Purrs for Sweetpea

UPDATE Fri July 1 - We got a second opinion on Sweetpea and I am so glad we did.  Dr Ann is a bit of a drive but well worth it.  We took a half hour just to go over all the tests and paperwork form the other vet - trying to make sense of it all.  Dr Ann had me leave Sweetpea with her for the rest of the day so she could run a few more tests of her own. Turns out Sweetpea is NOT diabetic but she does have elevated liver values and a mild UTI.. Sweetpea is on Clavamox for the UTI.  The thyroid meds or the not eating could cause the high liver numbers so for the next week we will make sure Sweetpea eats (she ate on her own tonight) and NOT give the thyroid meds.  We will take Sweetpea back to Dr Ann next week to get more blood work and see if the numbers are different.  At this point with all the crazy stuff going on from the old vet, I am sure she must wonder if she is hyperthyroid after all.  The old vet was one I had been seeing for years for many of the other cats and did not have any problems except some issues with Georgie.  At this point, I am not going back there for sure.  Dr Ann is worth the drive and I will be going to her from now on!  Thanks for all the comments, suggestions and support.  I have been a wreck this week!


Sweetpea was taken to the vet yesterday to find out why her appetite was off.  They found out that she has diabetes.  Her thyroid levels were perfect so that was one good thing.

She will be at the vet all day today and perhaps tongiht so they can do a blood glucose curve and determine what amount of insulin to give her.

Sweetpea is stable.  She had a fever but that has come down.  She is not eating on her own so they are syringe feeding her.  We are all hopeful that this will go better than Georgie's diabetes diagnosis.  Groegie went right into ketoacidosis and that complicated things a great deal.

We are sad this is happening to Sweetpea as she is not one to take meds or shots well.  If it becomes too stressful for for her at 17, we will have to think of all our options.  Purrs are greatly appreciated for her. Mom is going to visit her this morning and will have an update later.

Thank you Ann of Zoolatry for this graphic.

Goodbye Sweet Georgie Girl (2006-2015)

After a rough week and several days in ICU at the ER vet trying to get her diabetes and some serious complications under control, we made the heartbreaking decision to let Georgie go this morning.  Looking back at the 12 months since her diagnosis, she had been hospitalized for multiple days  five times in ICU.  The rest of the time was in recovery.  Not much time spent just being a cat. Her quality of life was taking a hit with this illness.. Rather than put her through more medical procedures and further hospitalizations to hopefully stabilize her, we chose to let her join her Momcat Lily at the Rainbow Bridge.

All worn out this morning.

We visited with her for a long time at the vet, giving her tummy rubs, kisses and telling her how so very much she was loved.  She was happy to see us, purred and was alert but as the time went on we could tell she was fading.  She was tired, frail and genuinely weak.  When I told her Lily was waiting for her, Georgie looked right into my eyes and blinked hers slowly.  She was ready to leave this worn out body behind. During the procedure, Georgie rested quietly while I held her and surrounded her in Reiki light and love. It was so sad but very peaceful.

Georgie and Rosa snuggled on the porch of our old house years ago.

We took her her home with us wrapped in a pink fleece blanket and buried her on our land next to Lily.  We placed three pansies with her - two purple for us and one yellow for her.

Only on left and Georgie hiding from the tree man.

Just as her mom Lily was the embodiment of mothering, Georgie's gift to us was her patience, sweetness and trusting nature.  She calmly let me do all the diabetic procedures to her without a fuss.  Her vets loved her for always letting them do their job.  She was like water, bending and flowing with life's daily movements, always unflappable, unperturbed.

On the porch this past summer

Her eyes were a gorgeous shade of green. She was extraordinarily beautiful.  Yet she had a tough side too and enjoyed being  in the middle of a kitty pile of her litter mates, napping or eating and shoving each other around one bowl.  She could be fierce if they started rough housing, whapping the offending brother or sister on the head.  If she had too much of some procedure I was doing to her, she would nip me too saying "No more."

Most mornings she would get up on the bed after Don left and head butt Tabitha and Woody, snuggling between them placidly waiting for me to wake up and feed her. She would race me to the kitchen talking all the while and line up with the others for first dibs on her food.  Eating was her passion and may have been her downfall.  In old photos of her, she was quite plump.

Plump Georgie

Our pet names for her were Georgie Porgie Pudding and Pie, Georgie Girl or baby girl.  She was our quiet kitty who enjoyed sleeping in odd positions, all stretched out and upside down.  Although when she was not feeling well, she preferred a hidy hole.  Don put her in a cat bed and placed her on his lap when she got home from one of her ICU stays while he watched TV.  She was content to be in the same  room with us or getting loved up - not much for laps.

Georgie on Don's lap

If you can't see this video of her asking for food after she got the feeding tube in go here.


I appreciate all of your donations for her medical  expenses over this past year, and your emotional support through her illnesses..  I wouldn't have made it without your help.

