P-ing Candace Scottie
How is your Orange Guy doing? Please update!
-L. |
P-ing Candace Scottie
-L. wrote:
How is your Orange Guy doing? Please update! -L. Lyn, unfortunately, he's not doing very well. He seemed much better and had 5-6 days where he ate a lot and didn't regurgitate (that was while on pred 5 twice a day). Then it quit working a week ago today, I think (I can't seem to keep track of it all). The following Monday I took him back to the vet where they gave him a long-lasting steroid injection (methylprednisolone acetate). On Wed. he ate like a horse (liquified a/d) and didn't regurgitate. Thursday he started regurgitating again. Friday I took him to the vet where they gave him solu-cortef as a short-acting steroid and more MPA. That was yesterday. Today he is eating very small amounts of the gravy from various cat foods. Won't eat a/d anymore. Isn't really regurgitating, although he did a little saliva a couple of times. He seems to gag on his saliva 4-5 times a day. He is up and about and fairly active but not as active as he was a couple of days ago. The next thing I may or may not do is have an endoscopy. It's only $420 which, compared to what we have already spent, is not much but one part of me doesn't want to put the poor little guy through any more. He's been hauled to the vet repeatedly, he hates it, and I hate to have him go in for an invasive procedure. They think he may have megaesophagus or some other condition where his esophagus is flaccid. I guess it probably isn't an irritation from the feeding tube like I had originally thought as that has been out for 2 weeks now and I would think there would be some improvement if it were that. Instead, he is worse as he originally wouldn't gag on his saliva. He now weighs 8 lbs. 12 oz. when he used to weigh almost 11 pounds. I don't think he is in pain although I know he is uncomfortable when he gags and regurgitates. He kind of has to lay with his head in a vertical position; if he puts his head to the side for very long, he seems to gag on his saliva. It's just so mystifying. I don't really know where to go from here. Maybe it's almost his time. He's not yet 9 (will be in the spring) and I hate for him to have to die but I also hate for him to suffer even more. It's very heartbreaking because he's such a sweet little guy that enjoys playing and being held; I know he wants to live (well, I know all animals want to live instinctually but he seems to have a zest for life). Thank you for asking. Candace |
P-ing Candace Scottie
"Candace" wrote He now weighs 8 lbs. 12 oz. when he used to weigh almost 11 pounds. I don't think he is in pain although I know he is uncomfortable when he gags and regurgitates. He kind of has to lay with his head in a vertical position; if he puts his head to the side for very long, he seems to gag on his saliva. It's just so mystifying. I don't really know where to go from here. Maybe it's almost his time. He's not yet 9 (will be in the spring) and I hate for him to have to die but I also hate for him to suffer even more. It's very heartbreaking because he's such a sweet little guy that enjoys playing and being held; I know he wants to live (well, I know all animals want to live instinctually but he seems to have a zest for life). Oh, Candace. I'm sorry he's not doing well. |
P-ing Candace Scottie
On 25 Feb 2006 19:27:24 -0800, "Candace" wrote:
-L. wrote: How is your Orange Guy doing? Please update! -L. Lyn, unfortunately, he's not doing very well. He seemed much better and had 5-6 days where he ate a lot and didn't regurgitate (that was while on pred 5 twice a day). Then it quit working a week ago today, I think (I can't seem to keep track of it all). The following Monday I took him back to the vet where they gave him a long-lasting steroid injection (methylprednisolone acetate). On Wed. he ate like a horse (liquified a/d) and didn't regurgitate. Thursday he started regurgitating again. Friday I took him to the vet where they gave him solu-cortef as a short-acting steroid and more MPA. That was yesterday. Today he is eating very small amounts of the gravy from various cat foods. Won't eat a/d anymore. Isn't really regurgitating, although he did a little saliva a couple of times. He seems to gag on his saliva 4-5 times a day. He is up and about and fairly active but not as active as he was a couple of days ago. The next thing I may or may not do is have an endoscopy. It's only $420 which, compared to what we have already spent, is not much but one part of me doesn't want to put the poor little guy through any more. He's been hauled to the vet repeatedly, he hates it, and I hate to have him go in for an invasive procedure. They think he may have megaesophagus or some other condition where his esophagus is flaccid. I guess it probably isn't an irritation from the feeding tube like I had originally thought as that has been out for 2 weeks now and I would think there would be some improvement if it were that. Instead, he is worse as he originally wouldn't gag on his saliva. He now weighs 8 lbs. 12 oz. when he used to weigh almost 11 pounds. I don't think he is in pain although I know he is uncomfortable when he gags and regurgitates. He kind of has to lay with his head in a vertical position; if he puts his head to the side for very long, he seems to gag on his saliva. It's just so mystifying. I don't really know where to go from here. Maybe it's almost his time. He's not yet 9 (will be in the spring) and I hate for him to have to die but I also hate for him to suffer even more. It's very heartbreaking because he's such a sweet little guy that enjoys playing and being held; I know he wants to live (well, I know all animals want to live instinctually but he seems to have a zest for life). Thank you for asking. Candace This is very sad to hear, Candace. I'm so sorry for you and for him. Charlie |
