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Mackerel's taken a turn for the worse. :(
- Thread starter jalindal
- Start Date
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #62
I'm a bit worried about Mackerel tonight.
She seems to be having trouble breathing- she's wheezing and she's had a few coughing fits where she's obviously having trouble breathing. I don't know what I can really do, so I'm just crouching down next to her and talking to her in a calming tone and stroking her very very gently so she knows I'm here. Any suggestions from anyone?
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Mackerel
Jalindal
Jalindal
I don't know if this would help any, but I got this advice from a vet years ago. He told me that if the sick kitty I had at the time (he had CRF) sounded congested I should gently pat his side for a few minutes, over his rib cage. It's been years since then, but I seem to remember something about it helping to break up thick fluid that might have been accumulating in Puddin's lungs. Gentle pats, as if you were patting a baby on the back.
I hope Mackerel's feeling better soon.
I hope Mackerel's feeling better soon.
i try to stay away from the cat health forum because im a bit of a cry baby, so this is the first im hearing about all of this. but i have read up on whats been going on and have been sitting at work crying over it (surprise!) and i am just so soooo sorry to hear about your baby girl
you both will definatley be in my prayers and i will be sending lots of vibes for mackerel..ill see if i cant get jericho to send some kitty vibes as well.
you both will definatley be in my prayers and i will be sending lots of vibes for mackerel..ill see if i cant get jericho to send some kitty vibes as well.
I am so sorry to hear the news about Mackerel.
These little cuddly beings attach themselves to our hearts so quickly. It is wonderful that she will be at home with you when she crosses over to the rainbow bridge...
So I think it's now tomorrow for you. How is she doing today?
I think the word you're looking for is hematocrit... and it's another measure of the red blood cells. There's the Packed Cell Volume (PCV) and the Hematocrit. They're basically the same number, though one is expressed as a percentage: the PCV is a cell per volume measurement.
If steroids would help the anemia, then I'm pretty sure they believe the cause is feline hemolytic anemia. This is when their body thinks they're red blood cells are a virus, and their immune system attacks them. Tuxie has something very much like this. He needed a blood transfusion to save his life, and then the steroids suppressed his immune system enough to stop his body attacking his blood cells.
Initially he received predisone, and it worked. Then it stopped working, and the vet said "I'm out of bullets." But a feline blood specialist suggested he try depomedrol - a long-acting steroid. Apparently it works just differently enough that it worked when prednisone stopped working.
for both of you!
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #70
Her coughing seems better this morning, and in the night she scarfed quite a lot of tuna that I'd put down for her to snack on. So that means that yesterday she ate a whole packet of kitten food (for the extra calories), lots of milk (she doesn't suffer from the runs after she has milk so the vet said it'd be ok, especially while she's so thin!) and maybe... 50gms of tuna. Plus a handful of treats. I'm so thrilled that she's showing such a good appetite.
Plus, when I got up I put down another packet of kitten food and she hoed into that very readily. Plus I think she's been grooming!!! Her fur has a little less of the greasy punk look than it did yesterday. :-) Her membranes are still pretty white, though. :-(
Thanks Libby, I'll give the gentle patting a shot the next time she starts coughing/wheezing. :-)
LDG I read up on Tuxie's thread last night- is he still lubberly and pink? I hope so. I'm not actually sure if it is Feline Hemolytic Anemia... I mean, it could be, but I got the distinct impression that it was a virus or something foreign instead of an auto-immune disease... K said that it shows up on the slides they do as little black dots in the red blood cells, and the reason they weren't sure about the test they did on Tuesday was because it was day old blood, and some of the cells had the black dots and some of them didn't. Also, it sounds like FHA is not something that can be "cured", after reading Tuxie's thread, and K said that this THING, whatever it is, could be 'cured' instead of 'managed'. I asked her about it specifically. It's so frustrating that I can't remember what the word was! -kicks self-
I'm leaving for the vet in an hour, should be back home in two or three (like I said ages ago, the vet is a loooooooong way away.) I'll update you guys straight away. :-)
Thanks for the vibes, and the kitty vibes. :-3 And RiffRaff- sorry to make you cry! -huggles-
Thanks Libby, I'll give the gentle patting a shot the next time she starts coughing/wheezing. :-)
LDG I read up on Tuxie's thread last night- is he still lubberly and pink? I hope so. I'm not actually sure if it is Feline Hemolytic Anemia... I mean, it could be, but I got the distinct impression that it was a virus or something foreign instead of an auto-immune disease... K said that it shows up on the slides they do as little black dots in the red blood cells, and the reason they weren't sure about the test they did on Tuesday was because it was day old blood, and some of the cells had the black dots and some of them didn't. Also, it sounds like FHA is not something that can be "cured", after reading Tuxie's thread, and K said that this THING, whatever it is, could be 'cured' instead of 'managed'. I asked her about it specifically. It's so frustrating that I can't remember what the word was! -kicks self-
I'm leaving for the vet in an hour, should be back home in two or three (like I said ages ago, the vet is a loooooooong way away.) I'll update you guys straight away. :-)
Thanks for the vibes, and the kitty vibes. :-3 And RiffRaff- sorry to make you cry! -huggles-
Well, originally with Tux one of the things they tried was Baytril (antibiotic, a couple of steps up from clavamox), and then doxycycline - a (couple of) step(s) up from Baytril. Doxy is strong.
He did improve on it, but they found no sign of any blood borne parasites, so we were left with no explanation as to why it helped.
