Vet Visit Frustration
Hello everyone, Today I took Smokey in for what I thought was to be a check-up visit with bloodwork. He just finished up with his Doxy treatment 2 - 3 days ago for the Hemobart. He had blood work done about 1 week ago that was clear of any hemobart parasites but he was still on the Doxy during that bloodwork. First of all I didn't get the vet I request for the appointment (that I asked specifically for when I scheduled). And second of all they did nothing with Smokey but look at him. They said it was too soon to do any more blood work spent less than five minutes with him. I mentioned that he had been off the Doxy for 2 -3 days and that it might have given the Hemobart Parasite a chance to sneak back in but they didn't think it was possibleyet. The only thing they did do was give him a shot that I brought with me (thought it might have been easier for them to give it to him since he was already there). If it wasn't for the shot, that I brought myself they didn't know I was bringing, they didn't do anything with him. I could have given him the shot at home myself. But I did find out he gained about 1/2 pound. So it was a wasted trip both for the stress that Smokey had to go through the $$$ involved for a pointless visit. Needless to say I'm not happy I don't appreciate Smokey being treated like a 2nd class citizen just because he is FeLV+. I need another vet for Smokey. We live in the Clarion County, Pennsylvania area. My frustration with this area is that there are only about four vets in this area, and most are livestock vets who also see domestic pets, no specialists. Pittsburgh is about 1:15 to 1:30 hours away. State College Erie are both about 2:30 hours away. I really don't want to travel more than an hour or so with Smokey since he hates it. Can anyone give me any vet recommendations that I may be able to contact? Both Smokey I thank you. ~Dee
Cannot Diagnose Breathing Issue with Smokey
Hi everyone. Sorry I haven't been checking any of our messages lately. We are perplexed by Smokey's breathing issues. We have had him to the vet 3-4 times in the past month trying to figure out what is going on. We did another chest x-ray. There is no fluid around his lungs but his lungs still look like fluffy cotton, maybe even a little worse at his last visit on 09/05/06. Our vet sent blood work out to a lab to get several tests ran. The results came back today. His RBC is at 5.92 so he has slight anemia. His hematocrit is at 37%. But everything else was negative. No infection, no bacteria, no fungal infection, everything came out clean. It was even negative for the hemobart parasite. I plan on finishing the Doxy regiment until at least the 21st though. I am just worried sick over his breathing. Periodically he also has coughing fits. I just don't know what to think. The vet said the next step would be an ultrasound, especially of his heart. I started him on Lysine last week. I think he has gotten wise to it as he has stopped eating as much of his canned food that I put it in. At least I am hoping that is the case it is not because he doesn't want to eat now. He still LOVES his chicken I feed him in the morning evening. We have a running tally of about $1,200 to $1,300 so far and I am running out of resourse to fund this. Any input, suggestions, or encouragement would be greatly appreciated at this point. Thanks to everyone...you are a wonderful group of people. All of your furbabies are in good hands. ~Dee
Re: I'm glad you're sitting down - Spencer
Nina, Yahoo!! I am so glad Spencer made it back home safe sound. Good luck to both of you for whatever may be down the road. Both of you are in our thoughtssending good kitty vibes to Spencer. ~Dee
Smokey's Vet Visit Today LONG
Hi Everyone! Smokey went to the vet today to get bloodwork done to revisit my concerns over his breathing. I'm not so concerned about the rate of breathing, but the effort it sometimes takes him to inhale exhale. It's almost like a forceful expansion. About 9 days ago his Red Blood Count was 30, just at the edge of high for anemia. Today it was at 38, an +8 jump! And he gained another pound. He now weighs 8.4 pounds. Hoorah!!! However, we just don't know what to think of his breathing. The vet still thinks it may still be pneumonia his system is just too weak to shake it or she thinks it may be lung worm now. She said it is hard to find lung worm in testing. The options that the vet gave us ( none I'm too thrilled about) are to do another series of chest x-rays a trans trachial wash, both under sedation, to get a better feel for what is going on. Or Give him a diluted shot of ivermectin, usually for larger animals like horses cows for the lung worm. Or start him on another regiment of Clavamox Liquid 2 x day (or a pill antibiotic if we could get him to eat the pill pockets-but he won't even try them) in addition to the Doxy he is already taking. Or a combination of all these ideas. I am suppose to give her an answer tomorrow. We just don't know what to do. I HATE putting him on another medication and taking him in there again because it gets him sooo worked up. The poor dear panted pooped all over himself before we even go to the vet's office they had to give him a bath when we got there, _not_ good. They wanted him to come in every two weeks for bloodwork but we negotiated to once a month. I just wish someone could just come to our house draw the blood here. