Archive for the ‘feline CHF’ Category

Jake’s blood test results are back and it’s as we feared. His renal levels are higher than ever before. Jake’s BUN is above 200 and his Creatinine is above 11. I’ve rarely heard of cats functioning with such levels but it doesn’t surprise me with Jake. Jake is a fighter. He’s always seemed to cope somehow with his extremely elevated levels but I think they’ve finally caught up with him. We thought he was just feeling a little under the weather last weekend but come Monday we realized it might be more. He hasn’t slept in nearly 24 hours and walks the house restlessly. He’s feels really crummy and can’t get comfortable.

We started Jake on phosphorus binders tonight as his phosphorus is now elevated and had never been in the past. Jake is still keeping food down and getting around the house as unbelievable as that sounds. I’m praying for the best even if that means peace in his last days. He’s very sick now. As I look to my future without him it breaks my heart. I’ve been trying to prepare myself for this moment in time as I knew it would arrive sometime. I just hoped it would be further in the future. I pray for the strength to do the right thing for Jake and to think only of him and not of myself and how I can’t bear to let him go.

Jake hasn’t been feeling too well lately. He stopped having interest in food about 5 days ago. It came on pretty suddenly as his behavior had been pretty good as of late. We’re still syringe feeding him but otherwise he has no interest in food, no kibble, no treats, no baby food. I took Jake to the vet on Tues. and we’re awaiting the results of his latest CBC. We don’t expect them to have gotten better but we’re hoping that if one of his treatable levels such as RBC or phosphorus are off we can start treating it with medication. If it’s just his renal levels catching up with him there isn’t much we can do but keep him comfortable and happy. Please keep Jake in your prayers.

I’ve been really busy getting ready for the Jake & Micah show this weekend but I wanted to post a photo of Jake and give everyone an update. It’s been 5 weeks since Jake returned from the hospital. Since then he seems to feel better everyday. His diarrhea has been off and on but his appetite has been getting better and better. We still syringe feed him 1-2 times each day other wise he eats on his own. Ironically I’ve started giving him Iron and B Vitamin supplements. I’m not sure if that is what’s responsible for his increased energy level or not but he’s been venturing to the other end of the house this past week, something he hasn’t done in MONTHS. He always used to spend evenings in the family room with us watching TV while we ate dinner. Since March he’s not really had any interest in walking to the other end of the house but in the past week he has and we can only interpret that as he has more energy! His red blood count numbers have been creeping down for months so perhaps his new vitamins are giving him a much needed boost.

I have a review of the Bissell SpotBot that I want to post and I also plan to post photos of the Jake & Micah booth setup from the upcoming show this weekend so check back soon!

Every night before bed mommy tells me if I’m tired of fighting and want to go to the Bridge to play with Micah she’s okay with that. She gets sad at night and I hear her crying. She hopes that what she’s doing is right. Every morning I get up and use the litterbox and drink. Today I even tried to jump into bed with daddy and mommy like I always do. Mommy was worried I might stumble so she lifted me up. Somehow she has a way of knowing what I’m about to do or what I need. It was nice being there with them again. I haven’t been in daddy and mommy’s bed for 5 days since I’ve been sleeping in my teepee most of the time. Mommy sleeps in the bed beside me so she’s always close.

Today my breathing is finally getting better. My cold is almost gone. I ate a few pieces of kibble this AM but it takes me a long time to eat so mommy and daddy still feed me with a syringe. I’m really hungry now so I gobble it up right away. I like treats again and today I got fed treats two times. Mommy took this video of me snacking on some. Yesterday mommy gave me a small amount of Sub-Q fluids because Dr. B. said we could try and my body was able to handle it. She was worried about my heart and all but in the morning all the fluid was all absorbed and I feel good. A few times today I snuck out of my tent without mommy knowing. If she comes in the room and I’m not there in my tent she panics. I know it’s silly because I’m always just using the litterbox or getting a drink of water. Yesterday daddy stopped by the vet to get me more food. He had to pay the balance of the bill for my stay last week. On the bottom it said that I was sent home to be euthanized… hmmm now wouldn’t they be surprised to know that I’m still around? Mommy and daddy still aren’t sure for how long but every day I seem stronger and more like myself before I got sick. Maybe my levels are high like they say but for now they aren’t getting me down! – Jake Cat

Napping in my teepee.

Jonah hangs out with me in my hospital room. He looks more exhausted than I do!

I want to thank everyone for their purrs, prayers, and emails of encouragement. So far they’re working but I’ve got a long way to go! Mommy and daddy are thanking God for every additional day I’m with them. They thought they were going to have to send me to the Bridge on Saturday but I’m still here with them!

