Thor... An update on my kitty!

Harley44 · August 2007

Hi everyone...

I took Thor in to my vet for another check. His urine clumps were large after his urinary block cleared up, but now they are small again. He's been sleeping a lot, and he is just not his 'perky' self.

We got a different vet this time, Dr. Rose. She is so sweet! I really like her, and I think I will ask for her from now on. Dr. Murphy was not very WARM...

Anywho... they got a urine sample from him, and Dr. Rose said that I didn't have to wait A WEEK to get the sample. She found some blood in his urine as well as some bacteria, but since Thor gave up the urine voluntarily, (he peed before she had a chance to get the sample) so it went on the floor, and the doc wasn't sure if it was from the floor or Thor... (I'm a poet! )

She gave us another antibiotic, Clavamox for 21 days!, but this was pills not the liquid that I usually get. They also recommended a switch to a new Rx food. So they are ordering some dry Rx food, but I got some canned anyway, since they eat dry for breakfast and canned for dinner.

So that is all for the excitement for today... now we can just rest...

Thanks everyone! You were all so helpful, and I just wanted to let you know how Thor is doing...

HARLEY

I gave the boys a little 'lunch' snack, with some of the new canned food, and some sweet potatoes, and wouldn't you know it? Thor wouldn't eat it! Later, after a trip to the coffee shop to settle my nerves, I re-mixed it up, with more of his old food, and I nudged him towards his food dish, and ... finally he ate it!!

Tonight, it'll be easier, since I'll just mix it up into his dinner.

ADK · August 2007

Hi Harley,

I am so glad you got a vet that was more helpful than the previous one. We ran into the same thing - it seemed like every time a certain vet cared for our babies, something disasterous would happen, but when a different one cared for them, things went well. We have gotten to the point of requesting a specific vet also. Let's hope the antibiotic does the job and Thor mends well.

Thanks for keeping us updated.

Harley44 · August 2007

Hi ADK,

I forgot to mention that she also saw struvite crystals in his urine, which are symptoms of some uti condition, I think. I'll have to look it up, and that will be good, to finally not have to look up stuff about bc!!

Thanks for your message! I really think this will do the trick, and the new food, which Dr. Rose said may be temporary, just for a month, may be permanent. We just want Thor to be well again. I'll get him the Rx food, and NEVER switch him again, if it will help take care of his problem.

Thanks SO much!

HARLEY

kats · August 2007

Harley- Just noticed this thread I'm glad you finally got the answers to your kitty's

There's a name for the problem that kitties have with their urinary tract it's called Feline Urological Syndrome (FUS)
(it also can go by the name Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD)).

Glad you have Vet now that's more helpful than what I read the previous one was. As person who worked in the Veterinary field for 16 yrs I'm ashamed to say that I've worked with a few Vets who somewhere along the way lost their compassion for their profession in exchange for...$$$

Google FUS and you'll find alot of useful info.

Mary

Harley44 · August 2007

Mary,

Thanks! FLUTD is what the vet called it... I guess it is chemo brain!

Thor is just resting now, and that is what he's been doing since being on the antibiotics, so I know he isn't feeling up to par yet, but I'll just keep hugging him, and hope he'll feel better soon!

Yes, it IS good that we found a nice, compassionate vet! We love that vet clinic, but I was fearful that I wouldn't be able to find a vet that I like! The owner is Dr. Ernest Ward, and he has a show on Animal Planet, so I am sure that since he's so busy, he probably won't be seeing any patients!!!! Too bad, because we wanted to see him too! He sounds nice, too!

Thanks!
HARLEY

geebung · August 2007

I think it is so important for a vet to have a good 'bedside' manner with your pet and his carers. We have several vets in my area and they are good but I know a lot of pet owners choose to travel to one who lives further away because he is SO comforting, friendly and compassionate with pets and their families. It's great that you have found a vet that you really like and I am sure this will benefit dear Thor.

A lot of humans feel sleepy and under par when they are taking antibiotics so it's probably quite normal for Thor to be resting up. Hope he makes a rapid recovery now.

