7/21 Love for Tucker Updates: Posts 120;139;156;159;182;202;217;218; 219;222

Our boy has never been "sick" before. Today he vomited breakfast and then got sick again (grass and water), then at 5pm and again at 9pm (water). This cat eats EVERYTHING, and as often as possible. This is the first time in his life he has refused food. Our super vet is away... He has had nothing to eat or drink in about 24 hours. His BG was around 300 so we gave him a half dose (.75). He's at +9 now and down to 200. It's 3am here and I can't sleep. Any ideas???

 

If you have some chicken breast in the freezer, you could thaw some in the microwave and then poach it in some water, he might lap up the broth when cooled. Hope you have some ketostix to test urine if you can and he is peeing. Has he ever had pancreatitis?

 

Do you think it could be a hairball?

 

Feel better Tucker, I’m thinking about yah

 

Oh gosh, not our Tucker! I don't know enough to advise, but I'm so bummed your vet who rides her bike in her PJs is away! Do you have any sort of 24 hour emergency vet if things get worse? Sending major vines!

 

I think Chris and China, and Sienne and Gaby are both online; maybe you can tag them for help! Poor little Tucker!

 

I'll do it for you...
@Chris & China (GA) @Sienne and Gabby (GA)
Are you able to help Patty and Tucker?

 

Since you say he ate grass, it probably upset his tummy. Hope it settled down quickly.

 

Update : at 4 am his BG had dropped to 200 and I was able to give him 4 tsps of a little bit of Dine sauce, but he wasn't interested in the food. Around 5:30 I woke up next to him (still holding the spoon). He usually purrs (loudly) when he eats and when we baby -talk him. He gave me a loud purr when he ate a Tbsp of chicken pate. His BG had jumped up to 369 in the last couple of hours!

 

Patty - I messaged you. I would take Tucker to the Cat Emergency Room/Vet.

This could be a simple grass eating incident or something worse.

You said he vomited grass. What if he ate something poisonous outside - rat poison, poisoned rat, or something similar. What if something bit him - poisonous spider, similar.

Theresa and I have a big regret. We lost Scoobs (non-diabetic) in July 2016. Apparently fine the day before. Then 10-12 vomits over 12 hours until bloody vomit. He died from necrotized intestines. Could have been cancer, could have been poison. Instead of the emergency room we had him at the regular vet for 2 overnights, then the surgery. In retrospect I would have treated the whole deal as an emergency and paid the emergency clinic for rapid care. We will never know if emergency services could have resolved the issue.

There is the low possibility of side effects from the very low BG incident - just 4 nights ago. I think these issues would have manifested by now. However, if some cells or portion of an organ were damaged from lack of glucose, this should be considered by the vet.

 

FYI - per private message - Patty is going to try and get Tucker in the carrier and take him to the clinic.

 

Sending vines for Tucker to be all well very soon!

 

Sending prayers.

 

Sending your choice of vines, prayers and support -- all 3! Team Tucker is with you in spirit!

 

Prayers your way! Hope Tucker is feeling better soon & it is a grass issue. You guys need a break!!!

 

Oh my.. so sorry to hear Tucker is sick - I sure hope they figure it out quickly and are able to resolve... just what he needs, another big night or day? And his poor mama Keep us posted please!

 

Waiting for Tucker's update !!

 

Current
U.S. CST time = Sunday 7:04pm
Adelaide time = Monday 9:34am (yes a weird 1/2 hour timezone difference from Melbourne).

 

Sending vines! Hope Tucker feels better soon!

 

He's being admitted fur x-rays to make sure there isn't an obstruction... Pancrestitis testing

 

Praying for Tucker! Hope he's back to his purring self soon!

 

Thanks for the update Patty. Consider testing for poisons if the other tests are not fruitful.

 

Sending vines for you and Tucker.

 

Sending tons of vines and waiting to hear an update.

 

Poor little mite. Hope you get to the bottom of what's going on. Sending lots of scritches to poor little Tucker. Hope he feels better quickly. to you too.

 

Feel better soon Tucker!!

 

No obstruction or perforations in esophagus or stomach. Small feces block in colon - they are sedating and doing an enema and iv fluid to maintain electrolytes. Could explain painful belly area.
Blood tests back from Qld on Thursday re pancrestitis. Our super vet was not able to meet us today - she got back to town and was told of a family emergency so she's flown to New Zealand and won't be back for at least a week...don't love the replacement...

 

That is a relief to hear Patty. Let's hope this is just due to constipation. That could indeed explain the painful belly.
Hugs to you and Tucker.

 

He's finished up but they rang and said he is not rebounding well. They think that was not the issue, waiting for more news.