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to approach the treatment for his breathing? What is anyone's opinion on Clavamox taking it at the same time as Doxy? Would you put your furbabies through that additional testing or only if more problems arise? I know, a lot of questions. But I just want to do what is best for Smoke. Any input would be greatly appreciated, again. Thanks. ~Dee
Smokey is Coughing
Smokey started his Doxy regiment last Wednesday for his Hemobart. I started him on his Interferon this morning (Sunday). The vet suggested I ease him into each regiment one at a time so if he has any symptoms we may be able to pinpoint which regiment caused the problems. I am hoping to start him on the Lysine this week. However, I am still worried about his breathing. At times he seems to have labored breathing and at other times it seems to be better...but still not great. However, I have noticed on at least three different times within the past week that he has had a coughing fit that takes him a while to cease. It seems to be a true cough, not a hairball cough. He has no discharge from his nose or eyes. Does anyone know what is a cat's normal respiratory rate? The vet wanted him to come in any way in about 5 to 7 days from when he started the Doxy to do some blood work (this Tuesday). But I don't know if it would be better for him to wait due to the stress of the travel to the vet or if it would be better to take him in right away due to his coughing breathing. I know any stress can make the virus do more damage. Does anyone have any advice to lend me? Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. ~Dee
Re: Smokey is Coughing
Michelle, Yes, he had X-Rays done of his lungs about one week ago. The only thing the vet told me is that it looked like fluffy cotton, which indicated slight pnuemonia. ~Dee
Another Update on Smokey
We got a called from our vet today on the results of Smokey's lab work that was sent away since their equipment could not read his blood. His red blood cell count is at 30, 29 is at the edge of low for anemia, so he just missed that. But she had more bad news about the little guy. He has the parasite Hemobartonella Telis (Hemobartinella). The vet said he will have to be on antibiotic (Doxycycline) for at least three more weeks to battle this parasite. Does anyone else have any experience dealing with this? The feline leukemia home page says it is a contagious disease, 1/3 of cats die from it, the ones who don't will have it for life. Once again I'm freaking out! We are to consult with the vet tomorrow on a game plan for Smokey. Wendy, you had said something about putting him on probiotics. What is probiotics? Can you give me a name brand, dosage, etc I can ask our vet about when we consult with her tomorrow? I want to put him on at least the Interferone Lysine but I don't know if this will be too much with the long regiment of antibiotics he will be taking. How much should I worry about my other cats? Everyone is on Frontline Plus. Just when you think the little guy is going to turn the corner something like this happens Any information or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Smokey Update Condolences
First of all, I just wanted to take a moment to send my condolences to everyone that have lost their cherished little ones. They leave their little tiny paw prints in every heart that they touch while here on this Earth. So sorry to hear of each every one of your losses. I just wish I could do more for Smokey. When cats have this disease they can be so fragile unpredictable. They could live for only a few days or yearsthey can tank in a matter of hours. You never know what the future holds. Soon I am hoping to update our website to include pictures of the little guy. If I can get this task completed I'll add a link later for anyone who wants to visit our website. _Update_: We took him back to the vet on Tuesday, 08/15/06 for a recheck. The vet guesses he is between 2 to 3 years old. He is still too weak to vacinate for rabies,etc. or get neutured. He weighed only 4 1/2 pounds when we took him into the vet on 08/01/06. As of his last vet visit on Tuesday 08/15/06 he now weighs 7 1/2 pounds. He has gained three pounds in the 14+ days we've taken care of him! He no longer has a fever his diarrhea has let up (except when he is taking his antibiotics). I am no longer Sub-Qing him his 2nd dose of wormer was given to him this morning, 08/17/06. We were concerned about his fast breathing. The vet said she was worried about fluid around the lungs or in his chest. So we