Sophie aka Princess Sophie

So Sophie back for second B12 injection, Amanda has no explanation for the sudden increase and as sudden back to normal wrt water consumption.

Took urine no signs of UTI, kidney function still normal, no glucose in urine so ???

Started vaccinations now she is no longer pot bellied and has put on weight and has settled into her new home.

Back next two Saturdays for more B12 jabs and then see Amanda for second vacc.

Millie's ad

July 2008

Millie – is a very small black female who was a stray. She’s no longer in the prime of life and being treated for hyperthyroidism but otherwise in good health. The only treatment she needs is two tablets a day which she takes very readily wrapped up in a piece of ham! A lively little cat who will be rehomed under our Golden Oldie scheme which means help will be available for future veterinary costs. All she needs is a comfy lap and the chance to enjoy strolling around a garden again

RIP Millie Cat

Sleep well sweetheart, you'll be much missed.

Millie - 14th Jan -

14th Jan
07:00: Squidgy pooh seemed a bit quiet but had pill as normal
19:00: Refused pills I was not as home, so un pilled

15th Jan
07:00: Refused pill so booked into vet. at 11:40

11:40 Temp 39.7C, given SQ fluid, injected with antibiotic, pilled

19:00: Looking brighter starting to eat a little, pilled manually.

16th Jan

07:00: Pilled manually, feisty cat returning.

14:30 Temp 39C, given 7 days Clavaseptin AB pills and Mirtazapine (appetite stimulant) given syringe to give fluids orally. Suspect I may well die pilling her and giving her fluids

19:00: Pilled manually.

Tuesday 17th Jan

07:00: Took pills (Felimazole and Clavaseptin)in 'normal' way that is rolled up in piece of ham; was then actively looking to be fed :-) has eaten full portion of minced lamb.

12:00: More minced lamb

19:00: Pilled with ham looking for supper

21:00 Vomitted

22:00 Seen drinking

Wednesday 18th Jan

07:00 Very flat pilled manually; refused food

08:00 Drinking

09:30 Vet possible pancreatitis, colitis or tumour

Murphy Musings

Am hoping writing it down will get it off my mind and give me some peace.

It is a sunny Saturday in June, Murphy is sunbathing on the patio table we're about to go out so I want to get him in, so go to pick him up. Oliver come running out barking at nothing :@), Murphy has a bit of a struggle, I hold him a bit tighter and then he goes limp.

Rush him down to vets and he is OK, I insist they take blood, they say he is OK I insist so vet complies and we go back home.

Sunday get call they have messed up bloods so go back, Monday get told he has low PCV back in more blood PCV dropping. I insist they hospitalise him.

Long and short of it is we lose him, they have no donor cats and don't hold artificial blood doesn't arrive in time so we lose him.

Vet who is lovely is in tears when I go to collect his body.

It was after this I changed vets and found out where A had gone to, I know A would have taken me seriously on the Saturday, they have donors (Rafferty being one!) and could have got artificial blood faster.

We may have still lost Murphy who knows but my problem is what I now know about the old practice (from ex vet who is not A) suggests that the quality of care the vets are able to give is why their turnover of vets is so high.

Sky high charge for a drip for aged patients (ten times what I paid at new canine practice), vets being limited to drugs they can prescribe.

I don't think the above came into play with regard to Murphy but I'll never know at least now with A and the other vets at my feline practice my cats are in good hands.

I can't help but regret not trying to find where A had gone earlier but at the time I thought I'd get good quality care even if she had left.

Hindsight is always 20/20 sleep well Murphy cat you were much loved.

Rafferty

So Sunday get a call from vets they have a cat in that has been attacked by a dog and needs a transfusion, so Rafferty puts his Supercat underpants on and goes and does the right thing.

Moppet belongs to the lovely Kate, went over Monday AM to collect Rafferty, got a lovely bunch of flowers, Applaws and a toy for Rafferty and the good news that Moppet was going home that night.

Out of options - Millie

Just off phone with my lovely vet A; so her calcium continues to be high we have increased the steroid and will retest in a couple of weeks.

Can't find anyone who has actually done op before in a cat so must have misheard about referral previously.

So A is of opinion we manage condition and just take it day by day.

As a vet and surgeon she'd like to open her up as she doesn't want to admit defeat to there being no options available to us, but as a cat owner, vet and surgeon knows it wouldn't be in Millie's best interest as potential to do more harm is too great.

Weird thing is I actually feel relieved referral operation not possible as I did feel it would be too stressful for her to be away and in 'hospital' for two weeks post op to stabilise blood calcium levels, but didn't like idea of not doing it.

Decision made for me.

Duck :-(

Millie's calcium levels are up now 3.3 at their highest they were 3.6, previously had got down to 2.4 which was high end of normal.

T4 is ok at 20.

So up the Gabapentin to 1/5 capsule twice daily if no effect by Sunday dose, then increase the prednisolone to alternate 1 tablet / 1/2 tablet PM until Friday 18th then ring Amanda and update.

Crap, rock and hard place.

Amanda concerned increasing pred increases risk of diabetes but we need to control the calcium so will cross diabetes *if* *if* she gets it. She may not get diabetes but I do know she needs to feel better than she does.

Alopecia

Took Millie to Oxford Cat Clinic for Amanda to do thyroid and hypercalcemia check up and look at her bald tummy.

One cross Millie Moo didn't mind tummy being looked at but got totally narked at being palpated. So she doesn't seem to have any pain anywhere but she could be concealing it from us, or is she narky because she hurts?

Doing a pain trial and have put her on on opiate pain killer to see if any difference and two days in no difference observed still as narky as ever.