 

Thanks for the update Patty. Perhaps they could check for common toxins or poisons. And there is the rare possibility of repercussions from the low BG event.

Bedtime here.

 

They've done at tox screen and it didn't catch anything. Bedtime...I vaguely remember bedtime...
Night!

 

Ok, good to hear it. See you tomorrow. I'm sure you are toast.

 

Oh gosh, so sorry to hear he's not rebounding well. And so frustrating to have a vet you don't love during this stressful time. I really hope they figure out what's going on soon and you can get your boy back home. Sending an unlimited supply of vines.

 

I picked him up. His eyes are bright but he is confused. They have him his on a drip and 2 rounds of sedation and pain killers. They said he had not done a wee all day, not even street the iv. They said the enema would kick in - nothing happened. Since he's been home he drank from his water dish and has a couple of tsp of wet food. He is in a fuzzy blanket, it's midnight here. I was laying on the floor next to him but my husband made me go to bed... I'm worried sick

 

Big hugs to you. Hope he feels better. Being home will no doubt help him feel more at ease.

 

Oh Patty, I hope Tucker gets back to normal soon I agree with Dierdre, being home will make a difference for Tucker

 

Thank you for the update. The hearts of Team Tucker are with you! Hope he feels better very soon.

 

So sorry this is happening! Hope Tucker feels better soon!

 

Please keep us posted.

 

Oh I am so sorry to hear your kitty is sick. May prayers and purrs to you. Last week when my kitty was in the hospital I couldn’t eat or sleep.

 

Sending more prayers.

 

Sending along my best wishes to you and your guy.

 

Thinking of you and Tucker, sending vines.

 

Hugs to you and Tucker.

I wonder if he might do better at the clinic. They could keep him on a drip. The onset of these issues seems quick. Did they rule out potential side effects from the hypo?

 

Oh, my, it's been a time for you lately. I hope he will pass the poo soon! And I hope they talked to you about putting him on something to keep him moving . Keep us posted!

 

thinking of you with love, nikki

 

Bug hugs and prayers to you and Tucker.
Macka had intestinal obstruction once, and it took the vet 5 days of enemas to have a movement. Please be strong

 

Update on Tucker
I am posting for Patty as she has a really bad migraine and is struggling at the moment.
I have been talking to her on the phone as it is easier for her than trying to text at the moment as her vision is bad with the migraine.
My internet is also very unreliable at the moment.

Tucker has done a large wee overnight and Patty tested it and NO ketones, so that is a relief.
His BG was 8 (144) at 5am....not sure what +it was as the insulin was given late last night when they got home but probably around +8 but I'm guessing.. He hadn't eaten at that point or pooped.
Patty contacted me at 9am to say she felt terrible with the migraine and she was home alone as the family had appointments at work they couldn't miss. I wish I lived closer. She was struggling to even talk.
Tucker finally started to eat some food....not a lot but at least he was interested. Wellness gravies which is 19 carb ( I looked it up) but I said as long as he will eat, don't worry about the carbs.
Still no poop. He's drinking water.
Patty testing the BG as she wanted to give the am dose. She said it was 9 (162) if she put in "had eaten" but 6 (108) if it was "not after a meal". That threw me as I have never come across that type of meter before. I was really concerned about what dose to suggest as Patty is in no state to be monitoring the BGLevel. Last night when he left the vet he was in the 20s (over 360) and the 1 unit brought him down to 108. Also Patty was struggling to talk and concentrate so we settled on 0.25 units. I know it is probably too little but with Tucker not eating much, Patty not able to monitor properly and what number to believe in the monitor, I just want to keep Tucker safe.
I will phone her later and let you know how things are.

 

Thank you so much for the update. So glad you were able to help them. I feel so bad for both Patty and Tucker. Sending all sorts of vines.

 

Thank you for the update, Bron. And for your above and beyond help in keeping both Tucker and Patty safe.

 

Thanks for the update Bron.

Healing vines heading south for both Patty and Tucker.

 

Thanks, Bron! So glad Tucker is doing a little bit better. I hope he and his momma are much better very soon.

 

So glad she can count on you for help you are awesome Bron. I'm so sorry she is feeling so bad, migraines are no joke. I'm not surprised that she's feeling bad, poor thing has been through so much with little Tucker the last few days and worry is not great for migraine sufferers. Please when you talk to her send our best and hope that both she and Tucker feel better soon. Let her know we all send healing vines and are thinking of them both. Thanks for the update.

 

Thank you Bron for the detailed update. I hope Patty's migraine goes away soon - migraines can be so debilitating.

Healing vines for Tucker.