P-ing Candace Scottie
On Sat, 25 Feb 2006 19:27:24 -0800, Candace wrote:
-L. wrote: How is your Orange Guy doing? Please update! -L. Lyn, unfortunately, he's not doing very well. He seemed much better and had 5-6 days where he ate a lot and didn't regurgitate (that was while on pred 5 twice a day). Then it quit working a week ago today, I think (I can't seem to keep track of it all). The following Monday I took him back to the vet where they gave him a long-lasting steroid injection (methylprednisolone acetate). On Wed. he ate like a horse (liquified a/d) and didn't regurgitate. Thursday he started regurgitating again. Friday I took him to the vet where they gave him solu-cortef as a short-acting steroid and more MPA. That was yesterday. Today he is eating very small amounts of the gravy from various cat foods. Won't eat a/d anymore. Isn't really regurgitating, although he did a little saliva a couple of times. He seems to gag on his saliva 4-5 times a day. He is up and about and fairly active but not as active as he was a couple of days ago. The next thing I may or may not do is have an endoscopy. It's only $420 which, compared to what we have already spent, is not much but one part of me doesn't want to put the poor little guy through any more. He's been hauled to the vet repeatedly, he hates it, and I hate to have him go in for an invasive procedure. They think he may have megaesophagus or some other condition where his esophagus is flaccid. I guess it probably isn't an irritation from the feeding tube like I had originally thought as that has been out for 2 weeks now and I would think there would be some improvement if it were that. Instead, he is worse as he originally wouldn't gag on his saliva. He now weighs 8 lbs. 12 oz. when he used to weigh almost 11 pounds. I don't think he is in pain although I know he is uncomfortable when he gags and regurgitates. He kind of has to lay with his head in a vertical position; if he puts his head to the side for very long, he seems to gag on his saliva. It's just so mystifying. I don't really know where to go from here. Maybe it's almost his time. He's not yet 9 (will be in the spring) and I hate for him to have to die but I also hate for him to suffer even more. It's very heartbreaking because he's such a sweet little guy that enjoys playing and being held; I know he wants to live (well, I know all animals want to live instinctually but he seems to have a zest for life). Thank you for asking. Candace Purring for Scottie!!! MB |
P-ing Candace Scottie
Candace wrote: Lyn, unfortunately, he's not doing very well. snip ****! Thats'a all I can say... Some suggestions - take them or leave them: Have they tried putting him on an acid-reducer (like Pepcid) alone? That would be one thing I would do. Pred is anti-inflammatory and generally just makes you feel better all over (and eat!) so I suspect he is inflamed someplace in the GI tract. "But why?" is the question. I would also see if he will eat cooked meats (chicken, turkey) that you prepare - pure protein. They are bland and easy on the GI tract. If so, juts feed him that for awhile. Also, vomiting can be a sign of heart congestion - I am assuming they have checked that out though. The endoscopy isn't that invasive - they will knock him out and scope him. I doubt you are going to see anything, but it's certainly worth a try. Keep us posted - I was worried that he was having trouble. -L. |
P-ing Candace Scottie
Candace wrote: Why don't you think they would see anything? Are endoscopies notorious for not providing any info? I should probably rephrase it. I doubt they are going to see anything they don't already know - I'm not sure they can tell anything about the tonation of the esophagus with an endoscopy (I could be wrong). If he had a tumor it would have shown on the x-ray. Megaesophagus should have shown when they did the barium. They will be able to see irritation, but you already know he is inflamed as the pred is making it better. It's worth a shot since you don't have a lot of other options, though. The reason I don't want to get him one is I was reading on the internet that anesthesia alone can cause esophagitis because of reflux and I also thought (can't remember if I read it or just thought it) that if his esophagus is damaged from the feeding tube, having that scope shoved down him might exacerbate it even more. It probably will, in the short-term. If you are really worried about that, I'd say keep him on the pred longer, keep trying different foods and see how he does. Chicken broth is a good supplement - it can stimulate appetite. Dissolve some Nutrical in it to boost the nutrient value. One food that is good for non-eaters is Purina D/M diabetic diet, canned. It's high protein without being high fat - you could puree some in a blender with some chicken broth. (Sorry about suggesting the meat, I didn't realize he can't eat any solid foods.) Keep us posted - I was worried that he was having trouble. Yeah, usually if I'm quiet on this ng for very long, it's because something is wrong. Thanks for thinking of my orange baby. It's just so frustrating. One thing is for certain - you are fighting for him! I will keep him in my thoughts. -L. |
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