Wednesday, September 03, 2014

What a Week Wednesday

This has been a crazy roller coaster of a week, and it is only Wednesday!  Let me back up a bit for some background info...long post...
 
Smokey went to the vet on August 20th, for his bloodwork and FVRCP.  His bloodwork came back showing that his thyroid was high again, even on meds, and I was to increase the dose to twice a day.  The kidney values came back consistent with where they have been, high normal, but not extreme or overly concerning, given his age.
 
Smokey starts hanging out under a chair or under my bed more and more.  He comes out to eat some, but not a ton.  He still comes to my bed at night and shares the pillow with me.  He asks for a few snacks throughout the night, but not as many as he had been asking for.  I figure, his thyroid is acting up, so it will take a few days for the medicine to regulate the levels. 
 
This pattern continues.  On Labor day weekend, I have to be out of town, but Auntie is there watching over everyone.  I come back home Sunday night, and Smokey is weak and stumbling around when he tries to walk.  I also notice he is dehydrated.  Auntie says he has not been eating well at all.  So we jump into action...100ml sub q fluids, appetite stimulant, and nausea pill given.  He eats a bit but is very wobbly, and it is difficult for him to walk.
 
Monday rolls around and I give another 100ml's of fluid, another appetite pill, and decide to give some pain meds in case that is the cause of the stumbling.  The weakness continues and seems to grow worse over the course of the day.  He looks stoned!  He still makes it to the bathroom to pee, and still tries to eat when food is placed in front of him, so am just not sure what to do.  Take him to the emergency vet or not?
 
I knew his regular vet would be in the office on Tuesday, so he went there as soon as I got Tanner dropped at the vet school for his appointment.  She ran a bunch of blood work, and tests on the urine I had captured, and basically it came back that he was in complete renal failure!  It has been less than two weeks since our last blood work.  In addition, he is anemic and his bilirubin levels were high.  The ultrasound techs were there so they did an ultrasound to see if there was a blockage of some kind in the liver...there is not.  His bile duct is inflammed some though.
 
She kept Smokey yesterday at the vet and ran fluids all day through an IV.  He was also given some pain meds and antibiotics.  He is back there today to receive more fluids and meds.  He is still a bit on the wobbly side, but is trying to eat a bit better.  He still makes it to the litter box to do his business.  He still purrs when petted.  He still has fight in his eyes.  So I continue to give him a chance.
 
At the house, I have set him up in the kitten room, so I can close the door and confine him a bit.  This way, his litterbox, food, water and bed are all very close together.  The kittens can't bother him either, so he can have some peace and quiet and focus on healing.  I hope to see some improvements on his blood values today.  My goals to determine quality will be 1) the weakness improving or going away completely so he can walk around better, 2) Personality to return to a point where I see the old Goose again, 3) Eating well on his own without having to be forced or overly encouraged, and 4) Much less hiding under the chair, but being out and about like a regular family member again.
 
Purrs would be appreciated for my special boy.


46 comments:

  1. Yes, how scary. We purring for him too. Hope he gets better.

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  2. I am purring LOTS for Smokey! If he is still willing to fight, that is good - when Sparkle faded, and went into renal failure, she was done, and it was really clear. Hang in there, big guy!

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  3. We're sending loud purrs to Smokey, for his Highest Good.

    Hugs.

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  4. We are all sending you our very best purrs and prayers Smokey. Hugs to you sweet Tanner.

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  5. smokey...dood....ya noe.. we noe thiz dood named frank...St Francis iz his reel name like on hiz drivin license; but any time ya needs sum purrayers or hiz blessings...heez rite on it...sew we asked him, N heez sendin plentee yur way ♥♥

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  6. Suzanne, we are keeping you close in prayer, and purrs from the kitties. Hoping for the best for sweet Smokey.
    Fondly, Ann

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  7. Lots of purrs and prayers your way!!
    Hugs from your TX furiend,
    Samantha

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  8. We are sending BIG purrs to Smokey.
    Hugs for you.
    Purrs Georgia and Julie,
    Treasure and JJ

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  9. Smokey and mommy, we are REALLY REALLY praying for your baby.

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  10. We're so sorry to hear this. We know that managing both CRF and Hyper-T can be challenging. The thing about hyper-T is that it can mask the kidney issues. Once you get the hyper-T under control, the CRF shows and sometimes is worse because it's been masked by the hyper-T. How is his potassium levels? The weakness and stumbling may be caused by low potassium. We're purring like crazy that the meds and fluids will help Smokey. The fact that he still has the fight in his eyes is good.

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  11. Buckets full of prayers and purrs coming your way for both Smokey and Tanner. XO, Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth and Calista Jo

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  12. What a dreadful time you are all having, and it is only Wednesday. Still they call Wednesday the hump day so we pray you are all over the hump and Smokey is headed for all his bloods getting back to normal.