had blood work done x-rays taken. The blood work had to be sent away because our local vet's machines can't read his blood properly. The vet said this can happen due to the feline leukemia. The only reading they got on his blood is that one of his liver function levels is very high, 245. I'm not sure which one but I think the high end of normal was 111. The vet diagnosed him with a slight pnuemonia due to the lungs having a fluffy cotton look to them, not clear. He is now only on one, new antibiotic, beef flavored Baytril, due to the slight pnuemonia. The vet is suppose to get back to me with his blood work results and starting him on a regiment of Interferone L-Lysine. He is a little trooper. Has anyone else ever used this Baytril how did you get it into your little one? I am having a heck of a time getting it into him. I'm usually a pro at giving cats pills but not this time. I tried mixing it in his food (canned cat food tuna).that only worked once. I tried the old fashioned route of just popping it in his mouth. He acts like he is choking, screams, spits it out. My last resort the way I am getting it into him right now is: crushing the pill, putting it in a syringe, adding liquid, squirting it into his mouth. This causes him to froth at the mouth horribly, works him up, he runs around the room drooling everywhere. He gets so mad at me.I don't want him to feel upset every time he sees me now. I just don't know any other way to get it into him. Any ideas? I actually have to go into the vet get more pills because I've wasted three of them. Do any of you have any suggestions on an immunity boosting regiment I can start him on in addition to or instead of the Interferone L-Lysine, slowly at first? This is new territory for me so I really can't tell if he is doing good for his circumstances or if I should be preparing for the worst. Please send all your good vibes to Smokey right now. He needs all he can get. Thanks a bunch! ~Dee
Re: popeye is sick
Tonya, I am so sorry to hear that your Popeye is sick. My thoughts prayers are with you both. God's speed to your vet to swiftly help Popeye hopefully back to a recovery. Bless you both. Good vibes are being sent your way. : ) ~Dee
Smokey
I am the guardian from Western Pennsylvania with 10+ cats (oldest ages 17-female 13-male), with a newly diagnosed FeLV+ stray, now named Smokey. I want to thank everyone for your comments of support. I am very grateful. I am still on my quest to find a new home or foster parent for him (if we can get him stabilized) . My support where I live is very poor limited. Both vets I have talked to have given the 1st option of euthanasia because I will just be throwing money down the tubes to treat him as put by one of the vets. I even had to make the suggestion of Pet-Tenic for him (6 days after the vet visit) after reading the Feline Leukemia website. I am freaking out about exposure to my other 10 cats since the vets keep telling me he is highly contageous! The boosters on my other 10 cats are due here in August so I have a vet coming out on Wednesday, 08/09/06 to administer the boosters. I don't even wear the same clothes around my other cats (I place them in a plastic bag to use again, high enough for my other cats not to reach). I use Lysol spray, Clorox wipes, Germ-X hand sanitzier, etc. I even go to the extreme of taking a shower after visiting Smokey. Sometimes I have to hold the tears back at work break down cry when I finally get home. I am panic stricken over this whole situation not sure what the right thing to do is. Smokey has a right to a chance for life ~ I cannot chose to euthanize him just becuase he is sick, it is not his fault. Although I do understand there will probably be a time where there is nothing more I can do. I have limited finances, I am not a Rockefellar, but I am not ready to give up yet. Help! Can anyone give me some more words of wisdom experience? Thank you. *_Smokey's Situation_:* We have only known Smokey for less than 4 weeks. I do not know how old he is. As far as I can tell he is not neutured. He is too weak to even vacinate for rabies,etc. He is only 4 1/2 pounds. He has diarrhea (although it is somewhat better but not anywhere close to where his stool should be). He seems to be running a slight fever. His appetite is very good. I wish he would drink more water so I am going to make him homemade chicken broth. I Sub-Q 1/2 to 1 unit of IV every other day, every day if he lets me. He is wormed ~ I will need to worm him again in 8 days. He is on three antibiotics (two oral liquids one for his ears). He had a bacterial ear infection. He is a very loving, warm soul. I have him isolated in a bedroom from the other 10 cats. I have a laundry basket in front of the door a towel w/a 2x4 piece of wood at the bottom so there is no contact with the other cats. We live in an old farm house. So I cannot install a window air conditioner because the electrical outlets are only two-prong, ungrounded. There is a fan in his room. ~Dee