Lots of gentle pats to him and hugs to you.

gb

Harley44 · August 2007

Hi gb!

I am just giving Thor extra special attention while he's feeling low... He's such a great cat! Tonight, before dinner, I experimented with giving Thor his pill instead of putting it into his food. He was SO GOOD! he opened his mouth, and I tossed the pill way back, into his throat, and massaged his throat, and DOWN! it went!

What a GOOD BOY!!

Yes, it is true, that vets need to have good bedside manners, too. I didn't feel comfortable with the other vet, but Dr. Rose was so nice! I even told her about my bc, and that I'm getting chemo, and told her that when my wbc went down, I was getting antibiotics with Thor!!! She typed a note, with instructions for caring for Thor... 1. 2. 3., etc... and #7 was... Hope your chemo continues to go well! Call us if you need anything!

That was so nice of her!! They also sent me a card, after my surgery. It's a really nice place! and she's a very nice vet, too!

Thanks!
HARLEY

geebung · August 2007

Way to go Harley! I just hate giving pills to cats! I have been bitten, scratched and glared at and then they skilfully spit the thing out. Yep - the throat massage is the way to go. I've heard that putting a little butter or something tasty on the cat's nose will cause them to lick it and automatically swallow the pill. I am sure Thor knows you have his best interests at heart.

My cat (Pusscatortum) had a paralysis tick in his neck last Easter and we nearly lost him. He lay perfectly still while I pulled the vile thing out. Shortly afterwards he started having breathing difficulties and we rushed him to the vet. He spent the night in hospital on a antivenom drip and made a good recovery. For several days afterwards he wanted me with him all the time - like a kitten needing his mother!

Your vet sounds outstanding - how sweet of her to send you a card after your surgery and a little note of well wishes for your chemo...people like that are such gems.

All the best to the dear boy. He's lucky to have such a lovely carer.

geebung

ADK · August 2007

Hi Harley,

I am so glad that Thor was cooperative about taking the pill. That is the way my cat that had the same problem was. I swear, they know when something is helping them and they will do what it takes to feel better. I hope things continue to go well.

Darbysmom · August 2007

Glad to hear you have a new Vet. I am amazed that you got Thor to take the pill - my Molly is just impossible. She was on the same type of antibiotic way back when she had the trouble. She eats prescription Waltham SD and had done well on it.
I took my Scottie, Darby, to the vet while I was doing radiation. Was tired and told her about the BC - she also was so nice about it. I wish my surgeon had her bedside matter. LOL.
Take good care of yourself and I am sure Thor will be back to normal soon. I think it is good we have these furkids while fighting this disease - my Molly and Darby have been so supportive.

Connie

kats · August 2007

Harley,
Thor sounds like a very good boy with taking his pills.

My oldest cat has hyerthyroidism and is on medication for it. He gets a pill twice a daily. In the beginning I was able to hide it in about a tablespoon full of canned food. That went well for a while, then he started eating around the pill now I have to pop it in his mouth. He doesn't have the best attitude when you need to do something to him. The Vet had to write 'WATCH' in big red letters on his file because of his attitude. He goes to the Vet next week for his thyroid blood test, should be interesting.

Gotta love our fur babies, here's a picture of 2 of mine.
Oliver (L) (he's the hyerthyroid kitty)
Al (R)

Mary

Harley44 · August 2007

kats,

Oh, your kitties are SO cute! I feel for Oliver because I have a thyroid disorder, hypothyroidism... poor baby!

Al is very pretty, too!

Thanks so much for sharing your pics of your babies!

Hugs,
HARLEY

Harley44 · August 2007

geebung,

Yes, our first cat, Axel was SO hard to give pills!!

But these 2 Spike & Thor seem to be MUCH better! It really is as if they just KNOW that this is going to make them better, so they allow it.

The kind words about my bc, help me so that I feel better about going through life as a plucked chicken with no breasts... It WILL get better!!