    Our prayers and purrs are sent with love.
    RedSetter

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  13. We've got our paws crossed for your sweet Smokey. Now since we are doggies and don't know much about kitties, what we do know is the poor thing doesn't feel good. We know that it's a stressful time, so please take some deep breaths. Sending you BIG Doxie hugs.

    Hugs,
    Lily Belle & Muffin

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  14. Sending purrs and prayers for your sweet kitty.
    Sue B
    Charlie,Cashew,Garfield,Tubby,Hope

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  15. We have all our paws crossed for you and Smokey. Hugs, Purrs and Headbutts!

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  16. We are so very sorry to hear that Smokey is unwell healing purrs for him, we hope he feels better soon.

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  17. Sending comforting purrs and prayers.

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  18. I will add Smokey to my prayer list. I hope he feels better soon.

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  19. Sending our purrs your way for Smokey and hoping he has a return to better health soon very scary time for you all..Fozziemum and gang xx

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  20. Sending strong healing purrs to Smokey - our paws are crossed for a speedy return to better health.
    Purrs ... Rainbow

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  21. That is so scary. Please know we are purring and praying for Smokey!

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  22. Many purrs and purrayers for Smokey!

    Hugs, Us and Maw

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  23. Sending lots of purrs and pawsitive thoughts for Smokey.

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  24. We are so sorry to hear Smokey is so unwell and we are sending purrs and purrayers for him.
    Luv Hannah and Lucy xx xx

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  25. We are sending toons of healing purrs for Smokey!

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  26. I am sorry to hear this and send lots of purrs and prayers for Smokey.

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  27. Purring & purraying for your precious boy!

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  28. We send tons of healing purrs for Smokey ! Purrs

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  29. We just popped by because we heard Smokey is sick. We want to some mega positive purrs and healing thoughts xxx

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  30. We saw Ann's note about Smokey and wanted to stop by to say we hope he's on the mend...sounds like a scary time for him and you and we hope that whatever is off with him becomes right. He's trying....it sounds like he's wanting to get back to his old self.

    Hugs of support, Sammy

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  31. We want so much for all to be well with Smokey! Sending lots of love and purrs to both of you. xx

    Mom Julie, Tinker, Anastasia, Bridget and Chopin

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  32. We are so sorry about Smokey being so sick. We sure send many many purrs and we all have our paws crossed in hopes that he will get better soon.
    Smokey, you have one terrific Mom who takes such good care of you.

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  33. Sending lots and lots of healing purrs to Smokey!

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  34. The best of luck to Smokey. I hope he recovers enough to have a long and content life with those who love him. Please keep us apprised.

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  35. Many meds for other things will harm the kidneys - thyroid meds will too. I had a cat with high normal thyroid and CRF and we just treated the CRF, not the thyroid. She lived many years with her conditions and died at age 20 of unrelated issues. Perhaps not using the thyroid meds - we used Thyroid herbal support from Petwellbeing.com Feel free to contact me - I just know from experience that vets like doctors over medicate and cause harm that way. Purring big time for Smokey.

    Cats of wildcat woods

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  36. We are all kicking the purr motors on high for Smokey. We agree with the idea that sometimes too many meds can bring a negative result. (Dad sees this with humans all the time in his work) You just have to weigh things out.
    Purrs and Prayers to you Smokey and support for Mom.
    Timmy Dad and Family

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  37. We are so sorry about Smokey being so sick. Mom sends hugs and all of us kitties send our best purrs. I send the power of my mighty tiger paw.

    Horus

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  38. We are so very sorry to hear Smokey is not feeling well. We send our strongest purrs.

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  39. Darling sweet Smokey! We send you all the hugs and healing purrs and love in the universe. Please please be ok! Take care
    x

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  40. Oh my, what can I say except that I hope he improves. When I had my old cat, I'd say that I needed to get home to water him .. meaning the fluid bag. I so know how that goes. He was diabetic and on his last few months.

    Thinking of you and hoping for some good news,

    Purrs and Hugs,

    JC and The Purr and Fur Gang

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  41. I just read the update and can only say that I am so sorry Smokey is leaving you, but at least it will be at his home and surrounded by love. I send you my condolences and please give Smokey a little nose tap from me. Hugs.

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  42. All of us send the biggest and loudest purrs we can for Smokey.

    Mindy
    Moe
    Cookie
    Mike

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  43. Our hearts are breaking for all of you in your loss of Smokey. So hard to take ... Grace and boys don't understand this yet, but I do ... and I'm sending you prayers for comfort.

    Marilynn
    Grace & Company

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