Up Date on my cat Scamp

[Lone Wolf]

Hello again. Need help. It looks like my cat had a stroke! Entire right side "gone"
He stilll is on antibiotics . But no intrest in food. I have been giving him NutriCal
(from the vets) My big question is this,HOW much and how often do I give him the water and food?? Today I gave him a finger full of BABY food and he LICKED it off my finger.(Thats a FIRST) But how often should I do these things for him?? He will not use his litter box. Not had a pee for two days. Not enough water?? Please help. I dont want to loose him. IMPAT

 

[Cardinal]

Ok Wolf, if you are a stay at home person, every two hours give your cat some nutrical and H2o. Do you have a syringe or an eyedropper? Small amounts given frequently is best. If you can stay with your pet, they tend to eat and drink more when you pet them. You have to get some fluids into him because if his kidneys shut down you will lose him. If you can't do this ask your Vet if he/she will give some subqutaneously an charge you just for that (it's cheaper than hospitalizing kitty) and then you take kitty home.
Fluids are essential here, and soon. Good luck.

 

[daisy]

He will not use his litter box. Not had a pee for two days.

Did they check him for a urinary blockage? Stones? I had a cat that had the same symptoms as yours years ago. Male cat, staggered, wouldn't eat or drink.... took him to the vet....they did a catheter (sp?) unblocked him, antibiotics and put one of those hood things around his neck so he wouldn't lick down there. Cats that only eat dry food don't get enough moisture in their diet and get stopped up easy, especially males for some reason per the vet. It can kill them if not taken care of. Good Luck with your kitty. I'd get a second opinion from another vet if they haven't check him for urinary blockage.

 

[Willow]

Hi Lone Wolf

The first thing to do is determine whether Scamp CAN urinate. If he is plugged or paralized and cannot go without assistance you have an emergency situation that requires immediate attention. If he can and isn't then my first thought is he isn't getting enough fluids. I would suggest asking the vet to show you how to administer sub Q fluids as keeping him hydrated is the key to everything else working....as Cardinal suggested.

Once you have hydrated him...if that is the problem...then continue giving him the nutra cal and baby food (meat only). The nutra cal will tell you how much to give. I don't have a tube handy but I think it's a tablespoon a day to maintain. But, like I said, check the directions on the tube. As for the baby food....as much as you can get him to lick off your finger is fine. If you can get a jar of it down him during a 12 hour period you will be providing plenty of nutrients for one day.

Again, I cannot stress water intake enough. That will keep his kidneys functioning and be the first requirement to the healing process.

Also, make sure you don't allow the cat to stay in one position for more than a couple hours if he cannot move on his own. Help him switch sides regularly...every couple of hours. This will prevent fluid buildup in the 'bottom' lung and also help prevent bed sores if he is unable to move for a long time.

Willow

 

[Lone Wolf]

WOW Thanks for the fast replys.... Daisy The Vet checked him for urinary probs. None then.
Cardinal... Yes I have a eye dropper. I have been giving him an eyedropper of water at a time. I will boost it up to every hour. And food to. OK? If you can think of anything else... Please do reply. And YES I can stay all day with my cat....Thanks again...

 

[Cardinal]

He needs more, faster Wolf. I don't remember how much anymore, been too long, would have to consult a Merck's

"Maintenance fluid therapy is meant to replace both ongoing and insensible losses. When there is no vomiting, diarrhea, fever, or loss into the third body fluid space, the average maintenance rate is 40-60 mL/kg/day. With a fever, the maintenance rate increases by 15-20 mL/kg/day. Fluid losses through vomiting, diarrhea, the third body fluid space, and polyuria must be estimated and replaced as indicated. "

OK, the above is copy/pasted from merck's.


http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/160407.htm

(link)

 

[Cardinal]

If there are any hospital supply places near where you live, maybe you can get some lactated ringers and a drip line. Giving fluids Sub-Q is not at all hard to do, esp. with a cat who is semi paralysed.
If you can get a hold of the supplies, you can phone me or I can phone you and I can talk you through it.
PM me if you are interested. I am at work and monitoring TB2K til 5 PM my time (Eastern)

 

[Lone Wolf]

Thanks Cardinal I just PM'd you Pat

 

[Fly Girl]

Lone Wolf,

I was where you are May 13th......a friday, to boot! My cat had stopped eating and become reclusive earlier in the week. Friday, i woke up and she could not walk. i took her and dropped her off at the vet while i ran into work for a few hours. went to get her and he said she either had a stroke or a grand mal seizure and that he recommended putting her down. i said can i take her home and bring her back in the morning......he agreed...he loaded her up on sub-cutaneous fluids and a cortisone shot and an antibiotic (at my request) as a last ditch try to save her. he was reluctant as hell to do it, but i begged and cried. anyway, i left her be in her cubby hole in the basement. i moved one of her litter boxes from the one end of the room to over by her cubby so she woulnt have to go far. when i went down at midnight to check on her, she was using the OTHER box!!!! dragging herself there, but using it! i offered her some canned cat food in her cubby, she took a fair amount, and by saturday morning, she was walking with the slightest limp, but MUCH BETTER!!!! She is still here and the vet cannot explain it. at 15 years old, she is ancient, but she has the will. i also found out that like humans, a stroke in a cat can be temporary paralysis......she was dragging her left side.
my advice is GET THE FLUIDS IN NOW!!!!!! that seemed to be the factor with her, at least. it is not hard at all to do the "home IV" and if you have not heard from cardinal, PM me and I will call you.....I am next door to you!

take care, buddy!!!!!

