Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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So, as spoiled as he may or may not have been, Sam wasn't the only more-than-two-legged family member. 
We also had four cats and another dog. Last fall, our third cat...my big, fat, black, gentle sartorialist, and the most well-dressed feline out there, Momo, went into renal failure. He was 8 at the time, and although he had a long history of UTIs, the diagnosis of CKD was sudden. He crashed hard, and his levels went off the charts. He lost half his body weight, spent 3 days in intensive care, and we didn't think he would make it. But make it he did.
He came home, switched foods, and went on daily sub-q's. It took us a month to get him eating again, but eventually, life returned to normal, and he gained back his weight. By the holidays--and his 9th birthday--his levels were still mildly elevated (or depressed, depending), but certainly "normal" for a cat who had lost probably 90% of his kidney function.
Now, CRF (or CKD or whcihever name you choose) is a terminal condition...but he had been doing super well. In the last few months, we'd even moved his fluids to an every other day thing.
The last few weeks, we'd noticed he seemed a little manky, so we upped his sub-q frequency, which usually takes care of it. We were gone for several days, as my grandmother just passed away, and I had to go out of town to take care of the funeral and all of that. Came home on Wednesday, and he seemed off still. Friday, he vomited a couple of times. By saturday, he was refusing food, lip smacking, and vomiting more and more--all classic symptoms of a crash. Sunday, was barf fest.
We went in to the vet this AM, and his levels are again sky high. (Some aren't even readable at their current levels) Plus he had a blockage--which the vet finally managed to remove a stone tonight, but he suspects more. No idea whether the failing kidneys made the blockage, or whether theh blockage made the failing kidneys go into acute failure.
So, basically...we wait. If his levels don't start to move in 36 hours, then there is a chance he simply won't recover. Hopefully, they will--he did it before, and I am hoping his youth will help him. After they start to drop, then we will do a contrast and check for more stones. (We've sent the stone in to the U of M for analysis--knowing what type of sediment it is will help plot a course of action)
I am hopeful...the fatty is too lazy to die on me <3 And he is my baby. He is the Sampson of cats, as it were. But if you could spare some healing vibes for Mr. Momzibart, I'd surely appreciate it.
Here is his album 
As you can see, he IS a well-dressed, and eternally patient (or lazy) young man.
Here he is reclining in style (for those that don't want to see the album...wherein he wears assless chaps)
"Let us think the unthinkable, let us do the undoable, let us prepare to grapple with the ineffable itself, and see if we may not eff it after all."
-Douglas Adams, Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency
"May I recommend serenity to you? A life that is burdened with expectations is a heavy life. Its fruit is sorrow and disappointment. Learn to be one with the joy of the moment."
-Douglas Adams, The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul
Oh Megan...you KNOW I love a kitty who dresses well....
He sounds like quite a tough little fighter....I'm sending you tons and tons of positive vibes that he pulls through this. Keep us posted please!
Jill is a 9-year-old tuxedo kitty. She was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma in June 2012 on her toe in her right hind leg. Her leg was amputated on 12/12/12 and she completed four rounds of chemo (2 of Carbo, 2 of Doxy) in April 2013. "Like" Jill's facebook page: https://www.fac.....tty?ref=hl Proud member of the WINTER WARRIORS!!!! Her blog can be read at http://jillsjou.....ipawds.com. xoxo
Definitely sending good vibes your way. Keep us posted.
Adelaide is a young tripawd Husky, from an injury. Her amp was on 10/1/12. She has 4 sisters, Aissa (a senior border collie/chow), Maggie May (a puppy Great Pyrenees), Mathilde and Morrigan and 1 baby brother, Bagheera. We are all watched over by our angel Brendol, who was dx with OSA 1/30/13, amp on 2/6/13, and left us on 8/20/13.
You can read their stories at http://adelaide.tripawds.com and http://brendol.tripawds.com
Sending special blessings to Momo.
Spirit Shooter was a Miniature Australian Shepherd who was diagnosed with a MCT and had a LF amp 1/28/13 at 13-1/2 years old.
Shooter crossed the Bridge on 8/28/13, his 7 month ampuversary and two weeks from his 14th birthday.
Maggie had CRF- it's tough to deal with. I hope Momo has another rally in him. Sending lots of strong, positive thoughts your way.
Karen and Spirit Maggie
Tri-pug Maggie survived a 4.5 year mast cell cancer battle only to be lost to oral melanoma.
1999 to 2010
Momo, you jave to be the world's most patient kitty! You hacpve quite the wardrobe and did ot see the same outdit twice! Some mu
st have taken quite awhile to get you fitted! Yet, you do not look disvruntled in any photo!
Of course, my favoeite is you with Sampson on the sofa.
I had to scan through them a little too quickly tonight, but I'm gonna go back and check them ot more thoroughy. I did otice yo are quite the beer driker! Maybe that's the ticket.....your mom got you drunk then dressed you up!
Now listen Momo, not only is the whole commnity sending out healing vibes, we've got Sampsonoverseeng you! So yo HAVE to do well, okay?
Regardless of the circumstances, it's wonderful to hear all about you and to see all the various wardrobe optionsyou have! You make a great penfuin by the way!
