![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Bad Cat Week
Feb. 10th, 2012 11:50 pmSo we've been noticing that Cobweb -- our chronically-ill kitty these last 2.5 years -- has been getting really skinny. Sharp hips, more noticeable spine, that sort of thing. And, she'd been eating a lot worse. We thus decided to call our beloved vet and talk to her about those anti-nausea drugs we'd discussed early last year. We'd opted out at the time because giving Cobweb pills was so hard, but that's been much less of an issue since we got a pill-shooter (TM).
Our doc was happy to prescribe the drugs, and we talked a bit about how long it had been since she'd seen Cobweb (probably 10 months), so after talking with Kimberly, we decided to take Cobweb in to see her. That was Monday afternoon. After an examination we OKed a Senior Screen blood & urine test, so that we could really see the state-of-the-cat.
We started with the anti-nausea drugs that night, but if anything Cobweb was eating less. Then on Tuesday our Doc called and gave us great news. Apparently, thanks to our hard work with 10 months of subcutaneous fluids, Cobweb's kidney condition hadn't progressed at all. The kidneys were still as healthy (as it were) as they were 10 months ago.
The doc was clearly totally thrilled. I was pretty happy too ... but there was the bad eating.
By Wednesday, it was increasingly clear that the bad eating had become pretty much no eating. We called back the vet to see if they had any tips, and though our doc was out, on Thursday another called back to suggest an antacid (Pepcid AC, cut down in quarters as it happens).
We started her on that this morning, though it didn't make any difference for lunch. So, there we are tonight. A cat that is a year older but about as healthy as she was a year ago. Totally refusing to eat. We've tried each of the antacid and the anti-nausea in turn, with no noticeable results. If nothing by tomorrow, we'll probably try them together (which we got the OK for when I talked with the vet on Thursday).
However, if the cat keeps not eating in the meantime, I really don't know how much time she has left before her little body shuts down.
Overall, the week was a real roller coaster: some worry, followed by a possible solution, followed by general elation, followed by an increasing problem that's looking pretty terrible by now.
I was pretty angry for a while, because it seems so unfair that Cobweb should stop eating when she should be (relatively) well. I'm more resigned now, though I still hold out hope that maybe the antacid and anti-nausea will do something, when they've had more time to work and when put together.
In any case, after a few frustrating days trying to get Cobweb to eat, this evening I mainly hung out with her while I read (or dozed). I did put down the evening food just now, but after she gave it two licks and walked away, I didn't try and force her back to it.
I'd really like her to eat, but if she doesn't, I don't want my last memories of her to be a frustrated battle of stubborness. I'd prefer it to be lying on the bed and reading, as we have for over a decade.
Our doc was happy to prescribe the drugs, and we talked a bit about how long it had been since she'd seen Cobweb (probably 10 months), so after talking with Kimberly, we decided to take Cobweb in to see her. That was Monday afternoon. After an examination we OKed a Senior Screen blood & urine test, so that we could really see the state-of-the-cat.
We started with the anti-nausea drugs that night, but if anything Cobweb was eating less. Then on Tuesday our Doc called and gave us great news. Apparently, thanks to our hard work with 10 months of subcutaneous fluids, Cobweb's kidney condition hadn't progressed at all. The kidneys were still as healthy (as it were) as they were 10 months ago.
The doc was clearly totally thrilled. I was pretty happy too ... but there was the bad eating.
By Wednesday, it was increasingly clear that the bad eating had become pretty much no eating. We called back the vet to see if they had any tips, and though our doc was out, on Thursday another called back to suggest an antacid (Pepcid AC, cut down in quarters as it happens).
We started her on that this morning, though it didn't make any difference for lunch. So, there we are tonight. A cat that is a year older but about as healthy as she was a year ago. Totally refusing to eat. We've tried each of the antacid and the anti-nausea in turn, with no noticeable results. If nothing by tomorrow, we'll probably try them together (which we got the OK for when I talked with the vet on Thursday).
However, if the cat keeps not eating in the meantime, I really don't know how much time she has left before her little body shuts down.
Overall, the week was a real roller coaster: some worry, followed by a possible solution, followed by general elation, followed by an increasing problem that's looking pretty terrible by now.
I was pretty angry for a while, because it seems so unfair that Cobweb should stop eating when she should be (relatively) well. I'm more resigned now, though I still hold out hope that maybe the antacid and anti-nausea will do something, when they've had more time to work and when put together.
In any case, after a few frustrating days trying to get Cobweb to eat, this evening I mainly hung out with her while I read (or dozed). I did put down the evening food just now, but after she gave it two licks and walked away, I didn't try and force her back to it.
I'd really like her to eat, but if she doesn't, I don't want my last memories of her to be a frustrated battle of stubborness. I'd prefer it to be lying on the bed and reading, as we have for over a decade.