Thursday, December 5, 2019

Our Best Laid Plans

The results from Tucker’s veterinary visit came back yesterday, and they didn’t bring good news. My roly poly has late stage-two kidney failure. He is also offering from an slight inflammation in the pancreas, which may be the cause of his continued vomiting, as well as his loss of appetite. In addition, his blood-glucose numbers have been increasing, suggesting that his diabetes is being adversely influenced by his other bodily troubles.

To counter these developments, the doctor wants Tucker started on a kidney-friendly diet. I will be buying some tins of that today, though, considering the finicky attitude he has toward food, I am not expecting great things from a change of diet. No cat I know seems to like the special renal food. But I will research the products available and see what may be obtained.

The doctor also wants to put Tucker on a short course of Cerenia, to ease his stomach and reduce the vomiting. She thinks he may be suffering some pain and suggested a very careful application of pain-killers might be in order - she is reluctant to prescribe these, considering Tucker’s kidney failure - but I don’t think my little sausage-cat is in too much discomfort. His behaviour is in many respects normal. However, pain-reduction remains an option.

My boy’s diabetes, which was being managed adequately, if not as strongly as I would have liked, has been disarranged by the intrusion of his kidneys. His insulin dosage is therefore going to be increased, though not by much. Rather than two units in the morning and one in the evening, Tucker will receive two units at both instances. This dosage will be tried until the results of his next ‘curve’ are known, in a month’s time.

Tucker has been through a great deal in his life. Given up by his family of five years due to wetting problems (brought on by the stress of a newborn human), he has suffered severe urinary blockage (requiring surgery to cure), diabetes (with its attendant poking and prodding), bad teeth (and the removal of every tooth he had) and now kidney failure. In all of this, Tucker has remained my purring boy. He purrs so readily that when he doesn’t, I know something is amiss. He has been purring normally these past few weeks, so I am hopeful that he is not feeling too greatly the effects of his relatively new condition. In any case, we have plans in place. But, as Burns wrote, “the best laid schemes of mice and men often gang a-gley.” I hope he wasn’t just being optimistic when he excluded ‘cats’.

18 comments:

  1. Purrs to sweet Tucker from all of us. Our Sister Zoe has been Stage 2 CKD for 7 years now. She eats only Fancy Feast Classic Salmon Feast and Liver and Chicken Feast.

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    1. Considering my cats’ reaction to the various veterinary foods, I suspect some sort of compromise that the doctor won’t like will be in order.

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    2. Most vets are very narrow-minded re: cat food, IMO, being "brain washed" by the pet food companies. Do what's best for Tucker--and only you really know that.

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  2. Tucker, dude! We are sending you purrs, big guy.

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  3. Poor Tucker has been through a lot. Thankfully he has a wonderful human to help him through all this. Did the vet recommend fluids at home? We give Prancie a small amount ( 50ml and 75ml) twice a day. She is also on Cerenia, that stuff is amazing.

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    1. The doctor mentioned fluids, but also stated that Tucker is doing pretty well in that regard. He may have to have fluids given later, but not yet.

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  4. We send encouraging woooos, stay strong kit-cat

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  5. Oh, not the results we all were hoping for. :-(

    Regarding the food, I think whatever Tucker will eat is most important. The boys were on FF liver and chicken and FF chicken patés for years, until this spring/summer. I would guess that whatever low-carb canned, for the moisture content, he wants to eat would be the way to go, but you know far more about cat health issues than I ever will.

    Sending Tucker lots of smooches, with purrs to him from Derry. I hope all his conditions will be well-managed for a long time yet. ♥

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  6. I'm so sorry. Your sweet cat family (and you!) have had more than your share of difficulties lately. At least, it's not causing him any visible discomfort, and it is something that can be managed.

    I keep Tucker, and all of your household, in my prayers.

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  7. I am sorry the results aren't what was hoped for, but at least it explains the weight loss. I hope you can tempt him with a renal friendly food, but I have never had a cat that enjoys prescription food, so good luck with that.
    As Kea says, the most important thing is to find something he will eat. As long as you check the ingredients which I am sure you would do anyway, he should be fine with non prescription food.

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  8. Oh, the test results are certainly not what we hoped for. But the important thing is that Tucker does not seem to be in any discomfort and that we now know that's going on with him medically. As we all know, it's very hard to get cats to eat a prescription diet, and I'm afraid the kidney diet is one of the least liked by cats. I agree that sometimes you just have to go with what the cat will eat. Like pilch92, I have a cat on fluids. I've been giving my 19 year old, Jessica, 250 ml twice a week for awhile now, and it has brought her kidney values down to almost normal. Please know that we'll be keeping you and Tucker in our thoughts and prayers.

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  9. My Oscar was diagnosed a few months ago, Royal Canin makes a renal support food with gravy, (Thanks to Jasmine and her owner of Feline Opines)and I add a phosphorous binder to the regular food, As you noted it is important that he eats. Purrayers and POTP to you and sweet Tucker and his fursibs.

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  10. You have answers now, John, even though they are not anything you would have wanted for Tucker. Hopefully he will continue to purr for quite some time as you care for him with, what is evident, ceaseless attention and love.

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  11. Tucker, may you please please please do better with the foods your Dad is going to try. Bless you, dear boy. XXXX

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  12. catfather; we iz sorree...but we noe ewe is tuff, haz been tuff N all wayz will be tuff, N ewe will continmew ta BE TUFF over de course oh de next few yeerz.....

    with out soundin like a sticked record on R past catster histree; though when therz knowledge ta share, we bee leeve in sharin; pleez tell dad ta chex out this site; all wayz recommended

    https://www.felinecrf.org/

    "diet" haza tab oh itz own

    st francis' blessing two ewe R friend N accomplice ~~~~ ♥♥♥♥♥

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  13. So sorry to hear about the news regarding Tucker. Your dedication to your cat family and their health is wonderful so Tucker is in good hands! I learn so much from you and your followers which helps me with my own cat family!
    Purrs and love to Tucker and the rest of your fur family!

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  14. Oh dear, poor Tucker! I hope you're able to find a kidney friendly food he will enjoy and his diabetes is under better control as well.

    Sasha and Saku send their purrs.

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