1/31 Sid update

Sid has perked up today and was quite chatty and active. so that is a good sign; however, I'm really afraid he will come home and go into DKA again. The vet said that is likely to happen if the underlying disease is not responding to treatment. Not sure if he is responding to treatment or not. Apparently his glucose levels have been sporadic at the hospital. He has also lost even more weight. All we can do is hope that he is responding to the treatment and will be with us awhile longer.

Karrie - I appreciate your suggestions about Cushings. It won't hurt to ask the vet. What if it is something like that? The vet is certain at least one complicating factor is triaditis. I imagine the way he grows ketones so fast that he has something else going on too. The vet (who is an internal specialist) told me in his experience that any cat who develops ketones has an underlying condition of some kind -either disease or infection. I just hope that Sid responds to the pred and leukeran (chlorambucil). Thank you for all your words of support and encouragement - they mean a lot. :YMHUG: :YMHUG: :YMHUG:

Today was a sad day here because one of my critically ill civvies had to be euthanized. Whisper started out as my foster cat but I recently adopted her when I knew her end was near. She had chronic renal failure for which I gave her daily subQ fluids. She was also on high blood pressure meds and had an asthma-like breathing problem that did not respond to any treatment (tried prednisolone and an inhaler). Over the last month she severely declined - would not eat on her own so I syringed fed her. Then she began to hiss at me when I tried to syringe feed her and began to struggle to breathe so I had to make a hard decision today. Poor Whisper. She was a sweetheart.

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Hi Lydia,

I am glad to read that Sid is doing better today. I so hope that he will respond to treatment. It is good to read that he was so active and chatty. This is very cool. I am sorry for the weight loss, hopefully once things are under control that will improve. Mannie and I send many healing vines to Sid. Be well little one.

I am so very sorry for your loss of Whisper. CRF is always a rough one. It has been the downfall for so many of my kitties. I can so understand what you went through with her. I hope that the memories you have will be of comfort, knowing that she will always be near. Fly free little one, land softly at the bridge.

I cannot believe how much you have on your plate, and you handle it all so well. My thoughts are with you.

my heart goes out to you, lydia. i'm so sorry for your loss of whisper and i'm hoping for the best for Sid. hugs . . .

(((Lydia))))....I'm so sorry to hear about Whisper but what an angel you are to have taken her in and given her so much love at the end of her journey and the beginning of a new one.
Fly free, Sweet Whisper.


Glad to hear Sid is better....we hope to hear that he is improving each day.

Thank you both very much I hope for the best too!

Sid is such a little character. The vet office has a dog statue in the exam room. Lethargic as he was last night he still gave the statue a little meow. Then tonight, he walked right up to it chatting away as if it was another animal and then he sniffed noses with it. IT was the cutest thing - very heartwarming to see him so interactive with something

My dear Lydia, you are such a wonderful caretaker of the animals who have been fortunate enough to be with you. Providing palliative and hospice care to ill animals as you do requires strength beyond what most of us have, and I have the utmost respect for you. I'm sorry you had to let Whisper go, and I'm also happy Sid is still with you. :YMHUG:

I glad Sid is feeling more active and chatty. I was imagining him walking around, and eating, yesterday. I hope he continues to rally. Come on Sid, you can do it. Eat your fuds and feel better soon we're all pulling for you.

(((Lydia))) I am so sorry for your loss of Whisper. :sad: She was lucky to have you to love her and take care of her.
Fly Free Whisper.
wings_cat

I am so sorry about Whisper but she was so lucky to have found you. You are a wonderful and special friend to animals. Sid is also lucky to have you in his corner, I'm praying hard he recovers and gets to come home to you soon.

I'm glad Sid is somewhat better and I hope this is the beginning of an upward trend for your boy.

I'm so sorry for the loss of Whisper. Fly free sweet kitty.

It's so much for you to deal with all at once ((Lydia)).

(((((((Lydia)))))) I am so sorry. Whisper was meant to find you to give her love and the best care. Thank you for having such a big heart. She will be with you in spirit.

Your update on Sid gave my heart a boost today and the dog statue story got me smiling. The Cushings/Addisons suggestion may be way off base but may give your vet something to think about if he hasn't already. If Sid comes home, I think you should keep up with fluids as long as he absorbs them well. I posted a few days back on MaxCal for tube feeding. Its 330 calories per can and only 3% carbs. Worth its weight in gold for a DKA and FHL cat. It is high in fat though which can be hard on pancreatic cats.

Keeping you and Sid in my thoughts and sending more hugs.

Lydia, so sorry to hear about Whisper. How lucky Whisper was to spend his last remaining time with being loved and cared by you. Sending vines for Sid; he's a fighter and not giving up. Hugs.

Lydia, I am so sorry to hear about Whisper. Thank you for taking such good care of her.

I too am hoping that Sid's improvement continues. I will continue to keep you both in my thoughts.

I am very sorry to hear that you had to let Whisper go. I hope you find consolation in having been able to give her so much love and care. My heart goes out to you.

Bear Man had Iatrogenic Cushing's disease, which was caused by long term (many years) steroid use. It was not a spontaneously arising disease in his case. We have had a few Cushings cats on this board, but some features which are very typically seen are thin, fragile skin, very poor and unkempt hair coat with bald spots, and a pot belly.

It is a good sign that he perked up a bit in response to treatment. I hope he continues to do better.

Linda do you know about Addisons? That seems more fitting than the cushings.... with cushings it says insulin resistance. Would cushings cause the highs and lows that Sid sees even though he's not on big doses of insulin?

Karrie and Maverick said:

Linda do you know about Addisons? That seems more fitting than the cushings.... with cushings it says insulin resistance. Would cushings cause the highs and lows that Sid sees even though he's not on big doses of insulin?

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I'm afraid that I don't know anything about Addison's, and I actually don't know too much about Cushings, as we did not do diagnostic testing or pursue treatment for it. I think that there is so much going on with Sid, that it would be difficult to attribute his BG behaviour (in my non-expert eyes) to any one thing. I would be curious about persistence of infection somewhere in Sid's case, although I think you mentioned the other day that the vet did not feel infection was still present. I would be curious if switching to a different antibiotic would help.

Hugs being sent your way .. you sure are dealing with a lot .. I know it has to be tough with Sid so sick and losing Whisper .. Know that whisper is now healthy and waiting for you and Sid is in the best place right now ..

(((((Lydia)))))

Oh, Lydia...
so terribly sorry for your loss of Whisper...
you are an angel to care for so many babies!

And Sid...we are still cheering you on, Little Man...
sending our love and healing thoughts your way, buddy.

we're lighting candles to help light Whisper on her way...

Celi, Binks, Smudge, and Annie

Dear Lydia, We are very sorry to hear of your loss of Whisper. She was a lucky girl to have you for a mamabean and I hope that you can take comfort in knowing that you gave her the greatest gift of love in letting her go. When driving home this afternoon we saw the most beautiful, full rainbow that just floated in the sky against the backdrop of the mountains and evergreens. I couldn't help wondering if one of our furbabies had crossed to the Bridge. And then I read this evening that Whisper had passed, and also that Serryn's chicken Mil had made that journey.
We send our deepest sympathy,

Ella & Rusty

It is so good to hear that Sid is doing better. He is one tough kitty and I hope that you and your vet will be able to find a course of treatment that will help him. Keep on fighting, Sid!