This is Tracy with an update on Phoebe. We take her back to the V. E. T. today to repeat her blood work. It's been two weeks since it was done. She's completed her course of antibiotics. The vitamins and gallbladder medication have been a bit sporadic because she fights it so much. I have felt like I needed to pick my battles a bit and the antibiotics seemed to be the most important thing. She has been a really picky eater and seems just as skinny as before we started wooing her with fancy foods. I fear that we may learn the worst - that she is not improving. I don't think that I am ready to have her put down today. I hate to have "grandma" come home tomorrow and find that out. I'd also like to have some days without the torturous medications.
We'll keep you informed when we know more. The appointment today is at 3:10 Pacific Time.
The results are in: Phoebe's blood work was not really improved. One value was better, but the other two were worse. She is down to only 7 lbs. So I'm very sorry to tell you that Phoebe is pretty much on kitty hospice now. We are going to try a steroid, topical on her ears, to see if that helps keep her going for a while and perhaps increase her appetite. We are also going to keep doing subq fluids as that really doesn't seem to bother her at all. She doesn't seem to be in pain, still enjoys going outside and cuddles in bed at night. We figure she will let us know when she gets too unhappy. The steroids are not likely to improve the liver function much, but may help a bit. We didn't repeat the anemia test, but she's still quite pale on her gums. I'm not going to fight with her anymore with the vitamins or the gallbladder medicine. It's just too traumatic for her. Thank you everyone for your strong purrs. We are also thinking of having either Phoebe or Joey visit Grandma for a couple of days to give her a break from him. Any other suggestions are welcome.
36 comments:
Oh, we'z purring dat yoo is improved. We read what yoor mom sed and got leaky eyes...please don't go off to da bridge...
Oh no! Phoebe, we are all purring very hard for you. Please get better!
Oh, poor Phoebe. We all send you a lot of purrs. Please get well soon.
Purr Purr Purr Purr Purr.....
Oh no, Phoebe, Phoebe, Phoebe! We Ballicai are telleportin ofur to see you all togethur and we're gonna purr and purr and purr and purr as hard as we possibly can -- please, please, please, please get bettur! You're such a purreshus kitty girl and we love you!!!
Kittyhugs and love and lots and lots of healing purrs from MaoMao and the Ballicai!
Purrs to Phoebe - Big huge purrs to her.
(((Hugs))) furr yoo Phoebe. We hope yoo git better soon.
Oh, this is very very sad news. I want to do something to help! Sending lots and lots and LOTS of purrs Phoebe's way. Hope the steroids do the trick!
oh no Phoebe. We are so very sorry and so sad. We are sending so many purrrs to you right now. we hope they help.
This is sad news indeed. We hope that
Phoebe has many more comfortable and happy days where she is loved.
We get subq's too. We have kidney failure :-(
(((hughug))) to all of you and purrrrs too
oh we so sad to hear this we luff pheeb purrrrs Mu shue get subq's too for his kiddy problem
Lilly lu
We're sending purrs and vibes for comfort to Phoebe.
KC said...
O, no, poor Phoebe.
Pleeze be okay, pleeze.
We's all been purring but we'll keep on purring and even stronger purrs. An more purr-rayers fur Phoebe.
And it's furry good ta know she isn't in any pain. Such a sweet, good cat shouldn't haf ta suffer. She has a wonnerful fambly, fur sure.
Love, KC
Puuurs I came here from catblogshere, i heard Phoebe, you are not doing good...u know I will pray hard tonight so that you will be healthy kitty again!! I know you can do it!! your mom is awesome trying everything, you will be ok!!
Oh Phoebe, sweet girl, please know I'm purring with all my might for you!
And I want to throw this out as a suggestion: has your mom heard of the Pill Pockets? They are treats for kitties in which Mom can put medication, whether pill form or liquid. And the Pill Pockets are delicious and kitties tend to not be able to resist them, so they'll eat the meds along with the treats.
Mom, just be sure not to handle the pill pocket with the same hand that handled the medication, or Phoebe might smell the medication on the treat.
Otherwise, we know several kitties who have had great luck with this medication method.
If you decide to try the pill pockets, give some to Phoebe pill-free before you give any to her with medication -- whet her appetite for them! Then give her treats some of which have her pills and some which don't. Sneak them in on her (sorry Phoebe, that was my Mom talking.)
There's also the possibility of compounding Phoebe's medication -- pharmacies can take meds and turn them into something yummy and make medication much easier on kitties (scroll to the bottom of the page for this link, under "My Cat Just Won't Take A Pill!").
