Swollen Paw Issues.

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FeralHearts

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She is doing well - thank you for asking. :) No real improvement though. It's plateaued. :confused2:

I'm a little concerned about the meds. Her first two, two weeks doses, were a dark brown liquid and the two new two week doses have been a yellow cream liquid. :-\ We double-check when I went in that it was the right meds and it is. Still - there are oddities about it so I'll be checking.

We are a little over 1 week left of her 2 months medication. I have no idea what comes next. From what I understand we stop the meds and see ... but I'm not 100% positive.

She goes in for her annual visit on Monday with Charlie's Vet. This will be the first time they've met. (The other vet left the other practice I visit to start one with an old school mate - and it's a bit further out right now than Braveheart can manage.) The good thing is both these Vets are super stellar awesome so I'm not worried about her care. I'll be asking her about where we go from here. I'll also be bringing in the odd coloured doxycycline meds for her to look at. Hopefully, it's one of that 'Different manufacturer, different colour' things.

It is going to be an interesting visit as BH has never had bloodwork done and we are hoping to get some to get a baseline for her. How? I dunno. I have a carrier for her where the top comes off and you literally have to leave her in the bottom portion and work with her in it. If we can get Urine done too - cool - if not I'll take what I can get.

Dr C has her records and I wrote an intro to her about BH and what the "Rules of engagement" are that BH demands from everyone.

She's only been inside for a year now and no one wanted to rock the boat too hard with her last year due to her nervousness. We did SNAP tests for FIV etc, got shots in her and the basic overall look at her health: teeth, eyes, body, joints etc. all were really great - but getting blood would have been that step too far for her at the time. Every effort was made to keep the visits positive for her.

I'm both excited about the Visit and very anxious at the same time.
 
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verna davies

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I'm sure you have read all articles on pillow paw, I found the attached that mentions cyclosporine. One of my cats has Eosinophilic Kerititis and was on two different drops for 5 months but she kept getting relapses, then in December she was put on 1% cyclosporine and has had no relapses since. As pillow paw is an immune issue too, I wonder if it is worth mentioning it to your vet. If you are anything like me, I keep asking questions until I drive my vet nuts. Your vet seems very thorough, you are lucky.

I hope the visit goes well and Braveheart is a model patient ( don't you just love the optimism). Let us know how it goes.

Plasma Cell Pododermatitis - Mar Vista Animal Medical Center
 
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FeralHearts

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Thank you. Yes, I had read that article. In fact, that was one of the ones I went and looked at the paw picture and went "holy cow batman! Thank goodness her paw isn't that badly swollen!".

Cyclosporine is expensive - but from what I've read - an awesome drug. Not without some heavy potential side effects too. That was one of the three on the list for pillow paw. It's the one I would have tried to jump to next instead of the steroids.

Thank you for letting me know your experience with Cyclosporine as it makes me feel a little better due to what I say below. (Your kitty hasn't had to stay on it forever has she?)

All the research I did on Cyclosporine said that Kitty should have bloodwork done prior to use (which BH doesn't have yet) and blood pressure should be checked. It can reak havoc on bloodwork so they like to have a base to work with before the drug begins, which, I think is a good idea. She'd have to be brought in a few times while on it. A bit of a challenge but if needed we can make it work. This is one of the reasons I've been thinking to myself ... what great timing her annual vet visit is!

LMAO I am like you and probably drive them nuts! I ask, I'm sure, stupid questions sometimes, but they are gracious and tolerate me. I am lucky for sure as the vets are very good.

I had the best compliment from one of the Vets not too long ago (and I credit receiving that compliment as a direct result of hanging out here) she said she wished all her clients were as educated as I was about things. Yup, that is "thecatsite family's" doing 110%. Still, she would be in her rights if she ever burst out and said: "Zip it, do as your told and let me do my job!" lol.

IMHO The better educated we are, the better we are able to help the kitties and give the DR's good information so they can do their jobs a little easier. We don't become smarter by being silent.


