Tylan Isn't Well

 Hi everyone, it's the Mom today with some news about Tylan.

Tylan hasn't been feeling good for a little while now. He had blood work done at the beginning of April, and when his white blood cell count came back high, our vet decided it would be a good idea to treat him with Orbax in case he had a kidney infection. His kidney numbers were also up a little from the previous month. 

Unfortunately, the Orbax seemed to make Tylan feel worse. He also seemed to have some kind of allergic reaction to it - he got these sores on his neck from where he was scratching himself so much. Tylan has never had skin issues, so the vet and I decided it was like an allergic reaction to the antibiotic. 

In any case, the medication didn't seem to help him.

Mancat Monday

Hi everyone, it's mes, Carmine!

Mes thought mes was done visiting the vet for a whiles since the Mom needed to find us a new Dr. Stabby to see, but no, mes luck wasn't that good.  The Mom went into action and found mes a new vet last week and off mes went to see hers.

Wes has always gone to cat-only clinics, but this new one takes dogs, too.  Thankfully theys has separate waiting spots for the woofies and kitties.  The Mom's friend had to fill out some papers about mes, and then wes went back to the exam room.  

The vet assistant was nice to mes.  Hers even asked the Mom if mes would let hers take my temperature before hers did.  The Mom was very happy about how respectful theys were of mes.  The assistant and Dr. M even did most of my exam while mes was under my towel.  

Unfortunately Dr. M agreed that mes needed to get my ALT (liver enzyme) level checked again since it was high a month ago before my ultrasound and diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis.  

Dr. M was kind.  The Mom seems to like her.  Hers answered all the Mom's questions and was not in a hurry or anything.  The Mom asked hers about how theys might work with Lita, and Dr. M said we should try to give her the Neurontin the fill-in vet at our old clinic prescribed before coming in.  Dr. M immediately said that it is definitely a balancing act with anesthesia.  Hers seems to understand and empathize with the Mom's concerns about that.  So the Mom will take Lita to see Dr. M next month (but don't tell Lita, okay?).  The Mom will take hers in for a wellness exam so theys can prescribe Lita hers Prednisolone since hers has no refills left at the pharmacy.  

The Mom and Dr. M talked about my Pred dose.  Theys agree that 10mg is a lot for a kitty and want to get mes back down to 5mg again.  Theys told the Mom to lower my dose to 7.5mg for nows.  

Dr. M called the Mom on Friday with my blood test results.  My ALT was 71 (last time it was 201) - back in normal range!  It seems that my pancreatitis was affecting my liver.  The Mom is very happy my liver is doing well again.  Hopefully theys won't be poking mes with any more needles for a whiles nows!  

The Mom continues to be concerned about my weight.  Mes lost another ounce.  Mes is 9 pounds and 2 ounces nows.  Dr. M says mes is not *too* skinny, but the Mom doesn't want mes to *get* too skinny.  Hers is trying to keep mes over 9 pounds and would like to see mes gain at least a little weight.  For years and years, mes was 9 pounds and 6 ounces, and while the Mom thought that was a bit skinny, hers was happy with that.  Hers would like to see mes get there again at least.

Lita didn't have any asthma attacks last week!  Mes ams happy about that and so is the Mom.  

Mes hopes yous all has a great week!  

Mancat Monday

Hi everyone, it's mes, Carmine!

The Mom put an update about mes on Facebook, but mes knows not everyone is on Facebook, so mes will tell you what is going on.  

Last week, my blood test results came back.  I will let the Mom explain those because mes doesn't understand them (and neither does hers, MOL).  The fill-in vet (our vet was on vacation again) told the Mom that it is time to get mes an ultrasound.  The Mom says that it won't hurt - hers has had thems before on hers kidneys and wrist - but mes still doesn't like the sound of this.  

Hopefully this ultrasound thingie will tell the humans whatever it is they wants to know because mes is tired of going to the Stabby Place.  

In other news, do you know what mes gotted to nom over the weekend?  WHIPPED CREAM!!!  Mes LOVES whipped cream!  Mes heard a rumor there is still some in the freezer, so maybe the Mom will give mes some more.

Mes will let the Mom explain the test results nows. 

The Mom here: Carmine is right - the fill-in vet said it is time for him to have an ultrasound.

She called me last week with the results of Carmine blood tests, and unfortunately, they weren't all so great.

