Breathing

Callie started breathing worse so I took her to the vet and she sent me to the emergency vet. They are telling me that she has fluid built up and are not sure why until they draw it off and test it. Need prayers and any encouragement please. I'm so heartbroken.

 

Sending my best! Let the vet do their work and hope it's something they can easily fix!

 

Unfortunately nothing they said sounded very positive

 

can they give her lasix for home management? is it a growth? tumor?

 

I've been through that with a civvie. I hope Callie does well.

{{hugs}}

 

We don't know what it is right now. It could be problems with her heart, liver, or cancer. They kept her to do testing. The other option was euthanasia.

 

ugh.... I hope they find a cause and a treatment.....prayers....
I have been thru this too--my heart is with you

 

Sending purrs and prayers for Callie and you!

 

Sending positive thoughts...

 

Sending prayers for Callie

 

I've been through this too. Sending prayers.

 

More good thoughts for Callie and for you....

 

Prayers and hugs.

 

Prayers for you and all of your loved ones. BTW, Callie is beautiful!

 

sending prayers ....

 

Sending good vibes your way and hoping Callie pulls through <3

 

Good vines and strength to you both! Hoping for a positive outcome!

 

I've been through this as well. Sending positive thoughts for your sweet girl.

 

Prayers going up for you and Callie

 

Thanks everyone. I'm trying to stay positive but it's so hard. I guess I'll find out today what's going on and make decisions from there. She looked so good when they let me see her in the oxygen tank last night. This is so hard.

 

Prayers for you and Callie.

 

Prayers for Callie to pull through and get better.

 

Sending prayers and healing energy

 

Sending prayers and healing vines for you and Callie.

 

Sending good thoughts.

 

How is Callie doing today?

 

The vet withdrew the fluid and said she had been breathing on her own since 2:00am. She was alert and bright. We still don't know what is causing her to build up fluid. She had gained almost two pounds in 2 weeks. We might find out the fluid lab results tomorrow. I could have brought her home today but they want at least 24 hours of monitoring so she will be staying another night. Thanks to everyone for the kind thoughts and prayers

 

That is great news that she is doing better. Hopefully they can find out what caused the fluid build up and have a way to keep it from happening again.

 

Where was the fluid? Around the heart?

 

Glad to hear Callie is doing better today. I hope they can get it all sorted out so she won't have it happen again.

 

Good to hear that she is doing better - now find the cause and eliminate it.

 

So glad to hear that Callie is doing better. Hopefully they can determine why the fluid built up and have a treatment plan set up to help prevent it again.

 

The fluid was in her abdomen. The vet just called and told me that they found a bacterial and fungal infection in the fluid. They are going to do cultures to see which type of medicine would work best to treat her. She still is in guarded condition because the vet said some of these are very hard to treat. It still might be an underlying condition also because of the bloodwork. Keep the prayers coming. This sounds so much better than the other things they told me last night. Thanks again everyone for showing your concern.

 

Hopefully the infection was the whole cause of the fluid build up and they can find the right treatment to clear it up.

Sending more prayer and healing energy.

 

Hugs and prayers for you and beautiful Callie! I hope she keeps feeling better.

 

Sending prayers for a quick recovery!

 

If you go visit her, bring an unwashed T-shirt or pillow case, so that she can smell you and feel less stressed while at the vet.

 

Unfortunately the emergency vet is an hour away so we couldn't visit. Depending on how she does tonight, she might get to come home tomorrow.

 

Keep imagining positive results. That she is home and doing much better.

 

I got to bring Callie home today but now I have a different problem. How do you give a cat three pills? One can be crushed but not liquified. I crushed all three and put them in her food but so far she hasn't really ate much of it.

 

I used the Duck & Pea pill pockets and would tear just enough of the pill pocket off to wrap the whole pills in, and then put that in the back of my cat's throat and he would swallow it. Always followed by a "Good Boy" and good more food or treats.

 

Thank you. I'll have to see if they have them at Walmart. We live an hour away from a pet store .

 

Glad she is home and feeling better. Prayers and hugs.

 

Thank you for your concern. It means so much to me to have my questions answered about my Callie by people that care about their fur babies .

 

Prayers for your Callie to get much better.

 

What a beautiful girl--I'm so glad she's home! I have to stuff Winnie's Zyrtec into her freeze dried treats and sneak it to her that way. Sometimes she spits it out a few times before success, but it works eventually. Some people here have had good luck covering the pills with butter, but she just licks it off

 

I am so glad she is home and seems to be doing better. Regarding her medications, I use a pharmacy called Wedgewood Pharmacy (mail order). My vet writes the prescriptions and this pharmacy dispenses the prescribed medications either in liquid form or a gel to be rubbed on the inner ear. I have some cats that will actually swallow a pill no problem but my Mimi is a diva (lol) and requires additional means.

I know how happy you are to have her home and she is a doll. Prayers do work.

 

How is Callie today?

 

She was doing ok when I left for work. She wasn't too happy about the pills though

 

I have also found that a "pill gun" works too. It can be a bit rough, but it is a way to get the pill in the back of the mouth and then push it in there.