 

I just spoke to Patty. Poor girl can hardly talk her head is so bad.
Her husband is on the way home to help her now. Tucker is hiding under the bed and she can't get him out. She hasn't been able to test since giving the insulin and he's not eaten much more since AMPS.
Some of the blood results have come back...no infection, liver lipids are slightly elevated, kidneys perfect, liver ok just not in perfect range. Pancreatitis test not in yet.
Kurt is getting liquid paraffin from the vet on the way home and collecting more Fancy feast flavours.
I sent on all your vines and hugs. I didn't talk long as she was struggling with getting the words out.

 

Thanks, Bron. Migraines are horrible beasts to live with. Very quiet vines for Patty.

 

Sending more prayers.

 

Sending prayers

 

I hope Patty and Tucker both feel better soon. What a sin. Vines vines, positive vibes

 

Have just been speaking to Patty. Her migraine has downgraded to a headache now, and she does sound better although very tired.
Tucker has still not done a poop. She had a call into the vet now re the poop.
Eating small amounts and no vomiting.
The BG level is running a bit higher but some of the food he is willing to eat is higher carb so.......
When I first spoke to Patty, Tucker had not peed for nearly 30 hours. I suggested she took him outside to see if he would go out there.....no. Then she tried two other litter boxes and finally after putting him back into the LB a few times he sat and peed for 2 minutes and filled the bottom of the tray! Patty said it was very pungent but there were NO ketones.

 

Good news on both of them. Now Tucker just needs to do a poo. Sending poo vines.

 

Go Tucker! Just a little poop!

 

More vines for Patty & Tucker

 

Poopie vines for Tucker!!!

 

Thanks Bron. I wish there was a definitive root cause. Perhaps the constipation is causing much of this. The lack of urination for 30 hours is pretty bad.

Healing vines for poor Tucker and Patty.

 

Yes! I was quite alarmed. We just concentrated on that problem until we got a result.
Hopefully the next vet phone call will tell us more.

 

I'm a wreck but thank you for your good thoughts. I'm not in a position to read them yet, but Bron has told me you are all out there. I'm going to share this with you and then I'm going to try to pull Tucker from out of a hiding spot. I have called the vet surgery (his normal super-vet will not be back for 2 weeks at least, and is out of the country so is not able to read my text message to her asking for help). Tucker saw 2 different vets on Monday - and the info I was given by conflicted. I finally got him at 6:30 and was told he had been given a full blood panel and a day of iv fluids and an enema....and assured that during the night he would poo and pee. As Bron has told you, he did do a wee but that is all. The surgery never did the check up call yesterday morning as promised, but I rang them 3 times to say still no poo and he is disoriented. They finally had vet #2 ring
me and she said she was doing up a script of paraffin for us to use at home. Kurt picked it up as I had such a bad migraine I could not form words properly, much less go to the vet. The bottle says: "Give 1mL by mouth daily".
It did not work. I started Googling "Cat constipation" and found a huge article online written by the head vet and owner of the practice that treats Tucker!!!
It was a long article but I seriously lost my mind when I read this:

"Paraffin is extremely dangerous if given on its own, as cats can't swallow it easily. This leads to aspiration pneumonia and death (I have seen this happen). Therefore, if using liquid paraffin, it needs to be mixed well into a wet food. Even then, risks are no eliminated."

Then he goes on to list his preferred options. WE WERE GIVEN DIRECTIONS TO SHOOT THIS STUFF INTO TUCKER'S MOUTH BY HIS ASSOCIATE VET AND THEN READ THIS?!?!?!

I am beyond crazy, sleep deprived with worry and FURIOUS........and on my way to see the owner of the surgery with Tucker. There are no words to describe how betrayed I feel for my boy. The owner and head vet has a lot to answer to but I am mostly concerned with getting Tucker what he needs to live. He is looking bad, and very confused.

 

WTF!? Patty, this is BANANAS!! I really hope that Tucker is ok, I can’t believe how irresponsible vet 2 is.

Best wishes for you and Tucker, Patty, I hope you both feel well soon

 

Oh dear. I'm so sorry to hear about Tucker. This sounds incredibly stressful and I hope Tucker, you and DH start to see some positive results FAST! Vines for you three

 

Healing vines for you Patty. That is just horrible. Theresa and I are both pulling for Tucker. I hope you can get his issue resolved.

 

I’ve just spoken to Patty. She is at the vet and they got the result back for the fPL. The vet said it is the worse result he has seen and she should consider putting him to sleep. He has refused to treat him.
I said she needs to find a vet who believes he can save Tucker.
Long story short they are taking Tucker to a 24 hour vet.
Patty was so upset it was hard to understand everything but I told her that pancreatitis is treatable and I told her how it is normally treated and not to give up.
If he has managed three days with no treatment and he’s eating a bit than he has a chance.
I’m so furious with that dreadful vet. A complete defeatist. Didn’t even want to try and save him.
I just hope this new vet is good.
We are all so upset here.