Look forward toyour update as soon as you can. Paws crossed and good vibes flowng!!
Surrounding Mom with healing energy and Sam's lmagic!
Sally and Happy Hannah
Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!
Sending pawsitive thoughts for Momo (and you of course).
Linda and Tucker
Thank you everyone I appreciate it. Momo is...a special dude.
No phone calls this AM, so at least nothing bad happened over night. Hopefully, this afternoon will bring good news. I will keep you posted. <3
"Let us think the unthinkable, let us do the undoable, let us prepare to grapple with the ineffable itself, and see if we may not eff it after all."
-Douglas Adams, Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency
"May I recommend serenity to you? A life that is burdened with expectations is a heavy life. Its fruit is sorrow and disappointment. Learn to be one with the joy of the moment."
-Douglas Adams, The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul
We're rootin for you Momo! Dig out that SuperCat costume, you can do it!
Megan I'm really sorry to hear about your Grandma, what a ruff time to deal with all of this. {{{{{hugs}}}}}}
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thanks, everyone And thank you, Rene, for the condolences. We were fortunate to have seen her everyday over thanksgiving weekend, and apparently, my mom said when we left to go back to MN, she dumped out her meds, pulled out her oxygen, stopped eating, and basically let go. So, it was good we got to spend time with her.
I will say, though...I wish (and I know SHE wished) we could do for people what we do for animals. She had lived 90+ really good, vibrant, beer drinnking/cardplaying, fun years...and then really was miserable for the last one. And yet...modern medicine kept her going when she wanted to say goodbye. She lived well; I wish her final months could have been a better reflection of that.
ANYWAY...
The vet called yesterday afternoon and left a voicemail while I was in a meeting.
As of that afternoon,
BUN still >130
creat down to 4.2 (from 7.5)
phos down to 7.1 (from 15)
He pulled his catheter out during the night, and it caused a reobstruction, but the vet was able to re-cath him without too much trouble this AM. He (Momo, not the vet) ate some c/d (anti-stone) food following that in the AM.
The stone typing at U of M can take 2-3 weeks, so nothing there...but still irrelevant anyway. Bladder is still greatly enlarged, and he's not peeing on his own yet, and the cath is still pulling out yucky stuff. So we keep him on fluids another 48 hours.
Hopefully, BUN will come down, he'll pee...and then we can figure out how many more stones and decide how to eradicate them. But first things first.
The vet was out the remainder of the afternoon, so I have to wait until today to learn more, but we did stop by the clinic and visit the inmate on our way home. <3 He was alert, or more alert, anyway. Definitely not happy (also wearing cone of shame
)...but who would be with a tube in your peeps and a plastic basket on your head? He had eaten a bit more food, and was at least vocal again. So he WANTS to be up-and-at-em (in a slow moving, lazy sort of way...he and Sam were two peas in a pod, that way ), which is important. He has to want to hang around before we can even start to fight. We shall see what today brings.
As a side and unrelated note...this AM I am speaking at the AERC (animal emergency and referral center) winter staff meeting. That was teh clinic where we did our acupuncture and PT, and the marketing director wanted to have someone come in and share their experiences with the staff as a "thank you/it is all worth it" sort of thing. So, SamDog shall ride again in my 10 minute chat
"Let us think the unthinkable, let us do the undoable, let us prepare to grapple with the ineffable itself, and see if we may not eff it after all."
-Douglas Adams, Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency
"May I recommend serenity to you? A life that is burdened with expectations is a heavy life. Its fruit is sorrow and disappointment. Learn to be one with the joy of the moment."
-Douglas Adams, The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul
Healing vibes to Momo. All of the furbabies in Tripawd families whether they are quad paw or Tripawd are part of this family. Hugs. I hope you hear more good news
Michelle & Angel Sassy
Sassy is a proud member of the Winter Warriors. Live long, & strong Winter Warriors.
sassysugarbear.tripawds.com
07/26/2006 - Sassy earned her wings 08/20/2013
05/04/2006 - Bosch, Sassy's pal, earned his wings 03/29/19 fought cancer for 4 months.
"You aren't doing it TO her, you are doing it FOR her. Give her a chance at life."
Okay, Momo's got the "get me out of here" attitude going, and that's a good thing!! Feeling good about that...that's a real plus...and ate AT the vet's too?...all good signs.
I can just picture her working all night to get that catheter out and how very pleased with herself she was when she did!
Yeah, I think your Grandma handled her life beautifully, and showed a lot of her own "get me outt' here attitude" when she undid her tube, etc. Good for youGrandma! Don't you be giving Sam an beer, okay? I bet he'd be one mean butt drunk!!
Ooops! Too late! I just heard Grandma and Sam pop open one! Pawty time in heaven tonight!
Thanks for the update Megan. You hang in there...you've got a lot of strong Angels watching over you.
Love and hugs!
Sallh and Happh Hannah
Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!
And PS! That's wonderful that you are giving a talk. There will be a lot of enlightened souls after you're done! And I'm sure you'll jave that wonderful trademark wit scattered throught the speech
Kudos to you!!!
Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!
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