They are not too happy afterwards and you have to be able to hold them, but it has worked. And since I have to do it alone, it makes it easier.

 

I'm glad Callie is home and doing well!

 

I coat them with butter, open her mouth with my fingers and drop the pill near the back of her mouth. The butter helps the pill slid down.

I saw on the board that some people hide the pill in a small piece of cheese. I tries that and she gobbled it up. She loves cheddar cheese. It's easier then using the butter. I hope you find something that works well for you.

 

My regular vet called and told me that the Batryl is chewable and I asked her how I was supposed to make her chew it instead of spitting it out. She told me that our local pharmacy can compound her medicine to a flavored oil that you drizzle on their food. Has anyone else tried this? Once Virginia Tech gets the culture tests finished she might not have to take some of these meds but may have different ones so I'm trying to hold off on the compounds until we know for sure.

 

With my kitty Fritz I take the pill and pop it to the side back corner of his mouth he swallows and I always feed him right after. I put extra water in his raw food to make sure the pill never just sits in his throat. Im not sure if Callie will let you. There is a piller you can use. It is a long thing with the end that you slip the pill in and insert to the back side if mouth never straight in the middle if mouth.
Iv'e used it but Fritz takes pills pretty easy the other way.

 

If I remember correctly, I got some oil from the vet once. I was offered the choice of chicken or tuna. I used it to make a medicine less bitter and more palatable with an easier to syringe and harder to pill cat. She didn't like the process any better but I thought it was helping. I'd ask the vet or the compounding pharmacy for a bit of oil to try on its own first. You don't want to waste a pill and money on something that might not work.

 

Today I made her little cheese balls and put the pills in. It worked. I'm not sure if the cheese is a great thing for her but a this point at least she got all of her meds and I kept my nerves intact.

 

@Lisa and Callie
Lisa, how is Callie doing now?

Hugs hugs to you,
Eliz

 

We had to have more fluid removed on Monday. It had been 13 days since the last time. I still haven't got the fungal culture results so the one medicine that I give her might not be what she needs. Her BG numbers were better the last curve. Not quite low enough but they are scared to adjust her dose because of the infection. Thanks for your concern. I'm at my wits end with this.

 

Oh my goodness. I'm so sorry that she's having this struggle. Hopefully the medicine she's on is the right one for her, or at least buys her enough time to get her on the best one. What antibiotic is she one right now? Is she still struggling with breathing? I know it's not her lungs, but would a nebulizer offer her a bit of temporary relief?

 

They have her on doxycycline for the E. coli and terbinafine for the fungal infection. The fluid builds up in her abdomen and puts pressure on her lungs so I don't think that would help. I have asked for something to help boost her immunity but both vets say that there isn't anything. Right now we are just waiting for the results and watching her breathing and praying that the meds kick in.

 

Have they considered using a diuretic to help with flushing the fluids out of her system? Not sure if this would work in your case but cats with congestive heart are often prescribed a diuretic to help remove the excess fluids.

 

I asked about that and they only use it with heart problems. The only other option is to put chest tubes in and flush with saline every 8 hours for several days. She would have to be sedated and with her age we are hesitant to do this. Plus the cost for this is huge.

 

((Lisa)))

Poor Callie. I hope the fungal culture comes back with some helpful information and the antibiotics start to help relief the symptoms. How awful for you to gave to struggle with all of this.

Sending prayers and healing energy.

 

I found one site that does suggest using diuretic with ascites (fluid build up in the abdominal cavity)

http://www.petplace.com/article/cats/diseases-conditions-of-cats/symptoms/ascites-in-cats

Treatment of Ascites in Cats
An accurate diagnosis is needed for proper therapy. Pending a definitive diagnosis, certain treatments may be appropriate:

• Therapeutic abdominocentesis (removing a larger amount of fluid from the abdomen) if the amount of abdominal distention is compromising the animal's ability to breath

• Diuretics to promote fluid excretion

• Oxygen therapy if the animal is in respiratory distress

• Intravenous fluids in cases of shock or dehydration

• Transfusions of blood products

• Antibiotic therapy if infection is suspected

Maybe revisiting this idea or having your vet consult with a specialist might be useful

 

Thank you. I'll talk to my regular vet about this.

 

There are different types of diuretics. Some of the more common like furosemide can deplete potassium in the body. and may require testing to make sure the levels don't drop too low. There are others such as spironolactone that are potassium sparing and will not deplete the potassium levels. Just a bit more information for when you talk to your vet.

 

Any idea when the results will be in?
Sending prayers and hugs

 

I was told Monday that the culture is growing but it is too small to identify. They check it twice a week at Virginia Tech. I'm hoping we will know by next week. I'm having a hard time putting her through all of this. I just want to see some progress.

 

I hope you have news on the culture soon and they can make sure to get Callie going on all the correct meds. Sending prayers and healing vines!

