Mancat Monday

Oliver and Tanner had a big week last week.  The stress of time away from one another, and the relief of achieving complete remission after so many months of fighting, have taken their toll on the boys!

This weekend was a time for catching up on sleep!  The Mancats are tired!  Tanner is trying to get his strength back and catch up on lost sleep from spending two nights at the vet school.  Oliver seems to be coming down with a cold, lots of sneezing and a crusty nose, so he is more subdued lately too. 

This photo is from Saturday, Tanners first day back home.  He was simply exhausted!  Do you see one of his bruises on his side? (purplish spot near the blanket edge)  This is from the kidney aspirates.  He has a couple other smaller places on his belly from the liver and spleen aspirates. 

Tanner is eating pretty good these days.  He is now on a canned kidney diet, and seems to enjoy it.  He actually needs to put a bit of weight back on, as he is really bony. (yes, I see his pouch)  He currently weighs 13 pounds 7 ounces.  This is down a pound from where he had been maintaining.

He is feeling better though, and playing more each day.  We will go next week and have the renal values checked again.  Then in late February we will have another ultrasound to monitor him.  The oncologists are hoping that we just did a small amount of damage to the kidneys, and this increased value will be his new normal, and we will just hang out here for a long while to come.  We will be closely monitoring the values to watch for rising trends and respond/treat accordingly.  Right now, he only needs special food to help make it easier for the kidneys to process.

Tanner is enjoying some play time as well.  This video doesn't show a lot of movement, but he is getting around better each day...last night he was jumping some for his string!  The potassium levels have come up slightly (at least he is in the correct range now, just the low end), so he is less wobbly.  Enjoy the photo bomb by Oliver!

If it doesn't play above, here is a link to the youtube site...

http://youtu.be/f11RBrkafjg

Tanner Update

UPDATED at 5:30pm to add:

The results of the kidney aspirates are back...NO LYMPHOMA!!!  He has achieved COMPLETE remission!

He is going to spend one more night at the vet school though getting more fluid, as his kidney values did not come down as much as they would have liked.  I hope the increased values are simply side effects from the chemo, and we can get it back under control now that we are getting a break.  I will learn more tomorrow when I pick him up.

Original Post:

Tanner went to the vet school yesterday for a checkup, bloodwork, abdominal ultrasound, and potentially chemo.  They called in the early afternoon and said he was not going to get his chemo, because the kidney values came back slightly higher than they were on Monday.  The doxorubicin is known to be hard on kidneys, so they did not feel comfortable giving it.  

They did the ultrasound, and it remained unchanged from all the previous ones, so that is good news.  They took aspirates of his liver and spleen and the results came back not showing any lymphoma in those organs!

They tried to get aspirates of the kidneys, but Tanner was not cooperating for that, even with a mild sedation. 

Due to the increase in the kidney values, they recommended keeping him over night, giving him fluids to see if the numbers will improve.  He was slightly dehydrated at the visit as well.  So Tanner spent the night in the intermediate care ward getting fluids and being monitored.

They called a few minutes ago, and he did well overnight.  They took him out of his cage several times and tried to play with him, or just let him explore.  It sounds like they tried to make his stay pleasant.  He had a box in his cage, as well as the fleece blanket I had put in his carrier.  He ate well for them, but did fast overnight again, as they are going to more heavily sedate him and try the kidney aspirates again today.

So to summarize...

Renal Values - UP

Potassium - Still low

Red Cell Count - Anemic

Ultrasound - Unchanged

Liver and Spleen - NO Lymphoma

Kidneys - Pending aspirates today

Keeping sending those prayers...they are working!

Tanner Tuesday

Well, Tanner started eating a little better last week after starting him on the nausea pills, so I did not take him to his "reserved emergency" appointment on Thursday.  I should have known better since we were heading into a holiday weekend!  By Saturday, Tanner was not eating well at all.  I could tell he just didn't feel real well, but wasn't sure how to help him.  He also seemed a bit wobbly on his back legs.

Sunday we weighed like normal, and he had lost a significant amount of weight.  I knew I was taking him somewhere on Monday (the holiday) and hoping our regular vet was open, because I knew the vet school clinics were closed.  Thankfully, when I called Monday morning they answered!  They worked us in that morning and we ran blood work.  I thought maybe his renal values would have gone up considerably and that would be the cause of the lack of appetite.  They were not too high actually when the numbers came back...even the vet was a bit surprised.  His potassium levels were very low though...this could explain the weakness and overall icky feeling. 