Yesterday was a long but peaceful day. I got up and used the litterbox on my own. Number 1 AND number 2!! Then I drank some water from my Fresh Flow pet fountain. Mommy was worried because I’m much weaker now. I get tired fast. I walk a little bit, then get tired and lay down. I like to do things on my own though. Mommy and Daddy said I need energy so they syringe fed me some food. I kept it all down and took a REALLY long nap. Mommy and daddy took turns sitting with me all day long. My nose is still congested but hopefully getting better. Later I got more syringe food (they tell me it’ll make me strong) and mommy and daddy played Scrabble in the room with me. Before bed we all held hands and prayed together for the power to heal me. Mommy and daddy held my paw. It was a special day.

Today I woke up around 6, used the litterbox and drank some water. I still get tired really fast though. Mommy thought I’d like her to move my cat teepee into the room where my water fountain is. Well I didn’t like it there at all. I walked back into the guest bedroom and STARED at the spot where I wanted my cat teepee put back. So back it went. Mommy and daddy thought I must be feeling okay because I’m still bossing them around. I got more syringe food because my tummy was growling a little. A little later daddy was sitting in with me and he put his face down close to me so I sniffed his face and head. Does this mean my smell is coming back a little? Daddy ran into the other room and got some cat treats. They smelled pretty good so I ate a few on my own!! This is the first time I’ve eaten food the humans have offered me in 4 days! They just keep force feeding me cat pudding. When you can’t taste or smell food why bother eating? Now I’m napping in my cat teepee. Mommy is still concerned about my breathing and getting rid of my cold for good. She’s going to ask Dr. B. if I can get a little of my Sub Q fluids since I’m still hanging on. Hopefully my body can handle it. Please keep purring and praying for me. It’s working! – Jake Cat

I’m back home!! Kiss me!! Kiss me!!

I’m back at home, yippee!! Mommy and daddy come to pick me up like they promised. After draining the fluid off my heart and chest I’m breathing much much better. My nose is still a little bit stuffed from my cold but not like last night in the hospital. That metal cage was not a comfortable accomodation at all! Can you believe they put my food directly next to my commode?? As soon as mommy and daddy showed up to get me, I jumped right in the carrier. Get me the heck of of here! I purred the entire ride home. So Dr. B. said that I sound much better after getting the fluid off my chest. My poor heart just could take all that fluid at one time. He said we should just wait and see what happens. He’s amazed that with my renal levels I’m still able to keep food down. My levels haven’t gone down, but one thing at a time right?

When I arrived home, I was greeted by my silly brother. Jonah tried to climb into my carrier with me! I resigned myself to tons of kisses, rubs and lovin’ from the humans but I’m pretty tired from the vet ordeal. I went to get a drink and used the litterbox. I’ve been sleeping in me goode olde cat tent. I haven’t been in these digs since I was adopted, funny huh? So mommy outfitted my tent with a heating blanket to keep me warm. Right now I need to get my beauty sleep. Tommorrow is a new day so we’ll see how I feel. Mommy and daddy aren’t ready to put me to sleep (even though I’m tired) just yet. They haven’t given up all hope on me since I’m such a tough dude and not just ready to join my brother Micah. Please keep purring and praying for a miracle. – Jake Cat

Last night mommy and daddy came to see me at the hospital. Wow was I happy to see them. I was the only pet there with human visitors and boy did I feel special! They had an IV hooked up to my arm so I tried to rip it out and leave with them. They told me a I needed to stay so I could get better. I’m in the same special cage that my brother Micah was in. It’s special because it has heat and oxygen. When they saw that though it made them sad and worried.

Today I’m not doing so well though. Momma is bringing me home soon. Dr. B. says that with all the additional IV fluids pumping into me, it’s putting a strain on my heart. The right side of my heart is filling with fluid. Because my creatinine is so high I’m not going to the bathroom anymore so I’m not getting rid of the fluid on my own. They can’t reduce the fluids or I’ll have complete kidney failure, if they keep giving me fluid I’ll have a heart attack when my heart drowns. Mommy wants to die she’s so sad. She can’t imagine life without me. They are going to drain some of the fluid off my heart with a needle and then mommy and daddy are going to bring me home. Mommy promised me she would bring me home so she is. I’ll be going to the Bridge soon where I’ll see my brother Micah. Mommy knows that Micah will be so happy to see me that’ll he’ll scream with joy, but she’s just so sad because she’s not ready to let me go. – Jake Cat