Carmine's phosphorus level was a little low, but I'm not sure what that means.  His pancreatitis level came back at 3.6 (with the high end of normal being 3.5).  The fill-in vet said that when she sees cats with pancreatitis, their levels are usually 7-10, and his was barely elevated.

The one that is very concerning to everyone is Carmine's ALT level, which came back at 201 (with the high end of normal being 158).  She said vets worry about this level a lot when it is elevated, and that is why he needs the ultrasound.  She said Carmine has liver damage and that it could be caused by inflammation, hepatitis, or a liver tumor.

I will admit, it is very difficult not to let my mind go to the worst case scenario and worry about it.  I've been trying to stay positive and strong for my baby.

Appetite-wise, Carmine hasn't been eating a whole lot.  He did enjoy quite a bit of his Natural Balance Chicken and Green Pea for Thanksgiving, though (the silly mancat didn't want to eat turkey).  I've been keeping detailed notes about his socialization and eating behaviors for the vet to help her with her diagnosis and treatment process.

I want to thank everyone so very, very much again who donated to Carmine's blood tests and/or ultrasound!!!  Without your donations, we wouldn't have been able to get him either of these tests, and who knows how much more damage his liver would have suffered in the meantime.  I am beyond thankful to have so many wonderful friends who care about me and precious Carmine.  We will continue to keep you all updated on his diagnosis.

Please continue sending Carmine your purrs and prayers.  Please pray that whatever he has is manageable or easily treated.  I cannot even begin to imagine a life without my little soul kitty in it.

If you would like to donate to Carmine's care, please go HERE.  Thank you, Dad Terry, from Brian's Home for setting up this fundraiser for us! 

Mancat Monday

Hi everyone, it's mes, Carmine!

Last week, the Mom took mes to see Dr. Stabby AGAIN.  Hers better be thankful mes is such a cooperative and mellow mancat.  

The Mom put mes on the scale.  Hers didn't think mes had gained any weight like theys wanted mes to.  Hers was right.  But the good news is, mes didn't lose any weight, either.  So mes is still at 9 pounds 12 ounces.  

Dr. Stabby came in and talked with us.  There was a lot of talk about this and that - needles and something called an "ultrasound."  Things that sound scary and mes wants no part of, thank you very much.

Since my visit last week, mes has had to have my appetite stimulant twice.  It makes mes one hungry mancat!  Mes will let the Mom tell yous about what Dr. Stabby said.  It's time for this mancat to have a nap.

The Mom here: The vet and I discussed Carmine's condition and decided it's best to go ahead and do blood work on him.  Thank you SO MUCH to everyone who donated to make this possible for Carmine!!  We cannot begin to thank you enough for caring about Carmine.

He will be having his blood work done on Thursday this week.  We tried to move his appointment up, but they didn't have anything sooner.  Unfortunately our vet is going on vacation (again) on Friday and won't be back the following week, either....  There should be some results during the time she's on vacation, so I will try to get hold of those from the vet techs or the fill-in vet (who has never seen Carmine).

We are testing him for Pancreatitis, Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency, kidney disease, and thyroid disease.  I hope these tests will be able to give us some answers.

We also discussed the test they use for IBD, but the vet says it is invasive, and we agreed that we don't want to put Carmine under that much stress.

Carmine has been taking his Budesonide for 2 weeks now.  It doesn't seem to be having an effect either way, but the vet said it can take 2-4 weeks to start working, so we will see.

I will keep you all posted.  Thank you again to everyone who has donated to Carmine's tests and who are purring, praying, sending good thoughts, etc.  We appreciate you so very much!

Mancat Monday and Jewel Update

Hi everyone, Carmine here.

Me knows it's Mancat Monday, but we haven't gotten to tell you how Jewel's last visit to the Stabby Place was, so me wants to give you an update on hers today.

Jewel went to the Stabby Place with mes about two weeks ago.  Hers got an Adequan shot for hers arthritis pain, and they stole hers blood to test hers kidney values.  Theys also took hers blood pressure.

The Mom says Jewel's blood pressure tested "borderline high" so the vet said to keep giving Jewel 1/2 a tablet of Amlodipine twice a day.  

The next day, the Mom gotted the results of Jewel's tests, and hers was very confused!  Jewel's BUN is now 32 (compared to 64 in April) and hers creatinine is now 2.3 (compared to 2.9 in April).  Hers urine specific gravity stayed at 1014.  The Mom didn't think hers BUN and creatinine could go down that much at this stage of the disease.  The Amlodipine must be helping Jewel's kidneys somehows!  