The most common blood borne parasite (and it's worldwide) is called hemobartonella... I think it was renamed at some point, but it used to be called hemobartonella. There's another really rare one called something like.... erlichia? I think I'm missing an "h" in there somewhere.
OK. It's called Ehrlichia (I just looked it up). And I found a GREAT article on hemobart, if you find you need to learn up on it.
Apparently pred IS used for it, as even with the parasite, it's also partially an immune-modulation response problem.
Continued for your baby!!!!!
The most common blood borne parasite (and it's worldwide) is called hemobartonella... I think it was renamed at some point, but it used to be called hemobartonella. There's another really rare one called something like.... erlichia? I think I'm missing an "h" in there somewhere.
OK. It's called Ehrlichia (I just looked it up). And I found a GREAT article on hemobart, if you find you need to learn up on it.
Continued for your baby!!!!!
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #72
Mackerel's levels were up from 8 to 17.4!!!! The vet says that it's probably not FIP, and that things are looking good!!!!
I'm so incredibly happy.
The bad news is that they don't know what has happened, now. They found Heinz Bodies in her blood, which apparently suggests that there was something toxic in her system and that her body purged her system of the damaged red blood cells... but it was too late after the initial presentation of ARF to be caused by the same thing. The vet says that it's possible that the thing that damaged her kidneys caused the anaemia as a secondary effect, but he was stumped as to what could do that.
I have instructions to call the vet this afternoon and find out what they found in the blood slide- they're going to check again for parasites and in the meantime they're going to put their heads together and try and figure out what is going on!
Honestly, was getting nervous each time you posted. Was waiting for some good news. Sounds like you got some. I sincerely hope they get this all figured out and that she pulls through ok. I've never felt so concerned for someones pet that I don't even know as I have with yours. (Don't think I'm weird, please
I guess all the prayers and vibes are helping!!
One from me, Parker, Buddy and Sami.
i am so happy she is doing better! what a strong little lady! she is very lucky to have such a good meowmy.
(and i didnt mind the crying. it was well worth it in mackerel's case! how can you not fall in love with that face!
)
(and i didnt mind the crying. it was well worth it in mackerel's case! how can you not fall in love with that face!
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #75
Aww, LMP I don't think you're weird! It's very sweet to hear that other people are worried about her too.
In a lot of ways it's nice to have people who understand that I will do *anything* to get her healthy again. I think my parents are a little bemused that I'm still fighting, given that this has already cost me over AUD$1500 and the outlook has been so poor.
My Grandma sent me an e-mail yesterday that said, "We're sorry to hear that Mackerel's sick, but there's a phrase that applies: Don't give your heart to a cat to break."
So although everyone's been very supportive and kind at home, I don't think they get it.... and I know that everyone here understands. <3 Means a lot, and it's really helped.
Especially because the vibes are clearly helping!
In a lot of ways it's nice to have people who understand that I will do *anything* to get her healthy again. I think my parents are a little bemused that I'm still fighting, given that this has already cost me over AUD$1500 and the outlook has been so poor.
So although everyone's been very supportive and kind at home, I don't think they get it.... and I know that everyone here understands. <3 Means a lot, and it's really helped.
Especially because the vibes are clearly helping!
Am glad things are looking so positive - there is soemthing called Heinz anaemia, it is linked to them eating things like onions. Would she have been eating anythign with those in - or anything from that family, such as garlic? Sorry your family dont really understand, I do know the feeling though - i darent tell my family how much I have spent at the vets over the years!!
LuvMyParker;3025056 said:
Honestly, was getting nervous each time you posted. Was waiting for some good news. Sounds like you got some. I sincerely hope they get this all figured out and that she pulls through ok. I've never felt so concerned for someones pet that I don't even know as I have with yours. (Don't think I'm weird, please) I just fell in love with her picture. QUOTE]
That's exactly how I've felt! Miss Mackerel looks soooo much like my Bridget that I felt an immediate connection to her
Jalindal, I've said it before but I'm going to say it again: it sounds as if you've managed to find a wonderful vet. You and Mackerel are in my prayers, and those vibes just keep on coming!
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Thanks for the happy update!
"Don't give a cat your heart to break"? Life would be so empty living an adage like that. The heartbreak is worth the years of love, no matter how long or short.
But it's beginning to look like you and Mackerel will have a long life time together after all.
Mackerel
"Don't give a cat your heart to break"? Life would be so empty living an adage like that. The heartbreak is worth the years of love, no matter how long or short.
But it's beginning to look like you and Mackerel will have a long life time together after all.
Mackerel
I would give my heart
again and again to love and be loved by a cat. That is the most important part of my journey in life. I have the same kind of reaction in my family, more so on my In-laws part then my own. I come from a family of true animal lovers. My DH's family thinks I am the typical crazy cat lady and have made comments over the years about "saving our money" instead of "saving the cat". They just don't get it and I have given up trying to get them to get it. It is not important to me or worth my energy getting upset over their ignorant comments any more.
I am praying for your darling Mackerel today and hope you can get some kind of positive answer to her health issues.
I am praying for your darling Mackerel today and hope you can get some kind of positive answer to her health issues.
My catsitter's cat had something pretty much identical happen to her Siamese last summer. She was ready to give up when he all of a sudden turned the corner. In his case, it was a toxin that caused it. Her dh had unknowingly dropped one of his blood pressure pills on the floor and he'd played with and swallowed a bit of the contents.
He's right as rain today, tho. Don't give up---on Mackerel OR on loving cats!
He's right as rain today, tho. Don't give up---on Mackerel OR on loving cats!
