She doesn't do that anymore. When she was not feeling too well, she'll cling to me a lot. Now that she is a little bit better, that girl has a mind of her own. She'll be running everywhere and when she saw me, she'll dash off, inviting me for a game of chase.
I tried to put her on my lap just like that but she's all grown up now and in her mind would not do baby things again. Oh well ...
Posted 4 years ago by tutti-bella #
Oh, those little pink tooties are sooooo cute.
When I lost a kitty due to the misdiagnose of the vet, I had three other kitties at the same vet. Obviously, we switched vets immediately. When the new vet was reviewing the records, he discovered many notations like "forgot to send urine sample to lab", or "left red-capped tube in centrifuge". Needless to say, the old vet had never once said "oh, we didn't do all the tests we charged you for; here's a credit." Cheetah Boy had actually had some test results that should have alerted the old vet to a problem but they never mentioned it to me. The new vet found the abnormality the very first time he saw Cheetah and we've got him on the right medication now.
The new vet gives sub-Q fluids automatically if he's going to do any procedure or if the cat has a fever or cold. He says the fluid won't hurt and it might help. They look lopsided for a day and we laugh at them, but the bump goes away.
I know Lucy Belle is going to be fine.
Posted 4 years ago by CheetahBoysmommy #
Lucy Belle and her widdle pink toes!!! I love that picture Tuttibella. Please give her some extra love from me.
Posted 4 years ago by cricketsmama #
Tuttibella, sooooo glad to hear that Lucy Belle is doing better!!!! That is the best news! Thanks for posting the darling pic of our little princess, she is so precious. Be firm with vet #1, they are completely out of line trying to speak for you with your new vet. Send them the certified letter, with a return receipt card, as those above have suggested. Then calmly let the new vet know that you and Lucy Belle won't be returning to vet #1 for anything, under any circumstances, period. Oh, and please give Lucy Belle some cuddles for me ;-) And, Tuttibella, we need to make you a blue cape with a big "SKM" on it for "Super Kitty Mom", 'cause you've certainly earned it....
Thank you for your kind words everyone.
I have a new concern. Lucy Belle is not drinking any water and she's a huge water drinker. Is it because the subQ is supplying fluids to her and she doesn't have the thirst? She not has even took one sip from her water bowl. Trust me, I've been watching her 24/7.
And because of that, I am giving her more soupy wet food and she ate them all. Licked the bowl clean. Any ideas why she's shying from her water bowl?
Posted 4 years ago by tuttibella #
Thank you for your kind words everyone.
I have a new concern. Lucy Belle is not drinking any water and she's a huge water drinker. Is it because the subQ is supplying fluids to her and she doesn't have the thirst? She not has even took one sip from her water bowl. Trust me, I've been watching her 24/7.
And because of that, I am giving her more soupy wet food and she ate them all. Licked the bowl clean. Any ideas why she's shying from her water bowl?
Posted 4 years ago by tutti-bella #
Tuttibella, does she still have any of her "hump" from the subQ fluids? If not, how long ago did it disappear? If she is getting "soupy" wet food, I would not worry too much for now. If she's still not drinking anything by tomorrow and/or her behavior and/or litter box habits change, do you have a number to contact your new vet, or do you have to wait until Monday morning?
She probably isn't thirsty, especially with the wet food. You are doing good by keeping a close eye on her. As long as she keeps peeing, she is doing good.
I kind of went through this with Gibbie. He had the condition where crystals form in his urine and block things up. The second time it happened he was 100% blocked and we almost lost him. So I always had to watch how much he drank/peed really closely. A few years after that I had him in for his checkup and they asked how he was drinking/peeing, and I very happily reported that he was drinking and peeing all the time! They went hmmmm... and tested him. For diabetes. Which he had. He lived on as a diabetic for almost 7 more years. He always was my high-maintenance cat.
Her hump disappeared late this afternoon. She is fine otherwise, still on medications. Going to pee well, amount of pee has increased tremendously and very little red stain on the litter. Yay! Frequency has decreased, no longer going in and out her little box. Another Yay! I do have my Vet's number but they are closed Sunday.
Everything else appears great actually. It's just the not drinking water at all part is a bit worrisome.
Posted 4 years ago by tutti-bella #
Since her "hump" just disappeared this afternoon, I wouldn't worry too much about the drinking water just yet. Keep doing what you're doing in terms of watching her, and wait and see. Wonderful news about the urine getting paler (not so much red) and the decrease in frequency - definitely good signs she is on the road to recovery!!
Alrighty then. You guys have to excuse me for overreacting sometimes. I am just living on tip toes when it comes to her.
Posted 4 years ago by tutti-bella #
Keep her food soupy for a while and offer fressh water in small amounts frequently as well as keeping her regular bowl full. She is well hydrated from the subQ fluids and so may not be as thirsty. You could salt her food lightly to encourage drinking too.
How is she accepting the tomato juice?
Posted 4 years ago by ailuromaniac #
I am grocery shopping tomorrow so I haven't got the tomato juice yet. I have such a long grocery list this week since I wasn't able to do anything last week with Lucy Belle being sick.