We started on some potassium supplements, an appetite stimulant and he was given a small amount of  fluids because he was dehydrated.  By the afternoon, he was snacking away pretty well,but still wobbly as you can tell by his back legs.  We had beautiful warm weather, so some time in the sun was good medicine too.

He will be going to the vet school on Thursday for a check up, ultrasound, blood work, biopsies maybe, and potentially his last dose of chemo, if they deem he is able to handle it.  I hope these new symptoms and issues are just side effects from all the chemo, and once we get it out of his system he will bounce back for me.  Right now, we are just supporting him through this and waiting to see what is found on Thursday.

Everyone keep sending purrs...we have another hurdle to cross!

Tanner Tuesday

Yesterday, Tanner and I zipped over to the vet school for a quick blood draw.  He did great, and his blood work showed he was fine to receive his cyclophosphamide. 

There are three capsules in the bottle, and they give me these gloves to wear. Of course, no chemo pills would be complete without some yummy ice cream to wash it all down! The flavor of the week is Butter Pecan. 

Tanner did great as usual and enjoyed a small portion of ice cream.  He did not want to come into the kitchen this week, so I just put a little in a bowl, and let him lick between pills.  He did not eat all of that, by the way.

 

Tanner continues to lose weight, and is actually not acting very hungry these days.  He is eating, but not all the time like normal.  He will actually leave canned food on his plate and just walk away.  I am going to call and see if I should try giving the anti-nausea pills daily for a while to see if he will perk up.  He still asks to play some, and enjoys getting brushed.  His eyes are running some, so I wonder if he is coming down with a cold?  We are adding lysine to his food to help fight that off.

 

Please continue to send healing purrs to my boy...we have come so far!

Wacky Wednesday

Here are two videos showing what Oliver has learned...do any of your cats do this?

 

 

http://youtu.be/CCNkGG-p1ug

 

 

http://youtu.be/G4pDxv9szGs

 

 

Tanner Tuesday

Tanner is at the vet school starting the last round of his current chemo protocol!  Today is vincristine day, which is an iv chemo for him.  He continues to do well, and is eating anything you give him basically.  We have been giving higher calorie cans of food, instead of his calorie control because he is starting to lose weight. 

 

The photo above is him and Oliver.  Tanner is trying to get Oliver to move because Ollie is in the best hole in the couch cushions!  Please tell me I am not the only one with squashed couch cushions!  Oliver finally took the hint and moved to another location. 

 

This is what Tanner wanted to do...

 

 

Pick his toes! 

 

If this video doesn't play, here is a link to youtube

 

http://youtu.be/mfMPzCcV8Ac

 

Happy New Year

Happy New Year to all of our readers!  We are a bit behind on getting this posted and we are combining a few different topics in this one post...Christmas and a Tanner update.

Tanner and Oliver had a wonderful Christmas as far as Santa visiting.  He was very good to the boys, as they have been very good this year!  Oliver is loving his new cardboard scratcher/bed. 

Tanner immediately took over the bed that was bought for Oliver.  I picked up this bed at PetSmart after Halloween.  It is hard to find orange things at Christmas, so I had to get creative :)  Tanner is laying with his green toys he got...a new frog catnip toy, catnip pillow, a bunch of crinkle balls, a new paper style toy, and some yummy shortbread cookies! 

Tanner also loved the new circle scratcher and loved his crinkle balls!  He carried one around every where he went the rest of the day.  The next morning, there were two in the water fountain, and one in the potty! I think the boy had a great time. 

The boys got a couple of new ornaments this year...Oliver had to have an "O" 

Even Smokey got a new ornament...a beautiful purple heart. 

Ollie scored a new orange bird...he loves to chatter at his birds! 

Tanner's ornament is actually a phone charm from Japan.  I thought the orange cat, holding a green flower was perfect! 

Of course a new family ornament for my sweet boys!

Here is a photo of their goodies...Oliver has the orange crab and orange pillow.  He also got some crinkle balls and a couple of other toys.  This new circle is a hit. Tanner also scored another X scratcher.   

Our parents ended up sick for Christmas and were unable to come up...we will celebrate later with them.  Auntie and I took the extra time to touch up the paint on the walls...Oliver has to help.  He ended up with paint on his nose, his tail, his side and his foot.  He had to get a quick wipe down when we were done! 

