I can see why you would think that because I felt that way, too, in the beginning. When Puddy was curled up in a ball, I thought it was nearing the end. But she's got energy now so I think Dr. Lee is right; it's the bladder infection that's acting up and causing her to pee everywhere. I feel neither better nor worse about this. I'm kinda in limbo now.

[Catty1]

The Epogen does seem to be helping her! I'll mention the alternative med in case it becomes useful. darbepoetin (Aranesp ®)

Lara, I don't think Epogen makes the kidneys better...but maybe the one remaining kidney doesn't work as hard because the anemia is being healed? That could be.

Hopefully the Clindamycin works - Puddy wouldn't be the first kitty to have a recurrence of a UTI! When something "normal" happens during crisis illness, it easily becomes part of the crisis.

HUGS and prayers to you and Puddy.