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URGENT Advice please

(288 Posts)
Squiffy Thu 02-Aug-18 09:29:34

Morning all.

Clutching at straws here, but I have a very poorly cat and wondered if any of you have dealt with the same issue.

She has been retching/gagging since Sunday evening and until yesterday was also flicking her tongue in and out.

Monday we went to the vet and she had exploratories done.

Her gut was inflamed so they operated on her abdomen, but found nothing.

She came home last night and drank some water, but not eaten.

She's on two meds - one anti-inflammatory and Ranittidene (sp?) as she is full of wind.

She spends her time hiding quietly in a corner and wants to be on her own (very out of character, but understandable at the moment).

She is still doing mini-retches, almost like an unproductive burp.

I slept downstairs with her last night and she had a few little wanders around and then settled down again.

Any ideas as to what may be causing this or what else to do? The vet's on standby to readmit her, but he doesn't have a clue as to the cause.

Help please!

Squiffy Mon 20-Aug-18 18:11:10

Another good visit today. Only a brief purr, but a loud miaow when her legs were being pumped up and down!

Watched how to tube feed her and will ask to have a go at doing it some time this week.

The exercises were pretty much what I was doing with her when I visited, but there is an additional 'riding a bike' movement that I learned today.

Plenty of response to sounds - head turning to follow them - and slow blinking back to me.

Massive improvement in her neck strength and she can lift her head up when she's lying down and hold it up for much longer.

Looking more hopeful . . . . .

Sparklefizz Mon 20-Aug-18 17:28:04

Brilliant news Squiffy ! So pleased for you. x

Squiffy Sun 19-Aug-18 17:11:24

Love that idea Hilda!

Jane I can do a pretty mean Scratch Under The Chin therapy, too!

Oh wow Soda, how amazing! I love a happy ending smile

sodapop Sun 19-Aug-18 17:04:25

Great news Squiffy get well soon Fluff.

We brought our JR home to die after major surgery. Several years later he is still going strong and bossing the entire household around. Never give up hope.

Jane10 Sun 19-Aug-18 16:38:21

Cat nursing and now cat physio!

HildaW Sun 19-Aug-18 16:27:23

Wonderful! XX Right, please Gransnet can we have a happy cat icon!

Squiffy Sun 19-Aug-18 16:17:05

Another great visit today!

This is surreal! To think that, if the Vet and I hadn't heard Fluff purring yesterday, she would have been pts shock

She responded to sounds today, followed the sounds by moving her head, purred like mad and looked me fairly and squarely in the eye. I did the slow blink at her and she slow blinked back.

I exercised her legs while she lay on her back - a bit like milking a cow, but upside down! She resisted, so not only is she getting stronger, but her brain is working well enough for her to 'fight back' - "Leave me alone!"

First nursing lesson tomorrow smile

Squiffy Sat 18-Aug-18 20:47:30

Thank you all smile

We might sleep tonight!

Scribbles Sat 18-Aug-18 18:55:43

Oh, wow! I was out all afternoon and came home dreading to read the update. But such heartening news! Bless her little Fluffy cotton socks, it'll be slow but I'm sure she'll react positively to being back home, surrounded by her own familiar things, scents and people. Dear little cat, she deserves to win after all this.?

HildaW Sat 18-Aug-18 17:28:50

Oh Squiffy how heartening! So glad you've had some progress...onwards and upwards. Lots of love to you and Fluff!....you know cats have many names.....so she may well be Fluff somewhere in there.

Sparklefizz Sat 18-Aug-18 17:15:07

Wow Squiffy, like others have said, I was dreading hearing today's news. We all feel better when we're at home. I really do hope this will help her. You will have your work cut out, but she is sure to respond better when it's much-loved you and not strangers at the vet! Thinking of you. xx

seacliff Sat 18-Aug-18 16:32:51

Wow, I was dreading hearing today's news, but that's good. If you can manage her at home, that might really help her. Poor little girl, she's been through so much, but maybe she will pull through, we all hope so.

Squiffy Sat 18-Aug-18 16:20:01

Queen of the Cat Bed Bath Jane!! Hopefully the diaorrhea will have stopped completely by the time she comes home!!

Jane10 Sat 18-Aug-18 15:51:57

Wow! Good luck with the tube feeding. You'll be a veterinary yourself!

MissAdventure Sat 18-Aug-18 15:38:14

Little soul. smile
I was kind of expecting very dark news when checking the update, but can't help feeling my heart leap a little at this news.

Squiffy Sat 18-Aug-18 15:21:28

MissA I imagine there will be assessments as she has a long way to go. She still can’t stand unaided, she doesn’t know what to do with her legs.

She still curls her tail round into a very neat Swiss roll, not just wrapped round her body - think treble clef in music!

MissAdventure Sat 18-Aug-18 15:16:01

Wow! That's a turnaround!
What will happen once she is home?
Will she still be assessed, or are the signs now that she will carry on slowly improving?
Cautious optimism smile

Squiffy Sat 18-Aug-18 15:05:38

Well, today’s update is unbelievable.

I went to visit Fluff today and to face the inevitable The End conversation, feeling absolutely awful.

As we were talking, the Vet said that as F wasn’t responding to anything ( sound etc) there was probably too much brain damage.

She did the Universal Cat Call (you know the one - sucking through your lips and teeth!) and F opened her eyes and moved her head. She did it a second time. So the Vet moved round to the other side of the room and repeated the sound. F responded again!

Next she put her on her back to demonstrate the physio she’d been having and F opened her eyes again and purred.

Change of plan required then! They’re going to teach me how to tube feed her etc and, if she’s still OK, she’ll come home at end of week and I’ll nurse her.

I’m still reeling!

Don’t want to get too optimistic, but woooooooo!

Squiffy Fri 17-Aug-18 22:00:25

Thank you all.

It’s a good way to lose weight! Neither of us fancies food.

Jane10 Fri 17-Aug-18 18:34:18

Gosh this must be so nerve wracking for you Squiffy!

MissAdventure Fri 17-Aug-18 18:27:31

Oh, what a wait...
Really hoping it'll be positive news.
Fingers, toes, and everything else crossed!
flowers

1974cookie Fri 17-Aug-18 18:04:33

Oh Squiffy, this is a real rollercoaster of a ride for both Fluff and Yourself.
Please, please let there be good news for you both, and that Fluffs downward change is just a minor hiccup.
Lots of Hugs for you both as always. x

Sparklefizz Fri 17-Aug-18 17:56:55

Your nerves must be shredded, Squiffy. A big hug to you. x

Squiffy Fri 17-Aug-18 17:50:14

Nothing constructive to report. Had small response to scratching under the chin and massaging her legs, but minimal.

Should hear from the Vet tomorrow, as she wasn't on duty and I managed to miss her call just now. She did pop in to give Fluff the once-over, so I'll know more in the morning.

annodomini Fri 17-Aug-18 10:46:26

Poor you, Squiffy and poor wee Fluff. Such a long, slow process must be taking it out of both of you. It's hard to maintain hope but here are hundreds of people doing it with you. I hope for better news today. ((((hugs))))