Last night Tucker's pain meds were adjusted to every 8 hours as they had been in hospital. I had been told twice daily when he got here - it was not enough. With the increased dose we are already seeing more "Tucky Type" behaviors. He is "trilling" hello when I enter the room, he's tried to steal some porridge and the remnants of a latte, and got the pantry door opened (where he knocked things off the bottom two shelves). His appetite is back (He ate 5 cans of FF his first 24 hours home with no coaxing.) His BG is slowly coming back down. They took him off the fast acting insulin drip 36 hours ago and started lantus- but had him on a crazy schedule of 2pm and 2am! With the vets help that is being adjusted before his depot is re-filled. His ketone tests continue to be negative.
If Tucker is now on bupe, be aware its dosing is a bit weird. Larger doses last longer vs give extra pain relief. That said, I think when I was using bupe, it was dosed every 8 hours.
I’m glad the adjusted pain meds are working better for him. Being in pain is no fun. AMPS 283 today is an improvement, now that the depot is starting to fill. Having a good appy is such a plus! He’s happy to be home with his mommy
Tucker is so.....Tucker! Love to hear about the trilling "hellos", attempted food thieving (not so much the eating) and especially cleaning up the pantry shelves. Busy boy trying to set everything to rights again. He's such an interesting cat, Patty. Such personality. Hooray for the appetite and all good wishes for his recovery. Patty, you deserve a spa day (or week) when he has made a full recovery.
Such a nice update. Ollie was on bupre every 8 hrs in the beginning, now every 12 hrs. It really makes a difference.
*5* cans of FF??? Yay!!! At least you aren't battling inappetance, that is a real blessing. Does Tucker have thumbs, or just magical door opening skills? That really makes me laugh. So glad you are starting to see normal behaviors in your baby again!
Haaaa!! What a little mischief maker! It really must do your heart good to see him back to his funny little ways
This is such a WONDERFUL update! I'm so happy for Tucker and for you. Do you mean that a larger dose lasts longer and doesn't give more pain relief? Just curious! I didn't know this!
I'm so happy to hear that Tucker is feeling much better and the pain meds are helping him. He sounds like such a character. The update just makes me so happy. He just wanted to be home with his mommy, and you are doing such a great job. Looking at Tucker's picture, give him a big kiss for me on that cute nose of his.
So glad to hear Tucker is more like his old self! For shame on the vet who suggested his story was over. He most clearly has a lot more of himself to give. I’m glad you’re working so hard to make sure he gets to.
Fabulous news! Love that he's exploring and knocking things off shelves - that's so very cat-like - sorry that you're back to having to pick all that stuff up...but it's great to hear he's getting back to enjoying the things that make cat life so exciting
@Crista & Ming - yes. I had some info on the use of pain meds by a professional group and that was the info they provided.
Wonderful news ! I can see Tucker's personality in the pictures! Love that he ate all that food & then was still after the porridge & latte...CLASSIC!! Hope its another great day for you two!!
Sounds like Tucker is doing great, keep up the good doctoring. Hopefully, this does not happen to him again.
I found this kind of funny, My great-grandchildren call their grandmother (my daughter) Catcat and that was because she had 2 cats.
LOL -- Catcat was the only name this cat would respond to -- ignored me when I called him Oliver (first family's name for him) or Garfield (second family's name for him); I finally, after trying several others, said "ok, cat cat, what's your name?" -- and he pricked up his ears and came over to me
it can be sad around here, many military families in the area (large Army base, large Air Force base) -- when they are deployed overseas, many times their pets cannot go with them .. we've had five dogs and seven cats walk through our lives because of this -- over the course of 30-some years
I filed in the "breed" box at the vet with"domestic shorthair", after just cleaning out his litter tray I think I should have filled it in "German Shepherd", because holy cow Tucker.... Jeebus
Oh my gosh you're right! Does Buddy have white paws, too? Perry's aren't showing in his pic. They both so handsome, aren't they?
Yes, they are both handsome. Buddy's paws are white, his chest & belly area are white. Buddy is blonde, is your kitty blonde or red.