I had my 2nd tx today, so I'm HALFWAY THROUGH!!!! Only 2 more to go!!! YEAH!!! Then in November, it's on to reconstruction!!!

We CAN do this!!!

Thanks for the story about your Pusscatortum! I bet that was scary! but glad it has a happy ending!!

Take care,
HARLEY

Harley44 · August 2007

Anne,

You are so right! They seem to know that this is for their own good, and they are just such angels, allowing me to give them their medicine!

I am very hopeful that the pills will help, and the change in his food will put him back on track, with no more problems.

They are such an important part of the family!!

Hugs
HARLEY

Harley44 · August 2007

Connie,

I wasn't sure it was going to work, either. Since my first cat was so hard to pill, I thought I would have to crush it up and put it in his food. But, the vet said they work better if you try to do it the correct way. I had seen it done on TV this way. So I just opened his mouth, and he opened wide, I tossed the pill as far back as I could go, and closed his mouth, and then massaged his throat. I couldn't see him actually making swallowing motions, so I opened his mouth and POOF! it was gone!! I just kept telling him what a good boy he is!!!

I guess it's like Anne said... sometimes they seem to know that this is something that will help them get well...

Thanks!

HARLEY

So, Thor's appt. was on Monday, and my 2nd Tx was Tuesday... I am feeling kind of tired... I hear the effects are cummulative, but I was hoping they wouldn't be... But, at least I'm HALFWAY done!! Only 2 more to go!!

Take care,
HARLEY

Darbysmom · August 2007

Kats,
Your Kitties are so handsome - thanks for posting - it has started my day off well seeing such handsome guys. I wish I knew how to post and would show you all my Molly and Scotty Darby.

Harley, I hope you are feeling OK today. Just keep remembering you are half way there. My thoughts are with you.

Take care everyone,
Connie

Harley44 · August 2007

Connie,

Thanks! I keep reminding myself that I am halfway finished!

I went for a Neulasta shot today, and Now I have to go to the pharmacy to get the Rx filled from yesterday. Some Rx for chemo induced diarrhea and Relapax for my migraines, just in case. I've been getting terrible headaches, since starting the chemo, and they are alot like the migraines I was getting before all this bc stuff started.

Thanks again!
HARLEY

mags · August 2007

Hi Katz, I had to post this photo of my kitty. Her name is Lady. I think Lady and Oliver were twins separated at birth lol. I showed my bf the picture and he couldn't get over how much he looks like our cat.

Hugs
Mags

Harley44 · August 2007

Oh, Lady is so cute!!

All our furry babies are so cute!!

Thanks for the pics!

HARLEY

kats · August 2007

mags- OMG your 'Lady' does look a lot like my 'Oliver'. Even the lopsided white mark in the middle of the forehead is the same. All the years I worked as a Veterinary Technician I've never come across a cat that looked as much like 'Oliver' as 'Lady' does. How cool!!!!!

Mary

mags · August 2007

Hi ladies, yes Harley I love my fur babies and all fur babies are cute lol.
This is Lady's daughter Popeye who has similar markings. Oliver and Lady do really look alike though. How old is he? I didn't mention that Lady is in Greece.

Hugs
Mags

iodine · August 2007

I stopped by a craft fair today and a local pet foster care was having an adoption day there.

I've lost two furbabies in the past 18mos to cars. My dh has his baby, but won't agree to close the catdoor for good so I won't get another cat till he agrees.

I looked them over and just stood there crying. I could not believe it! Glad I had on sunglasses or I would have scared the people! I stuffed some money in their donation jar as I walked away. Felt really foolish.

I must be having some hormone days or something.
Anyway I needed to tell somebody, so ya'll got it.

Harley44 · September 2007

Oh, Dotti

I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your babies!

I absolutely won't let my babies so outside!! When I moved here to NC, the front door didn't shut right, and one day, I went out to get the mail, and started talking to a neighbor. About 5 minutes later, I walked back to the house, and they were BOTH outside, walking around in the front grass!! I yelled, "Spike, get back in the house!" He ran in, but Thor... well, he just stood there, as if to say, "MAKE ME!"