We took the tree down pretty early this year.  We were unable to plug it in and enjoy the lights because a certain black tornado kept chewing on the cords and plucking the lights off the tree!  We also only put a few ornaments on the tree because a certain cousin climbed the tree every day.  It was a bit sad in the decoration department this year at our house, so we were glad to just take it down!  Due to several severed cords, the tree was a fire hazard, so we just threw it away.  Oliver and Tanner helped us with this process.  They decided, Santa had already visited, so being good was not needed any longer!

All in all, we have had a wonderful holiday, and I have enjoyed my time off with the boys.  2014 has been a year with many highs, such as my wonderful trip to Kenya, and some terrible lows...the death of Smokey and Tanner's cancer diagnosis.  Even with the ups and downs, we remain a family, and I have learned to cherish every moment we are given.  I love the friendships this blog has brought to our family.  My wish for 2015 is for good health, cherished memories, love and friendship to us all!

Tanner's medical update: He spent part of Tuesday at the vet school.  They did a few blood tests and a physical exam to see how his kidney values are looking.  His phosphorous levels were back down to normal.  The BUN and creatinine were still high, but remained about the same as the week before.  They are not sure if this is actually the beginning of chronic kidney disease, or if it is a side effect from the chemo.  For now, we are just monitoring.  I am still adding the water to his canned food, and since I had some kidney diet food left over from Smokey, Tanner is getting some of that mixed in with his regular hard food.  Tan becomes a bit complicated again because of his heart disease, so if the numbers continue to go up, we will need a consult with oncology, cardiology and internal medicine to determine the best treatment course for him.  He continues to act normal, and eat well.  Tonight, we were playing and he was even jumping for his string!  I pray that 2015 will bring around the miracle that he so deserves.  Thank you all for the continued purrs!

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to you all from our family to yours.

Tanner Tuesday

Tanner spent yesterday at the vet school, receiving his third chemo drug in the protocol.  He was given doxorubicin via IV.  He was quite spirited according to the vet, and very chatty!

He had an additional urinalysis done today, because when they checked his renal values, they were elevated.  His phosphorus was also elevated, so they thought he was dehydrated.  The urinalysis showed that the urine was weak, and not overly concentrated like it should be if you are truly dehydrated.  They want to recheck the values next week, and are concerned that he could be starting to show signs of chronic kidney disease.  They do not think these values have anything to do with the cancer, but it could be a side effect of the chemo he received today.  For now, I am to try to push liquids as much as possible, and see if the numbers improve on their own...maybe it is a fluke this week.  So I am adding water to his canned food, and will give his some tuna juice :)

I thought he was going to get a rest week next week, but he will be going back in for bloodwork and to start the next, and hopefully last, of the protocol rounds!

Keep those purrs and positive thoughts coming for Tanner!

Tanner Tuesday

Tanner had a nice day yesterday.  He went for a quick trip to his regular vet for bloodwork and then right back home!  I received a call in the afternoon that his counts were fine to receive his chemo pills at home.  The ice cream trick still worked, one pill, then a small bite of ice cream, then another pill, etc...He wants to walk away after getting his pill, but then the spoonful of ice cream brings him back.  The boy loves sweets and just cannot resist!

Tanner loves popcorn too, especially cheddar popcorn.  I love the Chicago Mix, which contains both cheddar and caramel.  Tanner always comes over to help me with my snack!  He will be your best friend as long as you are holding a plate or bowl of food! 

Tan has also been helping with wrapping the Christmas presents.  Santa has gone a little crazy with stuff for this boy, but some years you just need to be spoiled!  He is such a good sport about most everything. 

 

He has also been asking to play a lot more than in the past few months.  Over the weekend, he asked me to play...I said, 'Show me, what do you want to do?'  He escorted me to the kitten room where the tunnel and most toys are located.  He hasn't done that in a while.  I selected a favorite string toy, and he even ran through the tunnel a few times!  I loved his energy level, and his playfullness!

 

One more stay at the vet school before Christmas and then we will be done for the year.  We are all looking forward to the holiday break and being home together!

Mancats Remember Devon

Today is two years since Devon ran off to the bridge.  He is still missed today, although we see a lot of him in Oliver!

This is a typical Devon photo...I'm cool, and I know it! 

