VETERINARY UPDATES

Well, this has been a busy week, vet-wise. We had three vet visits this week for three different cats. On Wednesday Buddy had his regular eye check-up with Dr. Hermann. The pressure in his eyes is pretty stable, though higher than normal in the left one still. Buddy is so good during the exam and Dr. Hermann is just the best! He answers all my questions like I have a few brain cells and explains things well. We go back in four months.

Wednesday afternoon I finally got Max in for his checkup and fructosamine with Dr. Hseih. Was she surprised when Max showed up at 15 lbs! His exam went well and his fructosamine showed his glucose was being maintained well. He's down to 5 units of insulin twice a day. I was so amazed that I was able to catch him Wednesday morning. I didn't even call for an appointment until I had him secured in the bathroom. For a big guy he can sure move fast! Since he's doing so well he doesn't have to go back for 6 months!!!

Thursday Micha had his recheck. They did bloodwork and an exam. I really like Dr. Werner - she handles Micha well and doesn't take any of his guff  personally. His kidney values were actually down a bit more, which is good. However, he is now experiencing some anemia - a result of the decrease in kidney function. If it continues to increase, he may need some bone marrow injections. He goes back next week. Micha does look much better and his appetite appears a bit better. He has gained 3 ounces since last week. He's tolerating his fluids well and I've caught him nibbling at the dry food. As long as I can get at least 1200 cc's of the special canned food in him each day, I don't really care if he eats the dry, too. He's staying hydrated and that's important. I know his days are numbered, so I want to make him as comfortable as possible. He still has lots of strength and his usual vim and vinegar. When that changes I'll know it's time to let him go. In the mean time we will both enjoy our time together.

So it goes. These guys and their housemates do take a lot of my time, but I don't know what I'd do without them.

ANOTHER MAX UPDATE

For those of you who might be interested, I thought I'd give a quick update on Max. On Monday Max went in for a check-up and it went soooo well. He's up to 14 lbs - double his weight when he went in the hospital 6 months ago! His vet is sooo thrilled with his progress. His blood glucose levels aren't as low as I would like, but they are "acceptable". His heart murmur hasn't worsened either. I've even seen a slight improvement in his neuropathy. So he doesn't have to go back to the vet for 3 MONTHS!!!! Yaaaayyyyy!! I'm so happy and I know Max is, too.

MAX CONTINUED

I thought I would post another update on Max. He's doing well overall. His blood glucose levels are getting close to regulation, but we're not there yet. He's maintaining his weight well, too. He is suffering from one side effect of high blood glucose levels - diabetic neuropathy.

This is a common side effect for any creature that has poorly controlled diabetes. The high level of glucose does something to damage nerves. In cats it manifests itself in a weakness in the back legs. Untreated it can lead to all sorts of dreadful things.

At first I thought Max was just having problems walking on the hard floors, but when he started walking on his hocks (heels in cats) I knew what was up. After some research I learned that, besides getting his glucose levels regulated, a form of Vitamin B12 called methylcobalamin has been purported to help repair the damaged nerves. This form of B12 is supposed to be better absorbed and, therefore, works better than the usual forms of B12.

Because Max has been extremely difficult to pill in the past I tried a spray form of methylcobalamin, dispensed in a syringe. Although I didn't mind the taste (yes, I try it first), Max wasn't too fond of it. When I found a great pill popper on Amazon, I also got a pill form and it's been going well. I tried one especially for cats, but am switching to a similar one that I can get cheaper. Since Max is also taking a gel potassium supplement, I just put some of the gel on the pill popper and he opens his mouth enough that I can get the pill in. Most of the time the first time works. BTW, I also found this same gel on Amazon at about a fourth of the price I've been paying at the vet's office. Wow, I didn't realize the mark-up on meds at vets' offices was so high!!!

Anyway, I haven't seen all that much improvement yet, but he doesn't appear to be getting any worse. I know that he won't get a lot better in this department until his diabetes is totally regulated. Right now he's on 5.5 units of insulin twice a day and he's beginning to stay below 300. Ideally I'd like to see him below 200,but the vet seems to be happy with below 300. Considering that Max's glucose levels were well over 500 when this all started, below 300 is indeed progress.

After going thru all of this, Max is still a very loving boy. He does startle easily, but he lets me check his blood glucose levels and give him his insulin without a problem. He's not too happy with the other meds, but it's not the big battle it used to be.

Max does have a heart murmur that the vet wants to check out further with an echocardiogram soon. The big problem is the cost - over $200. I think we will just have to postpone this until I get some of his bills paid down.

I hope you enjoy seeing Max's new picture. His shaved areas are just about all grown back and he looks more handsome than ever. Max and I appreciate all the prayers and good wishes we've received over the past months. I know that they have contributed to his remarkable recovery.