I hope the visit goes well and Braveheart is a model patient ( don't you just love the optimism). Let us know how it goes.
I love your optimism and I'm going with that! She will be a model patient an give us everything we need to look after her. *nods* Yup, going with that.

*does positive affirmations*

I will let you know for sure. Might end up a comedy sketch though.
 
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verna davies

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Pickle will have to have cyclosporine drops for life but luckily as they are in the eyes it is not absorbed by the body and will have no side effects. She is the first and only case of this illness my vets practice has come across (he couldnt pronounce it at first) so its been a massive learning curve for both of us. She is under a specialist and every time I take her I have a list of questions. At one point I even phoned a specialist in another part of the country to ask a question and he very kindly emailed me with the answer and an explanation even though I will never use that practice due to location. We need to know what to look for, do and expect and the only way that will happen is to ask questions. Any vet who doesnt approve IMO isnt a good vet.


Its lots of hard work and worry with illness but I'm sure our cats know we are doing it out of love for them. Looking forward to the 'comedy' sketch' and hope its really good news.
 
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FeralHearts

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BTW the more I read about Pickles Eosinophilic Keratitis, the more it looks like Plasma Cell pododermatitis and Eosinophilic Keratitis are related. Two manifestations of a similar thing. Different, yet similar. One of the sad similar parts seems to be that no one knows why or how. *Sigh*

Looks like to the cyclosporine drops don't have the same adverse reactions as oral - so that's a good thing! Kind of amazing how the same medication, with a different delivery system, reacts differently.

I agree that any Dr that shuts out a patient from questions is no good. The couple of vets I had before these two, one looked after Charlie and the other two had looked after my dogs previously, were absolutely beyond awful. I lost all faith after having 3 in a row that were so bad. Charlies (new, not-so-new now as 4 years) Vet was the one that restored my faith back in DVM's. Then I met DR L.D and had the same awesomeness and I was so relieved and feel so fortunate to know them both. I'd be lost without them.

Yes, lots of work and worry. I too think that they know instinctively we are trying to help because we love them.

Thank you. I'm doing the whole optimistic thing - "it's all going to be just fine" mantra in my head. :-):catlove:
 
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FeralHearts

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We're back! Getting her in the cage, even with the Gabapentin - and my riot gear on - didn't help and I have another battle scar on my tummy but...

The positive thinking worked - that and I think her Doctor had on her lucky socks!

She did great with the DR and Nurses.They hid her eyes with a blanket over her so she couldn't see and kept her secure - but comfy. Really, she actually looked quiet comfy. They even took her out of the bottom of her cage which, up until now, was a big NO NO and she was perfectly fine with it. So wow! Very cool. She had two nurses, one by her head and one by her feet. She didn't appear to struggle too much though. They did put the black out muzzle on her just in case and she didn't seem to care about that either. They were so incredibly good with Braveheart.

It took a few needles unfortunately to get blood for her but that wasn't their fault at all. Braveheart was refusing to release her blood from her body's custody. I felt bad for her Doctor. Boy, BH made her work for that blood. :dizzy:

and...
they got pee too! Pee and Blood! WOOT!!! We will now have a proper look at her. YIPPEEEE :party3: :woohoo::bliss:
She's already back to herself. Wandering around and expecting me to sit on the floor so she can snuggle.:catlove:

Her meds are going to be changed, by the sounds of it Cyclosporine with a Vitb. I'll be finishing up the doxycycline first and they're ordering new meds for her.

Now we wait for results and new meds and take it from there.
 
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verna davies

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Well, she was a brave girl especially as they were taking blood. She must be getting used to them and maybe starting to realise they will not hurt her plus she always goes home to have treats and cuddles.
How long before you have the results of the tests.
 