Every now and then, he would let his guard down and do something "cat like"  *gasp*  He did not think he was a cat, and this was so beneath him :)

 

Devon, you were a good baby, and you are missed every day.  You loved to help make the canned food by licking the empty cans.  You loved to lick the butter.  I will say that I have enjoyed not cleaning your 'dancing' in the litter box :)  I wonder how many more ways you would have found to "not" be on the island in the kitchen?  I miss trying to guess why you have puffed your tail out and are running around the house like a mad man!  I miss the ever-so-infrequent times that you would lay beside me on the couch, and put your paw on my leg.  It made it all the more special because it was rare.  I know you are enjoying life at the bridge and I can't wait to see you again one day!

Tanner Tuesday

Today, Tanner is focusing on staying warm!  He spent the day at the vet school yesterday, getting another shaved belly :)  They did the abdonimal ultrasound again, and started the next round of chemo.  The ultrasound showed stable disease.  It was recommended to change the chemo back to every week and see if that will kick start his system to kill off any remaining cancer cells, so that is what we are going to do.  He only has two rounds remaining.

Tanner found the heated bed...he loves it!

 

The vet is also wondering if the thickening of the kidney walls, that has been present since round one, is possibly scar tissue.  She wants to do aspirates next time he has the ultrasound to see if it is scar tissue, or cancer.  It could be that he is in complete remission, but this tissue makes his kidneys look abnormal. 

Tanner has always loved to be covered with warm landry...here he is on the towel for his carrier, and a fresh blanket!

 

Tanner has already beaten the odds for a partial remission cat.  Normal time before relapse, or death, is 3-4 months from original diagnosis.  Tanner is now entering his 5th month since diagnosis, and going strong!

I ordered this belly band for Tanner off Etsy, and while it fits beautifully, and is quite warm (fleece on the inside), it makes Tanner unable to walk and move!  MOL

 

Tanner has beaten the odds several times in his life already.  For those that don't know his story, he ws buried in the litter box by his mother when he was born.  He was found alive, barely, and taken to another nursing mother.  She took him in as one of her own, but he was so small, compared to her actual babies, that after 13 days, it was decided to just pull him off and bottle raise him.  That is when I got him.

 

He also has HCM, and has been taking meds for that disease for 10 years now.  Tanner has beaten the odds here too, and was given a very slow progressing form.

 

Tanner's plan for the next few weeks will be as follows:

 

Dec 15th - regular vet for bloodwork, chemo at home

Dec 22nd - day at the vet school, IV Chemo

Dec 29th - REST WEEK

 

Thanks for checking in on my special boy.  Please keep sending healing purrs to him, they are working!!

 

Mancats Open Secret Santa

Our Secret Santa package arrived on Friday, and instead of waiting until Christmas, we went ahead and opened it!  We were excited to find that our package came from....Frostin's Chronicles - Munchkin, Ashlyn and Cosette!

Tanner and Cousin Georgie check out the box... 

Oliver came over to see as well...what's in here? 

Tanner was very excited to help this year...just look at all those goodies! 

Tanner jumped right in the box...I think he could smell some yummy catnip! 

I'll just take a quick rest here, if you don't mind... 

Orange and Green crinkle balls!  These were a big hit! 

A new jumping string!  We will make good use of this...we love to jump and play! 

Tanner was right...there were TWO wonderfully strong catnip toys in the box!

Oliver posing with the loot...we are some lucky kitties this year! 

Even the mom got a couple of really cute ornaments for the tree!  Thank you Frostin's Chronicles for our wonderful package!

Secret Santa Paws

Last night, we all worked to get our Secret Paws package ready for the post...it will go out one day this week.

Cousin Georgie inspected the box for us and decided it was a fine box!

Tanner made sure I was doing a good job with the wrapping of the presents!   

Oliver wants to know if we are sure this present needs to be sent?  It sounded like a lot of fun, and he kept trying to steal it! 

Are you sure it's all going to fit? 

Still looking for that one prized package :) 

I think it is under here... 

You packed these in too well...I can't get it out anymore! 

My work here is done...everything is in the box!

 

And yes, Oliver has stepped on this softer gift, and put holes in the wrapping.  We hope our friends won't mind :) 

The finished box...Here Comes Santa Paws!

 

Mancat Monday

Mancats are a bit crazy.  When cleaning the bathroom, where some of the litter boxes live, we sit fresh ones on the kitchen floor.  It never fails that someone will need to go, as soon as they are emptied!

This time it was Oliver...he just couldn't wait until they were back in the bathroom.  I guess it is fun to potty in the kitchen! 

He does a good job of covering everything when he is finished, unlike some cats that run out of the box like their tail is on fire when they are done!

 

Where is the most unique place you have pottied?