Fly Girl

 

[Herbmountain]

You can tell if your cat becomes dehydrated by doing the "Skin Tugor Test". I might have spelled it wrong...it too has been a while for me. Lift the lower scruff of his neck, skin only and pull it up. If it does not go right down then kitty is dehydrated and fluids asap. This is a pretty fail safe test. Good advise here. Sub-Q fluids are a fast way to hydrate kitty. And the electrolytes will replace any needed from lack of drinking. If he is licking the baby food from your hand then add water and make it soupy. You can get water needed this way too. Cats seem to like the whole meat baby food the best. Try the chicken and turkey as well as the beef.

 

[Lone Wolf]

Herbmountain....I just e mailed you.

 

[Cardinal]

Lone wolf, Sorry I did not get your email til this am. How is Scamp this morning?

 

[Lone Wolf]

Hi Cardnial We took Scamp to the Vets early this AM. He re hydrated him and gave me a new med,a combo of antibiots and steroid ...Said we should Put him Down... NO WAY !!
When we got home I put him on the grass and watched him awhile. He kept turning from one side to the other,back and forth ( like a colt rubing his back in the sand) I turned him over to his belly ,but he wouldn't stay.. Then I (while I was kneeling) put him between my knees and held him on his belly while holding his HEAD. And he stayed on his belly. Leads me to believe that a neck brace might stabelize him enough to walk. Ideas??? pat

 

[RJC]

Lone Wolf
Been following your thread here, I wish you and Scamp well. It seems we get very attached to our animals.

 

[Cardinal]

Hi Cardnial We took Scamp to the Vets early this AM. He re hydrated him and gave me a new med,a combo of antibiots and steroid ...Said we should Put him Down... NO WAY !!
When we got home I put him on the grass and watched him awhile. He kept turning from one side to the other,back and forth ( like a colt rubing his back in the sand) I turned him over to his belly ,but he wouldn't stay.. Then I (while I was kneeling) put him between my knees and held him on his belly while holding his HEAD. And he stayed on his belly. Leads me to believe that a neck brace might stabelize him enough to walk. Ideas??? pat

You have nothing to lose by trying. You can probably rig one from wire.

Keep him hydrated and that is half the battle. If you can get him to the point where he is peeing again, you can buy him time to recover. Do you have any kitty vitamins? I'd be gringing some up and mixing with tuna water. Then you can use the eyedropper to feed the mix to him.

 

[Lone Wolf]

Cardinal : Things are going bad today. Last night Scamp did pea.He also draged himself at least 7 ft.to the room I was in...Dick said he wanted to "go Potty" I took him to the livingroom and put him on a sheet on the floor and he let it go. I was soooo happy ,But that was then....Today I got up about 6am to find him Un responsive. Eyes closed.He seems to know when I talk to him and he will hold tight to my finger.But thats all. Will not eat or swallow any thing...Pat

 

[Cardinal]

Oh Lonewolf, I am so sorry. It sounds like he is going. Keep him on a heating pad (set low) if you have one, or next to a hot water bottle wrapped in a towel, so he is comfortable. That is really all you can do now

 

[ioujc]

Lone Wolf.....I'm sorry to hear things seem to be going in the wrong direction.... Scamp sounds like he loves you VERY MUCH! If it were me, I'd rig a couple of towels with some plastic under them, and lay him beside me in the bed, if you have time.......being near you will comfort him, even if he is unresponsive.....knowing you are near, smelling your scent, and your stroking him and talking to him......Cover him with a blanket if you think he might be cold....my prayers are with you and Scamp today.....

 

[Herbmountain]

Lone Wolf. How is Scamp doing now? Im so sorry you are having to experience this. It is so hard...I know. Please email me again if you can.

 

[ioujc]

Lone Wolf???? Is Scamp OK??? Please let me know......you can PM me.....still praying for your "baby".....

 

[Wise Owl]

I know that Lone Wolf (IMPAT) is grieving right now. Scamp passed two days ago.
Now they are dealing with their dog who has cancer. Lymphoma.......... They are doing Col. Joe's diet. Our dog is still with us who has been on Joe's diet for almost a year now. She is finally getting the tumor removed from her ear this next friday. The vet said if she makes it thru the operation she should have awhile yet with us. Candy is 14 now.

Scamp was a trooper and IMPAT tried everything she could to save him. It hurts to lose two cats in the same year and now she is dealing with a sick dog. I wish I could help her more but if she sticks to the diet she may win the battle with Sadie.....