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FeralHearts

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*nods* I was proud. :cloud9:

About 3 -5 days. So maybe Friday or the Monday. I'm hoping it all comes back good and it's only the one issue that we'll need to fight through together.

atm she won't leave my side. She's doppey from the gaba and unstable on her feet which is sad and cute at the same time.
 

verna davies

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She needs lots of cuddles. Hope the results are good news and you will be able to relax a little. Fingers crossed.
Please let us know.
 
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FeralHearts

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Her lovely Doctor just called to touch base. I misunderstood where we were heading next - she did some research we are keeping her on the Doxycycline at this stage and adding the VitB to see if that gives her a healing boost and see how she does.

Blood results should be in a day or two. :-)

PS - She is getting lots of TLC. :-)
 
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The results are back! Her bloodwork is very good - but - her Neutrophils are quite low. We think the medication might be driving it a bit lower than it would normally be. (There is something weird there I'll b posting in another thread - or rather coincidences that have me a bit concerned with her siblings.)

This is one of those moments where the imagination is going sideways a bit.

Pee is good so YAY!
 
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FeralHearts

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Yes, small mercies as mostly good news.

I think after her meds are all complete and we have it under control that will be the plan. We're ordered the VitB but she mentioned we can add VitA too but you do have to be careful with that one from what I'm understanding. VitA from what I understood is a little harder to do with cats. So research it is and I'll get a list of questions.

Even though the Vet has said not to worry and that's it's probably from the meds and pillow foot - and I trust her - I find I'm worrying. Like my heart sinks worry. *sigh*

The strange things is that her two siblings also have low Neutrophils, again with otherwise perfect bloodwork too and good shape. Not quite as low as hers, but still under the lowest levels. There is a possibility that's just how they are and of course, stress can be / is a contributing factor in low Neutrophils too - but I don't like it.
 

verna davies

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I am sorry you are going through this, the worry gets a grip and its hard to relax and put it to the back of your mind. You have a good vet that you trust and who is only the other end of the phone so try to take comfort from that. Keep doing what your doing.
 
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FeralHearts

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Thank you. I so want them to be all healthy and happy.

Exactly - worry is a terrible thing as you imagine horrid things - and most time it's for nothing.

Yes, exactly. I'm so glad she has an awesome Doctor as that's probably the only reason I'm not over the top going crazy worry and only in the "I'm concerned worry" mindset - rather than panicking and all sort of bells and whistles going off in my brain. It's only - "Okay, this isn't great, and it's a bit odd about all three... but... don't panic as they are in great hands. Simply read, ask questions and be mindful."
 
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FeralHearts

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oh and with the stress - ermmm - Charlie is a bit of a bully. So I have no doubt he contributes to some stress.

I'm working on that but he is, well, who he is.
 
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I picked up her VitB today. Niacinamide. 1 ml a day. I can give it to her in one dose and make my life easier, or give it to her 1/2 ml twice a day. (But not within an hourish of her doxy).

Like people, she'll pee out the excess, so I've elected to do twice a day to give her the best chance with it.

The hope here is that it helps boost her immune system and the medicine as well.

I'll let you know how it goes. I'm really hoping it helps her.
 

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Hi FeralHearts!

I've seen your thread going since the start, but hadn't read any of it 'till tonight.

Pillow Foot is a notoriously 'slow heal' but I'm sure your tenacity will overcome it.

I want to drop one thought for your consideration. It's about what you described here
"It took a few needles unfortunately to get blood for her but that wasn't their fault at all....I felt bad for her Doctor. Boy, BH made her work for that blood."​
IF they were attempting the draw from her jugular, I'd really suggest that you consider insisting on their using a leg vein for future needs. I've read accounts of very serious needle injuries in some cats, and have had personal experience with one of my fractious ones (where they resorted to a leg vein) and a second cat who was grievously injured in a jugular draw. Quite honestly, reading your account sent a shiver up my spine.

I'll say no more...it's just one of those 'words to the wise' things.

Hang in there!
.
 
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