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

[jazzcat]

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.

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.

I'm so sorry that Puddy is suffering the same horrible thing. (((HUGS)))

[Catty1]

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!

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:

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.

http://www.sniksnak.com/cathealth/aging.html

Also, Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome (CDS):

http://www.fabcats.org/owners/elderly/senility.html

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).

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)

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.

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! :-)

[Medusa]

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 found this online; she has nearly every symptom.

http://www.fabcats.org/owners/elderly/senility.html


I am so sorry this is happening...I do hope there is another answer.

HUGS!

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.

I found this online; she has nearly every symptom.

http://www.fabcats.org/owners/elderly/senility.html

[cassiesmom]

Thoughts and prayers for Puddy and her Mom

[Medusa]

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.

[Donnaj4962]

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.

[Medusa]

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.

I'd give up sleep every night forever if I could have my old Puddy back.

[Catty1]

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.

[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.