We have a screened porch on the back of our house, so we got a petdoor to let them out onto the porch. They really like it out there! and it is safer...

Take care,
HARLEY

MinAZ · September 2007

My Baby Lucy was a small tuxedo cat, age 18 or 19, and strictly an inside kitty. She was on thyroid meds, as was I. Then I was diagnosed with BC last October, mammo in January, expander in June. While I was in the BC fight, poor kitty developed bladder/kidney trouble. It meant lots of trips to my wonderful vet, various tests and treatments, kitty box problems at home, etc. She was always such a sweet little cat, even with all that. Then in July I lost her.

So 2007 has been a very stressful time but things are easier now in many ways - although of course I'd take her back in an instant. I will get another kitty when I find the right one. In the meantime, I visit my friends cats regularly!

Harley44 · September 2007

Layne,

You are SO right! The vet makes a HUGE difference! I heard from one of the vet techs, that this vet I didn't like was leaving... her dh was transferred... so we won't have to deal with her again. Dr. Rose is SO MUCH NICER! She even wrote on the discharge paperwork for Thor:

... hope your chemo continues to go well... Please call us if you need anything! She is SO SWEET!

My first cat, Axel, had cancer, and our vet came to the house to help us say goodbye to him... It hurt SO BAD!! We lived in Maryland then, so we can't see them anymore.

Our pets are a very important part of the family!!

HARLEY

Harley44 · September 2007

Hi everyone:

Another sign of improvement came today with THOR:

When he's happy, in the morning, he will jump up and bump your hand with his head! We call it a "head hop"! It is SO cute! Thor did that this morning... He is now 200% better!!!

YEAH!!!!

Thanks for all the prayers!

HARLEY

kats · September 2007

Harley,
Thanks for the 'Thor' update. Great to hear he's 200% better.

Funny about the 'head hop' thing he does. 2 of my kitties do that too, we call it 'Prancer' weird I know. That name started after watching the movie 'Prancer', the reindeer in the movie would rear up on it's hind legs (didn't do the head bopping thing)but it reminded us of 'Al' (he's the one who does it most often, he's the cat in picture with 'Oliver') rearing up on his hind legs for a head bop.

Mary

Harley44 · September 2007

kats,

That is TOO FUNNY! I thought I was weird, calling it a HEAD HOP... but only another animal lover would understand!

Thanks for sharing that...

HARLEY

kats · September 2007

Harley-How are you and Thor feeling?

Dottie-Sorry about your furbabies. Kitties do love the outdoors but it's just not a safe place for them. Mine are strickly indoor only kitties but every once in awhile one will sneak out and go off the deck to look for catnip.

mags-Now I know why I've never seen another kitty like my 'Oliver' in the States, his relatives are in Greece 'Popeye' is a very pretty girl.

Mary

Harley44 · September 2007

kats,

Thanks so much for asking! Thor is doing great!

I am still feeling kind of achey, and have some dull lower back pain, from the Neulasta shot I had last week, I guess... But, I am halfway through the TC treatments, so I just gotta keep going til I'm done!! Good to have my kitties to help comfort me.

Oh, my dh came back down to NC - for good this time. He's retiring from the Navy, and we are hoping he won't have to make another trip back to DC... He only has ONE more week to go!

Thanks! Your kitties are SO cute!

HARLEY

kats · September 2007

Harley- Glad to hear Thor is still doing great. Sorry to hear you're still having some pain from Neulasta. When I was doing chemo I had to have Neupogen injections, I had a total of 16 of them through the course of my chemo and I remember the bone pain it gave me (plus the burning/stinging when getting the injection) so I can imagine what you going through with Neulasta. Does Neulasta burn/sting when being injected?

Congrats on your DH retiring from the Navy. My DH is retired Air Force. We lived in DC for 8 yrs, he worked at the Defense Intelligence Agency and the Pentagon. I'm glad to have those Military years behind us.

Mary

Thor... An update on my kitty!

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