 

Sadi & Baby are both 15 and I am doing a lot holistically to keep them in tip/top shape. I give salmon oil every day, combination of cell salts, flower essences, kidney supplement too. On some days they have to have a Pepcid AC, some days that have to have an allergy pill, sometimes all of the above. We learned to pill successfully years ago so it likely is easy for me now because I got a “flow” down.

Likely you have had these tips mentioned, but will share mine too.

I find that gel caps work amazingly well; you can do multiple pills and/or liquids in them and then administer. If I do that, then how I do it is:

1. I put meds/supplements/remedies in the gel cap

2. I then “dip” the gel cap in moist food (imagine a chip being dipped in dip)

3. I then show Sadi & Baby the gel cap because I never “surprise” them; I think that is a bit rude just to have something shoved down your throat out of left field. LOL

4. I then place gel cap that has been dipped in moist food in the back of their mouth & kind of control the jaw until they swallow it and it happens in seconds, but controlling the jaw they can’t spit it out.

You have to do this all fairly fast because these guys are quick and not easily deceived. I think some helpful tips are to “own” the situation, know that it had to be done and there is not a choice and be confident.

Some tips to get them to swallow is dip your finger in water and gently rub their nose, I guess it causes them to swallow (reflex). I currently don’t do this but have.

If you choose not to do the gel cap & it is just a pill, you can follow same flow.. just dip pill in wet food.

It really depends on the cat, but I found that both of mine have noses like Inspector Gadget & there is not mixing in food, I waste the food and the expensive medication, supplement or remedy. It is a total waste. Pill Pockets never worked for us either, again some cats it does.

Over the years, I have found the above method to work nicely & it can take a few times before you get it down.

Sometimes people pick their cat up and bring them somewhere to pill them (that is just fine). I find it works best for us if I go to them wherever they are and just squat down to them.

Hugs to you both, I know you have a resolution for now & I am a bit late but this may help at some point in future.

 

Just talked to the vet and found out that the meds we have been using are the correct ones for the bacteria and fungal infections. Callie has to take them at least one more month and then we will go from there. Next step is really trying to get her diabetes controlled. Hopefully things will continue to look up.

 

So glad you posted! How is she doing?

 

Good news that the meds are the right ones .

Hopefully Callie can get rid of all those problems quickly and you will "just" have to deal with the diabetes.

 

She seems better. Sorry I'm trying not to get my hopes up. She has started patting me again when I stop showing her attention. We are still having litter box problems but at least I still have her. Baby steps

 

Glad she's some better. As you say, baby steps. Fungal infections take awhile to clear. Sending prayers and healing thoughts for sweet Callie.

 

Unfortunately I woke up to Callie breathing a little harder today. I guess that means another trip to the vet. I was hoping the antibiotics had kicked in and we weren't going to have the fluid problem again. I guess I was wrong. I'm not sure how much of this Callie and I can take but don't know what to do.

 

I'm so sorry she's having problems again.

Sending prayers and healing thoughts for your sweet Callie

 

Lisa

Sorry to hear that Callie is having problems again. I had hoped with all the tests and meds that they had found the right thing to clear up this problem.

Sending prayers and healing energy

 

My sweet Callie went into cardiac arrest right after we got to the vet. I guess she was telling me she had enough. She will be missed so much.

 

((((LISA))))

OMG I am SO sorry to hear this news. My heart and tears go out to you. You and Callie fought a valiant battle but Callie's poor little body just was not up to any more fighting. Callie could not have had better care or a more loving caregiver than you.


Hold onto the special happy memories to give you strength and peace at this sad sad time.

 

Bumping

 

Oh no. I am so sorry for the loss of your baby.

 

I am so sorry to here that news. She was a fighter till the end. She will be waiting for you when it's your turn to go over the bridge. I truly believe that all the pets we loved from mouse, cats, dogs and horses will be reunited with us.

 

Oh, ((((Lisa)))))
I am profoundly sorry for the loss of your beautiful Callie.
You both fought so hard. But it was 'her time'....

You were blessed in having each other in your lives. xxx

Fly free sweet spirit-Callie. Land softly in Lisa's aching heart...

 

Oh Lisa I am so very sorry for your loss! Fly free sweet Callie, land softly

 

I'm so very sorry, Lisa. Rest in paradise, sweet little one. You were much loved.

 

So sorry Lisa

 

I'm so very sorry... We share your pain.
Wishing you peace...

Diana

 

Thanks everyone for all of your help during this last month and a half. I don't think I could have did it without y'all. Callie will be missed so much. I didn't even realize it at first but this was the second anniversary of my dogs death. I'm sure she is hissing at him now. Blessings toeveryone for caring so much about our fur babies.

 

Lisa, I'm SO sorry it was sweet Callie's time to leave.....BIG HUGE looooooooong hug. Remember - she's not 'gone', you just have to hug her differently. I know words don't help take away the pain but when your heart mends a bit, you'll know she's there.

Soar high on your new angel wings Callie...landing softly back in your family's broken hearts.

More hugs and prayers,

 

So sorry for your loss

 

Aw, I am sorry about the loss of your beautiful kitty.

 

I am sorry about Callie!! She was beautiful!! RIP Callie.