Salt? I thought salt is harmful to kitty? I think I read that in the ASPCA pamphlet .. 101 things that might harm your cat or something like that.
Posted 4 years ago by tutti-bella #
Tutti-bella, sodium in some small amount is necessary for all mammals. One doesn't want to give them too much salt, much as one doesn't want to give people too much salt. Lots of salt can aggravate blood pressure and heart problems. But that basic need for a small amount of salt in the bloodstream is the reason people and pets, when dehydrated, are given an intravenous saline solution, not just plain water. The saline solution helps keep electrolytes in balance, whereas a water solution might throw it a bit out of whack.
If she's peeing and pooping just fine, I wouldn't worry too much. If you make her food a little soupy, she may not be inclined to drink just plain water at all, since she'd be getting all she needs from her food.
Posted 4 years ago by anncetera2 #
ONION SALT is highly toxic as is any onion product. Make sure the tomato juice is not flavored with onion.
Excessive salt is what you want to avoid. All mammals need some salt in their diet and should get enough just from their usual food. In general you do not want a lot of salt in her diet but just like popcorn makes you thirsty because of the salt. You do not want a lot of salt in your diet either.
If she has to go on a "Kidney Diet" it will have lower sodium and phosphorus content to reduce the load on the Kidneys.
You may have found Lucy Belle likes to lap sweat or tears off you. It is the salty taste that attracts.
A little looking around on the net yielded some suggestions of flavoring the water with a few drops of juice from water packed tuna or low sodium chicken or beef broth.
Posted 4 years ago by ailuromaniac #
Just came in on this...Tuttibella, sounds like she is doing just fine. With the hydration sc that she got 24 hours ago, she is probably more than hydratad enough. Especially with her urine clearing up, that is a good sign. I would just continue her food soupy and check in with the vet on Monday. I have no experience with giving kitties salt. The sc fluids that are givemn are water plus electrolytes ( a "gatorade" type mix), so likely she is well balanced from the water and the electrolyte-salt balance for the next 48 hours or so. You are doing an awesome job. I hope you and princess slepp really well tonight.
Posted 4 years ago by Tigerlilly #
I see anncetera2 got the mammalian salt requirement in. That is what happens when you work two windows on a post one for the post and one for the research.
Posted 4 years ago by ailuromaniac #
Hee!!
Posted 4 years ago by anncetera2 #
Giving it another thought, I am a bit worried about the idea of salt. It appears unlikely that she has a kidney issue, but rather a local bladder trauma issue, nonetheless, with a bit of an unknown about the kidney, added salt could be a worry. Sinvce she's doing so well, maybe wait and check with the vet on Monday.
Posted 4 years ago by Tigerlilly #
Sorry ladies, I didn't see your posts...I did not mean to step on your toes.
Posted 4 years ago by Tigerlilly #
No worries! I'm always glad to hear folks on TDK offer up experience and knowledge.
Posted 4 years ago by anncetera2 #
Thanks for clearing that up ladies! The one thing which I was told about salt and cat is that they make them shed like crazy. That's coming from my nana, and I don't know how much truth it holds.
Posted 4 years ago by tutti-bella #
Tutti-bella, I bet your new vet can advise you on that, when you see him again next week!
Posted 4 years ago by anncetera2 #
No problem, Tigerlilly.
I don't think a little salt will hurt. The Vet did reccommend tomato juice. That will have salt in it as well. Even if she can find a "low sodium" brand it will have added salt and may make her thirsty on its own.
Other than that,I would just put an emphasis on the LIGHTLY.
Posted 4 years ago by ailuromaniac #
Tuttibella, I hope you realize that all this back and forth means one thing and one thing only: WE ALL LOVE YOUR BABY LUCY BELLE!!!
Posted 4 years ago by Tigerlilly #
Yes, tigerlilly, I know! :) Ain't she a lucky little one. And you are all the best and I am sure Lucy Belle would give you headbonks when she sees you guys too.
Posted 4 years ago by tutti-bella #
Tuttibella, ditto what Tiger Lilly said ;-) !!!
And an FYI for everyone - when my kits were just youngsters in CA, they were on oral Program (?) once monthly for flea control (prophylactic, always indoor kitties, I just worried about tracking in flea eggs from outdoors...) and my vet suggested the best way to give it to them was to open a can of water packed tuna, drain the liquid and divide it into two small custard dishes. Mix the Program medicine with the tuna juice and give one dish to each kitten. Viola! medicine and juice gone in 60 seconds!! They have not been on Program now for years, but every time I open a can of tuna, they rush to the kitchen and meow,meow,meow until they each get their little custard dish treat of tuna juice!
I have heard about the wonders of tuna juice. Sometimes, when Lucy Belle is not eating much, I sprinkle some bonito flakes on her food and yum yum she goes. I think I'll have to add can tuna to my ever growing grocery list and let her have a treat. I don't feel good feeding her tuna meat though. I read that once they go tuna, they don't go back .. :)
Posted 4 years ago by tutti-bella #
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