4/10: Sammy AMBG 111; PMBG 74 - OTJ Trial Day 7

Status
Not open for further replies.
Tina & Sammy

Tina & Sammy

Member Since 2010
Yesterday's Condo

Good morning all, I had a very stressful night just thinking about all the things that I talked about with the vet, it is sort of freaking me out. I am going to try to get Sammy into the vet today to at least get the blood pressure checked. When she was telling me that they can go blind if their blood pressure is too high that really got to me. And I honestly don't know when if ever they have check his blood pressure. We will still keep the appointment for Tuesday to check on the potassium and to see how the daily fluids are helping his kidney values.

One thing that was positive last night is that I set the alarm for +4.5 to test Sammy, and he was in the GREEN so I was very happy about that. This morning he is back up over 100. I won't be able to get a +4 or +5 during the day today because I will be at work, but I will definitely get that reading tonight to make sure he is making it back to GREEN again. This weekend I will be able to get some mid-day tests to see how he is doing.

And as much as I would like to give Sammy a bit of variety in his diet, every time I try to add a different food in he doesn't respond well. I keep telling myself that I just need to stick with what seems to work. And as much as I would like to get Wellness Turkey out of his diet, because it also contains Chicken, it is the only thing thing that I can give him right now that has a bit lower protein and doesn't make his BG go sky high.

Hope everyone has a good day. I am glad it is Friday because I need a couple of days to relax.
 
Last edited:
Your link isn't working so I need to go back and read your last condo. Max has high blood pressure for unknown reasons and has been on amlodipine for over 2 years now. I asked for the BP test to get a baseline and my vet and I were both surprised. Max does get stressed at the vet's so I always worry that he might not have it but the meters are way too expensive to buy one to check at home. I'm not sure what is making the vet go there as the CKD was just diagnosed. I'll be back if I have anything to add.

Don't freak out about high BP until you know if she has it. Tiffany didn't get high BP until a year after getting CKD and cancer. Not all cats with kidney disease get it. Potassium should only be supplemented if it is low as too much is dangerous too. My vet won't add meds or any supplements until he gets separate tests at least a few weeks apart to confirm. I've wanted to supplement Max's potassium as it sometimes drops to the low range but then the next test will come back higher. It has happened more than once.

Now Happy Day FIVE :D:D:D:D:D
 
Last edited:
happy day five! fingers crossed that the little guy pulls his BGs back down!
woot.gif
woot.gif
woot.gif
woot.gif
woot.gif
 
@tiffmaxee I updated the link, sorry about that.

I think the vet just freaked me out about the possibilities if he has high blood pressure. She said that the cat can detach their retina and go blind if the blood pressure is too high so now I am freaking out because I don't want him to go blind. I would rather know there isn't a problem then sit around wondering if there is. I think Sammy gets a little stressed going to the vet also, especially if we have to sit in the waiting room for more than a few minutes waiting to get into a room. I would like to be able to walk in the door and have a technician test right away, but they told me that I had to see the doctor. Ridiculous! I am hoping they don't charge me for another office visit, as I just got charged for an office visit on Wednesday and the vet should have tested the Blood pressure then.

I did notice that there is potassium in the fluids so it is probably doubtful that he has low potassium, but again just want to get it checked to be sure.

I am hoping we see another GREEN number, and it would be even better to see one for PMBG.
 
Tina & Sammy said:
@tiffmaxee I updated the link, sorry about that.

I think the vet just freaked me out about the possibilities if he has high blood pressure. She said that the cat can detach their retina and go blind if the blood pressure is too high so now I am freaking out because I don't want him to go blind. I would rather know there isn't a problem then sit around wondering if there is. I think Sammy gets a little stressed going to the vet also, especially if we have to sit in the waiting room for more than a few minutes waiting to get into a room. I would like to be able to walk in the door and have a technician test right away, but they told me that I had to see the doctor. Ridiculous! I am hoping they don't charge me for another office visit, as I just got charged for an office visit on Wednesday and the vet should have tested the Blood pressure then.

I did notice that there is potassium in the fluids so it is probably doubtful that he has low potassium, but again just want to get it checked to be sure.

I am hoping we see another GREEN number, and it would be even better to see one for PMBG.
Click to expand...

Actually it isn't ridiculous. My vet always does it himself. I try if possible to go when I can go into an open office to wait for him but it isn't always possible. The vet should also use a light to check his eyes. Most if not all vets charge for the BP test but you should not be charged for another office visit.
 
BP checks are pricey, and tricky to do - that's why we beans can't do it at home. For a long time only my vet did t as well. They finally trained a tech to do it. For us, a BP check is $59, which doesn't include the office visit.