But the Mom says Jewel has been acting strange ever since the vet visit, and hers is worried about hers.  Me will let the Mom explain about that, though.

The Mom here: Ever since we got home from the vet two weeks ago, Jewel has been acting somewhat differently, and it concerns me.  

She has started to lay on the floor to eat her kibbles instead of sitting/squatting to eat them.  She's also defecated outside the box in the living room and bedroom several times.  She has always defecated outside the box occasionally, but she used to make it to the bathroom before.  I've also noticed that there are some nights Jewel doesn't beg for the human dinner, which is very unusual for her.  She used to beg for our food every night and would even get excited about it, sitting by the coffee table meowing for us to give her some before it was even ready.  

I don't know if she's in pain or if the chronic renal failure is finally starting to take its toll on my little baby.  Either way can't get her and Carmine to the vet again until the first of September, so some purrs and prayers for both of them would be appreciated - Carmine just has to go back for a weight check.  You can read his update here.  

Mancat Monday: Carmine Update

Last Tuesday, I heard I was going to the V-E-T, so guess what mes did?!  Mes hid in a very good spot, and the Mom looked and looked and looked and couldn't find me!  So hers had to "reschedule" the V-E-T.  MOL!!

Mes thought me had WON, but mes hadn't. :(  On Thursday, mes thought something fishy was going on again, so mes hid again.  But the Mom's friend, D, founded mes this time.

So into the carrier mes went.  Me was NOT a happy cat.

We got to the V-E-T, and they took apart my hiding spot (my carrier) and picked me up out of it.  The V-E-T made me stand on the cold scale and said mes lost (more) weight.  The Mom looked worried to mes.  Hers said it is not good that mes keeps losing weight.  Mes nows weighs 8 pounds and 13 ounces.

So the Mom and the V-E-T talked and what they decided was HORRIBLE!!!  The V-E-T took mes into another room without my mommy, and hers poked mes with needles.  I was not a happy boy, but mes tried to be brave.

The Mom talked to the V-E-T the next day and got the results of my blood tests and urinalysis.  The V-E-T said my bloods all came back normal, but there is some protein being excreted in my urine.  Me doesn't know what that means, so me will let the Mom take it from here...

Hi kitties, the Mom here.

The vet said that since Carmine stresses out so easily and since there have been recent changes in the home that we should try a calming diffuser with him, so we got one of those and plugged it into the wall to see if that helps him and his weight loss any.

She says the next steps we need to take in investigating what is going on are to do another test for his kidneys since he's excreting protein in his urine.  She said we should also check his blood pressure and get an x-ray to check that none of his major organs look damaged.  She says if those tests are okay, then he will need an ultrasound on his tummy and more expensive blood tests to check for IBD (Irritable Bowel Disease) and pancreatitis.  She said we could do a trial treatment for IBD if we need to before these expensive tests though.  She's very good in working with what green papers humans have available.

So, we're going to schedule another visit for him in the next couple of weeks for his kidney test and blood pressure and go from there.

I really hope nothing is wrong with him and that we can figure this out quickly.  I feel so bad for my baby; it seems like every year or two, he develops another chronic condition on top of what he's already got.  I just love him so so soooo much and hope we can figure this out so he can be a healthy baby.

Jewel Goes to the Vet

Jewel went to the vet yesterday.

They weighed her and she now weight 9 pounds 12.5 ounces.  I'm estimating she was 12-13 pounds before as she used to be heavier than Milita who weighs about 11 pounds 7 ounces.  I can't speak for her dad, but this much weight loss scares me.

The vet asked a lot of questions and took Jewel's temperature, which was normal.  She decided that blood tests were in order to test for glucose (diabetes), kidney values (kidney disease), and thyroid values (thyroid disease).  She also recommended a urinalysis to test kidney values.

Unfortunately, she had a little accident on the way over, so they had to keep her there to try and get urine from her later in the same day.  I hope she isn't too sad without her daddy!!

It will be a relief to find out what is going on with her so we can make her feel better.  I love her!

Here's a picture of her in the vet's office.  She wouldn't look at me.

Depending on when they were able to get her blood and urine (whether it was yesterday or if they had to wait until today), we will know something either later or not until Tuesday.  I will let you all know.