Sending healing purrs and lots of love and snuggles, dear and beautiful little girl.
We like Marilyn's ideas (even if it does mean tricking her). We have no suggestions except we are purring and purraying furry hard fur yoo, Phoebe...oh, mom's eyes is leaky again.
We are sooo sorry to hear that Phoebe's still so sick...purring and purraying for a change for the better,
Headbutts to all,
Gypsy & Tasha (& Mum)
Beautiful Phoebe, we're all sending lots of love and purrs and we're praying that you'll recover.
Oh, Phoebe, we're so sorry we just now heard you weren't feeling well, or we would have come by much earlier. We're all sending double healing purrs and purrayers for you, and if we can think of anything that might help you, we'll come right back and let you know!
Rocky
& everybody at Artsy Catsy
oh, dear phoebe!! we are purrin' an' purrrayin' for you furry much. we hopes you will not hafta leave your home an' your beans & furriends, an' we hopes ya has no pain or sadness. sweet girl, keep yer pecker up!
nels, ed, nitro, and xing lu
Oh Phoebe, we's sorry yoo's not feelin any better. We's sendin yoo lotsa purrs and to yore fambly too.
Purrrrrrrrrrrs,
Sanjee, Boni Maroni, Mini, Gree and Pepi
Oh Phoebe we are so sorry to hear you are sick. Mom asked me to tell you about our One Who Came Before named Pfredd. Pfredd only weighed about 5 pounds for the last several years of his life. He did not have gallbladder trouble but he did throw up a lot. Even though he weighed so little he lived a long and happy life until he was 19 years old. Not weighing very much makes it hard on your Mom but it does not mean you are giving up!
Purrrrrrrrrrs and tail wags from your friends,
Jemima, Zeke, Sushi, Tiger Lily and Ruckus
Oh Phoebe, we are so sad to hear that you are not feeling well! We are purrring and purrayering for you to get better and for your family! Mom's eyes are leaking!!
Your FL furiends,
We just heard that Phoebe is not doing well, and we're sending our best healing purrrsss to help.
We would like to second the compounding pharmacy -- Luna got medication rubbed on her ears for most of a year and still doesn't know it. (Hey! I do now. No fair!)
Have you tried baby food? Sometimes sicky kitties will eat that when they won't eat anything else.
ppuuuuuurrrrr ppuurrrrrrrrrrr
Such sad news:(
We are sending healing purrs to you Phoebe.
Oh Phoebe, I'm must crying! You are my outside buddy! Look at the adventures we have had going outside in our harness! I'm so glad you are still enjoying that, but I'm so heartbroken you are sick. Please sweet friend, I'm purrin' for you. I feel so bad I haven't visited in so long.
Tara
I'm crying so hard I can't even type!
Tara
Phoebe,
We're so sorry to hear you're not feeling well. Such a beautiful sweet girl like you needs lots of purrs and lovefaces and pets and we're sending you all we can! Please feel better.
And the baby food is a great idea.
MamaCat & the FurryPurries
Ozzy, Alice, Bootsie, Freckles & Lola
Phoebe
We is purring and purrin and purrin furrs yu...we will keep yu in our purrayers....
Purrs
Abby, Boo, Ping, Jinx and Gracie
Oh no! :( I'm so sorry to hear that Phoebe is doing so poorly. :( I will purr and pray hard for her.
Oh no! Maybe Joey & Monica could visit Grandma so you can devote time to Phoebe. Or can she stay full time at the vet's office so they can medicate her?
I was going to suggest the pill pockets and the baby food. Pill pockets make things much easier on me and my beans.
If you think Phoebe wouldn't mind Joey & Monica being away, it might be good for her to have a break, but if you think she'd miss one or the other, it might stress her out more.
In the meantime, we'll send her uber lotsa purrs and prayers. We'll send some to all of you too.
Puuuuurrrrrrrrrrrsssssss
Oh, Phoebe, I am still purring ever so hard for you! I'm glad you aren't feeling too distressed and are still wanting to cuddle. Purrs and prayers to you and your family!
Phoebe, we're so sorry to hear how sick you are. We're purring for you and your family!
Oh Phoebe, I am very sad that you are not getting much better. Please stay strong, I really wish you would get better. I am going to purr and purr my hardest for you.
Oh Phoebe, I am so sad to hear the news that you are not improving. I am purring hard for you, but at least the one good thing is that you are still in good spirits and not in pain.
Hugs and purrs,
MoMo
We are very sorry to hear that Phoebe is not well. We wish her and the rest of your family the best.
With our best healing purrs,
~J&B
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