MAX'S PROGRESS

I thought it was time to update everyone on Max's progress. And there has been a lot of progress. We are still working on getting his blood glucose levels down, but, otherwise, Max has been doing very well. I took this picture of Max just a couple of days ago. Doesn't he look handsome? We are still waiting on the hair in the shaved areas to grow back completely so he doesn't look quite so lumpy, but he's beginning to loose the bony look.


Max has gained some weight finally. He's up to 8.2 lbs from a low of 6.9 lbs a couple of months ago. And he's maintaining that weight. I use the Wii Fit to weigh him. He has his own Mii and everything. It makes it sooo easy to keep track of his weight. I just weigh myself first and then the two of us together. We won't talk about my weight!! lol

Max's blood glucose levels are still over 300 at 4U of insulin twice daily, but that is lower than when we started. He's been allowing me to check his glucose levels and give him his insulin shot twice a day with no problems whatsoever. He gets in my lap, I prick his ear and use the glucometer. Then he gets his insulin shot and we are done.

Max is venturing out of his room now and making friends. His bestest buddy right now is Oliver. They make a funny pair as Oliver outweighs Max by a good 10 lbs! But Oliver is very gentle with Max and Max thinks Oliver is just great.

Max goes back for a check-up on the 12th and I expect a good report on him. I'll give y'all an update after his appointment. Thanks again for all the prayers and good wishes for Max's recovery. He's come a long, long way and it was worth every penny.

MAX UPDATE II

Sorry I've been so long with another update, but life has been crazier than usual. I had several urgent projects to get done and chose to get them out of the way. Now that they are finished, I can, hopefully, get back to normal.

First of all, Max is doing great. We had a not eating issue about a week and a half ago, but that's been resolved with some assisted eating for a day or two and a further realization that Max does not like change. I put down a bigger water bowl and he quit drinking water. Same with the food bowl. Crazy cat!!!

Max is still taking his insulin well and tolerates the twice daily ear pricks to check his glucose levels. They are still higher than I would like, but are gradually coming down. I expect another dosage increase when we go back for another check-up this coming week.

I need to get a video clip of Max fussing at me. His voice is soo squeaky like a haunted house door. And he's so loving. He's actually becoming a lap cat of sorts, though his body is almost too long for my lap.

I've received a ton of cat print fabrics from my quilting buddies and hope to have some made up into quilts and stuff soon. They will be offered for sale to try to raise some money to pay Max's considerable vet bills. What great friends I have!! Y'all know who you are!!!

I'll be back with some more pics and, maybe, a video clip, shortly.

MAX UPDATE

Just a quick update on Max. I can't believe he's been home a week today. The improvement is amazing!! He's eating like a horse and is so much stronger. He's getting oral liquid meds - an antibiotic and one for icky poops - and he's not happy about them, but he's taking his insulin injections like a trouper!! He goes back for a check-up next week and I can't wait to see how much weight he's gained. So it's "so far, so good" for Max.

I'll try to get some new pics done and posted this week. I can't wait till all the shaved places grow out. Right now he looks like he got a particularly bad poodle cut!

Just a reminder for all you cat owners - keep an eye on your cat's habits. If she starts drinking more water and, as a result, peeing a lot more, whisk that feline to the vet - she may have diabetes. As a veteran of now three cats with diabetes I can tell you that it's manageable and worth the small extra effort. Getting the diabetes under control at the beginning can be frustrating, but when your efforts pay off, it's easy to deal with. There are a lot of good sites that have good info about feline diabetes. My best tip is to invest in a good glucometer and learn how to check your cats blood glucose levels from time to time. It's easy peasy, as they say.

MAX

As I stated in my last blog, my cat, Max, was in the hospital. He was diagnosed diabetes and has possible problems with his pancreas and liver. Below is a picture of him in his cage at the hospital. He had all sorts of tubes attached to him including a feeding tube.

It all began on a Friday night when I found him in the bathtub in the middle of the night. I thought he was dying right then and there. Max has always been very antisocial and when he let me pick him up and hold him I knew he was very sick. I watched over him and when he was still around on Sunday morning we went to the emergency vet clinic. They kept him overnight and my vet referred him to Gulf Coast Veterinary Specialists for evaluation. He stayed there for two very long weeks.

Max in the hospital

I knew if anyone could save Max, these people could. I've had pets treated there many times. I think Gulf Coast is one of the top vet clinics in the country. They let me come and visit Max every day except Sunday. I hope it helped Max and I know it helped me.

I'm not sure that Max is totally out of the woods, but he's ever so much better. Max is now home, but he's a long way from being 100%. He's probably lost a third of his body weight and is still very weak. He's on insulin twice a day. But he's eating and drinking water and purring like crazy when I pet him. He's got shaved spots all over him - legs, neck, tummy - looks like a bad poodle cut.

Max at home

Having him in the hospital was very, very expensive, but I couldn't let him die without a fight. Not after he struggled to stay alive. Soon I'll be listing some pet-themed quilts and other items to raise money to help pay Max's hospital bill. Meanwhile, Max could sure use your prayers and positive, healing energies.