 

Hi Bron, I was just up testing Leo and saw this! This is so unbelievably horrible! The vet refused to try to help Tucker? What kind of vet does that? I can't even imagine being in Patty's shoes right now, she must be terrified. At least you're there. Please keep us updated.

 

How can you refuse to treat???? Thank you Bron for giving us an update. I can’t imagine how Patty must be feeling. My blood is boiling just thinking about the vet suggesting that AND refusing care.

 

I just spoke to Patty on the phone and they are at the Specialist Animal Hospital now. They have taken Tucker to access him.
I have given Patty a list of the things that are done for pancreatitis and she is going to check them off against what they will hopefully do. Surely they will know what to do. My vet was very good with pancreatitis.
Her DH is with her which is good. He is going to request a repeat of the fPl test.
She said she will ring me when she has any news and I'll update.
@JeffJ I don't know if she mentioned the recent hypo but I'll text her and tell her to tell them...thanks. I think the other vets knew.

 

Sending more prayers.

 

More encouraging news about Tucker.
The new vet at the specialist hospital said that she didn't think the fPL test needed to go interstate (I can't believe they don't do it is Adelaide either.) anyway they did a repeat test to see if he had improved. The other vet had not sent over Tuckers results for the new vet.....honestly!
Text from Patty said "the plan is IV tonight with pain meds but trying to get him stable with eating, BG, bowels etc so that he can go to outpatients support and then confident home time 100%. She says it is a sterile infection and antibiotics are not their preferred method. She thinks it was brought on by a chicken wing that had got lodged in his colon"

This vet sounds like she knows what she is doing and sounds a lot more positive than that other vet.

 

I'm glad the vet is willing to treat Tucker. Sending more prayers.

 

Thinking of Tucker, Patty and her family with love and hope. With love, Nikki

 

OMG! Thank you so much for the updates. Really hoping things turn around for Tucker and Patty. Sending prayers and vines.

 

Prayers for you both.

 

This situation is enraging. I cannot believe that vet .. It’s like they actually don’t care about their job at all.

Poor Patty and poor Tucker. I am so glad you were there to provide the important information about pancreatitis, Bron.

I am so relieved that Patty sought out another, more engaged and capable vet. I am much more encouraged by her experience there and I hope that Tucker gets stabilized soon.

Sending all of the healing vibes and vetty vines.

I’m thinking of you too Bron, as this must have been a very hard time for you. You are just the best to stick by Patty and Tucker this whole time.

 

Unbelievable, don't vets realise that our furbabies are part of our families. So glad Patty went elsewhere and sounds like they are better. Keeping all of you in my thoughts.

 

That is very encouraging news! Hopefully with the new vet, things will start turning around for poor Tucker and Patty.
Bron, you're an angel, this can't be easy for you either. Thank you!

 

Bron, thank you for keeping us updated, sending all the prayers and vines I can for Tucker and family

 

Thanks for the continued updates Bron. Tucker is a special boy and I am hoping he pulls through.

 

Prayers to Tucker & family. Hoping today you get continued encouraging news.

 

I have just heard from Bron about Tucker. Bron had a super long day too (5am-1am). I am encouraged a bit by the update. The update:

They said he was unstable when he arrived and that the vet on Monday should have referred him on to them. They said it was nothing to do with the hypo the other night.

They were concerned he might be shutting down. But Patty rang while she was talking to me and they said his blood pressure was better but he’s not stable yet. But that he’s trying to stabilize. His fPL was over 50 on Monday. Should be under 3. They are doing all they can. They had 2 vets working on him and another talking to Patty in the beginning.​

 

Stabilizing vines for Tucker - all I've got.

 

Thank you for the update Jeff. Hoping...wishing...that they can save Tucker.

 

I really really hope Tucker pulls through! Stabilizing vines are a great idea @Red & Rover (GA) I will send the same

 

It's 2:30am and they called. I'm heading to the hospital alone, he's taken a bad turn and I don't want him to be alone. My heart is so broken.

 

Oh Patty, this is such a sin! We are all rooting for Tucker to pull through this, it will help him to have his mom by his side

ETA Please, please drive safely

 

Patty, we're with you in spirit. Feel the love...

 

Can't believe all this is happening to little Tucker! He has to come back.
Sending love and positive vines !

 

Oh no Please, please, please be alright Tucker - we are all sending strong healing vines around the world to you....

 

Sending tons and tons of vines and healing love

 

Healing vines for you Patty. And for Tucker.

 

No, com'on little Tucker. All the healing vines in the world go out to you.