I didn’t realize there was blonde vs red!!! I wonder if that means my lighter Ginger Boy isn’t ginger after all.....!
I want to share this update with all of you who followed this episode and lifted us up when things were bleak. I got a Facebook add from our regular vet tonight and we had a big conversation. She was overseas when Tucker got sick 2 weeks ago today. I had texted her numerous messages before I found out she was away, and then updates with the actions of her co-workers in her absence (including the owner suggesting euthanasia). She is still out of the country for another week but now that she has internet she reached out. THIS is the caring super vet we love so much. First off, she didn't know if he was still alive at this point : "Oh dear. This all sounds terrible. Sorry I have only just got your message. Is he ok? Are you ok? I feel terrible for you all. Sounds horrible. Please please tell me he's alive." Then once I had confirmed Tucker was alive she said "Oh thank God, I'll be able to sleep tonight,". She also said,"A Tucker who isn't eating is petrifying, and emergency action should have been taken immediately. I'm so so sorry!". I told her how guilty I feel about the pain he had been in and that I always want to have some pain meds on hand. She said "Yes. You should always have some sort of cat pain medicine on hand. Don't feel guilty he just spent 4 days with the best medical care you can get. Most people would never have rescued him. Most people would never have treated his diabetes. Most people would have not taken him to emergency. He is fine.". She has requested all of his ER notes, will review them and come out and see Tucker when she is back next week. Finally, she sent me this : " I don't really believe in reincarnation but.. I am coming back as one of your cats...." How special is this woman?
OMG!!!!! I have been wondering about her reaction to everything that happened. Thank you so much for sharing this with Team Tucker! The bicycle-in-her-PJs vet rocks!
Wow ,she is such a wonderful vet, coming to your house to check on him when she gets back shows you that she is such an awesome vet.She is one of a kind, very special Let us know what happens. I didn't know it was the owner who suggested putting Tucker to sleep. Are you going to let the owner know that Tucker was well taken care of at the other vet hospital, or let the vet you usually see at that practice take care of it
I had requested the animal hospital not send his files back to the owner of the practice. Super vet will get them directly from the hospital. After she has come out to see our boy and is happy with his progress, I'm sure she will let the head vet / owner know the good news.
Wow, she is terrific. Thanks so much for the update Patty. And she's right: Don't feel guilty he just spent 4 days with the best medical care you can get. Most people would never have rescued him. Most people would never have treated his diabetes. Most people would have not taken him to emergency. He is fine. You had Bron (bless you dear wonderful lady) helping with the hypo, then Super Vet and team, then again a wonderful team at the animal hospital. There wasn't a dam* thing most of us could do to help you or Tucker (and how frustrating that was), except hope, love and send every good wish, thought, vine, vibe, energy your way. He is a miracle boy and hopefully when he is flushing the toilet and flooding your house, or "cleaning out the pantry", or filching forbidden food....you will be a little easy on him.
I want to kiss that vet, she sounds like the most amazing human!!!!! Agreeing with Lou, super vet is right that you did all these amazing things so never feel bad. The number of people including family who just suggested I euthanize Alice from her diabetes and DKA alone......!!! You did everything you could do and it has paid off, and now Tucker has more beautiful, happy, loved days ahead of him.
Thanks for your kind words. You'll appreciate this story... I caught my husband having a man -to man talk with his little buddy the other day. It went something like, "Oi, Tucky Tucks... You can't do that to us again, dude...toooo scary. We need you here! I missed your little booplesnoop (what he calls Tucker's nose) waking me up and BTW, I reckon you owe us a good 4 years, do the math... That's about a thousand bucks a year.... So you owe us at least 4 healthy years...". When I told the vet about the 4 years thing her reply was "Bloody oath!" Lol, I love her so much.
Patty, what your husband said is just so adorable, I read it out loud to my daughter and she said oh my God that is so so sweet. I love him calling his nose booplesnoop. I just love what your husband said to him. It warms my heart. Kiss that booplesnoop for me and my daughter Ashley @Tucker