They usually use a little cuff around the base of the tail, and they use a doppler! I've never seen it done; at our vet's office, they have a special "quiet" room with mood lighting to help calm the kitties before checking. I think every vetty is different, but for our vet the "cut off" is 170 - she considers that enough to cover white coat syndrome, so she treats anything above that.

I'm like you....high BP really freaks me out. I've had two cats with it so far - both after being diagnosed with other conditions (Trix with her CKD, and Mario [GA] with his HyperT). Now I have all of my cats checked when take them him, just in case.
 
@Amy&TrixieCat Thanks, I guess I should prepare myself for sticker shock. I am going to request that I not be charged an office visit because I was just there on Wednesday and the vet should have recommended that test, at least in my opinion. I might not win the argument, but I am definitely going to present it. Plus, I was charged for an exam on Wednesday and the vet never even listened to his heart or breathing. In fact she only picked him up to take him back for the blood draw.

I will report back after our appointment tonight.
 
If I take Trix in for just a BP check and nothing else, they don't charge for an office visit. Hopefully your vet will do the same, especially since you were just there! I hope Sammy's BP is good!!
 
I'm almost always there for the test. They do use a small cuff that has to fit exactly right, not too big, not too small. My vet usually uses a paw but has used the tail too. There is a bit of a debate as to whether the doppler is required. When Max went to the cardiologist I asked her opinion and she said that for small cats the doppler is needed but with Max it isn't. My vet doesn't have a doppler. They need to shave a little fur and use gel with the doppler but not with the other one. They usually get 5 readings at lest and discard the low and high taking an average of the others. White coat syndrome effects cats as well as so it complicates things a bit in a skittish cat like Max.

Did the vets check his eyes? That is very important.
 
It should be part of the standard check-up but also helps determine if there is high blood pressure. I forget what the test is done but am going to look and see if I can find it. The name is not important though.
 
Sammy and I are home from the vet, and all is well. His blood pressure was 120, and the vet said that was good. She said they don't start getting worried until it is over 160. One less thing to worry about. And the test only cost $22.50. Yay! They used the doppler machine and did it in the exam room so I could help to comfort Sammy while they did it. He did amazing and didn't move at all.

Then we came home and he game the the best surprise of all a GREEN PMBG! I can now breath a little easier.

We will still be going back to the vet on Tuesday to get the kidney values rechecked, potassium and phosphorus. The vet said the phosphorus test isn't really necessary since the only thing we can do we are already doing by feeding a low phosphorus diet, but I would just like to have the data for future reference.
 
Oh, and I absolutely won't be testing again tonight, because even if he does go up I don't want to know. LOL! Plus with fluids it is not likely anyway.
 
Good news :) and Sammy is looking great in his OTJ trial :D:cool:

I was going back through your condos and found that the pumpkin question has not been answered. Like Ann I haven't heard of it causing any trouble so I am curious what @tiffmaxee was referring to. Particularly since I'm giving it to Vyktor!

I started him on 1/4 tsp twice a day and have built it up to 1 1/2 to 2 tsp for the whole day which seems about right for him. His poop wasn't hard previously but he's been having some issues pushing it out (I'm also giving him about 1/4 tsp coconut oil most days) the pumpkin has certainly made a difference and his poop is much better formed now. I would suggest starting with just 1/4 tsp twice a day and building it up every few days until you have the perfect poops. If you start with too much it may make the poop too bulky.
 
@Vyktors Mum Thanks for that information. I am definitely going to try the pumpkin. I don't think Sammy has a problem, but what is the harm in preventing a problem. I read that pumpkin won't cure constipation, but it can help prevent it. I probably won't start giving the pumpkin until I get back from knit camp because I would want to monitor him with it, and DH won't be as attentive to how Sammy is acting.

What do you use the coconut oil for?
 
Yes on the pumpkin being a preventative rather than a cure - and it is something you want to prevent it can get pretty hairy. I give the coconut oil to help things slide out more easily, doesn't sound like that's needed for Sammy :)
 
Great news on the BP for Sammy! One less thing to worry about and now you have a baseline. Neko first tested 215 at her regular vetty (after an 1/2 hour delay getting in for her appointment, barky dogs, a new tech and noisy doppler). Both she and I were shaking at the end. They didn't charge me because it was an epic fail. Next we tried at the acupuncture vetty, but a pup had jumped her carrier in the waiting room. :rolleyes: 175, or borderline where they worry. No charge, part of her regular acupuncture visit charge. Next up, the dental vetty did the doppler test in their quiet cat room, no other cats and Feliway plug-ins - BP 126. No charge, they do that anyway as part of the pre-dental anesthesia workup. So yes, stress can make a big difference.

Happy Day 7! Very nice PMBG - go Sammy! :D:D:D:D:D:D:D
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top