Our hearts ache at this loss and the house is so empty without her enduring presence.  I know I will be looking for her in the cat bed by the back window, or on the bed in the early morning light, her white fur glowing in the darkness.  When you care for a seriously ill cat like her, your every moment is tied into their schedule and needs.  I feel adrift without my routine with her.  But I will adjust.  I am just grateful we had nine wonderful years with her although much too few  Goodbye baby girl.  Give my love to Lily when you see her.

Lily, her mom on left, napping on a cool spring day.

Mr. Kitty on Mancat Monday and a Georgie Update

Me and Georgie enjoying the sun.

Mr. Kitty here - I seem to be sharing my Mondays with Georgie - I don't mind.  She is a sweet ladycat.  

Auntie Cheri has been very busy caring for her.  The ER vet has upped her insulin hoping that she will put on weight.  She was down a bit last week - not good.  If the new insulin level is not working to help stabilize her weight, then they will do a test for pancreatic insufficiency.  Scarier than it sounds - it just means she will need to take digestive enzymes with her food.  Before that  tho, Auntie has to do a "curve"  - something to do with the blood glucose.  It takes all day so that will keep Auntie and Georgie busy!

Georgie had been doing great - eating on her own and eating a good amount but they wanted to make sure so they left the feeding tube in her.  Good thing too cuz Sunday night she did not eat on her own and the beans had to feed her with the tube so they could give her insulin shot!  Hope this is a one time issue.  Auntie forgot a dose of the appetite stimulant.  I guess we can forgive her as Auntie was sick this week and went to the ER herself!  She is OK - just a stomach bug, and dehydration which made her pass out!  Purrs appreciated to Georgie that this can be resolved pretty soon.

Now to me!  Even tho it was a heat wave this past week I spent all the time I could out on the screen porch.  The beans wouldn't let me out unless it was cool - like in the morning and then later in the day.  I like the heat tho and lay tummy up soaking it all in!

For the International Box Day - Auntie made us all pose in boxes.  None of us were in the mood so she put catnip in the boxes to entice us.  She forgot and left the tub of catnip on the coffee table.  Oh boy! I jumped on this super opportunity to have it all to myself.  I knocked it off  onto the floor and low and behold, the top came off too!  Whoo whee - I was in nip heaven!  I rolled and rolled in the delicious fragrant nip.  What a feeling! Nothing like getting high!

Me in nip heaven!

Auntie rescued the rest of the catnip and I eventually passed out on the floor. It was great while it lasted!  Wishing you all a nip filled week!  See ya for the 4th of July!

Purrs for Georgie

UPDATE THURS PM - We had to bring Georgie from her vet to another one open 24 hours.  She is not responding to her treatment as well as they would like.The ER vet suggested pancreatitis or perhaps hyperthyroid as the reason behind her blood sugar issues.  She will see an internal medicine specialist on Friday. Please keep her in your thoughts.

We have not posted this week cuz Georgie, who has diabetes,  has not been well.  She had constipation issues last week and then some  dehydration.  She seemed to perk up but then on Wednesday, Mom got real worried  and took her to the vet.  Georgie was very lethargic, vomited and wouldn't eat.

She is in ketoacidosis from too little insulin or her body is not processing it right.  We caught her in the early stages so she will hopefully not have to stay a full week at the vet like last time.  This is very serious so please put your paws together and purr and pray for her to be well. 

Thanks from all of us!

Thanks to Ann of Zoolatry for this graphic

Thankful Thursday with Georgie

 

Me now

 With all the  stuff going on in our house -  kitties going to the Bridge and then getting a new cat - Mom never got back to me on the blog and how I was doing with my diabetes. She wanted me to tell you guys how things are going.  Remember back in November 2014, I was very sick and had to be in the vet hospital for days for ketoacidosis?  Well  I had to change my diet and even get insulin shots.

Me before (last year)

I have lost a lot of weight on the new diet (low or no carb).  Mom says she hardly recognizes me anymore cuz  I am so tiny!  I didn't think I was big since all my brothers were the same size.

Me before - pretty chubby

Mom checks my blood every morning using a blood glucose meter just like people use.  She pricks my ear and gets the blood sample there.  I don't like it and run when I see her coming.  I play this game where I run through the pantry and out the side door, around and around.  Mom gets a bit exasperated sometimes.  That's when I know it is time to stop and get on the bed so she can check me.  I know I have to have this done.

Napping

After I eat, I get an insulin shot.  Sometimes I jerk when she gives it to me and then we don't know how much went in!!!  I try to be still cuz that means more blood tests all day!  It is not a whole lot of fun but it could be worse.  I do feel better and have much more energy than before.  Some people have told Mom that she should be checking my glucose levels and changing the insulin accordingly but with all of us to care for she does not have time.  If I seem off, she will take another glucose reading but really I am doing pretty good.

A selfie with my slim look

I am thankful that the vet could help me and I didn't go to the Bridge when I got sick. And that Mom doesn't mind keeping tabs on my glucose and giving me insulin.  Her Mom and her mom's dog but had diabetes so she had plenty of experience before me.  Oh and I do take Miralax twice a day to help keep me regular.  I guess the insulin does a job on my regularity - so far so good!  Have a super day!