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 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.

[pomtzu]

Fingers and pooch paws crossed here in Delaware.

[Catty1]

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.

[Medusa]

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.

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

[ChrisH]

Prayers & positive thoughts continuing for Puddy, and you too.

[momtomany]

Mary we will keep the prayers going for you and Puddy. I hope that these medicine will give you back quality time with Puddy.

[Emeraldgreen]

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.

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.
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.

[Medusa]

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.

[Taz_Zoee]

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!).

[Medusa]

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.

[slick]

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

[Medusa]

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.