Tuesday, July 28, 2015

Jack and the great big case of what the carp?!?!



Last week I noticed something was wrong with Jack. I couldn't put my finger on it, but I knew something was off. Since he has a history of bladder issues, I gave him some of the supplement I have for him for such things and waited to see what happened. The next day I was more concerned. I thought he might be limping, but I couldn't really tell. He seemed very taught in his mid section, so I gave him some more supplement and hoped that what ever was going on would present itself a bit more clearly then the major case of ADR (ain't doin right) he had going on or, preferably, would resolve.  Thursday night his midsection was very taught, and while he didn't seem lethargic he wouldn't get up to get treats.  He ate them happily when I offered them.  I was majorly confused. I was about to lock him away in my bedroom with a litter box to see what was going on but when I offered it to him he went right in and went pee.

Okay, so he wasn't blocked. He was attention seeking and eating. I couldn't be sure he was or wasn't limping. It was nothing really conclusive, and by the time I had convinced myself I saw it, I had also convinced myself he hadn't.

Friday morning I got up and Jack was in his favorite spot, next to Mirror World looking out the window on to the front porch. This is his morning routine.  He laid there while I talked to him.  He laid there while I offered treats to his sisters, and he laid there while I gave him treats... now he usually stands to eat his treats.. however when he is blocked he lays quite differently and he won't eat.

I had a major case of 'what the carp'  His belly was quite taught, but he had no symptoms of pain, he didn't whimper or snap at me while I was manipulating him. He did get up, and he did that 'is he limping??' walk, but then he laid right back down.

That was it, he was going to the vet. His strong reluctance to stand up got me an emergency appointment as long as I didn't mind waiting (I never do), so I packed him up and off we went.

I had actually planned to call the vet next week to get him and Fleurp in for blood work rechecks. He was due for this thyroid panel, she is due for checking her anemia and make sure it is gone. Fleurp is in the week post pred, so I wanted to wait another week and make sure she was holding her RBC... you know how it goes, you plan cats laugh.

So we get to the vet, we happily wait because we know we'll be seen long before the first available appointment they had. He gets examined and his bladder feels very large. He is walking just fine at the vet, not a hint of a limp. Vet jumps to the idea he might be blocked. Don't think I didn't get there on my own. She takes him out back to draw the blood for the bloodwork and to do an xray of his bladder to make sure there isn't a stone. After they take him I think that if he is limping he isn't going to want to walk down the stairs to use the box, so I ask the staff to give him a litter box and they said they would.  Well low and behold he used it and left them a nice deposit to clean up. Phew, not blocked.

But what is going on?? The vet wondered if he didn't get into a fight or an accident, and since we haven't had any discord in the house in months I can't imagine it is a fight issue. One suspect clue is that his weight is now nearly 15lbs.  He has put on a LOT of weight since his I131. He should be around 12. His bloodwork came back on Saturday and his thyroid level is 1.2 (0.8-4.7) which the vet treating him thinks is ideal, but I wonder if it isn't too low for him. Weight gain is a sign of low thyroid..

So, what we are speculating happened is because of his weight he jumped down from somewhere and gave himself an injury of one type or other. The vet gave him an injection of pain meds there and gave me three days of meds to go home (although it is an eight hour medication and she only gave me two doses, so... not quite three days, but I'm guessing they just wanted to help take the edge off)

We brought him home from the vet and he went right back to his corner and laid down. He was there two hours later when I got home from work. He was still there a couple of hours after that, but that evening he was running around after us looking for attention.

The next morning Miz Robyn was stopping by, so I got up nice and early to give him the pain meds, and by the time she got there he was himself - which was so nice for me and Robyn :)

I noticed he hadn't been getting up on the bed, so we went and got the cat stairs we made years ago for Em, and that we broke out again for Ollie. I am happy to say I have gotten my morning licks, but he has been spending way more time than what is normal for him on it.

I put a litter box in the bathroom for him so that he doesn't need to go downstairs, but EVERYONE is using it.. (my cats are so lazy) but at least he has somewhere to go, and his bladder is happy for that. If he isn't better soon I will be bringing him back for more xrays of his joints.

I've also emailed the clinic that gave him the I131 with the issue of the weight gain and how it is bothering him. They questioned if it might not be the food, although none of the other cats have put on two pounds and they all eat the same,  and also suggested a test that might see if we need to do something else for him. I'm currently looking into that option and hope we have answers soon

14 comments:

  1. My old guy Fluffy was "off" and when my vet said "allergies" (outdoor, human type allergies) I was like "Really? nah" (because for us cat ladies, if we haven't seen it in 30 years it can't exist, because we've seen everything....not!). She gave him a shot of dexamethazone, and whether it was allergies or some other inflammatory issue I don't know, but he perked up immediately and stayed perked up. All the best to you and Jack as you work out his "meh" issue.

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  2. Oh Jack.....stop giving your momma fits. We hope it is something simple

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  3. I wish he could talk and tell you how he's feeling. . .

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  4. You'd better straighten up, Jack!

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  5. You'd better straighten up, Jack!

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  6. Have a wonderful week!

    Noodle and crew

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  7. Take care kitty and don't scare the mom!

    Emma and Buster

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  8. We sure hope you get some answers for handsome Jack really soon.

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  9. I have my fingers crossed that it's only related to the weight gain. I think we all get the "we plan, cats laugh" statement. (Or the Fates, gods, whatever.) May this be something simple!

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  10. It's so frustrating when something going on can't be easily pinpointed. Sending purrs Jack's way.

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  11. We hope you can figure out what's going on with Jack, and it's nothing serious.

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  12. Oh, Jack, we sure hope you feel better soon! We're purring that it's something simple that clears up without a lot of fuss to figure it out.

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  13. Oh I hope everything is ok with Jack and there is nothing seriously wrong with him but it is frustrating when you see a doctor/vet and everything seems ok

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  14. Oh poor Jack! I hope you find what ails him soon. The kitties send their purrs.

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